Welcoming the appointment of Rt Hon Rishi Sunak MP as prime minister, the interim chief executive of NHS Providers, Saffron Cordery said:

"NHS trust leaders don't need any more political and economic upheaval and uncertainty.

"They've been getting on with their jobs managing major waiting lists and spiralling demand while grappling with record levels of workforce shortages.

"They have been working tirelessly to deliver their side of the bargain. We are asking the new prime minister and his government to deliver theirs and to focus on the major and mounting concerns affecting health and care, described just last week as 'gridlocked' by the independent regulator.

"We need decisive action to tackle funding for public services that is diminishing daily due to soaring inflation, the cost of pay awards not fully funded by the government, and cuts in funding to deal with the ongoing costs of COVID-19.

"We need bold steps to tackle the key challenges facing the NHS and social care, including severe staff shortages, treatment backlogs, NHS funding and social care reform.

"And we need delays to the government's commitment to build 40 new hospitals by 2030 to stop. It's vital we have decisive action to improve the condition of the wider NHS estate, which is putting patient and staff safety at risk and undermining the productivity of services.

"Trust leaders know tough times and difficult decisions are ahead. But enforcing further efficiencies or raiding capital budgets to make up for shortfalls in NHS funding is not the answer. There is a very real risk this could further delay access to treatments at a time when trusts are doing everything they can to navigate these challenges.

"We are urging the new prime minister and his government to work with leaders across the NHS and social care to find solutions."