Health and Social Care Update

Debate between Diane Abbott and Thérèse Coffey

Thursday 22nd September 2022 Commons Chamber

[Dr Coffey]

I assure my hon. Friend that she will be hearing from the local NHS in order to make those functions happen.

[Ms Diane Abbott (Hackney North and Stoke Newington) (Lab)]

I welcome the Secretary of State to her new role. I heard her say earlier that she wants to encourage people to go into social care. Does she appreciate that the main thing discouraging people from going into social care is the very low wages, and that this is a particular issue during a cost of living crisis?

[Dr Coffey]

That will vary according to the provision that has been in place. I am sure the right hon. Lady will want to be careful and considerate in how she addresses the local NHS in order to tackle the issue of patients who do not need to be in hospital, in order to help them with some of the features that they enjoy.