NHS England: HIV Prevention

Debate between Baroness McIntosh of Hudnall and Baroness Chisholm of Owlpen

Tuesday 18th October 2016 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Chisholm of Owlpen]

I agree with the right reverend Prelate, but it is necessary for these drugs to be properly assessed in relation to cost and effectiveness, as I said. It is not up to government to decide this; it must be done between the clinicians and the NHS.

[Baroness McIntosh of Hudnall (Lab)]

The Minister referred to the difficulty, as she saw it, of getting people who might benefit from PrEP to use it effectively. I am not entirely sure what that has to do with the Question. However, does she not think it more likely that people will make proper and effective use of these drugs if they are available on the NHS, so they do not have to go through a much more complicated and much less well-funded system to get them?

[Baroness Chisholm of Owlpen]

As I said, it is up to NICE and NHS England to decide whether these drugs can be used. Until we know the result of the NHS appeal, it is difficult for me to comment further.

House of Lords Act 1999 (Amendment) Bill [HL]

Debate between Baroness McIntosh of Hudnall and Baroness Chisholm of Owlpen

Friday 9th September 2016 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Chisholm of Owlpen]

I thank my noble friend for that interjection, I think. However, we feel that this should be part of a larger reform, when that comes, but this is not the time to do that. On the other hand, the new Leader—

[Baroness McIntosh of Hudnall (Lab)]

My Lords, I apologise for interrupting the Minister, but perhaps she could explain why this Bill, which is small and incremental, is different from the other small and incremental Bills that the Government supported in the last Parliament, presumably because they were small and incremental, as she has already said?

[Baroness Chisholm of Owlpen]

It just would change the whole position of the House, and this is not the time to do that. What we want to do is to keep talking about this problem.