Labour responds to NHS pay rise coming from within existing budgets

“In a sleight of hand Sajid Javid is refusing to back up the £2.2 billion pay settlement with the cash needed, instead expecting overstretched hospitals to find this extra money.

“The NHS is in a summer crisis with rising Covid admissions, cancer operations cancelled, emergency demand intensifying and ambulance trusts under pressure.

“The NHS needs a fully funded plan to provide quality care, and bring ballooning waiting lists down. Alongside this, Ministers must provide the NHS with the extra investment required to give staff a pay rise.”