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Written Question
Intensive Care: Children
Thursday 30th November 2023

Asked by: Lord Balfe (Conservative - Life peer)

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government, with reference to the report Disagreements in the care of critically ill children published by the Department of Health and Social Care on 18 September, what changes they intend to make to the care of critically ill children and when they anticipate these will come into effect.

Answered by Lord Markham - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Department is considering the recommendations made in the report and what actions can be taken to help avoid disagreements arising between the parents of critically ill children and clinicians treating them and, where this is not possible, resolve disagreements more quickly and compassionately.


Written Question
Bowel Cancer: Screening
Wednesday 15th February 2023

Asked by: Lord Balfe (Conservative - Life peer)

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Markham on 7 February (HL5154), what is the upper age limit for screening for bowel cancer; and whether those who have been screened in the past but have now passed the previous upper age limit for screening will be invited to re-apply under the new rules.

Answered by Lord Markham - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

The NHS Bowel Cancer Screening programme is currently offered to people between the ages of 60 years old and 74 years old. The programme is expanding to make it available to everyone aged 50 years old to 59 years old, this is happening gradually over four years and started in April 2021.

If people over the age of 74 years old have concerns about bowel cancer, they should speak to their general practitioner who will determine the best course of actions to take.


Written Question
Palliative Care: Children
Friday 9th December 2022

Asked by: Lord Balfe (Conservative - Life peer)

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Markham on 22 November (HL3405), what plans they have, if any, to give an indication of (1) a timetable for the commencement of the independent review into the causes of disputes between those with parental responsibility and those responsible for the care or medical treatment of critically ill children, (2) details of the membership of the review, and (3) terms of reference for the review, which is due to report by 1 October 2023.

Answered by Lord Markham - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

We expect the commissioning process to be completed in the coming weeks. While the review will not have a fixed membership, it will engage with a range of interested or affected people and organisations. This will include health professionals and the families of critically ill children, to ensure it develops a balanced evidence base for identifying solutions. The organisation undertaking the review will be asked to publish its terms of reference shortly after it has been commissioned.


Speech in Lords Chamber - Tue 22 Nov 2022
NHS: Waiting Lists and Increased Spending

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View all Lord Balfe (Con - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: NHS: Waiting Lists and Increased Spending

Speech in Lords Chamber - Tue 22 Nov 2022
NHS: Waiting Lists and Increased Spending

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View all Lord Balfe (Con - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: NHS: Waiting Lists and Increased Spending

Written Question
Palliative Care: Children
Tuesday 22nd November 2022

Asked by: Lord Balfe (Conservative - Life peer)

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the answer by Lord Kamall on 8 September (HL Deb, col 272), whether they will provide an update on the progress of commissioning an independent review into the causes of disputes between those with parental responsibility and those responsible for the care or medical treatment of critically ill children.

Answered by Lord Markham - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Department is currently examining the commissioning process for the review and further information will be available in due course.


Speech in Lords Chamber - Tue 08 Nov 2022
British Heart Foundation: Tipping Point Report

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View all Lord Balfe (Con - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: British Heart Foundation: Tipping Point Report

Speech in Lords Chamber - Mon 10 Oct 2022
NHS: Winter Challenges

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View all Lord Balfe (Con - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: NHS: Winter Challenges

Speech in Lords Chamber - Thu 08 Sep 2022
NHS: End-of-life Care

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View all Lord Balfe (Con - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: NHS: End-of-life Care

Speech in Lords Chamber - Thu 08 Sep 2022
NHS: End-of-life Care

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View all Lord Balfe (Con - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: NHS: End-of-life Care