NHS calls on politicians to follow through on funding promises

The head of the National Health Service has urged political leaders to follow through on their pledge to increase funding for the body following Britain's decision to leave the European Union in last month's historic election.

Simon Stevens wrote a message to all NHS staff after a leading think-tank warned of the significant risks that the public health body faces in its current position.

Anita Charlesworth, director of research and economics at the Health Foundation, said it was widely anticipated that leaving the EU would lead to lower economic growth “and when the economy sneezes, the NHS catches a cold”.

In the email, which was leaked on Dropbox, Stevens talks of the difficulties that lie ahead.

"Both Leave and Remain campaigned for a strong - and indeed a better funded - National Health Service. So the public, regardless of how they voted, will rightly want our new political leaders to deliver on that promise."

The head of the organisation also paid tribute to the thousands of immigrants who contribute to the work done in the health service.

The head of the organisation also paid tribute to the thousands of immigrants who contribute to the work done in the health service

"It's well worth recalling that there's never been a single year in our history when alongside brilliant staff from this country, the health service has not also relied on committed employees from around the world," said Stevens.

Leaders of the Brexit campaign came under fire in the aftermath of the result of the referendum, as their pledge to reinvest the £350mn a week given to Brussels into hospitals and clinics was later taken back.

Nigel Farage admitted it was a "mistake" to make the promise only an hour after the official result, while prime ministerial hopeful Michael Gove said in his leadership speech that £100mn would go to the NHS.

Nigel Farage admitted it was a "mistake" to make the promise only an hour after the official result

Stevens distanced himself from the political wranglings at Westminster, saying that him and his organisation have other things to focus on.

"So rather than being distracted by the current Westminster swirl, we're going to be using the coming months to get on with what NHS England was set up to deliver: a steady hand on the tiller, providing operationally-independent leadership for the NHS on behalf of patients and the public."