Rishi Sunak told ‘you need to try harder’ by irate patient during hospital photo opp

An elderly woman has confronted Rishi Sunak during a hospital visit and told him to pay nurses more.

The new prime minister was slated by Catherine Poole, a 77-year-old patient on the ward he attended during a photo opp.

Ms Poole told him ‘you need to pay them’ and when Mr Sunak said the NHS is important, she bit back: ‘Yes, and look after it.’

The pensioner added: ‘You are not trying, you need to try harder.’

As chancellor Jeremy Hunt eyes ways to fill a multi-billion pound fiscal black hole, there are fears vital public services could be cut.

Thousands of nurses are balloting on walk-outs and are pushing for higher wages amid soaring inflation.

During the visit to a hospital in south London, he used the opportunity to express his confidence about how the party has come together under his leadership.

Catherine gave the new PM a good old lecture (Picture: ITV News)

The PM was grilled during a photo opp in a hospital earlier today (Picture: Getty Images)

Rishi visited staff and patients at Croydon University Hospital (Picture: AP)

‘I am confident our party is united’, he said.

‘It is united behind delivering on the promise of the manifesto that we were elected on, with very strong support, in 2019.

‘What does that manifesto say? It says we want to have a stronger NHS, that we want safer streets, that we want better schools, that we want to protect our borders and that we want to level up the economy across our country.

‘That is what unites and excites all Conservatives, that is what excites me, and that is what I want to deliver for the people of this country.’

But he dodged questions about nurses pay despite Ms Poole’s intervention.

Rishi dodged certain questions (Picture: Getty Images)

He said: ‘It is brilliant to be here at Croydon Hospital, to see the great work of the doctors and nurses here.

‘One of the priorities for my Government is going to be tackling the Covid backlogs and supporting the NHS.

‘We face lots of challenges as a country, but I am confident that we can fix the economy and deliver on the promise of the 2019 manifesto, including having a stronger NHS.’

Just a week into the job he’s already sparked controversy by reappointing Suella Braverman as Home Secretary as well as refusing to attend COP27 in Egypt.

Mr Sunak’s refusal to attend COP27 was branded ‘wrong’ by former culture secretary Nadine Dorries.

Blue-on-blue fighting continues with Nadine Dorries at the centre of it all (Picture: PA)

She challenged Jacob Rees Mogg’s claim that the decision was ‘right’ by taking a swipe at him and saying: ‘For balance, my friend… The Prime Minister is wrong not to go to COP.

‘Global warming is the biggest crisis facing our planet and net zero creates many 1000s of jobs which is good for the economy. COP in Glasgow was most successful ever.’

In an awkward interview at the hospital, Mr Sunak tried to justify the decision not to attend the climate summit.

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He said: ‘The leadership we have shown on the climate is unmatched around the world.

‘If you look at what we’ve done in this country, you know, we are an example of others to follow, at the pace in which we have reduced climate emissions, how we’re going about protecting our environment and those things are really important to me.

‘It’s important to me as Prime Minister we leave behind a better future for our children.’

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The prime minister was confronted over NHS pay during his first public outing since entering Number 10.