SHADOW Health Secretary Andy Burnham visited Warrington to talk about the future of health and social care.
He met members of the public and health professionals at a meeting at Hood Manor Community Centre.
Mr Burnham was invited to Warrington by Warrington South Labour Parliamentary candidate Nick Bent, along with MPs Andrew Gwynne and Debbie Abrahams.
Mr Burnham said: “It was great to hear the views of members of the public and health professionals in Warrington and from across the North West about what sort of health and care service they want.
“In the century of the ageing society we need to rethink our health and care systems and check we are getting the most from the money we spend.
“We need a bold vision for how we care for people and make sure all their needs – physical, social and mental – are being met.
“I’m excited by our ‘whole-person’ care policy review. For the first time in 20 years, Labour has the chance to rethink its policy from first principles. It presents the chance to change the terms of the health and care debate. That is what One Nation Labour is setting out to do.
“For too long, the debate on the future of health and care has been trapped on narrow ground. It is struggling to come up with credible answers to the questions that the 21st century is asking with ever greater urgency.
“I want to change the debate by opening up new possibilities and posing new questions of my own, starting with people and families and what they want from a 21st century health and care service.”
Mr Bent said: “It was brilliant having Andy and the Shadow Health Team here in Warrington to hear people’s thoughts on healthcare. The Tories are letting the people of Warrington and the NHS down.
“‘Whole person care’ is a policy that makes sense – instead of seeing an injury, or a social care need, it sees the person behind that and seeks to treat the whole person.
“It will stop people from getting batted to different arms of local government or the NHS when they need help, instead will make the necessary support would be through one single avenue.
“This is what an NHS with a One Nation Labour Government would be about and I’m looking forward to speaking to people in South Warrington about what they think about these ideas.”
Picture: Andy Burnham (centre) listening to the debate.
