Contributions
2,121 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDAdult Social Care: Long-term Workforce PlanMy Lords, as the social care system in this country is failing, we are therefore launching an independent commission into social care to gain cross-party consensus and lay the…13 Jan 2025HANSARDAdult Social Care: Long-term Workforce PlanI myself have seen some tremendous examples of the use of technology in allowing people to be in the right environment for themselves and their situation. I assure the noble Lord…13 Jan 2025HANSARDAdult Social Care: Long-term Workforce PlanI can give that assurance to the noble Lord, and I am glad he has identified to your Lordships’ House the wide range of circumstances in which the workforce might be. For the…13 Jan 2025HANSARDNHS: Single-sex Provision for Staff and PatientsI agree with the noble Lord that the legislation provides a clear framework to all employers, but I also accept that some employers may wish to have further guidance on the…08 Jan 2025HANSARDNHS: Single-sex Provision for Staff and PatientsI would indeed agree with the comments of my noble friend.08 Jan 2025HANSARDNHS: Single-sex Provision for Staff and PatientsI am sorry to hear of the noble Baroness’s experience, which I have heard her speak of before. To me, as I said earlier, it points to the need to treat people with respect, with…08 Jan 2025HANSARDNHS: Single-sex Provision for Staff and PatientsMy Lords, all employers, including the NHS, are required to comply with existing law on single-sex facilities. In these cases, a common-sense and empathetic approach is needed. It…08 Jan 2025HANSARDNHS: Single-sex Provision for Staff and PatientsThe noble Lord raises an interesting point. In all cases with guidance, that is always the balance we seek to reach. I am also interested in the history of this, and I am sure the…08 Jan 2025HANSARDNHS: Single-sex Provision for Staff and PatientsThere is, of course, already a definition in legislation of what that means. I know my noble friend will understand that I cannot predict what the guidance will be, but I will…08 Jan 2025HANSARDNHS: Single-sex Provision for Staff and PatientsI know that everybody in your Lordships’ House will take the view that the NHS is there both as an employer—as all employers are; this is not specific to the NHS—and in its…08 Jan 2025HANSARDNHS: Single-sex Provision for Staff and PatientsI am not sure that I can agree with the noble Baroness about trusts being driven by NHS ideology. All staff should be and must be treated with dignity, with their safety and…08 Jan 2025HANSARDHealth: ObesityI thank the noble Lord and commend the organisation that he refers to—there are a number which are working very hard on this. We take a great interest in and seek to learn from…07 Jan 2025HANSARDHealth and Adult Social Care ReformThe noble Baroness makes very real and important points. Some of the points in the Statement cover mental and physical health but, if I might be honest about the situation, this…07 Jan 2025HANSARDHealth and Adult Social Care ReformBoth the points that the noble Lord makes are very welcome and shine a light on the need to be more flexible in the range of services and care provided. It should not be just an…07 Jan 2025HANSARDHealth and Adult Social Care ReformMy noble friend, as always, makes very practical observations. I totally agree with the point about bureaucracy in terms of care homes. I have experienced that as I have power of…07 Jan 2025HANSARDHealth and Adult Social Care ReformI am grateful to the noble Lord for welcoming many of the measures in this announcement. He referred to the £20 fee that will be paid to GPs to call the consultant where…07 Jan 2025HANSARDHealth and Adult Social Care ReformThe independent review by the noble Baroness, Lady Casey—in addition, as I mentioned, to producing recommendations that can be implemented straight away next year—is focusing on…07 Jan 2025HANSARDHealth: ObesityMy noble friend is right that there is certainly an increased cost to the NHS. I do not have the exact figures available, but I would be pleased to look into it. We are very…07 Jan 2025HANSARDHealth: ObesityI accept the noble Baroness’s point about the influences on young people, in particular. It is exactly why, in December, we laid secondary legislation to implement a 9 pm TV…07 Jan 2025HANSARDHealth and Adult Social Care ReformI understand the wish of many, myself included, for more urgent action. However, the reality is that acting in haste will not solve the problem, not least because of the depth of…07 Jan 2025