Contributions
2,121 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDExtreme Heat: Resilience of NHS InfrastructureMy Lords, extreme heat does pose a serious risk to NHS buildings and services. All NHS organisations are required to have effective arrangements in place for adverse weather. We…30 Jun 2026HANSARDExtreme Heat: Resilience of NHS InfrastructureMy noble friend raises an important point. It is important to note that extreme heat particularly affects buildings with poor insulation and limited natural ventilation, which, by…30 Jun 2026HANSARDExtreme Heat: Resilience of NHS InfrastructureClearly it is a different situation, in terms not of climate but of the estate. I know the noble Lord is aware of this, but it is worth pointing out that the social care sector is…30 Jun 2026HANSARDExtreme Heat: Resilience of NHS InfrastructureThe Government are indeed providing trusts with substantial investment—I mentioned just some of it—in these measures, and that is very much in line with the Government’s net-zero…30 Jun 2026HANSARDExtreme Heat: Resilience of NHS InfrastructureYes indeed, and I go back to my point about the £6.75 billion estates safety fund, the whole intention of which is to target the most serious risks, such as those the noble…30 Jun 2026HANSARDExtreme Heat: Resilience of NHS InfrastructureWe are already investing some £30 billion of capital across the NHS estate. I have mentioned the most serious infrastructure risks, which the noble Lord rightly refers to. While…30 Jun 2026HANSARDExtreme Heat: Resilience of NHS InfrastructureThe recent heat health alert was the first alert since July 2022. Importantly, the UK Health Security Agency has updated its weather health alert system in order that action can…30 Jun 2026HANSARDExtreme Heat: Resilience of NHS InfrastructureI acknowledge the push my noble friend is making. She will understand that the decision she asked me to comment on is not one for my department, but I will certainly draw it to…30 Jun 2026HANSARDNottingham Maternity and Neonatal ServicesMy Lords, we find ourselves deeply affected, as we have heard from both Front Benches. I am grateful for the tone and for the acknowledgement of the experiences of bereaved and…29 Jun 2026HANSARDNottingham Maternity and Neonatal ServicesI am so very sorry to hear of the noble Baroness’s experience; I am grateful to her for sharing it with your Lordships’ House. I am sure we all offer our condolences and…29 Jun 2026HANSARDNottingham Maternity and Neonatal ServicesI certainly agree. Every woman, in the case of maternity services, deserves safe and compassionate maternity care. That is why we are so determined to drive urgent improvements in…29 Jun 2026HANSARDNottingham Maternity and Neonatal ServicesMy noble friend’s analysis is quite right. One of the reasons we are developing an anti-discrimination programme is that cultural change across maternity and neonatal services is…29 Jun 2026HANSARDNottingham Maternity and Neonatal ServicesIt is absolutely crucial, as my noble friend says, that the training should reflect the needs of the care that will be given. That is something that I know the taskforce will look…29 Jun 2026HANSARDNottingham Maternity and Neonatal ServicesThe noble Baroness is right to refer to the report undertaken by the Lords committee, which I was pleased to be invited to appear before. It is true that there is a complexity.…29 Jun 2026HANSARDNottingham Maternity and Neonatal ServicesI will be pleased to raise that with my ministerial colleague in the Cabinet Office. I agree that an oversight mechanism is very important. On the Bill—which will, of course,…29 Jun 2026HANSARDNottingham Maternity and Neonatal ServicesI completely understand the noble Baroness’s point. I am grateful for her sensitivity on this subject. I do not feel qualified to comment on honours and their removal, but I will…29 Jun 2026HANSARDNottingham Maternity and Neonatal ServicesMy noble friend is right to draw comparisons and, as I said earlier, I certainly agree on the point about culture that is made very clearly in the report from Donna Ockenden. I…29 Jun 2026HANSARDNottingham Maternity and Neonatal ServicesWe are soon expecting the 10-year workforce plan. In its considerations, it will address patient safety, because that is one of the requirements when thinking about workforce. But…29 Jun 2026HANSARDNottingham Maternity and Neonatal ServicesThe key is to bring together the recommendations from Donna Ockenden’s report with the independent report that we established, chaired by my noble friend Lady Amos, which will…29 Jun 2026HANSARDFoetal Alcohol Spectrum DisorderThe noble Baroness is quite right. This is one of the many reasons that I am enthusiastic, as we move towards the single patient record. We will absolutely ensure that carers and…25 Jun 2026