Independent Age responds to the reappointment of Jeremy Hunt as Secretary of State

“We welcome the reappointment of Jeremy Hunt as Secretary of State for Health. As he is only too well aware, older people are the greatest users of the NHS and by 2020, 19% of the population will be over 65. The Health Secretary needs urgently to address the root causes of problems, such as the winter A and E crisis. This will not be easily achieved within a tight spending framework, even allowing for the additional £8 billion of health spending promised by the Conservative party manifesto. Continued integration of health and social care may help deliver some of the demanded £22 billion savings from the NHS budget assumed by its five year plan, but the Health Secretary will need to immediately address the fundamental question of what to do if – as seems likely - the savings expected of the NHS are not achievable.  Such a situation will require re-examination of more radical options, such as those proposed by the Barker Commission.”