Jonathan Ashworth MP, Labour’s Shadow Health Secretary, commenting on reports in the HSJ that hospitals have been told to stop ‘most’ operations over Christmas, said:

“'This leaked memo represents a damning indictment of Theresa May’s mismanagement of the NHS and is yet another indication of how it is struggling to the cope with increased pressures during winter. 

“The Tory failure to provide the NHS with the funding it needs means that hospitals are having to close operating theatres over Christmas just to get through the winter. This short term fix is only going to store up problems and leave more and more people stuck on waiting lists. 

“The Tories need to take urgent action now to provide the NHS with the funding it needs.”