Theresa May 'must promise cash boost for dangerously overstretched NHS'

Theresa May must promise extra money for the NHS as it is "dangerously overstretched", Labour has said, following reports that the Prime Minister would deny it a cash boost.

Shadow health secretary Jonathan Ashworth said the NHS was facing a cash crisis and is now at a "tipping point".

The Government has pledged to increase NHS funding by £10 billion a year by 2020, although the exact level of money coming forward is disputed.

According to the Guardian, Mrs May has told NHS England chief executive Simon Stevens it will get no extra money in Chancellor Philip Hammond's Autumn Statement on November 23.

Downing Street said it would not comment on private meetings, but Mr Ashworth said: "The NHS is facing a funding crisis with hospitals, GP surgeries and social care dangerously overstretched.

"Just last week we were warned the social care sector was on the verge of 'tipping point'.

"One in four patients are waiting a week or more to see their GP, or not getting an appointment at all, and thousands of patients are waiting hours in A&E and hospital trolleys.

"The crisis is of this Government's own making and it's up to Theresa May and Jeremy Hunt to take action. The Tories promised during the last election they'd properly fund our NHS.

"This is yet another example of Tory broken promises."