article: The former head of the NHS warned Labour yesterday that its failure to match Tory pledges to invest in the Health Service would leave it in a ‘financial hole’. Sir David Nicholson is the latest expert to warn that Ed Miliband’s plans will not provide enough cash to keep the service going. He was branded the ‘Man with No Shame’ after refusing to resign over the Mid Staffs scandal which led to 1,200 needless deaths. Sir David: The former head of the NHS's criticism of Labour threatens to demolish its claim to be the champion of the NHS . Published in The Daily Mail, February 7, 2013 . The lifelong bureaucrat had led the West Midlands Strategic Health Authority, which oversaw Mid Staffs, before Labour appointed him to run the NHS in 2006. Sir David stayed in the top job, insisting he did not know what went on at Mid Staffs, until retiring in April last year with a pension pot worth almost £2 million. His replacement as chief executive Simon Stevens drew up a £30billion five-year rescue package called Forward View which the Conservatives and Lib Dems have both pledged to implement. It involves the NHS finding £22billion in savings but also needs an extra £8billion funding by 2020. Labour has paid lip service to the plan, promising just £2.5billion. Sir David said: ‘All of the parties now I think, bar Labour, have signed up to the £8billion so it’s important, obviously, we get all the political parties signed up. ‘They haven’t said the £8billion, it would be helpful, I think, for the NHS if they did.’ His comments add to a chorus of criticism over Labour’s health plans. Mike Dixon, a leading GP and chairman of the NHS Alliance, said he was ‘extremely worried by the lack of political consensus around the £8billion funding’. He added: ‘NHS leaders have been clear that this is the minimum amount needed to maintain current service provision. It’s not rocket science to predict the impact on the NHS if this commitment is not met. ‘Patients would face longer waits, services would face severe cuts and rationing, and many hospitals and GP practices would struggle to survive in their current form.’ Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt said Labour must explain why it won't find the money the NHS 'says it needs' Chris Ham, chief executive of the King’s Fund think-tank, said: ‘The big question is about funding, with Labour the only one of the three main parties not to have pledged to find the £8billion in additional funding called for in the NHS five-year Forward View. ‘Given this is the minimum if the NHS is to continue to meet patient needs and maintain standards of care, this leaves a significant gap at the heart of its plans.’ Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt said: ‘Labour must explain why they won’t find the money the NHS says it needs. ‘They don’t have a plan for the economy and that means they’ll never be able to fund the NHS.’ Sir David warned that the scale of the impending cash crisis was so great that the Tories and Lib Dems would have to rein in plans to expand services, despite being committed to the £8billion. His criticism of Labour threatens to demolish its claim to be the champion of the NHS. The party has run a controversial poster campaign claiming the Conservatives would cut the NHS ‘to the bone’. But senior figures have confirmed that Labour would not match Tory spending plans. Shadow health secretary Andy Burnham said a planned shake-up of NHS services by Labour meant the ‘funding gap...may be smaller’.
highlights: Sir David Nicholson warned Labour about failing to match Tory NHS pledge .
  Former head of NHS said it would leave Health Service in a 'financial hole'
  Branded 'Man with No Shame' on refusing to resign over Mid Staffs scandal .
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