The real underlying deficit is more like £3bn

The former head of the NHS in England, Sir David Nicholson, told presenter Nick Robinson that the organisation is facing a serious problem over its deficits.

He said pressure on staff would get "greater and greater" and that waiting times would start to get longer. Sir David believes the deficits revealed this week - of £2.4bn - are an underestimate and that Trusts are dealing with debts of £3bn because during the austerity years, there had been no growth in investment in the NHS.

He also criticised the government's handling of the junior doctors' dispute in England. "clearly the government got it wrong", he told Nick Robinson.

(Picture: Doctor in hospital Copyright: AP )