A £20.5billion a year funding boost for the NHS, announced by PM Theresa May, means more doctors, more nurses and improved mental health services in Redditch says MP Rachel Maclean.

As the NHS approaches its 70th birthday, the Prime Minister revealed long-term plans for the NHS to ensure it will be there for future generations.

Under the plan, NHS funding will increase on average by 3.4 per cent in real terms each year from 2019-20 to 2023-24.

And by 2023-24, the NHS England budget will increase by £20.5billion in real terms compared with today.

That means it will be £394million a week higher in real terms.

Some of the extra funding for the NHS will come from using the money we no longer spend on our annual membership subscription to the European Union.

But, taxpayers in Redditch and across the country will have to contribute a bit more to support the NHS.

The Chancellor will set out further detail on this later this year.

In return for this increase in spending on the NHS, the Government will agree with the NHS later this year a 10-year plan for its future.

Redditch MP Rachel Maclean said: “The NHS has always been there for me and my family. I’ve given birth to all my children in the NHS, and was in A&E only last month for a foot fracture. It is absolutely right the Government continues to invest in the NHS which we all use.

“I have heard from many constituents who have all told me they don’t mind paying a little bit more in tax in order to give the NHS the extra funding it needs.

"However, we need to make sure the increase in taxes is done in a fair and balanced way."

Mrs Maclean added: "When voting for Brexit, the people of Redditch sent a clear message that they no longer want the UK to be sending billions of pounds each year to the EU. This of course will end once we have left the EU and we will be able to use this money on the NHS.

“The £394million a week means more doctors, more nurses and improved mental health services. It also means improved services for patients and better patient outcomes, which I’m sure everyone in Redditch will welcome.

“This funding boost for the Alex will ensure our town’s hospital becomes a centre of excellence and is there for future generations. I will of course make sure Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust gets its fair share of the £394million a week.”