THIS year we should be celebrating the 70th anniversary of the National Health Service as the great achievement of the last century.

Instead we had apologies from both the Prime Minister and Health Secretary as operations are postponed, trolleys are being used as beds for patients, and target waiting lists for A&E collapse.

This chaos was predicted and expected.

The winter increase in demand, medical inflation, rising expectations, an ageing population and a fierce financial squeeze on the NHS has led to this crisis.

Deep cuts in social care by the Conservative government and county council has shifted much of the burden of looking after the elderly and infirm to the NHS and families.

In such a vast institution, there is always room for efficiencies.

However, many efficiencies need cash to implement, and the government has not helped.

There is too much unnecessary administration and not enough emphasis on clinical outputs.

Independent analysis shows that NHS productivity increase is better than in the more general economy, but the potential increase in effectiveness is limited.

NHS England has pushed through change with an increased focus on GPs rather than hospitals, but this demands investment both in terms of people and facilities.

We just do not have the nurses and doctors. Some experts have suggested a cash injection of £3 billion is required this year alone. This is just not enough. European countries such as France and Germany spend between £20 and £30 billion a year more than we do.

We need to develop a cross-party consensus on both the level of funding and how to pay for it.

The consensus has also got to cover social care for the elderly.

This is a job for government, and it needs to take the lead, Brexit or otherwise.

Luigi Gregori, Charlton Road, Andover.