NHS Providers response to health and care announcements from the Labour Party Conference
23 September 2019
- At the Labour Party conference, shadow health secretary Jon Ashworth committed to a national care service which will introduce free personal care to support older people to live independently, and to address the funding gap in social care, support local authorities to directly provide care and build a fully trained care workforce.
- Labour committed to increase the number of GP trainees in England by almost 50% and to provide an estimated 27 million extra GP appointments.
- Labour committed to abolishing all prescription charges.
- Labour will declare a climate emergency across the NHS and will consequently invest in solar panels and energy efficiency schemes, move to a fleet of low emission ambulances, and build an ‘NHS forest'.
Responding to health and social care announcements from the Labour Party conference, the director of policy and strategy at NHS Providers, Miriam Deakin said:
On social care
“It is welcome that the Labour Party has recognised the urgent need to address the crisis in our adult social care system. Underfunding, staffing shortages and an inability to meet rapidly rising demand is leaving millions of vulnerable people without the support they need.
Underfunding, staffing shortages and an inability to meet rapidly rising demand is leaving millions of vulnerable people without the support they need.
Director of Policy and Strategy
“We urgently need a new approach. We must start talking about credible solutions and take action to deliver them.
“As well as increased funding, we need to see real and deliverable reform to make sure that those with unmet or under-met need have access to appropriate care and support. We need a sustainable social care system.
On health inequalities
“The shadow secretary of state has put a significant and welcome emphasis on tackling wider health inequalities. The NHS has an important role to play in helping to improve access to good healthcare for all. However, we also need to see a reverse to damaging cuts to public health and support services and fully appreciate the role of community services, primary care and local government in meeting these challenges.
On the green deal
“As the largest employer in the country and because of its vast scale, trusts are aware of their contribution to environmental issues and society as a whole.
“Several trusts are already carrying out measures to reduce clinical waste, encourage car-sharing among staff and put in place more energy-efficient systems across the NHS estate to reduce their carbon footprint.
While we welcome the ambition of ‘NHS green deal’ set out by the Labour Party, to achieve these ‘green makeovers’ trusts must have access to the funding they need to properly upgrade and repair crumbling buildings following years of underinvestment.
Director of Policy and Strategy
“While we welcome the ambition of ‘NHS green deal’ set out by the Labour Party, to achieve these ‘green makeovers’ trusts must have access to the funding they need to properly upgrade and repair crumbling buildings following years of underinvestment.
“NHS Providers is campaigning to rebuild our NHS to ensure we have a health service equipped to meet the challenges of the future. So we welcome the focus on addressing capital funding set out by the Labour Party.”