Responding to chancellor of the exchequer, the Rt Hon Jeremy Hunt MP's interview on Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg today, the interim chief executive of NHS Providers, Saffron Cordery said:

"Leaders across the NHS recognise the need to regain economic and financial stability given the turmoil of recent weeks, but the new chancellor will know better than most that making 'difficult decisions' for NHS funding risks having major consequences for patient care.

"Trust leaders are already making difficult decisions every day, as they grapple with funding for public services that are diminishing daily due to soaring inflation, the cost of pay awards not fully funded by the government and cuts in funding to deal with the ongoing costs of COVID-19.

"These vital services are managing COVID-19, workforce shortages, major waiting lists, and spiralling demand as we head into what's expected to be an incredibly challenging winter.

"Enforcing further efficiencies will be incredibly difficult to manage, and we are concerned this could further delay access to treatments at a time when trusts are doing everything they can to navigate these challenges.

"Ahead of any 'difficult decisions', we must consider the impact on health and social care."