Responding to new findings from the Liberal Democrats which show NHS hospitals are using hundreds of outdated x-ray machines, CT scanners and radiotherapy machines, the deputy chief executive of NHS Providers, Saffron Cordery said:

"With care backlogs at a record high, it's more important than ever that the NHS has diagnostic equipment such as X-ray machines, CT or MRI scanners that are fit for purpose.

"This is vital so that frontline staff can deliver care in a timely way and trusts aren't forced to use hard-pressed budgets to fix obsolete equipment.

"But years of under-investment in facilities across the NHS has left too many providers with inadequate buildings, failing equipment, such as old CT scanners and unreliable mobile X-ray machines, and an inability to adopt new technologies to improve care.

"Trust leaders were left sorely disappointed by the lack of an announcement on the New Hospitals Programme and the £10.75bn maintenance backlog facing the NHS – including the urgent need to replace dangerous concrete planks – in the Budget.

"The government needs to sustain and increase the NHS capital budget if we are going to transform the delivery of healthcare and modernise the ageing NHS estate."