The House of Commons Health and Social Care Select Committee of MPs visited the Isle of Wight as part of its ongoing investigation into social care.
The cross-party group of MPs, chaired by Liberal Democrat Layla Moran MP, met with key local stakeholders, including St Mary’s Hospital, Isle of Wight Council, Age UK and Healthwatch IW. Discussions focused on the unique demographic and health challenges faced by the Island, where the proportion of older residents is higher than the national average and social care spending is the highest per capita in the country.
The MPs visited St Mary’s Hospital to better understand the patient discharge challenges and met with Isle of Wight Council representatives responsible for adult social care provision. The delegation also visited Hazel Lodge Care Home and spoke to residents as well as Care in the Garden, which employs working age people supported by carers.
The findings from the visit will contribute to the Committee’s wider report into social care, which is investigating the impact of delaying reforms in adult social care. The Government has announced a 3-year review led by Baroness Casey, which has received criticism for ‘kicking the can down the road’.
The Select Committee is seeking to highlight the cost of further inaction and will use two case studies, the Isle of Wight and Nottingham, to include in its report due in April.
Joe Robertson, MP for Isle of Wight East and a member of the Health and Social Care Committee, said, “I am pleased to have secured a visit from the Committee to the Island as part of its report into social care.
“The Island's older population is 20 years ahead of where the rest of the UK’s population will be, so it is an ideal place to better understand the challenges the whole country will face in the future.
“I want to ensure that the Island is at the forefront of the national conservation about how we improve social care and support people in their own homes. The visit by the House of Commons Select Committee is an important part of ensuring that.”
Committee Chair, Layla Moran MP, added, “Our visit to the Isle of Wight provided a valuable insight into social care pressures and opportunities.
Understanding these challenges first-hand will help shape our Committee’s recommendations for reform and highlight the cost of inaction.”
