Boris’s ‘election boost’ for NHS

£1.8billion cash injection to help ailing hospitals as he puts Tories on war footing

BORIS Johnson will today put the NHS at the centre of his platform for a potential general election this autumn.

He will say he is delivering on his core priorities with a one-off cash injection of £1.8billion for the NHS, £850million of it for repairs to 20 hospitals.

Much of the money is being spent in Leavevoting areas. And with a general election looking increasingly likely this autumn, some of the funding is directed at target seats.

Tory party chairman James Cleverly insisted yesterday that Mr Johnson had no plans to call a general election – but said No 10 was prepared for the possibility that Labour could try to force one to avoid a No Deal Brexit.

One source described Downing Street as being in ‘full campaign mode’.

An ally of the Prime Minister said No 10’s focus this month will be on core priorities: the NHS, crime and education.

‘We want to make sure people feel it at the front line. Boris is following through with his promises,’ they said.

Mr Johnson will announce the new money this morning at a hospital in Lincolnshire. He said last night: ‘The NHS is always there for us – free at the point of use for everyone in the country. With our doctors and nurses working tirelessly day in, day out, this treasured institution truly showcases the very best of Britain.

‘That’s why I made it my immediate task to make sure front-line services have the funding they need, to make a real difference to the lives of NHS staff, and above all, of patients.

‘I’m delivering on this promise with a £1.8billion cash injection.’

But experts said the money, while desperately needed, was just a fraction of what is required to restore ailing NHS buildings.

Ben Gershlick of the Health Foundation charity said: ‘Years of under-investment means this extra money risks being little more than a drop in the ocean.’

Nigel Edwards, chief executive of the Nuffield Trust think tank, said the cash would only cover a fraction of the cost of upgrading 20 hospitals. ‘Nobody should expect shiny new hospitals in their towns any time soon,’ he warned.

Sally Copley of the Alzheimer’s Society said: ‘The NHS knows it can only thrive if the social care system is fit for purpose – 850,000 people living with dementia have waited long enough, so we are all looking to the Government to now deliver on social care, and look forward to the Prime Minister’s next announcement.’

Mr Johnson also announced extra cash for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, to be spent by their devolved administrations.

The funding includes almost £100million for a new hospital block in Birmingham, £72million on a new adult mental health in-patient unit in Manchester and £100million for a women and children’s hospital in Truro.

The seats of Labour defectors have been targeted amid signs the Tories may wish to take advantage of splits on the Left.

The £1.8billion funding is in addition to the extra £33.9billion, in cash terms, that the NHS is set to receive every year by 2023/24.

‘This is just the start of the spending blitz by Boris on the NHS,’ a Government source said.

Mr Johnson yesterday pledged to sort out the NHS pensions crisis.

His ministers are close to finalising a deal to allow GPs and consultants to side- step punitive tax bills that encourage them to drop shifts or retire early. ‘We are fixing it,’ the Prime Minister told the Sunday Times.

‘Following through on his promises’