The health and wellbeing of my constituents is a top priority of mine. I am working hard to secure better investment for local services that further improve the quality of services and outcomes achieved for local people. I am also promoting ways we can all take better care of ourselves - by choosing healthy food options, staying active, and looking after our mental health. Download my mental health guide for more information. I want all of my constituents to know that I am here to help and support them.
Levelling Up Local Services:
- Since 2010, the budget available to the NHS has increased every year and, on the 17th of November 2022, we announced that access to funding for the NHS and social care is being increased by up to £8 billion in 2024-25. This takes total health spending to £192 billion. Since 2010, there are now over 37,800 more doctors and over 53,700 more nurses working in the NHS. Our record funding has also enabled us to deliver over 90,000 more GP appointments every day compared to 2021.
- The Government is well on its way to meet its commitment to recruit 50,000 more nurses by 2024 - with over 41,000 more nurses compared with September 2019. Over the last three years, this speed of growth in nursing numbers is faster than we have seen since 2009 when recording began. Other key NHS hospital workforce groups continue to grow, such as the now almost 18,000 professionally qualified ambulance staff, 12% more than in 2019 and over 81,000 allied health professionals, 20% more than 2019.
- We have also increased the number of medical school places in England by 25% from 2018/19 to 2020/21. Since September 2020, all eligible nursing, midwifery and allied health profession students have received a non-repayable training grant of a minimum of £5,000 per academic year. Last year, a record breaking 4,032 doctors accepted a place on GP training.
Supporting Carers and Social Care:
- Wolverhampton has been selected as one of five ‘trailblazer’ local authorities to implement the improved adult social care charging reform system. The city is receiving half a million pounds to implement the reforms early. It will introduce a new lifetime cap on the amount anyone in England will need to spend on their personal care, alongside a more generous means test and moving towards a fairer rate of care. It means no one has to face unpredictable care costs.
- Carers play a vital role in our communities, and we all owe them a debt of gratitude. The main cash benefits for those caring for disabled people is Carer’s Allowance, and the carer premium payable with means-tested benefits which includes a carer element. There are around 1240 carers in Wolverhampton South West claiming £4.3 million in support.
- I am pleased that the City of Wolverhampton Council has also received £14.8 million Improved Better Care Fund to better integrate health and social care and deliver help for local people and carers and £15.4 million for the Social Care Grant. Further support for carers can be found on my website here. Alzheimer's Research UK has shown that you can take steps to keep your brain healthy, just as you can improve other parts of your physical health. Scroll through their 40 everyday tips for better brain health online at www.alzheimersresearchuk.org/brain-health/brain-health-tips.
Improving Public Health:
- We are determined to improve the health and wellbeing of the nation - tackling obesity and improving mental health. Wolverhampton has been allocated more than £21 million from the public health grant for improving the health of their local population and reducing health inequalities. This can include initiatives targeted towards the prevention of ill health and essential frontline services - such as child health visits, drug treatment, and sexual health services. In addition, the city has been allocated more than £1 million to improve local drug and alcohol treatment and recovery systems, delivering on the Government’s 10-year drugs plan to cut crime and save lives.
- The Government is investing £3 million to help people across the city lead healthier, happier lives. It includes piloting a new app to put people in control of their own health. The Better Health: Rewards app will be piloted for six months in Wolverhampton as part of efforts to explore how technology can help people to improve their health and prevent conditions such as cardiovascular disease, strokes, and cancer.
- As someone who suffered from poor mental health in the past, I am pleased the Government has launched a call for evidence to inform the development of a new, 10-year plan to improve mental health. This will build on action already underway, which includes the commitment to invest an extra £2.3 billion a year in mental health services by 2023-24. More than 2.4 million children and young people now have access to NHS mental health support in schools and colleges. The NHS Long Term Plan, published in 2019, set out plans for mental health teams to cover 20-25% of schools by Spring 2023. The efforts of NHS staff mean that the health service in England is already covering more than a quarter – 26% - of schools one year ahead of a schedule, having accelerated the rollout.