Contributions
1,737 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDNHS National Health Inequalities Improvement ProgrammeFirst, I thank the noble Lord for the work that he does in this space; I know it is something very close to his heart. It is the school foods standards that set and define the…25 May 2023HANSARDNHS National Health Inequalities Improvement ProgrammeThe focus of the NHS healthcare inequalities improvement programme is the delivery of healthcare services. Free school meals are outside its remit. The Department for Education…25 May 2023HANSARDNHS National Health Inequalities Improvement ProgrammeAbsolutely. Again, there are also very good grounds for locally sourcing in that way in terms of the environment and reducing the carbon footprint. I must admit to not being very…25 May 2023HANSARDNHS National Health Inequalities Improvement ProgrammeI agree with the noble Baroness. It was said in answer to a Question not so long ago that the hypothesis about much of the reduction in increases in life expectancy in the G7…25 May 2023HANSARDNHS National Health Inequalities Improvement ProgrammeAbsolutely. We work very closely together. The Healthy Start programme gives seven fruits a day to kids up to the age of seven to make sure that they get fruit and vegetables, and…25 May 2023HANSARDNHS National Health Inequalities Improvement ProgrammeI do not think anyone would say that the current school food standards are insufficient. I think the feeling is that it has been a while since they were changed because of Covid,…25 May 2023HANSARDNHS National Health Inequalities Improvement ProgrammeAs mentioned previously, the review did not happen because of Covid, and it is very much within the plans that it is time to look at school standards again. Clearly, that is key…25 May 2023HANSARDNHS National Health Inequalities Improvement ProgrammeYes. It is worth reiterating that the 37.5% free school meal level is an achievement, as is the fact that all infant schoolchildren receive free school meals—higher than ever…25 May 2023HANSARDNHS National Health Inequalities Improvement ProgrammeI hope that every child would have something more nutritious and healthier than just a bagel. I will happily discuss that with the noble Lord; I am not familiar with that…25 May 2023HANSARDNHS National Health Inequalities Improvement ProgrammeI would be happy to. I need to find out more first, and I would be delighted if there was some information or if we could meet on this, but I would be happy to take it up.25 May 2023HANSARDBranded Health Service Medicines (Costs) (Amendment) Regulations 2023I thank noble Lords for the debate, and I particularly thank the noble Lord, Lord Hunt, for bringing forward this important subject. It was clear from the contributions of noble…25 May 2023HANSARDBranded Health Service Medicines (Costs) (Amendment) Regulations 2023The mechanics behind this debate—I was planning to say that my noble friend Lord Lansley made this point—are about the alignment of the voluntary and statutory schemes. I think…25 May 2023HANSARDBranded Health Service Medicines (Costs) (Amendment) Regulations 2023May I just clarify? I completely agree that medicines are of course valuable. My comments were not about not spending money on medicines but about getting value for what we spend…25 May 2023HANSARDPharmacies: Medicines at HomeAs I say, I do not recognise those numbers. I do recognise that we are putting £645 million more into this space to fund this, and also that this will drive more people into…17 May 2023HANSARDPharmacies: Medicines at HomeAs noble Lords are aware, I hold the technology brief, so, if there are automated ways, I am absolutely all for them. As I learned while researching this Question, this is a…17 May 2023HANSARDPharmacies: Medicines at HomeNICE and the Royal Pharmaceutical Society are clear that they do not recommend widespread adoption but prefer a case-by-case basis. There are many examples of where blister packs…17 May 2023HANSARDPharmacies: Medicines at HomeAbsolutely. That is one of the major reasons why blister packs are not always the right solution, because there are many cases of wastage in exactly the way that the noble…17 May 2023HANSARDPharmacies: Medicines at HomeI thank my noble friend. She is right to stress the importance of how we support Pharmacy First as a way of delivering primary services and supporting pharmacies in and of…17 May 2023HANSARDPharmacies: Medicines at HomeYes. There are occasions when it is absolutely appropriate that medicines are packaged in that way; I am sure we all have plenty examples of friends and relatives for whom that is…17 May 2023HANSARDPharmacies: Medicines at HomeNo. What I want to be tested on is how many people are using their pharmacies for primary appointments—that is the real measure. I think we will see a marked change, and we will…17 May 2023