THE argument made by many Brexit campaigners that turning our backs on Europe is the only way to save the NHS is utterly ridiculous.

The notion that we haven’t had a good NHS since 1973 is absurd and frankly it is unbelievable that those leading the Vote Leave camp who are today pretending to champion the NHS, have for long been strong supporters of a carved-up and privatised US-style system.

Properly funding the NHS hangs not on our membership of the EU but on having a strong economy and a government that is willing to allocate the necessary resources.

The economic shock of leaving Europe would seriously reduce the amount of overall funding available for our health service.

But that is only half the story. Being a part of the EU gives us unmatched access to the free movement of highly qualified doctors, nurses and health professionals, as well as resources and funding for cutting-edge research.

To throw this away on June 23 and constrain NHS funding for years to come would be a huge error and I urge people to look beyond the empty promises of the Out camp.

ALEX HEGENBARTH, Head of Britain Stronger In Europe, Swindon