Rishi Sunak was told by a patient at a hospital in Croydon that he needs to “try harder” with pay rise plans for hospital staff.

The new prime minister spoke to patients at Croydon University Hospital during a visit, including Catherine Poole, 77, an in-patient at the hospital.

Poole told the prime minister that staff at the hospital always look after her very well and that “it’s a pity you [the government] don’t pay them more. The PM responded by saying that the government is trying to do so.

“You need to try harder… It’s important because they do very hard work,” said Poole.

Afterwards Sunak acknowledged that the hard work of its staff is what makes the NHS so great. Poole replied: “Yes, so look after it.”