Image copyright School report Image caption Doctor David Levy spoke to School Reporters about the NHS

The UK government should implement a "tax on sugar", says leading NHS doctor David Levy.

Levy, the regional medical director for NHS Midlands and East, argued the British public eat too much sugar and that putting a tax on the food would be the most effective method of lowering consumption, and improving our health.

"That money could then go back into the NHS," he told BBC News School Report.

"The NHS sees around a million patients every 36 hours, so there's a lot we need to do to manage that."

Despite his calls for a sugar tax, Levy also echoed the 'Five Year Forward View' set out in the recent policy statement from the head of NHS England, Simon Stevens.

Image copyright School report Image caption The School Reporters asked Dr Levy how politicians could do more for the NHS

The document suggests that future planning for the NHS must start locally rather than in Whitehall.

"What I'd like to see is politicians perhaps not being quite so involved, and letting us get on with the job we need to do."

Speaking to students from Saffron Walden County High School, Dr Levy also explained that efforts are being made to "simplify" the NHS, which could help to ease overcrowding in hospitals.

"What we're trying to do is to simplify, and signpost it so that it's much easier for patients and their carers to know where to go, rather than sometimes ending up in hospital when they don't need to be there."