THE Lord Chancellor dismissed the Keep Our NHS Public documentary's criticisms and slammed the group as 'biased' and 'alarmist'.

South Swindon MP Robert Buckland emphasised the government's plan to offer significant investment into the national health service.

He said: "The government is investing an extra £34 billion in the NHS over four years which is a major investment.

"To say it has been starved of funding is wrong.

"Keep Our NHS Public is a biased organisation which is spreading alarmist messages. The negative picture they're painting is not accurate.

"By the time the Conservatives were in government, after Labour opened the door for privatisation, the amount of privatised services in the NHS had crept up to just eight per cent, which is a tiny amount.

"The NHS is public and will remain so. There is no question of it being changed in any way by this government.

"Free healthcare at the point of need is the cornerstone of the NHS and we have always been committed to that and to local investment.

"The £30 million given to Great Western Hospital to expand, along with the new radiotherapy unit, is part of a long-term plan to invest in community services."

The hospital applied for the £29.6m grant as part of a major £45m project to move the acute medical unit to an expanded emergency department on the ground floor.

A Brighter Futures appeal fundraised the new radiotherapy unit.

FULL STORY: Is the NHS at breaking point?