LETTER: Must ensure NHS is funded

In the south east, hospitals, general practice and social care have been pushed to breaking point as years of underinvestment has left NHS staff and services worryingly overstretched.

Indeed, a recent BMA survey revealed that doctors are becoming increasingly concerned over funding cuts and the impact on patient care, with more than half of doctors surveyed reporting that quality of care had become worse in the last year, with only three per cent believing it had improved.

With the NHS facing a £30billion deficit by 2020 the situation needs urgent attention as worsening NHS performance figures, increased waiting times for treatment and bed shortages are having a direct impact on patient care and safety.

Despite having one of the best health care systems in the world, years of underinvestment in the face of rising patient demand means the NHS is now failing too many patients, too often.

Whoever leads the next Government must ensure that NHS funding keeps pace with other European nations, that EU doctors in the UK and UK doctors in the EU are protected from the impact of Brexit, that general practice is properly supported, that policies protect and enhance the public’s health, and that the pressures impacting the day-to-day delivering of high-quality, safe care are tackled.

Dr John MacKinnon

BMA South East regional council chair