Simon Hughes calls for the Chancellor to be more understanding

In parts of the capital the National Health Service is 20% short of staff, Simon Hughes, the party's health spokesman, told the house.

The criticism follows swiftly on Chancellor Gordon Brown's announcement on Tuesday to maintain strict budgetary discipline.

Gordon Brown under fire

Mr Hughes called for "real and significant" rises in NHS spending to alleviate a potential crisis in the number of medical staff in many areas of the capital.

"It's a really worrying issue," he told the house during a debate on Sir Lesley Turnberg's proposals for health reform in London which were put forward earlier this year.

Mr Hughes said ministers could not ignore the problems caused by the high cost of living in London and could not stagger future pay awards, as had happened this year to the fury of nurses.

He called on Gordon Brown to be more understanding: "Yesterday the chancellor said he was going to continue to be the Iron Chancellor.

"The proof of the effectiveness of the government's health service pudding will lie in whether the chancellor next month announces real and significant increases in resources for the health service in London and elsewhere."