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David Cameron renews 'seven day NHS' promise

Prime Minister David Cameron has renewed his pledge to boost NHS funding and create a "seven-day" health service in his first major speech since the Tory’s election victory.

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BMA: PM's NHS speech 'empty headline-grabbing'

British Medical Association council chairman Dr Mark Porter has dismissed David Cameron's speech on the NHS as being "empty headline-grabbing".

Earlier, the Prime reaffirmed his commitment to "transform" health services and "become the first country in the world to deliver a truly seven-day NHS".

Crucially, the £8 billion promised by the Prime Minister is the bare minimum needed for the NHS to simply stand still and will not pay for extra services. The real question for the Government is how they plan to deliver additional care when the NHS is facing a funding gap of £30 billion and there is a chronic shortage of GPs and hospital doctors, especially in acute and emergency medicine, where access to 24-hour care is vital.

Without the answer to these questions this announcement is empty headline-grabbing and shows that, even after polling day, politicians are still avoiding the difficult questions and continuing to play games with the NHS.

– British Medical Association council chairman Dr Mark Porter

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