Councillors in Watford are calling on the Government to fund a new hospital in Watford, as part of a plea to invest more in the National Health Service.

Watford Labour councillor Asif Khan praised the work of the NHS – which celebrates its 70th anniversary this month – at a meeting of the full Council, on Tuesday.

And he flagged up the need for further investment, in excess of the £20 billion promised by the Government, in order to reverse cuts to services.

“It is one of this country’s proudest and greatest achievements, ” says Cllr Khan, in a motion he proposed to the council.

“We cherish the way it puts people first and supports us at every stage of our lives, but we need to guarantee that it serves us for generations to come.”

In his motion, Cllr Khan particularly highlighted local pressures on the NHS.

“Our A&E is overstretched, the hospital trust is in financial crisis as well as the Herts Valley Clinical Commissioning Group,” he said.

“Cuts are being made to our local NHS services, including the inspirational Nascot Lawn centre.

“One in four people now wait a week or more to see a GP. Despite all this, our NHS front line staff do a fantastic job.”

The motion called for Watford Mayor Peter Taylor to write to the Health Secretary and the Chancellor to demand better funding for the NHS and finance for a new hospital in Watford.

And – with the addition of Liberal Democrat amendments – it was backed unanimously.

The amendment included calling for the Government to introduce a 1p rise in income tax to raise funds for the NHS, to bring the NHS and social care into a single seamless service and to ensure Brexit does not impact on NHS staffing from the EU.

It also called on the Mayor to continue to work with the West Hertfordshire Hospitals Trust towards the provision of improved healthcare facilities at Watford General Hospital.

Following the meeting, elected Mayor Peter Taylor said he was “proud” that the council had demonstrated Watford’s support for the NHS.

He said: “All three of my children were born at Watford General Hospital so I know from first-hand experience just how dedicated and hard working the staff are there.

“The NHS is a service we all rely upon at one time or another but it is chronically under-funded by the government given the challenges the service face.

“These challenges are compounded by the impact of Brexit. There are 62,000 EU nationals are working in the NHS and sadly we are already seeing NHS staff returning to their country of origin.

“I’m proud that we were able to pass the motion at full council and show Watford’s support for the NHS and the fantastic staff who work for it.”