Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Integrated Health and Care Services

Tuesday 23 November 2021 · 5 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 2 Partly answered 3 Not answered 0

Key points

  • The Secretary of State offered to visit Townlands Community Hospital with John Howell to see integrated NHS and social care services in action.
  • Justin Madders raised concerns about the representation of all voices in the integration of health and social care, to which the Government responded by emphasizing the permissive system established for integrated care boards.
  • Jim Shannon highlighted the issue of early diagnosis for diabetes, noting the impact of the covid-19 pandemic on undiagnosed cases, and received assurances of close cooperation across devolved Administrations.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 John Howell Con
NHS Social Care
Context

The MP invited the Secretary of State to visit a hospital in his constituency that exemplifies integrated care services.

Question

Will the Secretary of State come with me to visit Townlands Community Hospital in my constituency, where we have built into the process of keeping the hospital going a real potential for the integration of NHS and social care services? It would be good if I were able to share that with him.

Answer from Sajid Javid

I would be pleased to visit the hospital with my hon. Friend. I know that the site to which he refers is multi-disciplinary and provides rehabilitation and palliative care together and is doing well at it. It is an excellent example of good integration at work.

Answered
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Q2 Justin Madders Lab Ellesmere Port and Bromborough
NHS Social Care
Context

The MP asked about the guarantee of different groups having a seat at the table in integrated care boards.

Question

I apologise for once again returning to the subject of integrated care boards. One important question remains unanswered following yesterday's debate. If we are to have truly integrated health and social care, all voices need a seat at the table: public health; social care; mental health; the workforce; and, of course, patients and carers. As matters currently stands, there is nothing guaranteeing each of those groups a seat at the table. I am sure that the Secretary of State will agree that none of them should be missed out, so what will he do, for example, if an ICB decides to exclude the patient's voice?

Answer from Sajid Javid

That is an important point, which is why the Government have listened to it. The hon. Gentleman will know that a lot of consultation was done before the Bill that he refers to was presented. In terms of voices around the table in the ICB, we have deliberately set up a permissive system that allows those local voices to be catered for, and for local decisions to be made.

Partly answered

Not addressed: No specific commitment on guaranteeing all groups' representation

How: We Have Listened

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Q3 Jim Shannon DUP Strangford
NHS Northern Ireland
Context

The MP raised the issue of early diagnosis for type 2 and type 1 diabetics, highlighting the impact of the covid-19 pandemic.

Question

When it comes to the integration of health and care services, it is very important that we have early diagnosis. The covid-19 pandemic has shown that there are some 200,000 potential type 2 and type 1 diabetics. What can be done to address the issue of diabetes, speaking as one who is a diabetic?

Answer from Sajid Javid

The hon. Gentleman is absolutely right to raise that as one of the unintended impacts of the pandemic. The reassurance that I can offer him is that there is close co-operation across the devolved Administrations when it comes to working on those impacts. NHS England is working with the health service in Northern Ireland to see what more can be done.

Partly answered

Not addressed: No specific measures mentioned for addressing diabetes issues

How: Close Co-Operation

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Q4 Jacob Young
NHS Social Care
Context

The MP inquired about the benefits of yesterday's votes on integrated care systems and social care cap for his constituents.

Question

Can the Secretary of State outline the ways in which yesterday's votes on integrated care systems and the increased social care cap will benefit my constituents in Redcar and Cleveland?

Answer from Sajid Javid

I am very happy to do so. My hon. Friend will know that the system that we set out back in September for social care will mean that no one loses out. In fact, when it comes to receiving social care in the future, the vast majority of people across the country will be better off, including his constituents.

Partly answered

Not addressed: No specific benefits mentioned for Redcar and Cleveland constituents

How: Vast Majority

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Q5 Martyn Day SNP
NHS Social Care
Context

The MP asked about the UK Government's plans and the urgency of providing funding for social care, highlighting the impact on A&E functioning.

Question

While the Scottish Government are taking action to establish a national care service in Scotland, the UK Government's plans allocate the bulk of the money raised over the first three years of the national insurance rise to the NHS backlog. Does the Secretary of State agree that A&E functioning is greatly impacted by the lack of beds due to delayed discharges to social care? Will his Department provide urgent funding for the critical support for social care?

Answer from Sajid Javid

The Government have provided urgent funding, especially because of the impact of the pandemic. We have put more than £34 billion extra into health and social care, with the relevant Barnett consequentials, from which Scotland will benefit. The issue of delayed discharges is important to continue working on and addressing, exactly why NHS England has a delayed discharge fund of almost £500 million for this winter.

Answered
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