Department of Health and Social Care 2025-06-24

Supports Hamilton's points, emphasising the importance of targeted investment in primary care and dentistry.

Questions the urgency and timescales of the Casey review for social care reform, highlighting the need for timely action to address social care issues.

Supports fair pay agreement but raises concerns about financial pressure on providers without additional incentives or funding.

Welcomes the record settlement for health and social care funding but emphasises the importance of good public administration in the Department. Highlights the increase in demand due to population ageing and technological advancements, stressing that investment must be carefully targeted towards primary care, mental health services, and wider public health.

Raises concerns about plans to merge integrated care boards, arguing it may lead to a one-size-fits-all approach that overlooks local needs. Emphasises the importance of community hospitals in providing essential healthcare services for rural areas, advocating for robust investment in these facilities.

Acknowledges progress made under Labour Government including record funding and reduction in waiting lists. Highlights specific improvements such as upgrades at Charing Cross hospital and new investments in GP practices within his constituency.

Aquarone presses the Government on the establishment of a dental school at the University of East Anglia, arguing that there is currently no dental school in the entire east of England. He notes the General Dental Council's approval and expresses frustration over the lack of funding allocation from the spending review, which has caused delays and worries among constituents.

Rand acknowledges the challenges faced by the NHS under 14 years of Conservative Government but highlights progress made in his local area. He supports the £29 billion increase in NHS day-to-day spending over four years, advocating for much-needed reform alongside investment. Rand also suggests considering the future of Altrincham Hospital and turning a temporary skin cancer diagnostic hub into a permanent centre.

George approves of proposed NHS shifts but raises concerns about safe staffing, frontline pressures, and rural ambulance service cuts. He highlights issues such as unused beds in the nursing home sector and the need to back up the NHS with support for social care.

Dixon emphasises Labour's belief in the NHS's future, highlighting uplifts in day-to-day spending and capital budgets. She advocates for further investment in primary care and community services, urging the Minister to support initiatives that utilise volunteers.

Community pharmacies are facing significant challenges due to increased medicine costs and rising national insurance costs. The closure of Tubb pharmacy in Newton Ferrers highlights the need for sustainable funding and operational model required by community pharmacies.

Community hospices, like St Luke’s in Basildon, are facing a £450,000 rise in national insurance costs, which is absolutely killing community infrastructure in the health service sector.

The NHS requires bold and ambitious action to address crumbling hospitals and a lack of care workers. Investment in social care is essential for discharging patients from hospitals, and proper investment in mental health is necessary for prevention.

The Labour Government promised improvements but have not published a meaningful plan despite over 220,000 responses to their consultation. The NHS budget is projected to reach £226 billion by 2028-29, equivalent to Portugal's GDP and consuming half of public spending.

We are taking steps to address the challenges facing the NHS through investment in preventive health care and modernising infrastructure. We will shift care from hospitals to community, from analogue to digital, and from sickness to prevention. The Government's plan includes £29 billion more day-to-day funding than in 2023-24 and a £10 billion dedicated spend for technology transformation.

The debate was secured to discuss the lack of clarity around NHS reform. The Government need to publish a robust, evidence-based plan to address efficiency and delivery issues in the NHS.

Discussed NHS financial planning for 2025-26, aiming to close a £4.4 billion gap with £2.2 billion of deficit support already provided. Mentioned the focus on productivity and efficiency targets, learning from past lessons in financial performance and improvement, upskilling finance teams, reducing cost variation across the system, medium-term planning for long-term sustainability.