Integrated Care Boards: Budgets Debate
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Baroness Pidgeon
Main Page: Baroness Pidgeon (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)Department Debates - View all Baroness Pidgeon's debates with the Department of Health and Social Care
Integrated Care Boards: Budgets
Baroness Pidgeon Excerpts(1 month, 2 weeks ago)
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Baroness Merron (Lab)
The noble Lord actually outlines our entire focus. In March this year, we published the neighbourhood health framework that will empower local leaders to develop and scale neighbourhood health. It is important to recognise that this is not just more of the same; this is actually a change. It is a major shift, as outlined in the 10-year health plan on the back of the independent review by the noble Lord, Lord Darzi, that will mean that we can deliver what noble Lords rightly press me for: better patient-focused care, closer to home and with lower waiting times. That is the entire focus of the new arrangements. All the guidance and the targets that are set focus on that, which has not been the case previously.
Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms and Chief Whip (Lord Kennedy of Southwark) (Lab Co-op)
We will hear from the Lib Dem Benches.
Baroness Pidgeon (LD)
My Lords, since last year the number of patients waiting more than a year for basic community health services has shot up by a staggering 32%. What specific actions will the Government take to ensure that patients receive timely community health services?
Baroness Merron (Lab)
In February 2025 we published an overview of core community health services, Standardising Community Health Services, in order that ICBs should not just bear it in mind but act on it when planning for their local populations. I know that noble Lords are aware of this, but I often remind myself that ICBs are the best place to ensure that local health services meet the needs of local people. To assist the noble Baroness, we have also set very clear ambitions in our medium-term planning framework that mean that, by 2028-29, at least 80% of community health service activity should take place within 18 weeks, which would bring it in line with targets for elective care.