Contributions
2,121 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDNHS and Care Volunteer Responders ServiceMy noble friend makes a very important point and I can certainly give her the assurance she seeks. Over 50,000 additional volunteers are recruited by NHS trusts, which they then…20 May 2025HANSARDHealthy Life ExpectancyThe right reverend Prelate is quite right to draw attention to mental health impacts and the inequality of their incidence. As I mentioned, there has to be a cross-government…20 May 2025HANSARDHealthy Life ExpectancyPrevention is certainly the best approach. As noble Lords will be aware, one of the three pillars of the published 10-year plan is moving from sickness to prevention, so that will…20 May 2025HANSARDNHS and Care Volunteer Responders ServiceI start by saying, as I am sure the noble Earl agrees, how grateful we are for the generous contribution made by volunteers. They play a vital role in supporting patients, staff…20 May 2025HANSARDNHS and Care Volunteer Responders ServiceI assure the noble Baroness that there is no intention that this will impact on services. As I mentioned, this is about getting value for money; the previous scheme did so during…20 May 2025HANSARDNHS and Care Volunteer Responders ServiceThis announcement does not affect transparency or services directly provided by the NHS. We are seeking to improve the volunteering offer to make it more cost-effective, and to…20 May 2025HANSARDNHS and Care Volunteer Responders ServiceThe noble Baroness raises an important point. I am sure there are many, like me, who have volunteered, or still volunteer, and gained as much as they gave, although they did not…20 May 2025HANSARDNHS and Care Volunteer Responders ServiceI understand that point. It is important to retain and develop people’s interest and commitment. The new portal will be a one-stop shop and will be much better at achieving what…20 May 2025HANSARDHealthy Life ExpectancyI do feel that that would be wise, and we as a Government have already shown that trajectory. To give just one example, smoking remains the preventable killer in our country, and…20 May 2025HANSARDHealthy Life ExpectancyI congratulate the noble Baroness on being an example to us all. She referred to learning from international examples, including Japan, and indeed we do. We know that some 12…20 May 2025HANSARDNHS and Care Volunteer Responders ServiceI share the noble Lord’s view. Various directions are given to volunteers about how to behave when they receive information that may be to do with safeguarding, and where it…20 May 2025HANSARDNHS and Care Volunteer Responders ServiceThere is a role for charitable organisations. One example is hospices. As I have been told many times in this Chamber, as well as outside it, many hospices and other charities,…20 May 2025HANSARDDoncaster Royal InfirmaryI understand that the noble Lord is, as I am, very keen to resolve this situation, but the fact is that DRI is in an extremely difficult place, which was the reason for the right…12 May 2025HANSARDDoncaster Royal InfirmaryMy Lords, Doncaster Royal Infirmary has a backlog maintenance bill of approximately £114 million, and serious infrastructure issues are indeed presenting challenges to delivering…12 May 2025HANSARDDoncaster Royal InfirmaryOn that point, I feel that the Government taking the backlog very seriously, against the background of what we have inherited, will make conditions far better for staff, which…12 May 2025HANSARDDoncaster Royal InfirmaryI am very aware of the unacceptable situation that the right reverend Prelate describes. I can confirm that, in terms of capital commitments, in 2025-26 the Government are backing…12 May 2025HANSARDDoncaster Royal InfirmaryI can tell your Lordships’ House that we have inherited an undercapitalisation over the past few years, and it is essential—including to cut waiting lists and provide proper…12 May 2025HANSARDDoncaster Royal InfirmaryMy noble friend is right about the effects of a poor estate. In addition to productivity, it very much affects safety, staff working conditions and capacity. The benefits are…12 May 2025HANSARDCare Quality Commission: Mental Health Care Waiting TimesI am aware of the very helpful report that my noble friend refers to. I acknowledge the challenges highlighted in that report and will certainly take into account the points it…08 May 2025HANSARDCare Quality Commission: Mental Health Care Waiting TimesAs the noble Baroness says, we reduced the number of targets on the basis of the recommendation by the noble Lord, Lord Darzi, that having so many targets was not delivering the…08 May 2025