Health and Social Care Secretary supporting older people to maintain independence for longer
Newly appointed Health and Social Care Secretary Victoria Atkins has stated that the UK Government will aim to support older people to maintain their independence for longer.
Paying tribute to health, social care and research staff for delivering on patients’ priorities, the Secretary of State, who was appointed on 13 November 2023, set out her commitment to make the health and social care system faster, simpler and fairer for patients.
Her words came days after pharmacies across the country began offering additional blood pressure checks, and after a breakthrough in talks to end consultant strikes, which saw the British Medical Association consultants committee agree to put an offer on contract reform to its members.
Health and Social Care Secretary, Victoria Atkins, said: “I have spent the past few weeks meeting doctors, nurses, GPs, pharmacists and other health workers and heard wonderful stories about how they have gone above and beyond to deliver outstanding care for patients and cut waiting lists.
“But I have also heard about their frustrations and where they feel they are not able to deliver the best possible care or where prevention or early intervention could have made a real difference. That is why I am committed to making health and social care services faster, simpler and fairer.
“We face a difficult winter ahead. And though our early winter planning is seeing some results we know there is much more to do.”
The Health and Social Care Secretary has committed to making health and social care services faster for patients, by making it easier to get treatment locally, improving A&E performance and cutting waiting lists.
She has also stated her commitment for more joined-up, integrated care, and simpler for staff, by reducing bureaucracy and giving them the latest technology to free up their time to care for patients.
The Secretary of State added that she would continue to work with the NHS to manage the ongoing winter pressures. The government prepared for winter earlier than ever before and data released by the NHS on Thursday shows the government is making good progress.
In August 2023, former Health and Social Care Secretary Steve Barclay announced that 900 new hospital beds will be delivered across the NHS as part of £250 million government funding to help treat patients more quickly this winter.
