30.01.20
NHS Providers welcomes Jeremy Hunt as health select committee chair
Following the appointment of Jeremy Hunt as chair of the health and social care select committee, NHS Providers chief executive Chris Hopson has welcomed him into the new role.
In his new role, Mr Hunt will head a committee of MPs who scrutinise the performance of the NHS and government health policy.
Mr Hunt, who was the longest serving health secretary between 2010 and 2016, said he was “honoured” to be elected as chair of the select committee and would be pressing the government to move quickly to build a cross-party consensus over a funding settlement for care of the elderly.
Responding to the appointment, Mr Hopson said: “We look forward to working with Jeremy Hunt as the new chair of the health and social care committee, and continuing to build on the honest, open and constructive dialogue we shared whilst he served as secretary of state for health.
“For the coming year, we welcome Mr Hunt’s focus on patient safety, mental health, workforce and social care. These key areas fundamentally affect the ability of trusts to deliver high-quality patient care.
“We have outlined specific subjects we encourage the committee to hone in on to Mr Hunt, including NHS pensions and the clinical review of standards.
“Additionally, we have urged the committee to consider holding a wide-ranging inquiry on the NHS long term plan. This should include setting priorities, working out clear delivery timescales, and examining commitments on financial recovery, integrated care and broader system working.”
Image Credit: Stefan Rousseau/PA Archive/PA Images