I write in response to David Murray (Where is your apology for catastrophic cuts, MP Brake? September 11).

Our NHS is treating more patients than ever before and is continuing to perform well – meeting key targets on accident and emergency operations.

In Government, I have fought hard to protect funding for the NHS and, over this Parliament, the NHS budget will increase by £12.7bn. There are more clinical staff, more nurses and doctors working in our NHS than there were four years ago.

As we all live for longer, the demands upon our NHS will increase. In the long term, we need to reduce demand on hospitals by looking after people better in the community so they live healthier at home for longer.

But it also means making our NHS more efficient, so we can reinvest these savings back into the health service. 

I am committed to maintaining an NHS that is free at the point of use, provides top-quality care and is available on our doorstep at hospitals such as St Helier.

TOM BRAKE

Liberal Democrat MP for Carshalton and Wallington

 



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