Committee to examine government plans to reform social care

The Committee said pre-legislative scrutiny of the proposals in the White Paper, Integration and Innovation: working together to improve health and social care for all, will begin next week with an evidence session on Tuesday (March 2). A further two sessions are planned.

The first session will consider plans for integrated care systems, reform of social care and the extension of the powers of the secretary of state for health and social care.

It will take evidence from think-tanks as well as a number of stakeholder organisations, including NHS Providers and the Local Government Association.

Health and Social Care Committee chair Jeremy Hunt said: ‘As a committee, we look forward to examining the detail of the government’s plans to reform how the NHS delivers health and care services. A priority should be to build on progress on patient safety and quality of care.

‘We will have questions about how the new statutory bodies will operate alongside local authorities, and crucially, by what measures they will be judged and held to account.

‘Restructuring on this scale offers an opportunity to set the NHS on a new course for future generations. Workforce reform and a long-term plan for social care cannot be overlooked.’

The first session will include remote participation by witnesses and Committee members:

At 9.30am

• Richard Murray, Chief Executive, The King’s Fund
• Hugh Alderwick, Head of Policy, The Health Foundation
• Nigel Edwards, Chief Executive, The Nuffield Trust

At 10.30am

• Danny Mortimer, Chief Executive, NHS Confederation
• Sarah Pickup, Deputy Chief Executive, Local Government Association
• Sir Robert Francis, Chair, Healthwatch England
• Chris Hopson, Chief Executive, NHS Providers

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