The Labour party has been accused of using the x-ray of a victim of child abuse in an attack advert . Medical experts claim the image of a broken leg depicts injuries consistent with a history of violence on a child aged three to five . The advert was launched by Ed Miliband 's party last week accusing the Tories of wanting to cut the NHS 'to the bone ' , despite Tory assurances that the health budget would be protected . Labour launched the poster last week claiming the Conservative party would not protect the health service from cuts . The controversial image was unveiled on Friday by shadow chancellor Ed Balls and shadow health secretary Andy Burnham as Labour 's 'first poster of the 2015 general election campaign ' . It showed the x-ray of a broken leg bone , under the headline : Next time , they 'll cut to the bone . ' It also featured the tagline : 'The NHS ca n't afford the Tory cuts plan . ' But medics immediatly recognised the image as potentially showing the impact of repeated injuries suffered by an abuse victim . Labour stressed that the poster was designed by an external advertising agency , which used an image from a picture agency . But experts said it appeared to be 'very likely non-accidental injury ' , suggesting the broken bone could have been inflicted intentionally . Prof Christopher Colton , emeritus consultant in orthopaedic and accident surgery , Nottingham University Hospital , told the Telegraph : 'If that X-ray presented itself at a hospital , all the alarm bells would ring for possible non-accidental injury . 'There are absolutely clear two episodes of violence and possibly the bone bruise is a third . ' Tory MP Julian Smith said : 'Labour must explain what due diligence they did to ensure their advert isn ’ t based on any child ’ s tragedy . The tone of their poster is unpleasant enough , I hope the provenance of the image is less toxic. ’ Shadow health secretary Andy Burnham and shadow chancellor Ed Balls unveiled the poster in Harlow , Essex on Friday . The x-ray shows a very recent break in the middle of the leg , but there is healed fracture above the ankle which could be three to four weeks old . There is also a 'slight white haze ' in the centre of the leg bone suggesting a healed bone bruise or fracture which is around five to six weeks old . A Labour party spokesman said : 'This image is a stock photograph provided by one of the world 's biggest picture agencies.​ ' Peter Dazeley , the photographer credited on the Getty image , could not verify where it came from . Mr Balls and Mr Burnham used the poster to launch a highly political attack on the Tory party . Mr Balls said : 'George Osborne 's Budget set out plans for deeper and more extreme spending cuts after the election . 'Our NHS just ca n't afford these extreme and risky Tory cuts . And after their broken promises on the NHS in this Parliament nobody will trust what the Tories say about the NHS . '
Labour launched poster claiming the NHS faced a 'Tory cuts plan ' The advert featured an x-ray showing a broken leg of a suspected toddler . Medical experts say it also shows other older injuries to leg and ankle . Appears 'very likely non-accidental injury ' and could be result of abuse .