King’s Speech

Baroness Pitkeathley Excerpts

Wednesday 20th May 2026 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Pitkeathley (Lab)]

My Lords, in my 29 years in this House I have spoken in many a debate on the health provisions in many a gracious Speech. I have longed for the day when I could rejoice in the plans set out for a new deal on social care. Sadly, I am still waiting. Whatever improvements His Majesty’s Government make in the way healthcare is delivered, it will not be as effective as we hope unless we tackle the elephant in the room—the grave shortcomings in social care and their inevitable juxtaposition with NHS care. However, there are many things to welcome in this modernisation Bill.

In the past I have had cause to complain that the NHS did not pay sufficient attention to the contribution of unpaid carers, nor seek to meet their needs as well as those of the patient. This time I am pleased to say that carers’ rights to involvement are threaded throughout the Bill in relation to services commissioned by the Secretary of State and by integrated care boards. Where ICBs have acquired the involving responsibilities of local Healthwatch organisations, carers have clearly been included and are in the Bill.

The creation of a single patient record across health and social care is also greatly to be welcomed and should reduce the need for carers to repeat information on behalf of the person they care for—as the Minister has reminded us. I have lost count of the number of times I have been told by patients and their carers, “Why is it that every time I meet a new person dealing with my relative’s care I have to start from scratch and give them all the details? Why on earth don’t they pass the details on to each other?”

When I chaired a committee in your Lordships’ House about integration between health and community care services, it was clear that integration was controlled as much by professional attitudes as by patient need and that data sharing was hindered by cultural and perceived—often inaccurately—legal obstacles. Often there was a misguided sense of protecting patients by not sharing data when patients themselves always assumed that the information had been shared. So the move to create a single patient record is welcome. As part of wider plans to digitise the NHS, it will be a game-changer. Patients will receive safer, quicker and more accurate healthcare and clinicians will have accurate data about a patient in one place.

On patient information, I put in a plea for sharing information with carers when appropriate. Too many carers who take huge responsibility and often administer NHS procedures to those for whom they care are denied information about the patient condition for reasons of confidentiality. I fully appreciate and understand this, but a carer cannot be expected to take 24/7 responsibility for the care of someone and then be denied access to information that would greatly help them in providing that care. Will the single patient record also allow access for the unpaid carers who provide the bulk of care?

I mentioned Healthwatch. Although I acknowledge the variety of quality in local Healthwatch organisations, they did provide a valuable source of gathering varied and rich data about communities and their needs. Now that these responsibilities are being transferred, as the modernisation Bill goes through Parliament we must ensure that the voices of patients and carers are heard loud and clear in the new system. I would be glad to receive reassurance that the Minister remains committed to this, as the noble Lord, Lord Kamall, reminded us that the Opposition remain committed.

I started with reference to the ongoing elephant in the room, social care. I end by saying that although frustrated by waiting for any definite proposals from the review by the noble Baroness, Lady Casey, I am heartened by the things I have heard the Minister say thus far and look forward very much to the outcomes from the national conversation that she is initiating. I understand that this has been slightly delayed. Can the Minister confirm the timetable for this very important development?

Infrastructure Bill [HL]

Baroness Pitkeathley Excerpts

Thursday 10th July 2014 Grand Committee

Clause 16: Invasive non-native species

[The Deputy Chairman of Committees (Baroness Pitkeathley) (Lab)]

My Lords, welcome to the Grand Committee on the Infrastructure Bill.

Amendment 71 not moved.