Mental Health Services Debate
Full Debate: Read Full DebateDepartment: Department of Health and Social Care
Baroness Hollins
Main Page: Baroness Hollins (Crossbench - Life peer)Department Debates - View all Baroness Hollins's debates with the Department of Health and Social Care
(4 years, 6 months ago)
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Lord Bethell
My Lords, I understand that it is a firm “yes”, but I will check that answer and revert to the noble Baroness if there is any different information.
Baroness Hollins (CB)
My Lords, yesterday the Guardian reported a study by Public Health England which showed that agency staff working between multiple care homes in London were unwittingly spreading Covid-19 during the surge of the pandemic. Given the evidence of the vulnerability of those receiving care, which includes working-age adults with mental health needs, is there really a commitment to parity of esteem between physical and mental healthcare? Why has the testing strategy not been amended properly to cover these groups?
Lord Bethell
The noble Baroness rightly points to one of the most difficult aspects of the Covid epidemic—the itinerant staff who pass from one vulnerable person to the next. We recognised this issue at the beginning and put money in to try to ameliorate it. When testing was expanded weeks ago to key workers, it was deliberately targeted at these staff and this continues to be prioritised.