Virtually everybody contributes to The NHS in some way, there is no special The NHS tax, The NHS is not just funded out of income tax, The NHS is funded out of all taxes, so everybody is putting in something, and the deal is, no matter who you are, whether you're the Queen or me, there's equal access to the things you need when you need them, and The NHS's decided not on your income but on your healthcare needs.

John Appleby

As the election promises roll in, we should be under no illusion about the money, staff and time it will take to turn this situation around.

People would not put up with politicians messing around with the very basics of the The NHS.