Responding to comments made at NHS England's board meeting today regarding NHS finances, NHS Providers' interim deputy chief executive and director of policy and strategy Miriam Deakin said:

"Warnings from national NHS leaders today that investment in key services such as cancer, mental health and primary care may have to be completely revisited because of pressures on health budgets will be met with deep concern by trust leaders and patients alike.

"The stretching efficiency targets placed on trusts this year were based on a set of assumptions that have been overtaken by events.

"Trusts are facing additional cost pressures caused by workforce shortages, increased activity to tackle backlogs, and a cut in funding to deal with the continuing impact of COVID-19.

"Then there's the government's failure to fully fund the staff pay award – another financial hit.

"Inflation is eating into NHS budgets, making it even harder to meet ever-growing demand.

"Everyone in the NHS is dedicated to delivering high-quality care, but this will be increasingly difficult to deliver as trust leaders grapple with budget constraints, staggering levels of staff vacancies and what is expected to be an incredibly difficult winter ahead with a potential 'twindemic' of COVID-19 and flu on the horizon."