Professor Lee-Ann Fenge speaks at All Party Parliamentary Health Group event on the Health and Care Bill
Bournemouth University’s Professor Lee-Ann Fenge joined an All Party Parliamentary Health Group (APHG) event to talk about the benefits of the Health and Care Bill, advocating for true integrated care within the health system in the UK.
The virtual roundtable looked at the subject of Integrated Care Systems (ICS) and how the proposed Health and Care Bill aims to facilitate their formation and ongoing management as a key part of place-based care and integrating health and care functions. The event also sought to present an understanding of the Bill and the opportunities it presents for the future of the health service.
The event, ‘The Health and Care Bill Explained’, organised by Policy Connect, featured Bournemouth University alongside the Kings Fund, Local Government Association and the NHS Confederation.
Professor Fenge drew from her extensive background and knowledge of social care to share the importance of ensuring social work is included as an integral part of integrated care, and gets parity in terms of pay, research and reputation under the new Bill.
Other topics covered by Professor Fenge included the need for seldom heard voices to be heard in order to help shape legislation that works for all, and providing parity in care for marginalised groups. Professor Fenge also spoke on the opportunity through ICS to look at the value of social care, and the need to create parity in pay, working conditions, benefits and research between health and social care for health and care to become truly integrated.
Attendees included members of the House of Lords and Members of Parliament, as well as key care-based organisations and charities for a series of short presentations. An extensive Q&A discussion took place around key issues related to the Bill and integrated care.
