Responding to the proposals set out in today’s Queen’s Speech, the director of policy and strategy at NHS Providers, Miriam Deakin said:

 “We welcome the priority focus the government has placed on the NHS and social care within the Queen’s Speech today.

 “We support a set of targeted changes to the law as proposed which are aimed at enabling the integration of services and avoid a substantial restructure of the NHS. We are pleased to have been fully engaged in working up these proposals and will continue to ensure that the provider sector’s needs and views continue to be heard.

 “We are also pleased to see the introduction of the Health Service Safety Investigations Bill, which promises to be a significant step forward in continually improving patient safety. This will help trusts and their staff adopt a systemic approach to investigating and learning from incidents to provide the safest and best care for patients.

 “The review of the Mental Health Act will help to ensure that this complex piece of legislation is used appropriately and consistently. However any impact on an already stretched mental health workforce, with limited resource and capacity, needs to be taken into account.

The review of the Mental Health Act will help to ensure that this complex piece of legislation is used appropriately and consistently. However any impact on an already stretched mental health workforce, with limited resource and capacity, needs to be taken into account.

Miriam Deakin    Co-Director of Development and Engagement

 “We remain concerned about proposed changes to the immigration system.  The NHS relies on recruiting and attracting staff from across the world and it is vital that immigration policy supports the ability of the NHS and social care to recruit and retain skilled staff. The criteria of any immigration system will therefore need to recognise that low paid does not mean low skilled, and that it will be several years before domestic supply increases enough to help close the sizeable workforce gap.

The NHS relies on recruiting and attracting staff from across the world and it is vital that immigration policy supports the ability of the NHS and social care to recruit and retain skilled staff.

Miriam Deakin    Co-Director of Development and Engagement

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 “Finally, the government’s renewed commitment today to tackling the social care crisis is welcome but there is a an urgent need for swift and concrete action. Pressures on social care are making it more difficult to support vulnerable or older people to live independently and closer to home, often contributing to a rise in admissions and long stays in hospital. Securing a sustainable, properly funded and fair social care system has to be a priority for the government if we are to meet demand for appropriate care in the right setting, now and in the future.”