Health Secretary Faces MPs on Social Care Reform, Hospital Waiting Lists and Abolishing NHS England

The Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, James Murray, will face questioning from MPs next week on a raft of issues affecting the health and social care sector, including the future shape of adult social care, the ongoing elective care backlog, and the controversial practice of treating patients in hospital corridors.

The session, hosted by the cross-party Health and Social Care Committee, takes place on Wednesday 8 July at 9.30am in the Wilson Room, Portcullis House, and will be broadcast live via Parliamentlive.tv.

The Minister will appear alongside NHS England Chief Executive, Sir Jim Mackey, and Department of Health and Social Care Permanent Secretary, Samantha Jones.

Among the topics the cross-party Committee is likely to raise are:
• ‘Corridor care’ and freeing up capacity in acute hospitals
• Progress with reducing the elective care backlog
• Abolishing NHE England and merging Integrated Care Boards
• Increasing the Secretary of State’s powers under the Health Bill
• The shift to neighbourhood health
• The Casey Commission on adult social care

There may also be questions on potential cuts to DHSC’s capital budget to pay for the Defence Investment Plans, the timing of the NHS Workforce Plan, and preparing for heatwaves.
 
Witness schedule, from 9.30:   
• Rt Hon James Murray MP, Secretary of State for Health and Social Care
• Samantha Jones, Permanent Secretary, Department for Health and Social Care
• Sir Jim Mackey, Chief Executive Officer, NHS England