On Saturday 16th April over 80 people attended a Conference in Shrewsbury “the Crisis in Health & Social Care” organised by Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin Co-operative Party and Shropshire Labour Party.

The conference explored the challenges facing health and social care and the role of co-operative ideas in solving them.

Speaking at the event Lord Phillip Hunt Shadow Health Minister, former Minister in the Department of Health, and Labour’s Deputy Leader in the Lords; stated “we can’t address Health without addressing the appalling state of Social Care…it needs mutual change”.

Dr Tony O’Sullivan Chair of Keep Our NHS Public and Dr Mary McCarthy, member of the General Practitioners Committee of the BMA. Spoke on the challenges to Health and care, its value and gave great examples of fighting to save the NHS.

Cheryl Barrott Co-founder of Change AGEnts Network UK Ltd, and Chair of Co-operatives Yorkshire & the Humber eloquently outlined a range co-operative solutions and opportunities as well as highlighting the Co-operative Party’s on-going policy development work in this area. She believed that Social Care faces same demographic problems as Health so needs increased resources not reduced”

Thanks to Martin Jones our Party officer in West Mercia who helped organise the event, brilliantly! People left with positive co-operative ideas to take with them. If you would like to know more about the Co-operative Party’s work in Social Care please contact: policy@party.coop If you would like to organise a similar event in your area please contact J.boyle@party.coop