Do not wash your hands of NHS and social care problems, MPs told

The devolution of power to local authorities and mayors should not be used as an excuse by central government to wash its hands of responsibility of key services such as the NHS and social care, a cross-party committee of MPs has said.

The public accounts committee has also stipulated that the government must ensure taxpayers’ money is well spent by devolved administrations in England. It highlighted a continued failure of central government to define its objectives.

The committee added that the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) must do more to demonstrate the link between devolution and economic growth, as repeatedly trumpeted by the former chancellor George Osborne.

The MPs particularly warn in their report published on Sunday that central government must not “absolve itself of its responsibility to ensure that devolved areas receive adequate funding for sustainable services”.

Sajid Javid, the communities and local government secretary, was forced last week by an outcry over a crisis in social care funding to announce a £240m “adult social care support grant” to be divided by local authorities based on need.

The public accounts committee’s report says: “Ultimately, central government should not devolve problems to local areas without the resources required to manage them. The devolution of health has potentially significant implications for the NHS and local government, and presents both opportunities and risks for clinicians.

“We have heard in our devolution discussions how those in support of the move consider that it will enable local areas to reshape health and social care according to the needs of local people. However, at a time of severe financial pressure on the health service, devolution of health may not offer the answers the department believes it can deliver in the timeframe needed.

“Unless government addresses the rising demand, spiralling costs, the structural issues and ensures that public health is delivering on reducing demand, the NHS will continue to face impossible financial pressures.”

Labour MP Meg Hillier, who chairs the public accounts committee, said her colleagues had repeatedly warned that central government must take responsibility for local services.

She said: “Central government must take responsibility for ensuring devolved areas receive adequate funding to maintain services.

“The point is well-illustrated by the devolution of health and social care. Time and again, our committee has raised concerns about the sustainability of NHS finances. Devolution is not a miracle cure and central government cannot expect to wash its hands of problems to which it has no solutions.”

Do not wash your hands of NHS and social care problems, MPs told