New health and social care minister urged to 'grasp social care challenge'

NHS Confederation leaders have called on the new health and social care secretary Matt Hancock to “grasp the social care challenge” saying “we do not need an NHS plan, we need a health and care plan”.

NHS Confederation chair Stephen Dorrell, a former health secretary, and chief executive Niall Dickson want a joint plan that covers both health and care - and for the government to publish the social care green paper soon.

In a letter to the new minister who has replaced Jeremy Hunt, they say: “We hope you will grasp the social care challenge - this will mean publishing the promised Social Care Green Paper soon, with realistic options that will address the current and future funding challenge.

“The case for short term funding to lift the immediate pressures on social care is also overwhelming.”

The letter points out that the future funding arrangements for social care, public health, staff training and capital are “unfinished business” and need to be made public.

The letter adds: “Without these elements, there is a danger the additional money identified thus far will not achieve the transformation in these services which is so badly needed. We would be the first to concede that money alone is necessary but not sufficient.

“As well as more resources, a concerted effort is needed to create more integrated services, tackle unwarranted variation, introduce new technology and ways of working and new models of care in the community.”

The letter also notes that the Health and Care Select Committee’s recent report on Integrated Care called for a transformation strategy and a fund to drive this change and describes this as having “real merit”.

This week, Matt Hancock, who was the digital, culture, media and sport (DCMS) secretary, set out his ambitions in the Health Service Journal for the future of the NHS and talked about the potential of technology to improve healthcare.

The 39-year-old said it was a “deep privilege to be asked last week to become the health and social care secretary at this critical point in the history of both the NHS and our social care system.

He also commended the “doctors, nurses, porters, managers, leaders and other care workers" who are the people who "underpin our great NHS and without you, we would have nothing. I have a message for you: I will work with you, I will back you and I will make sure you have the long-term plan you need. Every single person who works in the health and social care system - of every rank - has a part to play in improving the health of our nation.”

In terms of technology he highlighted the “intelligent use of data” to “improve social care rotas so carers can spend more time with those in their care. And apps can monitor patients as they leave care and alert doctors or GPs if there are any problems that arise”.

Matt Hancock took over from Jeremy Hunt who was the longest serving health minister in British history. Mr Hunt is now foreign secretary after Boris Johnson stepped down.

He is the MP for West Suffolk, having been elected in the 2010 general election.

During Mr Hancock’s time as an MP, he has voted to: cut pharmacy funding; reform the NHS so GPs buy services on behalf of patients; reduce spending on welfare benefits and allow terminally ill people to be given assistance to end their life. He also voted in favour of the European Union referendum, but voted to Remain in the EU.