Theresa May is promising the big bucks for the 70th birthday of the NHS (Picture: REX/Shutterstock)

The cash-strapped NHS will receive an extra £20 billion a year by 2023, Theresa May will announce.

But the Prime Minister will warn that taxes will have to rise to pay for the boost, which is being described as a 70th birthday present for the health service.

The PM says the money will partly come from a ‘Brexit dividend’, as the UK will no longer have to pay for EU membership.

May’s announcement hails a major break from nearly a decade of austerity, and it goes well beyond Boris Johnson’s infamous Brexit promise of £350 million extra a week for the NHS.




Mrs May says her £20 billion windfall is equivalent to £600 million a week in today’s cash terms.

Remember Boris’ battle bus pledge? Well, this blows it out the water. (Picture: Getty Images)

The PM says the money will partly come from a ‘Brexit dividend’ (Picture: PA)

Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt said: ‘As the Prime Minister announces a historic long-term funding boost and 10-year plan for the health service, we are backing the NHS to show the world what a cutting-edge 21st century healthcare system can look like too.

‘This long-term plan and historic funding boost is a fitting birthday present for our most loved institution. Like no other organisation could ever hope to be, the NHS is there for every family at the best and worst of times, from the wonder of birth to the devastation of death, living and breathing those very British values of decency, fairness and compassion.

‘It recognises the superhuman efforts made by staff over the last few years to maintain services in the face of rapidly growing demand.

‘But it also presents a big opportunity for the NHS to write an entirely new chapter in its history.’

Chief executive of NHS England, Simon Stevens, said: ‘As the NHS turns 70, we can now face the next five years with renewed certainty. This multi-year settlement provides the funding we need to shape a long-term plan for key improvements in cancer, mental health and other critical services.

‘And the invitation to the NHS to develop consensus proposals for legislation will help accelerate the move to more integrated care, and ensure taxpayers’ money is spent to maximum benefit.’

Got a story for Metro.co.uk? If you have a story for our news team, email us at webnews@metro.co.uk. You can also follow us on Facebook and Twitter.