Both Tories and Labour can't be trusted with the NHS.

You got to wonder how  the Welsh Conservatives  leader Andrew RT Davies manage to keep a straight face by claiming that Eye-watering" salaries for top NHS bosses are an affront to those working on the "cash-starved frontline".

For over the boarder he NHS in England may suffer its worst winter in recent history if it does not receive an emergency bailout, hospital chiefs are warning.

They say the cash is needed to pay for extra staff and beds because attempts to improve NHS finances have failed.

They criticised the Welsh Government for approving 12 cap-busting pay deals in the past three years.

Welsh Tory leader Andrew RT Davies said it was "unsurprising" four out of the seven boards had run at a loss.

The Welsh Government said pay reflected the responsibilities and experience of those in "very senior roles".

Recommended pay rates for senior NHS managers in Wales range from a minimum of £85,850 to a maximum of £202,000 for a chief executive and are set based on the size of the organisation and range of responsibilities.

Any plan to advertise a role paying more than the maximum has to be backed up by a business case submitted to the Welsh Government for approval by the NHS chief executive for Wales.

The Conservatives published a letter from Health Secretary Vaughan Gething to Mr Davies confirming there had been 13 occasions since September 2014 when health boards asked permission to do this.

Five came from Betsi Cadwaladr, three from Cwm Taf, two each from Aneurin Bevan and Cardiff and Vale and one from Hywel Dda.

All were approved, apart from one of Cwm Taf's.

Mr Gething wrote:

 "These are very senior roles within the NHS in Wales and whilst we need to ensure that pay is carefully controlled and represents value for money, we also need to recognise the critical nature and breadth of responsibilities of these highly experienced individuals in providing a high quality, safe and effective NHS for the people of Wales."Health boards and trusts are required to publish the pay rates of their executive and senior posts each year as part of their annual accounts to ensure there is transparency about the rates paid to the individuals who hold these posts."

Mr Davies said: 

"Four of Wales' seven health boards have operated on a budget loss for the past three years, and it's unsurprising given the eye-watering sums they are willing to throw at new app where ointments.
"While I accept that health boards have to remain competitive to attract the best talent, many working on the cash-starved frontline will see this as an affront given the millions Welsh Labour have cut from their budgets."

Meanwhile in England  the Tories run the NHS the latest figures show A&E waits and bed shortages remain "stubbornly" bad, according to NHS Providers.

The group, which represents NHS chief executives, is calling for between £200m and £350m to be made available immediately.

The target to see most patients in A&E within four hours has been missed for two years now, while bed occupancy rates remain above recommended levels.

Over the summer, just over 90% of A&E patients were treated or admitted within four hours.

That was below the goal of 95% and was almost exactly the same percentage as last summer, which was then followed by the worst set of winter waiting times since the target was introduced in 2004.

Two Nations two NHS failures and yet we find it is the two major parties in control.

For Welsh voters it is clear that we can't trust either Labour or the Tories to run the NHS because if Andrew RT Davies was in charge in the Assembly he would be under orders from the Westminster Head Office to run down the NHS  so the public will become more inclined to favour privatising it.

However the Tories don't need their Welsh Manager in charge. Labour's seems to be the job for them.