Merseyside NHS: Sharp rise in acute hospitals' debt

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BBC NEWS

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-merseyside-37499238

Professor Naomi Chambers of Alliance Manchester Business School said there was a "challenge around balancing the books and ensuring safe care".

She explained: "The solution is to have an honest conversation with the public about whether we want to increase the level of funding to the NHS to the average in Europe."

About 10% of the UK's Gross Domestic Product is spent on healthcare - compared to 11% and 17% in Germany and United States respectively.

Prof Chambers says there is evidence of "an appetite to increase levels of tax" provided the money raised goes on the NHS.