Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey has called for a “budget for the NHS” as he said the government faces a “stark choice” between investing in the health service or continued decline.

Sir Ed has said that the NHS “isn’t working the way it used to” and that his party will use their “new strength in Parliament” to “champion” the service.

The party wants an extra £1.1 billion a year of capital investment in NHS infrastructure to help fix hospitals and buy new equipment, and would also like an additional £3.7 billion a year in day-to-day NHS spending to fund more GPs and dentist appointments.

Sir Ed said on Sunday: “We heard time and again during the election campaign from people who have been let down appallingly because they can’t access the high-quality healthcare they need – patients stuck on endless waiting lists, being treated in crumbling hospital buildings, or waiting hours in anguish for an ambulance to arrive.

“The sad truth is the NHS simply isn’t working the way it used to, after years of the Conservative government driving local health services into the ground.

“The Liberal Democrats will use our new strength in Parliament to champion the NHS and care and repair the appalling damage done by the Conservatives.

“We need to see a budget for the NHS, with investment to fix our crumbling hospitals, replace ageing equipment and ensure people can see a GP or dentist when they need to.

“The government can only deliver the improvements that patients urgently need with additional investment in the NHS alongside reform. The government faces a stark choice: invest more in the NHS or accept continued decline.”

Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey in Brighton
Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey speaks to the media in Brighton as the party’s autumn conference began at the Brighton Centre on Saturday (Jamie Lashmar/PA)

It comes after a damning report from former health minister Lord Darzi earlier this week, which said that the health service “is in critical condition, but its vital signs are strong”.

The review set out widespread issues, including a failure to cut waits in A&E, missed targets for treatment and cancer care, alongside low productivity in hospitals despite investment in staffing.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said following the report’s release that there will be no more money for the NHS without reform.

Speaking at the King’s Fund annual conference in London, Sir Keir said: “Reform does not mean just putting more money in.

“Of course, even in difficult financial circumstances, a Labour Government will always make the investment in the NHS that is needed, but we have to fix the plumbing before we turn on the taps.

“So, hear me when I say this, no more money without reform.”

Chancellor Rachel Reeves is due to deliver the Budget next month, and the Prime Minister has previously warned that the statement will be “painful”.

The Liberal Democrats opened their autumn conference in Brighton on Saturday and it will continue until Tuesday.