Nottingham Maternity and Neonatal Services

Debate between Baroness Wheatcroft and Baroness Merron

Monday 29th June 2026 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Merron (Lab)]

My noble friend’s analysis is quite right. One of the reasons we are developing an anti-discrimination programme is that cultural change across maternity and neonatal services is much needed. I use that as one example; all NHS trusts are to have completed that programme by 2027, and that is already under way.

I found it absolutely shocking that so many senior people at Nottingham did not give evidence to Donna Ockenden’s investigation. That is why, once the Hillsborough law Bill receives Royal Assent, we will extend the duty of candour to the Leeds and Sussex reviews so that the chair, Donna Ockenden, will have the powers to find the truth from organisations and staff. On the earlier point, it is quite shocking and totally unacceptable that they refused to participate.

[Baroness Wheatcroft (CB)]

The Ockenden report does a great job in looking at the problems in one specific trust. However, the problems go much deeper, as the Minister has said. It is cultural, and one of the cultural problems appears to be that there is a complete split between a contingent of midwives and the rest of the medical profession about medical intervention. Until that is tackled, I cannot believe that we are going to get to the root of the problem. Will the Minister commit that the taskforce will delve into that difficult issue? It is cultural, but it is a very deep difference of opinion that goes back to the noble Baroness’s question about what has changed. That is part of what has changed.

[Baroness Merron (Lab)]

The key is to bring together the recommendations from Donna Ockenden’s report with the independent report that we established, chaired by my noble friend Lady Amos, which will report on Wednesday, as well as the reviews from before. I do not think we necessarily need a description of the problem but, to the noble Baroness’s point, we do need action to challenge and monitor this. Transparency and accountability will also be our friends, which in Nottingham they were not.

Resident Doctors: Industrial Action

Debate between Baroness Wheatcroft and Baroness Merron

Monday 15th December 2025 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Merron (Lab)]

I can only agree wholeheartedly with the noble Baroness about what a difference it would make. It was actually included in the comprehensive offer that we made to the BMA on 8 December. Our first point was about introducing emergency legislation, which would—exactly as the noble Baroness asks for—prioritise UK medical graduates and other doctors who have significant experience of working in the NHS for speciality training posts. At the risk of repeating myself, I can do no more than to say that the BMA has rejected that, as part of the offer, and so it will not go ahead. Had the BMA accepted it, we would have been absolutely willing and able to introduce that emergency legislation. Our job will be to consider the next steps, now that we have had confirmation of the rejection of the very point that the noble Baroness rightly emphasised.

[Baroness Wheatcroft (CB)]

My Lords, has not the time come for the BMA to reject the way the resident doctors committee is behaving? I do not believe that the NHS I know would be supportive of its actions.

[Baroness Merron (Lab)]

I am sure that the BMA will hear what your Lordships’ House has said today and, in particular, the point made by the noble Baroness. Perhaps I could conclude this important debate by referring to a YouGov poll which was conducted on 12 December. It found that only 33% of the public support strikes in this area and that 58% of the public oppose strikes. The public have made their voice clear, as has your Lordships’ House, for which I am grateful.

Pharmacy Opening Hours

Debate between Baroness Wheatcroft and Baroness Merron

Thursday 20th March 2025 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Merron (Lab)]

I feel that the most constructive response I can give to the noble Lord is the response of the Secretary of State, who has made it quite clear in Parliament that discussions will conclude shortly and an announcement will be made in the normal way. That will be via an open letter to contractors, which will be published on GOV.UK. I hope the noble Lord will understand that I cannot say more until our engagement with Community Pharmacy England, the representative body, comes to a conclusion. I can add for the benefit of noble Lords that NHS England commissioned an independent economic analysis of the cost of providing pharmaceutical services. It has informed the consultation with the sector and will be published in due course.

[Baroness Wheatcroft (CB)]

My Lords, is the Minister concerned that GPs’ tendency very easily and readily to sign repeat prescriptions increases the demand on pharmaceutical services? Does she agree that there should be a much more rigorous review of repeat prescriptions on a regular basis?

[Baroness Merron (Lab)]

I appreciate the noble Baroness’s views. Indeed, community pharmacies in England are dispensing around 1.1 billion NHS medicines with a value of over £10 billion each year. Prescribing is of course a clinical decision. We are nevertheless keeping an eye on the situation, of course. What matters is that people seek help, and I am very glad to say that pharmacies are playing an increasing role in the availability of assistance, so people do not always have to go to GPs, particularly for some of the more common conditions.