Oral Answers to Questions

Adam Holloway Excerpts
Tuesday 15th July 2014

(10 years, 3 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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The Secretary of State was asked—
Adam Holloway Portrait Mr Adam Holloway (Gravesham) (Con)
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1. What progress his Department has made on improving primary care for frail older people.

Jeremy Hunt Portrait The Secretary of State for Health (Mr Jeremy Hunt)
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It is a particular pleasure to be here this morning, although I appreciate that that feeling may not be reciprocated on all sides of the House.

Our NHS will not be sustainable unless we totally transform out-of-hospital care. That is why we have introduced the £3.9 billion merger of the health and social care systems, and reforms to the GP contract. We are encouraging clinical commissioners to be responsible for all out-of-hospital commissioning.

Adam Holloway Portrait Mr Holloway
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I am delighted that my right hon. Friend is answering questions today. Will he confirm that the changes announced will mean that frail elderly patients in Gravesham will have a single person to co-ordinate their care?

Jeremy Hunt Portrait Mr Hunt
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There is agreement across the House that we need a focus on frail elderly patients and a system in which everybody knows, for their mum, dad or grandparents, that there is someone in the NHS where the buck stops in relation to complex, long-term conditions. That is a condition of the better care fund, so I hope that that will make a big difference in my hon. Friend’s constituency.