Hammond denies health and social care services face ‘looming chaos’
Philip Hammond has denied health and social care services are facing “looming chaos” as he was accused of forgetting the NHS from the Autumn Statement.
Labour MP Luciana Berger told the Commons that the NHS, social care, mental health and public health are not mentioned once in the 72-page document outlining the Government’s spending plans.
The former shadow health minister added the services are in “crisis”, an assertion Mr Hammond rejected.
The Chancellor claimed the Government will have put £10 billion a year extra into the NHS by 2020, insisting they are giving the senior management of the health service what they have asked for.
Mr Hammond also told Ms Berger: “We will work with them to make sure it’s effective because it has got to be spent effectively, it’s got to be delivered effectively.
“I keep in very close contact with (Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt). He is working very closely with NHS management.
“I know it’s tempting for honourable members opposite to paint everything as a crisis or a looming chaos. It’s not the case.
“We have a programme of investment in the NHS, it is being delivered and we’ll keep a very close eye on the way it’s delivered.”
Mr Hammond, in reply to Labour former minister Meg Hillier, also said: “I might be a novice at autumn statements but I’m not such a rookie that I didn’t mention the NHS.
“So I suggest you check Hansard, you’ll find I very definitely did.”
Ms Berger had told Mr Hammond: “There’s actually not one single mention in the 72-page Autumn Statement document of the words NHS, social care, mental health and public health.
“You cannot ignore the fact that our health and social care services are in crisis, facing massive, massive deficits.
“Surely the many economists in your department will have told you it’s economically illiterate to ignore the massive decrease in people receiving social care in the community and the cuts to public health and NHS staff training.
“Why was the NHS missing from your Autumn Statement today?”
Earlier, Labour’s Andy Burnham said of social care: “Quite frankly it’s unbelievable that the Chancellor could find no mention of it today.
“Six years of cuts to social care have left a record number of older people trapped in hospital and the NHS on the brink.”
The former Treasury and health minister claimed a “dangerous winter” is facing the country.
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