Government should heed MPs’ advice over health and social care

Commenting today (Monday) on the Commons Health and Social Care Committee report on integrated care, UNISON assistant general secretary Christina McAnea said:

“Competition and the internal market have meant extra unwelcome and unnecessary pressures on an already overstretched NHS, making it harder to join up services and improve health and social care for the better.

“Getting rid of the disastrous Health and Social Care Act – the cause of so much of the NHS’ current difficulties – should be a priority. Introducing it was an act of supreme folly and without it the NHS will have the freedom to integrate services in the best interests of patients.

“The public wants and expects this but simply don’t understand what the government is trying to do. Ministers have got to ditch the jargon and explain clearly what changes like sustainability and transformation partnerships mean.

“The report’s call for extra funding to hasten the bringing together of health and care is welcome, as is the call for the new accountable care organisations to be part of the NHS. This will help reassure the public that this is not yet another attempt to privatise the NHS.”

Media contacts:
Liz Chinchen M: 07778 158175 E: press@unison.co.uk