THE government’s new 10-year plan for the NHS can’t make up for nine years of “disastrous” mismanagement, according to health unions.

Prime Minister Theresa May has promised that the plan, which looks set to be launched today by NHS England, will be a “historic step” for the health service.

The plan is expected to focus on ensuring all money spent on the system benefits patients.

This will include providing greater support for the 350,000 young people who suffer from mental health problems, offering patients digital access to their local doctor and making cuts of over £700 million to “bureaucracy.”

The government claims the plans are in line with Ms May’s promises of an extra £20.5 billion in NHS funding by 2023-24.

However, her plans have been met with scepticism by nurses and health unions.

Royal College of Nursing (RCN) general secretary Dame Donna Kinnair welcomed the existence of a plan, but criticised the government for overseeing a “chronic shortage” of staff.

“The NHS in England is currently in need of more than 40,000 extra nurses and the figure is rising,” she said.

“If the NHS is to better meet the needs of patients and the public in these important areas of mental illness, cancer and long-term conditions, it must recognise the value of the highly skilled and qualified nursing workforce and the harsh realities on the NHS front line.”

Unison head of health Sara Gorton concurred, adding: “Encouraging people to take better care of themselves won’t alone solve the growing crisis in the NHS.

“That can only be halted with proper funding and a sensible plan to fill the huge staffing gaps that now exist in every part of the health service.”

Shadow health secretary Jonathan Ashworth also slammed the record of the government on health management, claiming that over 150,000 cancer patients have waited over two months for life-saving treatment since July 2011.

He said: “Almost nine years of austerity, cuts and privatisation has meant millions waiting longer for treatment or stranded – often on trolleys – in crowded A&Es.

“The NHS needs a credible fully funded plan for the future, not a wish list to help Theresa May get through the coming months.”