JOHN Glen has hit back at hospital doctors who “propagate dangerous myths” and “conspiracy theories” about the NHS.

The Salisbury MP rejected claims by consultant paediatrician Robert Scott-Jupp that problems at Salisbury’s A&E department this winter were down to funding cuts, and that “powerful voices close to the the government” wished to “see the NHS fail”.

Mr Glen said health spending was in fact rising, and blamed the two-thirds of patients who attended the department without actually needing emergency treatment.

He attacked Dr Scott-Jupp’s claim that “powerful voices close to the the government” wished to “see the NHS fail”, branding it a “conspiracy theory with no basis in fact”.

He wrote: “Those doctors who complain about morale in the health service must accept their share of the blame if they propagate such dangerous myths.”

It comes after the consultant wrote to the Journal about the “dire” winter crisis affecting all hospitals including Salisbury District.

Dr Scott-Jupp said the situation was “entirely predictable” as a direct result of cuts to health services and social care, and “not the fault of the health professionals, nor of the hospital managers who are also struggling”.

He claimed the government “actively decided not to do anything to relieve the inevitable pressure even though ministers knew that this would happen”.

But Mr Glen said the government had provided the NHS with £400 million for “winter preparedness”.

He accepted more money for social care was needed, and said he would be “making the case actively to the chancellor”.

The MP agreed that “the state of affairs in our A&E last week was not acceptable and is not sustainable”.

Between December 31 and January 8 just over 5,000 people attended A&E departments at Salisbury District Hospital, Great Western Hospital in Swindon and Royal United Hospital, Bath.

But only a third actually needed urgent or emergency treatment.

An NHS spokesman said: “If it is not a serious or life threatening emergency then please do not waste the time of busy hospital teams or 999 services.”