Chair comment on publication of Health and Care Bill
7 July 2021
Health and Social Care Committee Chair Jeremy Hunt has issued the following comment following publication by the Government of the Health and Care Bill.
Rt Hon Jeremy Hunt MP, Chair of Health and Social Care Committee, said:
“While we welcome the direction of travel in health and care services outlined by the Bill, the proposals for Integrated Care Systems must be subject to transparent and independent Ofsted-style assessments on the quality and safety of care if improvements are to be delivered for patients.
“There are, however, two major omissions of great concern: firstly on social care, where this Bill is a missed opportunity to publish not only the detail of planned reforms, but crucially, how they will be paid for. Secondly, it says little about the desperately needed overhaul of workforce planning given the shortages in nearly every NHS and care specialty right now. Without addressing such pressing issues the broader ambition of the Bill will not be achieved.”
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