People in the north-east die younger than people in the rest of England and spend more years in ill health. Increased NHS waiting times leaves them on medication for longer. The north-east has the highest level of people living in poverty, leaving many constituents unable to afford prescription charges. Some have told me they are taking paracetamol instead of prescribed medication, worsening health inequalities. Will the Minister commit to scrapping these unfair prescription charges?

My hon. Friend will be aware that health inequalities can also be geographical within the south-east, with boroughs such as Bexley having historically received less funding than other parts of London. Does he therefore agree that further investment in the fantastic Queen Mary's Hospital Sidcup would address that issue and improve health outcomes for people in south-east London?

From this complacent Minister's replies already, one would think that health inequalities in England were improving, not widening. Last year, 11,000 people, including 312 children, were hospitalised for malnutrition in the United Kingdom. That is the highest number since comparable records began. Why are so many people in Britain going hungry under the Tories?

Will the Minister urge Cabinet colleagues in the Department for Work and Pensions to help tackle health inequalities by ensuring those relying on costly specialist equipment receive fair and timely reimbursement?

The MP noted her local hospital trust faces a 45 million deficit and reports 8-hour A&E waits affecting 2,000 patients weekly. She referenced the Royal College of Emergency Medicine's warning that underfunding directly correlates with increased mortality. She asked when the government will provide the 10 billion NHS funding increase promised in the manifesto and whether it will include capital investment for hospital infrastructure.