Department of Health and Social Care 2025-03-05

Echoed Sir Geoffrey's thanks to Amanda Pritchard for her service at NHS England and welcomed the appointment of Dr Penny Dash as the new chair. She stressed the importance of this moment in the future of the national health service.

Pointed out that staff were still using paper to make notes on patients at her local hospital, highlighting inefficiencies due to the lack of effective digital systems. She agreed with Sir Geoffrey's view that investment in moving from analogue to digital was long overdue.

Acknowledged that productivity has worsened since the pandemic and suggested focusing on the mental health of NHS staff as a way to support their productivity. He emphasised the importance of addressing mental health issues within the NHS.

Emphasises the need for integration between different parts of the NHS and social care systems to address delayed discharges. Suggests that more patients cannot be discharged due to primary healthcare conditions, highlighting the necessity for a more integrated approach.

Critiques complacency in NHS finances and lack of financial incentives for hospitals. Proposes moving towards community services to prevent hospital admissions. Advocates for better distribution of funding between primary care and hospitals, suggesting a diagnostic centre in Sheffield as an example of service improvement.

Emphasises the inequality in healthcare provision and highlights a disparity of up to 10 years in life expectancy across Sheffield. Criticises current NHS initiatives, such as GP vaccination payment structures that favour wealthier areas over deprived communities.

Pays tribute to the Member for North Cotswolds and discusses challenges faced by the NHS including productivity issues, integration of systems, public health, and social care. Acknowledges increased funding but stresses the need for enduring solutions beyond financial injections. Highlights difficulties in resource allocation between ICBs, GPs, and local authorities.

Argues that the NHS requires fundamental reform alongside investment, expressing concern about pressures on the system despite increased funding. Requests protection of capital budgets to facilitate necessary changes in infrastructure and service delivery. Advocates for integrated health and social care financial flows, improvement in primary care provision including GPs, pharmacies, optometrists, and dentists.

Discusses the challenges of healthcare provision in his constituency, noting issues with fair access to services, particularly in growing areas like Bordon. Emphasises the need for NHS productivity reforms and better allocation of funding towards frontline care improvements rather than being absorbed by administrative costs.

Craft discusses the challenges faced by her constituents in accessing NHS services, noting health inequalities driven by factors such as housing, unemployment, and education. She supports the £22.6 billion funding commitment for revenue spending but argues that funding alone is insufficient to change how the NHS operates. Craft highlights the need to extend community diagnostic centre hours and reduce GP shortages.

Moran emphasises the importance of following the money allocated for health and social care, expressing concern about potential wastage. She provides an example of a constituent facing a 16-year wait for autism assessment, highlighting the need for long-term thinking and technology to improve healthcare efficiency.

Notes closure of a reablement centre in his constituency, agrees with the need to reopen such facilities if budgets are properly integrated. Supports bridging gap between hospital and community care.

Acknowledges £25 billion funding for health and social care but notes funding challenges in social care; calls for a national debate on a new national care service providing free domiciliary and residential care. Criticises the false division between health and social care.

Acknowledges £10 billion funding but notes it covers essential costs leaving a shortfall, stresses importance of productivity gains through technology use. Advocates for dementia diagnosis target reintroduction and proper funding distribution from hospitals to communities.

Argued for the need to invest in community and social care, not just hospitals. Highlighted issues like GP retention crises and delayed discharges due to a lack of social care funding.

Discussed the impact of increased NHS expenditure on Scotland, highlighting financial pressures faced by GPs, hospices, charities, and local councils. Called for a flat exemption from additional employer national insurance contributions to help these organisations.

Emphasised the importance of financial sustainability in NHS, critiquing the short-term budgeting approach that relies on reallocating capital budgets to cover revenue shortfalls. Noted the issue of NHS overspending during winter pressures.

Agrees with the hon. Member's point about raising capital budgets and highlights that a new Labour Government would properly fund plans for new hospitals in constituencies like Shipley where there are RAAC-infested buildings.

Agrees with the hon. Member's point about reform but emphasises that without shifts from healthcare to social care by the Government, ICBs will not follow suit. Also highlights the need for reform and productivity improvement.

Concerned about the lack of plans to spend £22.6 billion on NHS reforms, efficiency, and supporting priority areas such as dentistry or hospice care. The increase in employer national insurance will cost surgeries £40,000-£50,000 which may lead to redundancies.

Supports the hon. Member's advocacy for prevention measures like earlier testing in children with type 1 diabetes and access to continuous glucose monitors and insulin pumps, highlighting the need for community care funding.

Agrees that solving GP contracts is a first step towards retaining NHS doctors in the UK. No contribution on specific prevention measures but supports the hon. Member's position.

Fights for the NHS, highlighting challenges such as maintenance backlogs and recruitment issues seen at Gloucestershire Royal hospital and Tuffley surgery. With Labour’s investment, waiting lists are decreasing and more midwives and dentists are available.

Expressed concern over the crisis in NHS and care sectors, highlighted issues with funding cuts, procurement delays, pharmacy closures, and mental health waiting lists. Urged for faster action on community services and dentistry.

Asked Helen Morgan about the procurement processes of ICBs, agreeing that it affects their ability to progress projects.

Questioned Labour's lack of concrete plans for NHS reform, highlighted doubts about whether extra funding would cover inflation and pay rises. Asked the Minister to provide specifics on productivity improvements.

Asked the shadow minister for a concrete plan on how much extra funding they would provide to the NHS and how it would be financed, criticising the lack of a Labour plan despite their criticism of the government.

Criticised the government's pay deal for NHS staff, stating that they have given in on money without asking for productivity improvements. Highlighted warnings from healthcare providers such as RCGP and hospices about potential closures due to NICs rises.

Asked the Minister about reducing sickness levels among NHS staff to improve productivity, noting variations across trusts and professions.

Questioned whether better pay would reduce sickness absences in ambulance services.

Acknowledged the Minister's response regarding Charing Cross hospital in his constituency being re-included in the new hospital programme. He expressed disappointment with the previous government's lack of funding for such projects.

Asked about interim reports from the independent commission on adult social care led by Louise Casey, seeking assurance that a first-phase report will inform the spending review before the final 2028 report.