Wuhan Novel Coronavirus: UK Citizens

Debate between Baroness Blackwood of North Oxford and Baroness Wheeler

Thursday 30th January 2020 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Blackwood of North Oxford]

I am very happy to look at the advisory from the Canadian Government. I hold in high regard the CMO from that nation, whom I have met. The action that this Government have taken in putting in place enhanced measures at ports and giving advice to nationals has been proportionate but robust. So far, we can be pleased that all of the 131 cases tested for in the UK have been negative.

[Baroness Wheeler (Lab)]

My Lords, I underline the support from these Benches for the plans for organised quarantine. Both the medical evidence on the incubation period and the limited evidence of spread from people not yet showing symptoms highlight the need for this. Keeping evacuated people together is important. We also strongly support the recognition by government that dealing with this is a top priority, and give our praise and thanks to the medical, public health and NHS staff who are working hard to ensure that preparations are in place in the UK.

Can the Minister explain a little more about the evacuation arrangements and what discussions have taken place? What discussions has the UK had with the World Health Organization on difficulties with evacuation? Can the Minister advise what action the Government are taking to ensure the safety and welfare of British nationals stranded in Wuhan due to the delay in evacuation if they are unable to board a flight as they display symptoms of the virus? Those who make it on board will have to sign contracts agreeing to the 14-day quarantine at an NHS facility on their return to make sure that they do not have symptoms of the virus. What staffing resources will be available to carry out quarantine and screening procedures? What happens if various people refuse to sign the contract? Clearly, these teams will be of great importance in preventing the spread of the virus to the UK. I look forward to the Minister’s response.

[Baroness Blackwood of North Oxford]

I thank the noble Baroness for her extensive questions. We are doing everything we can to get British people in Wuhan safely back to the UK. A number of countries’ flights have been unable to take off as planned. We will continue working urgently to organise the flight to the UK as soon as possible. We are working with British nationals who wish to leave and we are developing a package for them once they arrive. The plane will have medical staff on board to assess and manage the passengers; obviously, this is on the direct advice of and with support from our Chief Medical Officer, who has specific expertise in this area. A team from Public Health England and the NHS will meet passengers, and any passengers who have developed symptoms will be assessed and transferred to NHS care, as appropriate. Asymptomatic passengers will be transferred to an isolation centre; we do not want to provide details on that at this stage. We are working with the Chinese authorities to unlock the issues to allow the plane to take off.

Young Carers: Health and Well-being

Debate between Baroness Blackwood of North Oxford and Baroness Wheeler

Monday 13th January 2020 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Wheeler]

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to ensure that young carers receive the social care, family, mental health and financial support they need to ensure their own health, development and well-being.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health and Social Care (Baroness Blackwood of North Oxford) (Con)]

My Lords, we are committed to supporting young carers to ensure that they maintain their health and well-being and have the same life chances as their peers. We will continue to carry out the commitments made in the Carers Action Plan. These aim to increase the identification, support and recognition of young carers. This year, we will publish reports on young carers identification and work on carers from seldom-heard groups.

[Baroness Wheeler (Lab)]

My Lords, there are now an estimated 800,000 young carers delivering care to family members, and there has been an alarming 83% increase in children as young as five, six and seven undertaking this role. Is it not clear that the Government’s continued failure to tackle the social care funding crisis means young carers having to undertake care and support, at great cost to their own well-being, education and mental health, that should be available in the social care system? In particular, short breaks for respite care funded by local authorities are vital for disabled children and their families, including their siblings, many of whom are young carers. What action are the Government taking to make sure that they fill the annual £434 million funding gap in local authority funding for social care for disabled children in England, identified by the Disabled Children’s Partnership?

[Baroness Blackwood of North Oxford]

The noble Baroness will know that we take with the utmost seriousness the need to put social care funding on a sustainable footing. I heard the serious debate about this that we had on Thursday in the Queen’s Speech debate, and took back the seriousness with which this place takes those issues. On carers’ leave, the Government want to combine rewarding careers and the education of young carers with being able to care, and do not want young carers to take on inappropriate levels of caring. Therefore, the Government have committed to supporting unpaid carers with a leave entitlement of one week per year, which will be taken up in the employment Bill. In addition, I take the noble Baroness’s point about respite care and I will provide her with further detail in a note.