Health Committee Publishes Report into Public Expenditure on Health and Social Care

On Tuesday 11 February 2014, the Health Select Committee of which Valerie is a member published its annual report into Public Expenditure on Health and Social Care, which found that the health and care system needs fundamental change if it is to meet the needs of patients.

Valerie said:

“The Committee heard evidence that at least 25% of the efficiency gains so far in health and social care have come from pay. If the health and care system is to be a good employer it cannot be built on an open ended pay freeze. This is not a sustainable strategy for the future.”

“The Report examined the progress towards the integration of health and social care through the Integration Transition Fund, which is now known as the Better Care Fund. My concerns are that the Better Care Fund will only become operational in 2015/16. There are already real issues in health and social care and these need to be addressed now, not in 2015/16.”

”Local Authorities are already facing cuts and delaying dealing with the problem by providing funds in short doses is like providing sticking plaster to fix a gaping wound. There is pressure on hospitals, not only from admissions but also from delayed discharge. The Government and the NHS must take a more strategic view on the integration and reconfiguration of health and social care in order to address this issue.”

“The Committee recommended, as we did a year ago, that the current level of real terms funding for social care should be ring-fenced. Alongside the Government’s commitment to maintain health spending at current levels in real terms, this would give certainty about budgets for a whole health and care economy and provide a firm financial basis for Health and Wellbeing Boards to plan and implement transformative service change”.

The Health Select Committee’s Report into Public Expenditure on Health and Social Care is available to view here.