Jonathan Ashworth MP, Labour’s Shadow Health and Social Care Secretary, responding to NHS Improvement’s report on the performance of the NHS provider sector in Q2 2018/19, said:

“Not only has the Health Secretary been forced to bin the NHS Plan next week because of Government squabbling, we now learn hospitals are in the red to the tune of £1.23 billion.

“With doctors warning we are on the brink of another winter crisis, it’s becoming increasingly clear the Government haven’t got a grip and it’s patients who will lose out yet again.”