NHS sinks into £7bn cash crisis as inflation and strikes bite

Soaring deficits at health trusts across England cast doubt on Sunak's waiting lists pledge

The NHS is heading into an unprecedented financial crisis and will overspend its budget by at least 7bn next year as the effects of inflation and strikes plunge hospital trusts into alarming levels of debt, according to leading independent experts.

The problem of soaring deficits is hitting a growing number of trusts across England ahead of a likely general election within 12 months, and will raise further serious doubts about Rishi Sunak's chances of meeting his pledge to cut record waiting lists.