The Mayor of Greater Manchester and former Health Secretary, the Rt Hon Andy Burnham, will appear before a cross-party inquiry into the future of healthcare infrastructure next month to provide his expert insight.
Mr Burnham has agreed to give evidence to the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Healthcare Infrastructure as part its work on assessing what the short, medium-, and long-term needs for NHS infrastructure are for patients, clinicians, and the wider public.
The APPG has launched a public call for evidence, and is seeking views on the following areas:
- NHS estates and facilities.
- Equipment used by the NHS.
- Physical elements required to enable digital care.
Submissions must be received by Friday 17 June.
The APPG said: “Our recommendations to the Government and NHS leaders will be published in our report, to be launched in Parliament by the Minister for Health, Edward Argar MP on 12 July.” Joining Andy Burnham on the expert panel will be Elaine Siew, CEO of gbpartnerships, Jonathan Murphy, CEO of Assura plc, and Professor Martin Green OBE, CEO of Care England. Their ‘evidence’ will be presented at the second of two public evidence sessions that the APPG is holding. Parliamentarians have already heard from former Health Secretary, Rt Hon Stephen Dorrell, UCL academic, Professor Grant Mills, Policy Exchange’s Robert Ede, and Fulcrum Infrastructure Group CEO, Sarah Beaumont-Smith.
Commenting on the progress of the inquiry, and the upcoming second evidence session, APPG Chair, and MP for Bolton West, Chris Green MP, said: “Following our superb first evidence session in Parliament, I am delighted that Andy Burnham has agreed to give evidence to the APPG. Hearing from former Secretaries of State, such as Stephen Dorrell and Andy Burnham, means our work is being informed by those with experience of leading the NHS at the highest levels of government. I urge anyone with something to say on the future of health infrastructure, and how it can meet our post-pandemic needs, to respond to our call for evidence.
“I would also like to thank the Minster of State for Health, Ed Argar MP, for agreeing to launch our report. His involvement reflects the open ear the Government has on this vital issue, and we want to put forward the best set of recommendations to him.”
The second evidence session will be held ‘virtually’ on 14 June from 2.00-3.00pm. Anyone interested in attending the session to observe should contact the APPG’s Secretariat by email at: healthcareinfrastructureappg@connectpa.co.uk.
All-Party Parliamentary Groups are informal groups of Members of both Houses with a common interest in particular issues.