Health Secretary Matt Hancock has announced that the government is writing off more than £13billion of NHS debt so that the health service can tackle coronavirus without worrying about its bank balance.
The health secretary, who is only recently out of self-isolation, announced £300million of funding for community pharmacies, before making the shock announcement that he was writing off £13.4billion of NHS debt owed by numerous trusts across the country. "This landmark step will not only put the NHS in a stronger position to respond to this global coronavirus pandemic, but will ensure that our NHS has strong foundations for the future too." Mr Hancock had opened the press conference by paying tribute to NHS staff who had died while serving