Leading MPs have urged the Prime Minister to come to an all-party agreement on additional funding for the NHS and social care services.
Leading MPs have urged the Prime Minister to come to an all-party agreement on additional funding for the NHS and social care services.
Chairs of the House of Commons’ Health, Public Finance, and Local Government committees, said in a letter to Theresa May published today that NHS and social care services are “at breaking point”.
They said in the letter that all parties should “become involved in a review” to address the "pressing social care challenges facing the country", including the NHS.
The letter argues that an all-party agreement needs to be reached as the health and social care problems “will face whichever Party is in Government over the coming decades".
The MPs add that this review should happen quickly, in time for the Spring budget on March 8.
The letter follows the Prime Minister's appearance before the House of Commons Liaison Committee in December, when she answered questions on health and social care funding.
The letter reads: "We were encouraged by your recognition at the Liaison Committee that everyone has a part to play in finding a sustainable way of ensuring social care provision in the future. You also accepted the need for a review to find a way of funding social care sustainably for the long term.”
Each of the three committees have been investigating the financial sustainability and of the NHS and care sector.
Chris Ham, chief executive of the King’s Fund, said: “For too long there has been a lack of political leadership on these issues. We agree with the committee chairs that a political consensus that puts health and social care funding on a sustainable footing is sorely needed.”
Dr Mark Porter, BMA chair of council, added that politicians “must come together” to arrive at a long-term solution to the crisis.
He said: “Failures within the social care system have a considerable knock-on effect on an already stretched and underfunded NHS. To look after patients well, doctors need social care to be well-funded and adequately staffed.”
