UK PM May promises extra £20bn for NHS but warns of tax increases

British Prime Minister Theresa May has pledged extra funding for the country’s healthcare post-Brexit, but warned that taxes would be raised.

May made the announcement on Sunday, before the National Health Service’s 70th birthday next month, saying voters will be asked to “contribute more” to pay for healthcare funding boost.

“By the end of five years, in 2023/24, the NHS will be getting 20 billion pounds more in real terms that year, than it is today,” May told LBC Radio in an interview.

“We take the advantage that we’ve got of the money we’re no longer sending to the European Union, but also in putting the amount of money we want to put into the NHS for the future, I think we do have to look at contributing more.”

Asked about tax increase, May said her finance minister would set out plans for a government spending review expected to be held next year.

She also said the increased contribution from taxpayers would be carried out in a “fair and balanced” way.

Health Minister Jeremy Hunt, who campaigned for Britain to remain in the EU, said that the new pledge “can now unite us all,” according to the Sunday Telegraph.

NHS, which is the publicly funded national healthcare system for England and one of the four National Health Services of the UK, is facing a serious crisis.

In February, thousands of people in London marched on Downing Street demanding an end to the persisting crisis affecting the NHS and challenging Hunt to adequately fund it.

The protest began after the NHS had come under intense pressure by the country’s lawmakers to cut costs and even privatize amid continuing shortages of healthcare providers and equipment and numerous problems in timely treatment of patients.

The protesters, including healthcare workers, patients, union members and activists, joined forces to demand an end to the “crisis” in the NHS and press for more funding from the Tory Health Secretary to finance more hospital beds as well as medical staff.