Boost for NHS is great team work, Theresa
What good news to read in last week’s Mail on Sunday that Prime Minister Theresa May has announced an extraordinary £20 billion boost for the NHS, equivalent to £384 million a week.
This is truly a shot in the arm for NHS patients and staff. As the 70th anniversary of the NHS nears, we should count our lucky stars this great institution is free to all who need it; something that isn’t the case in many other countries.
Despite the pressures, our caring NHS staff do an excellent job. I also salute the way Theresa May opened up in the MoS last week about her type 1 diabetes, stating: ‘With the NHS on my side, I can manage my condition, live a normal life and get on with my job.’ Theresa, you have shown the world you are truly a remarkable woman. David Courtney, Weston-super-Mare
I fully endorse the extra spend on the NHS but this finance must also support elderly and social care. More than six in ten people would support a tax rise to ease the NHS crisis but before raising taxes, we should vastly reduce our overseas aid budget and redirect that into the NHS, elderly care and schools. Mark Anderson, Middleton St George, Darlington
It’s great that Mrs May is pledging additional funding for the NHS but so much more needs to be done, and long before 2023/24. A plan to
cut waste over ten years means millions more will be lost in the meantime. How can so much be spent on management consultants when hospitals are failing in the basics of staff management, costings, patient care and equipment? Increasing taxes to fund further mismanagement is unacceptable. Ann Johnson, Runcorn
Let’s hope this substantial increase is not another soundbite for Mrs May to keep her MPs together.
Mike Scoins, Bristol
Money has been thrown at the NHS for years, with not much improvement. NHS trusts need to ensure that nobody from outside the UK is treated unless they prove they can pay, as in Spain and most other European countries. It is simple enough: insurance documents must be shown or passports surrendered.
In emergency cases, treatment first, but then ability to pay must be dealt with. Trusts have a vast army of ‘pen-pushers’ who could deal with this. Gina Watson, Orgiva, Spain
Further investment should be conditional on improving NHS management performance. For example, the failure to negotiate realistic medical supply costs. We must also not forget that a significant sum will be consumed by unrealistic salaries, pensions and ‘perks’. R. Widdowson, Cleveland, North Yorkshire
The NHS need to cut waste if it wants this cash, otherwise we will be throwing good money after bad. Better use of medication, tests, hospital beds and operating theatres for starters. Ryan Webber, Little Neston, Cheshire