NHS needs extra £4bn next year because of Covid, Rishi Sunak told

Leaders say service needs cash to tackle surgery backlog and mental health demand

NHS leaders are urging Rishi Sunak to fulfil his pledge to give the service “whatever it needs” to respond to the coronavirus crisis, by boosting its budget by £4bn next year.

NHS services need the money to tackle the huge backlog of patients waiting for surgery and the sharp increase in people needing mental health care as a direct result of the pandemic.