The Tories knew there would be an NHS winter crisis but did nothing | Polly Toynbee

Patients have a right to know why hospitals are so underfunded but yet again Jeremy Hunt has ducked the question

Crisis, what crisis? Because the NHS winter crisis was absolutely predictable that doesn’t stop it being a crisis. Some 55,000 people will have their operations cancelled – who knows for how long, with what knock-on effect on waiting times. But no, they say this is definitely not a crisis because it is “planned”.

Where is health secretary Jeremy Hunt? Like Chris Grayling on the day train fares increased, not out there on the Today programme to say this worsening winter “event” is not a crisis. Instead, he sent out a civil servant, Prof Keith Willett, director of acute care, because he couldn’t be asked the crucial political question. Is this the direct and predicted result of an NHS that was given less than half the £4bn it needed to stay afloat?

Related: Theresa May needs to 'get a better grip' on NHS crisis, says senior Tory - Politics live

There is an iron law: when NHS funding falters, there will be winter crises

Related: NHS hospitals told to take drastic measures amid winter crisis

Continue reading... January 03, 2018 at 05:30PM