Responding to the appointment of Steve Brine MP as chair of the health and social care committee, the interim chief executive at NHS Providers, Saffron Cordery, said:

"We welcome the appointment of Steve Brine MP as the new chair of the health and social care committee and look forward to building an open, honest and productive relationship with him as we did with his predecessor.

"As NHS workers right across acute, ambulance, mental health and community services continue to work flat-out in the face of mounting challenges ahead of what is set to be the toughest winter on record, the select committee's work will be more crucial than ever in scrutinising government decisions on policy, spending and administration.

"We hope the committee under the leadership of Brine offers a sustained focus on key areas including patient safety, mental health, workforce and social care, which are critical to ensuring trusts can deliver high-quality patient care.

"Additionally, attention should be given to NHS finances and the lack of capital investment, which is seriously impacting trusts across the country, as well as the cost-of-living crisis and its devastating impact on trusts, staff and local communities, and health inequalities, which were made even worse by the pandemic."