A MEASURE intended to protect future spending on the National Health Service has the support of a local MP.

He says that the measure will be especially important for an area like Ludlow and south Shropshire.

Former Health Minister and Ludlow MP Philip Dunne has welcomed the news that the Government has delivered on its manifesto pledge to enshrine the historic £33.9 billion funding boost for the NHS into law.

The Funding Bill to enshrine in law an extra £33.9 billion every year by 2023-24 for the NHS to transform care has started its passage through Parliament.

This is the first time any government has placed such a commitment to public services in legislation, ensuring world-class services for millions of patients, according to Mr Dunne.

The record funding boost will help to deliver on other manifesto commitments such as delivering 50,000 more nurses and 50 million more GP surgery appointments – in addition to the extra funding that has been committed to build 40 new hospitals and upgrade 20 more, he adds.

It will be one of the first pieces of domestic legislation to go through Parliament since the Government took office.

“This Government has been clear it will focus on the people’s priorities,” said Mr Dunne.

“The public rightly expect a world-class NHS, which is properly funded for the future. This is especially so here in Shropshire, where our NHS is under pressure for more resources to meet growing demand across the health system.

“That is why we are introducing legislation to give our NHS a £33.9 billion a year cash injection by 2023-24, the biggest ever in its history.

“With this we will be able to deliver more doctors and nurses, as well as building more hospitals and ensure that people see results in frontline services.”

Campaigners say that health services in Shropshire are seriously underfunded.