Liberal Democrat health minister Norman Lamb has called for an increase in NHS funding of as much as £1.5 billion to be included in December’s Autumn statement.

Norman has also called for the extra investment to be focused on improving mental health care standards, particularly for young people and children, which remains an important priority for the Liberal Democrats.

He also cited growing concerns that delaying the spending decision would run the risk of betraying patients and instead politicians should ensure that the money needed is secured now.

Norman said, “Liberal Democrats want to create opportunity for everyone by building a stronger economy and a fairer society. That means properly funding our NHS for the future, and providing better care, both for physical and mental health. But this needs to start straight away. Too often politicians take the easy way out and delay big spending decisions in the hope they become someone else’s problem. Doing that would betray patients, so the NHS needs significantly more money to help trusts adapt to the changing needs of our population and it can’t afford to wait.

“That’s why securing extra money for the NHS must be a high priority for the whole Government in next month’s Autumn Statement. And we want at least an extra billion pounds put in every year in the next Parliament too. A significant amount of that needs to go on improving mental health services, especially for children and young people. For too long mental health has been seen as a second class issue in the NHS and the Liberal Democrats are determined that changes.”

The funding would be put in place from April 2015 onward and the Liberal Democrats are pushing for at least an extra £1 billion investment into the NHS for every year of the next Parliament.

The extra funding would also meet the objectives of the Better Care Fund of helping to bring together health and social care and recognising that there should be more of a focus on preventing ill health.