Theresa May has told the head of the NHS that it will get no extra money despite rapidly escalating problems that led to warnings this week that hospitals are close to breaking point. The prime minister dashed any hopes of a cash boost in next month’s autumn statement when she met Simon Stevens, the chief executive of NHS England, senior NHS sources have told the Guardian. Health experts warned that the NHS would have to ration treatment, shut hospital units and cut staff if it gets no extra money soon. Nigel Edwards, chief executive of the Nuffield Trust health thinktank, said: “If the government has firmly decided not to revisit NHS funding, this underlines that the health service faces four very difficult years. “The view from the top of government appears to be that the NHS has been given the extra money it asked for and should deliver what is expected of it.

Source: The Guardian October 14, 2016 18:56 UTC