The Prime Minister has agreed to meet with the Liberal Democrat Health Spokesperson, Norman Lamb, together with other MPs calling for cross-party talks on the future of NHS and Social Care.

A group of more than 20 MPs from the Conservatives, Labour, and the Liberal Democrats today issued a joint call for the Prime Minister to establish an NHS and Care Convention to come up with a long-term funding settlement for the health and care system.

A coalition of 75 charities, professional bodies and trade unions in the healthcare sector – including Association of Directors of Adult Social Services (ADASS), Care England, The Patients’ Association, The Royal College of GPs, The Royal College of Nursing, and Marie Curie – have also published a joint letter urging Theresa May to set up an inclusive cross-party process to secure these services for future generations.

Speaking at Prime Minister’s Questions this afternoon, Norman Lamb urged Mrs. May to meet with the group and listen to their case for the proposal, saying:

“The Prime Minister will understand, despite her reassurances, that there are genuine and really serious concerns amongst staff and patients across the NHS and care system about the pressures they are under.  It is for that reason that MPs from her own party, and the Labour Party, and from my own, have come together to call for the Government to establish an NHS and Care Convention, to engage with the public so that we can come up with a long-term settlement for the NHS and Care.  Would the Prime Minister be prepared to meet with us just to discuss it, so that she can hear our case?”

The Prime Minister responded:

“I recognise the interest and the attention that the honourable gentleman has given to these issues – and of course, he is a former health minister himself – and I would be happy to meet with him and others as he suggests.”

Commenting afterwards, Norman Lamb said:

“The NHS and Social Care are under unprecedented strain, and a fundamental review of how we fund these services is urgently needed.  The crisis continues to deepen, and the consequences of failing to act now could be catastrophic for patients and vulnerable elderly people in need of care.

“The Prime Minister’s response was constructive and I welcome that she has agreed to meet with us to hear our case.

“I hope that this will be the start of a constructive cross-party approach to developing bold long-term solutions, and that we will see an end to the partisan bickering that has failed patients for too long.”