Heidi Alexander MP, Labour’s Shadow Health Secretary, responding to reports about emails from Lord Prior, said: “It’s no wonder people don’t trust the Tories with the NHS when they say one thing in public and another in private.

"Patients deserve to know whether the Minister responsible for making £22 billion worth of efficiency savings in the NHS still holds these views.

"With hospitals facing financial crisis this winter, the Government must now come clean about what their plans to squeeze the NHS involve.”