WIREDGOV

The Health and Social Care Committee has today published a report outlining amendments to the Health Bill, including legal duties for NHS services to comply with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) tribunals.

• Read the report

The Government’s Health Bill contains legislation to abolish NHS England, give more powers over national policy to the Secretary of State, and devolve powers to Integrated Care Boards (ICBs).

In addition to SEND, the cross-party Committee’s report outlines amendments that its MPs will put forward regarding:

• Increasing spending on mental health services as a proportion of overall NHS funding
• Closer working and input from local government over health services
• The need for cross-government focus on tackling health inequalities
• Breaking down siloes caused by rigid budget allocations

The amendments are explained in Appendix 1 of the report (linked above).

The amendments will be considered by a separate Public Bill Committee, which begins its deliberations on the Bill on Tuesday 16 June. The Bill Committee must finish its work by Thursday 16 July.

Chair comment

Health and Social Care Committee Chair, Layla Moran MP, said:

“The Health Bill will herald the most far-reaching changes to the health service in nearly 15 years. This is the opportunity to rewire parts of the NHS to tackle chronic problems affecting every area of the country, from SEND and mental health services to better prevention of obesity and frailty. It should be about more than just reshuffling bureaucracy and handing power to the Secretary of State. 

“This report sets out a number of amendments to the Health Bill that we believe MPs from across the House will get behind, and will catalyse much needed debate on what the Government is going to do with the NHS.”