I appreciate concerns about Addenbrooke's Hospital and I believe that patients have the right to expect the highest quality care from their local health services. I am, therefore, pleased at the Government’s introduction of the Care Quality Commission's rigorous inspection regime. It is crucial that Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust continues to work closely with regulators and take advantage of the support available to urgently put in place the necessary improvements. After seeing what happened with Mid-Staffordshire Hospital, it’s very important to ensure we have the highest quality regulatory regime
I have personal experience of working with the NHS: I spent almost 7 years working with them. Therefore, I strongly believe that it is something to be valued and protected. Ministers have been able to protect the NHS by increasing spending by £7 billion in real terms over the last five years because of the Government's long-term economic plan.
The Prime Minister has made a commitment to increase spending on the NHS in this Parliament and I support the Government's commitment to increase NHS spending in England by a minimum of £8 billion in real terms over the next five years. This will enable the NHS to implement its own plan for the future to further improve health care in the Five Year Forward View, improving the care available in hospitals such as RUH in Bath. Combined with the efficiencies that the NHS Forward View sets out, this will provide the funding necessary to implement this plan in full.