Responding to the appointment of Rt Hon Jeremy Hunt MP as the new chancellor of the exchequer, the interim chief executive of NHS Providers, Saffron Cordery said:

"Leaders across NHS trusts will welcome the rapid appointment of Jeremy Hunt as the new chancellor at a time of major instability both for the economy and the NHS.

"His long tenure as health and social care secretary and chair of the health and social care select committee will ensure he is no stranger to the need to take urgent action to tackle the challenges facing the NHS and public services right now.

"The NHS budget is taking hits in every direction, with high energy costs, inflation, the cost of pay awards not fully funded by the government and cuts in funding to deal with the continuing impact of COVID-19 all taking their toll.

"Last week's warnings from national NHS leaders that investment in key services such as cancer, mental health and primary care may have to be completely revisited because of these serious budgetary pressures will surely give the new chancellor pause for thought as will the ongoing cost of living crisis and staggering levels of staff vacancies.

"The new chancellor has been a strong advocate of a long-term, fully costed and fully funded national plan to help the NHS attract and keep the staff it so desperately needs – and we look forward to working with him, the health and social care secretary and NHS England to deliver this.

"We also need a step change in capital investment as well as urgent clarity on the delayed New Hospitals Programme. Just yesterday, we learned that the repair bill facing NHS buildings and hospitals had reached a eye-watering £10.2bn.

"Finally, we must see investment in social care. For far too long, governments of all colours have dodged decisions on social care investment and reform. We would strongly urge the new chancellor to push ahead with much needed change."