'We'll fix this problem'... Rishi pledges £1bn cure for the NHS

RISHI Sunak vowed to slash NHS emergency waiting lists in record time as he announced a major expansion of hospital beds and ambulances.

- Martyn Brown

The Prime Minister insisted the £1billion plan would help "fix this problem" as part of his two-year recovery plan for the health service.

It will see the NHS buy 800 more ambulances, open 5,000 new hospital beds and treat thousands more patients at home via video link in so-called "virtual wards".

But critics say serious questions remain about the number of staff needed to improve NHS care. Currently one in 10 posts in the NHS is vacant.

The King's Fund health think-tank said until that issue was addressed it was "hard to see" how the plan would have an impact.

Under the plans, the Government has set goals that by March 2024 76 percent of A&E patients will be dealt with in four hours.

Currently, fewer than 70 percent are and the official target is 95 per cent.

It also aims for an average response time of 30 minutes for category 2 emergency calls such as heart attacks and strokes over the course of 2023/24. In December, patients waited more than 90 minutes. The official target is 18 minutes.