Health Select Committee report on public expenditure on NHS and social care

This report is a damning verdict from the Select Committee on the damage done to the NHS by David Cameron’s re-organisation.

It is now beyond question that the NHS has been left weakened, confused and fragmented by these changes. It is clear that it distracted focus from the financial challenge and resulted in crude and damaging cuts to frontline care. Ministers’ decision to force competition on the NHS is now beginning to cause real damage to patient care and is preventing the integration the service needs. The Committee is right to call for a review of these unwanted rules.

It is now clear that the Government must now revisit their plans for further brutal cuts to social care. If things are left as they are, it result in ever-greater hospitalisation of frail older people and that is no answer to the ageing society.

This report is a broad endorsement of Labour’s plans to integrate the NHS and social care and we welcome it. The Government must now admit its re-organisation was a mistake and repeal this market madness.

May Logan Healthy Living Centre

I paid a visit to Liverpool Housing Trust’s May Logan Centre in December and was given a guided tour of the Merseyside healthy living centre which aims to improve the well being, health and quality of life for local people.

Every year 50,000 people use the centre’s services which include family planning, smoking cessation, Alder Hey clinics, cafe and IT suite.

The visit came about after Donna Kelly, housing and support director at Liverpool Housing Trust (LHT), attended a conference where I spoke about the NHS.

During the visit I watched a brief presentation about the May Logan Centre, took a guided tour of the building, spoke to staff and met local people taking part in an art therapy group, an exercise session for older people and parent toddler cookery course.

The May Logan Centre is a good example of the great work that can take place when health and social care come together under one roof. It’s clear from speaking to the dedicated staff and the people who use the centre that it’s a lifeline.