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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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Patients Association: 'Serious questions' need to be asked

The chief executive of the Patients Association said "serious questions" need to be asked about how the "financial crisis" was allowed to develop with the NHS.

We have had a significant amount of money pumped into the NHS in the past, but patients are still receiving substandard care. We receive many calls to our Helpline about delays in treatment, incorrect diagnosis and undignified care.

We cannot use lack of funding as an excuse for poor patient care and every effort must be made to ensure that the NHS provides safe high quality care and maintains dignity for its patients at all times.

– chief executive of the Patients Association, Katherine Murphy

Ms Murphy added that there is "clearly an urgent need" for addressing these financial issues and and for targeting programmes which will "improve the funding situation" and enable better care for patients.

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