This new government must view the nation’s health and care system as an asset worth investing in

Commenting on the new Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Dr Jennifer Dixon, chief executive of the Health Foundation, said:

‘The new Secretary of State for Health and Social Care inherits the role at an extremely challenging time – the nation’s health is fraying and health and care services are under extreme strain. Immediate action is needed to protect people’s health and put health and care services on a more sustainable footing.

‘Urgent action is needed to tackle the workforce crisis in health and social care. Vacancies in the NHS alone stand at 132,000. A fully funded long-term workforce strategy for the NHS and social care is desperately needed and should set out how many staff and of which type may be needed in future and how they will be trained, recruited, and retained.

‘Tackling unmet need in the NHS is another priority. The record-high hospital waiting list stands at 6.7 million and counting. People are finding it harder to access their GP and there are backlogs for community services. Growing staff numbers would improve access but wider policy changes are also required, such as investing in NHS infrastructure and boosting productivity. This means improving data and digital infrastructure, more widespread testing of new technology, supporting effective management, and adapting regulation and payment systems to support new innovations in care.

‘The social care system is on its knees and immediate action is needed to stabilise the system. Many people go without the care they need, terms and conditions for staff are poor, and reliance on unpaid carers is high. A mix of reform and investment is needed to improve and expand the system and ensure staff are fairly rewarded.

‘Finally, the government must match its rhetoric on “levelling up” the country with real commitment to improve living conditions and tackle unfair differences in health. The cost-of-living crisis adds urgency to this agenda. When people are choosing between heating and eating, their health will suffer. Government must deliver significant emergency support in the autumn – otherwise there is a risk the cost-of-living crisis will become a health crisis.

‘Ultimately, the level of public spending on health and social care is a political choice. The UK is a low tax country compared to many of our Western European neighbours, and investment in health per capita over decades has been much lower. This new government must view the nation’s health and care system like the public do - as assets worth investing in as a priority.’

Media Contact

Emily Wilson
emily.wilson@health.org.uk