Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Health of the Elderly

Tuesday 17 June 2025 · 4 questions

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

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 1 Partly answered 3 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Andrew Rosindell raised concerns about Queen's hospital in Romford being underfunded and overstretched.
  • Mr Toby Perkins highlighted the importance of ensuring elderly people can access local doctors, noting improvements in Chesterfield.
  • Dr Caroline Johnson inquired about delays in crucial medications in A&E and requested a follow-up on the issue.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Andrew Rosindell Reform Romford
NHS
Context

The borough of Havering has a high number of elderly residents. Queen's hospital in Romford is facing funding issues, affecting its ability to meet the healthcare needs of an aging population.

Question

I thank the Minister for his reply, but as the Secretary of State knows only too well, my borough of Havering contains one of the highest numbers of elderly people in the entire London region, yet Queen’s hospital in Romford remains chronically underfunded, overstretched and struggling to meet the growing healthcare needs of an ageing community. Will the Minister commit today to the serious investment that Queen’s hospital so desperately requires to ensure better health outcomes for older people across Romford?

Answer from The Minister for Care (Stephen Kinnock)

I carefully note the fact that the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, who is sitting next to me, has an interest in this issue, so I will tread very carefully with my answer. I understand that the hon. Gentleman has discussed this matter with the Minister for Secondary Care. The North East London health and care partnership integrated care board is responsible for delivery, implementation and funding decisions for local services, but the hon. Gentleman’s representations have been carefully noted today, not least by the Secretary of State for Health.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not commit to specific investment in Queen's Hospital

How: Tread Very Carefully, Not Responsible For Funding Decisions

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Q2 Toby Perkins Lab Chesterfield
NHS
Context

The Government inherited a crisis in GP access, especially in deprived areas. The Health Secretary acknowledged improved access but noted it was only the first step.

Question

One of the most important things we can do to support the health of the elderly is to ensure that they can get to see their local doctor. It is great to hear the Health Secretary talk about the improved access to appointments—we are seeing that in Chesterfield—but he is also right to say that it is the first step back up the mountain. The Government inherited a real crisis in GP access and the situation is particularly difficult in more deprived areas. Will my hon. Friend tell me what more we will do to ensure that people are able to see a GP, and in particular that practices that serve the most deprived communities can get access to the extra GPs they need?

Answer from The Minister for Care (Stephen Kinnock)

My hon. Friend will know that when we came into Government we inherited the absurd situation where the additional roles reimbursement scheme was weighed down by red tape and it was not actually possible to recruit GPs. We changed that. We invested an extra £82 million and as a result we have well over 1,000 more GPs on the frontline, but that is just the beginning. We have contract reform and £889 million of additional investment in general practice, and we are moving forward with an online booking system, which will be obligatory by 1 October. We have much more work to do—for example, around the interface with pharmacy; we are working hard on that. There is a lot more to do, but my hon. Friend is right that the first step up the mountain has been taken.

Answered
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Q3 Caroline Johnson Con Sleaford and North Hykeham
NHS
Context

The U-turn on winter fuel will help the elderly stay warm. A previous health question raised concerns about delays in crucial medications, with a delegation to a Minister without a date.

Question

Last health questions, I asked about delays to crucial medications in A&E and the Secretary of State said he was interested to hear more, but his office said he would delegate it to a Minister and we still have not been offered a date, so could I encourage him to look into that, please? The U-turn on winter fuel will help the elderly to stay warm and healthy this winter, but another way to help elderly people would be to protect them from the respiratory syncytial virus. Will the Government extend the vaccination to the over-80s?

Answer from The Minister for Care (Stephen Kinnock)

I thank the hon. Lady for that question, but I did not quite catch the word she used. The virus was called? [Interruption.] Oh—RSV, yes. We are certainly looking at increasing the coverage of the RSV vaccination. I do not have the statistics to hand at the moment, but I would be happy to write to her on that point.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not provide a definitive commitment to extending RSV vaccination to over-80s

How: Did Not Have Statistics To Hand

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Q4 Caroline Johnson Con Sleaford and North Hykeham
NHS
Context

Elderly patients on waiting lists are often kept on open appointments so they can call when ill, which is efficient care. However, some areas are stopping this provision to improve figures.

Question

Many of those on waiting lists are elderly and have chronic conditions; rather than seeing consultants at regular intervals, which may coincide with them being relatively well, they are often kept on open appointments so that they can call when they are ill. This is efficient and responsive care. Is the Minister aware that this provision is being stopped in some areas in order to improve figures? I will quote from a letter about an elderly patient: “I regret cannot keep him on my waiting list under the open appointment” for treatment, and, “I have explained the politics of everything and where we are at.” Being re-referred to a GP each time is expensive and a waste of time. Can the Minister explain why doctors are being asked to make decisions for political reasons, instead of clinical ones?

Answer from The Minister for Care (Stephen Kinnock)

I do not think any decisions are being made for political reasons—our medical and health staff are very much focused on doing the right thing from a clinical point of view. The hon. Lady raises an important point about continuity of care, with people constantly having to be re-referred into the system. Part of the reason for that is the utter incompetence with which the previous Government managed our primary care system, which has resulted in people being passed from pillar to post, the additional roles reimbursement scheme not actually being about having GPs on the frontline, but about having other staff, which creates more friction in the system, and poorer continuity of care. This Government are going to bring back the family doctor—that is the way to get our general practice back on its feet.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not address stopping open appointments directly

How: Blame Previous Government

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