NHS England: Staff Costs Debate

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Baroness Hussein-Ece

Main Page: Baroness Hussein-Ece (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)

NHS England: Staff Costs

Baroness Hussein-Ece Excerpts
Monday 21st July 2025

(4 days, 23 hours ago)

Lords Chamber
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Baroness Blake of Leeds Portrait Baroness Blake of Leeds (Lab)
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I can only say that the ongoing forensic work will uncover what has happened over the past few years, but I think we all know that, at the moment, the NHS is not fit for purpose; there needs to be radical change. This Government are absolutely committed to that, and we will make sure that it happens at pace and safely, putting patients front and centre in the delivery of health services in this country.

Baroness Hussein-Ece Portrait Baroness Hussein-Ece (LD)
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To return to the Question from my noble friend Lord Scriven on health inequalities and how they might be impacted by the proposed changes, will the Minister please reassure us that the widening health inequalities that we know exist around the country will not get worse, particularly for the most vulnerable and those with learning disabilities, whom we know face tremendous access problems? There have been numerous studies on how accessing primary healthcare is a real challenge for those with learning disabilities. Can she reassure us that that will not be dropped?

Baroness Blake of Leeds Portrait Baroness Blake of Leeds (Lab)
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My experience of the Covid virus taught me about the impact of health inequalities and where people suffered the most. It is absolutely imperative for this Government to look at health inequalities, and everything in the 10-year plan is based on that premise. We know how unequal services are and how unequal life expectancy is. We know that people living just a few miles down the road from others in the same city can have a more than 10-year difference in life expectancy. This is absolutely at the centre of the 10-year plan and why we are doing it and will deliver for patients in this country.