What is really going on in politics? Get our daily email briefing straight to your inbox Sign up Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

The NHS has been brought to its knees by Tory cuts and now stands on a “burning platform” that is ­risking the lives of patients, experts have warned.

And unless Theresa May abandons her dangerous austerity on health care and invests in its future it is feared the system may never recover from the damage she and Jeremy Hunt have inflicted.

A damning report by the Care Quality Commission has revealed four in five hospitals are now no longer safe enough for patients to use because of cuts.

As tens of thousands of doctors, nurses, patients and public plan to march in London on Saturday calling on the Tories to end its NHS war, the chief inspector of hospitals revealed the full scale of the crisis gripping the service.

Professor Sir Mike Richards said: “The NHS now stands on a burning platform, the need for change is clear, but finding the resources and energy to deliver that change while simultaneously providing safe patient care can seem almost ­impossible.

(Image: PA)

"The scale of the challenge hospitals are facing is unprecedented… rising demand coupled with economic pressures are creating situations that are putting patient care at risk.

“What is clear is that while staff continue to work hard to deliver good care, the model of care that once worked well cannot continue to meet the needs of today’s population.”

The CQC report praised the ­dedication of frontline NHS staff who are working under immense ­pressure to deliver care while starved of resources.

It said waits for operations and test results, a shortage of nurses and midwives, ­overcrowding in A&Es and bed blocking due to lack of social care were among the ­problems workers and patients had to contend with on a daily basis.

The PM and her Health ­Secretary Mr Hunt arrogantly continue to insist the NHS is safe in Tory hands.

(Image: Liverpool Echo)

Video Loading Video Unavailable Click to play Tap to play The video will start in 8 Cancel Play now

But Royal College of Nursing Chief Executive and General Secretary Janet Davies said: “This report confirms what we already know, safe staffing levels are not a luxury, they are a necessity.

"Ministers have a chance to begin putting this right in next week’s Budget. Nurses are doing the best they can but are being spread ever-more thinly.

"When there are too few nurses, it puts patients at serious risk. The Government must give the NHS the money it needs to keep patients safe and wards well-staffed.”

Shadow Health Secretary Jonathan Ashworth added: “The CQC’s stark warning that our NHS stands on a ‘burning platform’ must be at the forefront of the ­Chancellor’s priorities next week.

Staff cannot be expected to pick up the pieces from this Government’s failure to properly fund our NHS and social care.”

(Image: PA)

The GMB union’s Rehana Azam said: “The CQC report provides yet more evidence the NHS is being driven into the ground. How many more warnings does Mr Hunt need before he acts to save our health service?”

The CQC’s State of Hospitals review of all 136 trusts found 11% were ­inadequate on safety and 70% required ­improvement. None achieved outstanding status in this area.

It said: “Safety remains our biggest concern, with four out of five trusts needing to improve.” But no trust got a low score for caring.

It added: “Frontline staff are the heroes. We found high levels of compassionate care in virtually every hospital.”

Casualties, wards and even ­hospitals face closure due to cuts.

But NHS chief Simon Stevens will today warn bosses can only axe beds if it can be proven they are not needed – unlikely given the high demand.

The Mirror last week told how health spending is growing at the slowest rate since 1955.