Summit held to shape social care reforms

Health and care sector leaders and experts were brought together by the secretary of state for health and social care, Sajid Javid, to help shape healthcare reform.

The summit invited open discussion to help shape and drive reform, covering NHS elective recovery, wider social care system reform, preventing ill-health and closing health disparities, and achieving greater integration.

Attendees included NHS chief executive Amanda Pritchard as well as NHS senior leadership and local leaders, social care, public health leadership, medical colleges, membership organisations, think tanks, charities and local government.

Following the summit, Sajid Javid said: ‘We can’t carry on with business as usual, that’s why today I’ve brought together vital leaders and experts from across the health and social care world to hear their views on how we deliver necessary reforms to meet and overcome the challenges we face, and I thank all those who joined.

‘The pandemic changed everything and left us with large backlogs. It’s a huge challenge, but the last 18 months has shown what we are capable of achieving when we work together towards a common goal.

‘I’m confident we can tackle waiting lists and deliver the ambitious reforms needed to help our health and social care system recover and move forwards for the better from this wretched pandemic.’

This comes after Boris Johnson announced a 1.25% tax increase to fund reforms of adult social care. The reforms will be paid for with an increase to national insurance, which is levied on anyone who earns more than £9,564 per year. 

The government has also brought forward the new Health and Care Bill to help drive forward integration in health and social care. 

Health bosses say the Health and Social Care Bill will ensure each part of England has an Integrated Care Board (ICB) and an Integrated Care Partnership (ICP) responsible for bringing together local NHS and local government, such as social care, mental health services and public health advice, to deliver joined-up care for its local population.

Photo Credit – Scott Graham