Cross-Party MPs request non-partisan debate on future NHS

90 MPs have urged Theresa May to launch a cross-party convention on the future of the NHS and social care in England.

Chair of the Commons health committee Sarah Wollaston, in conjunction with Liberal Democrat former care minister Norman Lamb and Labour’s former shadow care minister Liz Kendall organised a letter that has been sent to the prime minister and the chancellor.

The MPs say the health system has been failing patients and are calling on Hammond to ensure any moves to lift the public sector pay cap for NHS workers is not funded by raiding existing health budgets.

The signatories have said only a non-partisan debate can deliver a ‘sustainable settlement’. They say the failure of normal party politics means a non-partisan approach is the only way to ensure the future of the system and ensure action is taken.

Although MPs recognised that the challenge facing the government involved making difficult choices, they say ‘patients and those needing care are too often failed by a system under considerable strain’.

Representatives from the Nuffield Trust, Health Foundation and King’s Fund said this year that austerity combined with increasing demand for services had created a ‘mounting toll on patient care’. They said there was growing evidence that access to some treatments was being rationed and that quality of care in some services was being diluted. They said solving the problem would mean a ‘steadily increasing share of national income would need to be spent on these services’.

The MPs, who include about 30 former ministers, said: “The need for action is greater now than ever.

“We understand that fixing this is immensely challenging and involves difficult choices.

“We all recognise, though, that patients and those needing care are too often failed by a system under considerable strain. We believe that together we owe a duty of care to the people of this country to confront the serious challenges to the NHS and the social care system.”

Sarah Wollaston, chair of the Commons health committee, said: “The simple reality of a hung parliament means that all our constituents will be failed if long-term plans for NHS and [social] care funding do not command cross-party support.

“It’s better to take a joint approach to planning from the outset and actually deliver.”

Norman Lamb, Liberal Democrat former care minister, said: “Tribal politics has failed to provide a solution to the existential challenges facing the NHS and social care. We know that the current situation is unsustainable, and these pressures will only get worse as we contend with an ageing population and rising demand for care and treatment.

“This letter shows the strength of cross-party support for a new approach based on cooperation instead of political point-scoring. The fact that so many senior MPs and former cabinet ministers support this initiative is remarkable. Now the government must act on it.”

Liz Kendall, Labour’s former shadow care minister, said: “Our population is ageing, more people need help and support and our care services desperately need more money to cope, yet any party that comes up with a significant proposal for funding social care risks their political opponents destroying them.

“We could carry on like this for yet another parliament, and yet another election, or we could face up to reality: we will only get lasting change if we secure a cross-party approach.”

Niall Dickson, chief executive of the NHS Confederation, said: “The government promised reform before the election, then said there would be a green paper before Christmas. Now it has been put off until summer next year – and even then we are not being promised firm commitments.”

A government spokesperson said: “We have announced a cross-government green paper on care and support for older people with input from a group of independent experts. We recognise that there is broad agreement across parliament that reform for social care is a priority and look forward to hearing a range of views.”