Contributions
2,217 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDDeprived AreasMy Lords, the Government welcome Professor Marmot’s report and his insights into this important area. Reducing health inequalities is a core aim of the new office for health…01 Jul 2021HANSARDDeprived AreasI hope that my noble friend will forgive me and be understanding from his time in government that I am not in a position to comment on the spending review process. He might take…01 Jul 2021HANSARDCovid-19 UpdateMy Lords, the noble Lord may wish to direct his question to the Minister at this stage.29 Jun 2021HANSARDNHS Test and TraceMy Lords, I believe that all the processes in setting up test and trace will have followed the relevant guidance on both the use of private-sector consultants and how the…28 Jun 2021HANSARDNHS Test and TraceMy Lords, we have recently increased the resources available to local authorities—for example, in the amount of money they have for discretionary payments to support those who are…28 Jun 2021HANSARDCovid-19: Hospital Patient ReferralsMy Lords, I can absolutely make that assurance in the case of testing. In the case of vaccination, there may be individual circumstances for a patient that make vaccination not…28 Jun 2021HANSARDNHS Test and TraceMy Lords, I assure the noble Lord that I will take up that point with the Department of Health and Social Care and the Department for Education. We are piloting a programme of…28 Jun 2021HANSARDNHS Test and TraceMy Lords, the Innova test has gone through the rigorous Porton Down assessment process that the UK uses for coronavirus testing approved by the MHRA, the independent regulator for…28 Jun 2021HANSARDNHS Test and TraceMy Lords, NHS Test and Trace currently provides 6.5 million virus tests each week, with more than 80% of in-person test results received within 24 hours. It successfully traces…28 Jun 2021HANSARDNHS Test and TraceMy Lords, we are continually working with local authorities to understand, for example, the uptake of the support payments available to those on low incomes who need to…28 Jun 2021HANSARDNHS Test and TraceMy Lords, more than 80% of the budget for test and trace goes towards the testing part of that programme. That has proved highly effective. The programme is working to increase…28 Jun 2021HANSARDCovid-19: Hospital Patient ReferralsMy Lords, while there was an acknowledgement of the potential risk of asymptomatic transmission, there was no scientific consensus on the matter. In fact, the WHO did not…28 Jun 2021HANSARDCovid-19: Hospital Patient ReferralsMy Lords, I am aware of the Public Health England report to which noble Lords referred earlier and of reports in Scotland and Wales that have been published. Those are the reports…28 Jun 2021HANSARDCovid-19: Hospital Patient ReferralsMy Lords, in our response to the pandemic, we have introduced a policy of designated settings, where if someone in hospital who is otherwise ready to be discharged tests positive…28 Jun 2021HANSARDNHS Test and TraceMy Lords, we are looking at the evidence in relation to the variant and the effectiveness of the vaccine against it all the time. I assure my noble friend that additional…28 Jun 2021HANSARDNHS Test and TraceMy Lords, the test and trace programme seeks to partner with all organisations that can help its effectiveness: the private sector, public health authorities in local areas and…28 Jun 2021HANSARDNHS Test and TraceMy Lords, test and trace is working to improve performance across all those areas, in particular through the community testing programme. Local directors of public health are…28 Jun 2021HANSARDCovid-19: Hospital Patient ReferralsMy Lords, prior to the publication of the Government’s hospital discharge service requirements on 19 March last year, engagement was sought from, for example, NHS England, Public…28 Jun 2021HANSARDCovid-19: Hospital Patient ReferralsMy Lords, given the number of times my noble friend has appeared at this Dispatch Box to answer questions from noble Lords during this pandemic, the noble Lord’s question is…28 Jun 2021HANSARDCovid-19: Hospital Patient ReferralsMy Lords, my noble friend has asked a number of questions. The policy shifted post 15 April and that was based on our understanding of asymptomatic transmission. It was also based…28 Jun 2021