RUDE HEALTH
Theresa May says Tory improvements to the NHS have saved 6,500 lives in last PMQs of the year
The PM hit back at Jeremy Corbyn in the House of Commons today
THERESA MAY today came out swinging in defence of the NHS - saying 6,500 people are alive thanks to improvement in cancer care.
In the last session of Prime Minister's Questions the PM insisted the health service now carries out 2.2million more operations than it did under Labour.
4
And she vowed to "make it better" during a fiery performance in response to Jeremy Corbyn.
The Labour boss claimed that the NHS would end up short of resources over the winter as he devoted every question at PMQs to health.
Mr Corbyn said: "If the NHS had the resources it needs, you would expect it to be meeting its key treatment and waiting time targets."
But Mrs May said the health service was doing more than ever - and treating serious illnesses better than it did under Labour.
4
She told MPs: "Time after time again, the right honourable gentleman will come to this house and complain about what's happening in the health service.
"We see now 7million more diagnositc tests than seven years ago, 2.2million more people getting operations and survival rates for cancer at their highest level ever.
"Today there are nearly 6,500 people alive who wouldn't have been if we hadn't improved our cancer care."
Mrs May also blasted Labour's record in Wales, where the party runs the health service, saying it has not hit minimum standards in A&E care for nearly a decade.
She concluded: "We should be proud of our NHS - we are, and we want to make it better."
The PM also mocked Mr Corbyn for his prediction earlier this year that he would be in Downing Street by the end of this year.
4
She said: "Not that long ago he was saying he would be Prime Minister by Christmas.
"Well, he was wrong. I am, and the Conservatives are in Government.
"Not that long ago he said we wouldn't deliver on phase one of the Brexit negotiations. Well he was wrong - we've made sufficient progress and we're moving on to phase two of the Brexit negotiations.
"And not that long ago he predicted that the Budget would be a failure. In fact the Budget was a success and it's delivering more money for our National Health Service.
"Labour wrong, wrong, wrong. Conservatives in government, delivering on Brexit, a Budget for homes and the health service."
4
And she pointed out the Labour boss once called his own party's NHS record "a mess", adding: "When he's running for leader he denounces the Labour party, now he's leader of the Labour party he's trying to praise it."
MOST READ IN POLITICS
Mrs May took another potshot at Mr Corbyn when a Labour MP asked if she would name her Christmas goose after Michael Gove or Boris Johnson.
The PM replied: "Can I say to him I think I'll be having to resist the temptation to call the goose Jeremy."
Today's exchanges came as Parliament prepares to break up for the Christmas recess which starts tomorrow evening.
Topics