Oral Answers to Questions

Tony Baldry Excerpts

Tuesday 26th November 2013 Commons Chamber

[Mark Menzies (Fylde) (Con)]

6. What progress his Department has made on improving out-of-hospital care for frail elderly people.

[Sir Tony Baldry (Banbury) (Con)]

13. What progress his Department has made on improving out-of-hospital care for frail elderly people.

[Nick de Bois (Enfield North) (Con)]

17. What progress his Department has made on improving out-of-hospital care for frail elderly people.

--- Later in debate ---

[Mr Hunt]

My hon. Friend is not the only person to welcome that change. After months of telling the House that this was nothing to do with the A and E problems, the shadow Health Secretary said on the “Today” programme that he welcomed the change and that it would make a difference to A and E. So I welcome the return of the prodigal son with great pride and pleasure. For my hon. Friend’s constituents, this will mean that there will be someone in the NHS who is responsible for ensuring that they get the care package that they need. That is incredibly important, because when people are discharged from hospitals, the hospitals worry about whose care they will be under. This change will provide that crucial link and make a real difference.

[Sir Tony Baldry]

Does my right hon. Friend agree that the 2004 GP contract did enormous damage to the relationship between GPs and their patients, and that the recent changes agreed with GPs should ensure much more proactive care of our most vulnerable constituents and ease pressure on A and E departments?

[Mr Hunt]

I agree with my hon. Friend, and I am pleased that the shadow Health Secretary also agrees with him in welcoming the reversal of that disastrous contract. The personal relationship between doctor and patient is at the heart of what the NHS stands for, and at the heart of that is a responsibility to ensure that people get the care they need. That is what we need to get back, and I think that the change will make a big difference to my hon. Friend’s constituents.