Health and Social Care

The Government, represented by the Minister for Secondary Care Karin Smyth, acknowledged the critical condition of the health service across the country, including in the East Midlands, where healthy life expectancy has declined in the past decade. The Minister highlighted the challenges facing the NHS, such as long waiting times at A&E departments, and stated the Government's commitment to cutting waiting times and delivering long-term reform. The official opposition, through the shadow Secretary of State, criticized the Government's lack of progress on its flagship policy of delivering 40,000 more appointments per week. The opposition accused the Government of failing to provide a clear start date for this policy and questioned the Secretary of State's ability to deliver on his promises. The debate that followed covered a wide range of topics, including the importance of diagnostics in improving health outcomes, the effectiveness of district hospitals, the inadequacy of access to NHS mental health services, and the crisis in NHS dentistry. Members from both sides of the House shared concerns about the challenges facing their local communities and called for the Government to take urgent action. The Minister for Care acknowledged the scale of the problems inherited from the previous government, particularly in the areas of adult social care and mental health. He outlined the Government's plans to reform the system, including the introduction of a fair pay agreement for care professionals and the recruitment of 8,500 more mental health workers. The debate also touched on the impact of the Government's decision to cut the winter fuel payment, with the opposition warning that this would add pressure to the NHS. The Secretary of State defended the decision, stating that it was necessary to address the £22 billion hole in the nation's finances. Throughout the debate, members from both sides of the House emphasized the importance of prevention, early intervention, and a focus on community-based care to improve health outcomes. The Government acknowledged the need for a holistic approach to healthcare and promised to work closely with local authorities and integrated care boards to deliver the necessary reforms.