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Government ploughed 'over half a billion' into cash-strapped NHS Trusts

The Government pumped more than half a billion pounds of emergency funds into cash-strapped NHS trusts last year, according to a "deeply alarming" report.

The MP who chairs the influential Public Accounts Committee said the findings by the National Audit Office showed "the future sustainability of the NHS is at risk".

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Labour: Emergency cash shows NHS 'heading for the rocks'

Shadow health secretary Andy Burnham Credit: PA

The £511 million diverted to failing hospital trusts shows the "NHS is heading for the rocks", according to Labour.

Shadow Health Secretary Andy Burnham said the report on emergency funds used to prop up NHS bodies slipping into debt was a "devastating verdict" on coalition reforms.

This report delivers a devastating verdict on the NHS reorganisation David Cameron said would not happen. It has brought the NHS to the brink of bankruptcy by wasting £3 billion.

Across England, the NHS is running out of money and patient care is heading backwards. It is clear ministers have lost control of NHS finances, with a massive deterioration in the last year.

The NHS is heading for the rocks. It proves David Cameron cannot be trusted with it. He must produce an urgent plan to show how he'll turn the NHS around.

Labour will rescue the NHS with our £2.5 billion Time to Care package which will fund new staff including 20,000 more nurses - investment the Tories will not match.

– Andy Burnham

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