Last night the prime minister said in his broadcast to the nation: “If we let this virus get out of control now, it would mean that our NHS had no space – once again – to deal with cancer patients and millions of other non-COVID medical needs.” Responding to this, the chief executive of NHS Providers, Chris Hopson, said:

“While the prime minister wanted to stress the importance of protecting the NHS, the words he used, implying that the NHS was providing a COVID-only service during the first peak, were untrue, unfair and potentially dangerous.

“They were untrue because, even at the peak of the pandemic, for every one COVID patient in hospital, there were two non-COVID inpatients being treated for other conditions. And that’s just hospital activity - ambulance, mental health and community services were working flat out against the virus and providing their usual services mostly as normal.

“By saying the NHS had no space for non-COVID patients, he is also ignoring the efforts of hundreds of thousands of NHS staff who worked relentlessly to keep the NHS open for ordinary business while coping with the worst global pandemic in a century. To dismiss their work, by implying that it didn’t exist, is unfair.

“His words are also potentially dangerous. They give the impression that there is little point in non-COVID patients presenting themselves for diagnosis or treatment because the NHS would be unable to care for them.

“Strict hand hygiene, observing social distancing and following the latest guidance will help protect the NHS in any second wave of coronavirus. But the NHS has always been, and continues to be, there for COVID and non-COVID patients alike. Those are the messages the prime minister should be broadcasting to the nation.”