Bob Kerslake has quit his senior role in the NHS because he believes the Government is failing to understand the scale of the funding shortfall, which is plunging the health service into disarray.
He has resigned as the chair of the board at King’s College hospital in London.
He told the Guardian : “My two and half years at King’s have been in equal parts inspiring and frustrating.
“There are undoubtedly things that I and the trust could have done better – there always are – but fundamentally our problems lie in the way that the NHS is funded and organised. We desperately need a fundamental rethink.”
Kerslake’s is the latest high-profile criticism of the way the NHS is being funded.
He said in the paper: “I have this weekend decided to stand down from my role as chair of King’s College hospital, London.
This was not a decision that I took lightly. I love King’s and have the highest regard for the people who work there. But in the end I have concluded that the government and its regulator, NHS Improvement, are simply not facing up to the enormous challenges that the NHS is currently facing.
This is especially true in London where the demands of a rapidly growing population are not being matched by the extra resources we need.”
Sir Simon Stevens, head of NHS England, has also recently asked for an additional £4bn cash injection, to try and keep the NHS in working order.
Today I have resigned as Chairman of @KingsCollegeNHS. I do not do this lightly as I love King’s but believe the Govt & regulator are unrealistic about the scale of the challenge facing the NHS & the Trust. I want to pay tribute to the staff & their excellent patient care.
— Bob Kerslake (@SirBobKerslake) December 10, 2017
This is terrible news. Indictment of govt custodianship of vital NHS. Thank you @SirBobKerslake for striving and caring. U.K. Govt, listen to what he’s saying, act on it & ask him to stay https://t.co/Rml1LSarWk
— Harriet Harman (@HarrietHarman) December 10, 2017
Very sorry to hear that @SirBobKerslake has resigned as Chair of King’s College Hospital NHS Trust, he will be sorely missed – I hope Jeremy Hunt will now finally listen to seriousness of challenges King’s faces & support it with the resources it needs
— Helen Hayes (@helenhayes_) December 10, 2017
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