Let’s get the facts straight...

• Healthcare was fully protected despite the need for the Government to save money between 2010 and the present day.

• NHS spending will be increased by an additional £10 billion per year by 2020. This will allow the NHS to offer 800,000 more operations and treatments and spend up to £2 billion more on new drugs.

• Between 2010 and 2015, spending on the NHS increased by around £14.9 billion. This helped to fund 4,300 new doctors and 1,300 new midwives.

•  The Government has implemented a £650 million Cancer Drugs Fund – which is helping around 55,000 people.

•  91.5% of patients are waiting less than 18 weeks for treatment (as of June 2016).

•  32,500 additional doctors were employed by the NHS nurses in 2014 compared to 2004 with 10,300 more doctors since 2010. 

•  There are 18,400 more NHS nurses in 2014 compared to 2004 with 10,300 more nurses since 2010.

• Now we have 5,700 more GPs (and 1,700 more practice nurses employed by GPs) in 2014 than 2004.

• Since 2004 the number of professionally qualified clinical staff within the NHS has risen by 12.7% - with an increase in the number of doctors of 27.6%.

• In 2013/14 there were 64% more operations completed by the NHS compared to 2003/04.

• It was Labour who contracted out 5% of the NHS budget to private companies before 2010.  This figure is now only 6% - reflecting inflation. This reduces the waiting list with better outcomes, represents good value for taxpayers' money but importantly is still free at the point of delivery to the patient.

• To secure the best value for taxpayers, the Government has introduced tough new financial controls to cut down on waste in the NHS, including introducing caps for agency staff and management consultants, and introducing central procurement rules.