Oral Answers to Questions

George Freeman Excerpts

Tuesday 7th May 2019 Commons Chamber

[Stephen Hammond]

My hon. Friend is a diligent and consistent representative of his constituents on this matter. He will know that I have heard his request and that, as I have said to him before, the spending review will take place later in the year. Priorities will be decided at that stage.

[George Freeman (Mid Norfolk) (Con)]

7. What steps he is taking to improve the patient experience through the use of digital technology.

[The Secretary of State for Health and Social Care (Matt Hancock)]

Providing patients with modern digital services that are safe, effective, convenient and personalised is central to our NHS long-term plan.

[George Freeman]

I thank the Secretary of State for that answer and for the energy that he brings to this brief. Does he agree that digital health not only improves healthcare systems but also provides a platform for place-based and population-based prevention, better diagnosis, patient empowerment, novel mental health therapies and accelerated access to the innovative treatments that I introduced as a Minister? This is now being pioneered in some parts of the country. Will he meet me and the Birmingham health partners to look at an interesting idea for digital place-based health impact bonds?

[Matt Hancock]

Yes, I am always happy to meet my hon. Friend to talk about interesting new policy innovations like that. It sounds right up my street. In fact, I met the Mayor of the West Midlands combined authority to discuss this subject only last week. There is a huge amount of enthusiasm and energy in this policy area, which will enable us to improve patients’ lives across Birmingham and, indeed, the whole country.