Devon MP asks Health Secretary to scrap plans to hand over billions to “bully” Trump

The MP for Honiton & Sidmouth has written to the Health Secretary, to request that he drops plans to pay billions of pounds of taxpayers’ money to American pharmaceutical giants.

Richard Foord MP says that the Government has caved-in to President Donald Trump’s “bully boy tactics” over trade tariffs, and as a result, spending on drugs will increase from 9.5% of the health service budget, to at least 12%, and will double as a share of GDP.  The cost is set to be between £3 - £6bn.

The move comes as news emerges that almost 8,000 people waited longer than twelve hours in the Royal Devon & Exeter Hospital’s A&E department, in the twelve months to November 2025.

It also coincides with the launch NHS Devon’s health and care strategy that warns of a projected financial gap of £781 million by 2030/31. The organisation requires £54 million in deficit support, just to break-even in 2025/26.

Mr Foord said: “We have brilliant healthcare professionals working at our health facilities in Devon. Yet NHS Devon is in a perilous financial position. This isn’t the fault of dedicated, hard-working staff – it is ultimately the responsibility of politicians.

“I have asked the Health Secretary that he reviews priorities. He should review the price paid for the development of new drugs – particularly in the US - when set against shortfalls in the provision of care here in the UK.”

Mr Foord added: “Our taxpayers’ money should be spent on health and care here in the UK, not on lining the pockets of corporate giants in America. We can’t have rogue US President Donald Trump bullying British ministers into submission until they pay.”