Covid-19: Lateral Flow Tests

Debate between Lord Kamall and Lord Brownlow of Shurlock Row

Thursday 10th February 2022 Lords Chamber

[Lord Kamall (Con)]

I am not aware of any announcements or measures that accord with the noble Lord’s question.

[Lord Brownlow of Shurlock Row (Con)]

My Lords, for some time I have been testing every day and use testing kits that I acquire online and pay for from the same manufacturers that the Government use to distribute free tests. Why are those tests not registerable through the Government website, so that you can get an email confirmation of a negative test? The QR codes are not recognised if you buy tests yourself.

[Lord Kamall (Con)]

I must say to my noble friend that I was not aware of that, and therefore I will have to go back to the department. If he could write to me about that, I will be happy to respond.

NHS: Elective and Cancer Care Backlog

Debate between Lord Kamall and Lord Brownlow of Shurlock Row

Tuesday 7th December 2021 Lords Chamber

[Lord Kamall (Con)]

As the noble Baroness will recognise, health is a devolved matter. It is important that we look at international comparisons, so not just among the devolved Administrations but internationally. That is one of the things we are doing to make sure that we focus, improve and tackle the backlog.

[Lord Brownlow of Shurlock Row (Con)]

My Lords, of the many millions of people in the growing waiting lists, how many are waiting for surgery and how many for appointments?

[Lord Kamall (Con)]

Seventy-five per cent of patients do not require surgical treatment, and 80% of those requiring it can be treated without an overnight stay in hospital. One of the ways of addressing that is to make sure that we roll out diagnostic activity. We have allocated £2.3 billion to make sure that we roll out at least 100 community diagnostic centres by 2024-25, not only on NHS properties but in places such as shopping centres.

David Fuller Case

Debate between Lord Kamall and Lord Brownlow of Shurlock Row

Tuesday 9th November 2021 Lords Chamber

[Lord Kamall (Con)]

I am afraid I am not able to answer the noble Lord’s question directly, because clearly there are some legal issues around it. I am sure he will understand if I try to find an answer and write to him.

[Lord Brownlow of Shurlock Row (Con)]

My Lords, I declare an interest as a former police officer, although it was some years ago. I warmly welcome the Statement made in the other place, particularly its tone in reference to the victims and those left behind. Among all those who have taken part in this horrendous episode, I pay particular tribute to the police and police authorities, particularly for the £1.5 million victim support package and the training and deployment of 150 family liaison officers. When does my noble friend the Minister, or the Secretary of State, expect the NHS England report to be made on the progress of measures? If he does not know at the moment, could he write to me?

[Lord Kamall (Con)]

As my noble friend anticipated, I am afraid I do not have a detailed answer. I am sorry; I wish I did have the answers, but I will write to him.

NHS: Fracture Liaison Services

Debate between Lord Kamall and Lord Brownlow of Shurlock Row

Monday 8th November 2021 Lords Chamber

[Lord Kamall (Con)]

I thank my noble friend for highlighting the importance of this issue. There are MSK leads in local regions who have the ability to focus on what is best for their local region, with the incorporation of key performance indicators related to the FLS within the national clinical audit. NHS England has also convened a group of key clinical opinion leaders to develop an evidence-informed integrated secondary fracture prevention pathway for sharing with integrated care systems. There are many other issues that I could mention, and I would be happy to write to my noble friend.

[Lord Brownlow of Shurlock Row (Con)]

My Lords, I declare my interest as a donor to and patron of the Royal Osteoporosis Society and a member of the osteoporosis APPG. As my noble friend said, fracture liaison services are the world standard for secondary fracture prevention. According to the Royal Osteoporosis Society, for every £1 spent on FLS in the United Kingdom, the taxpayer can expect to save £3.28. By levelling up FLS provision to cover everyone over the age of 50 in the United Kingdom, we could prevent just under 5,700 fragility fractures every year, saving the taxpayer £65.7 million. Could the Minister confirm that the Government will invest further in prevention as well as cure?

[Lord Kamall (Con)]

I very much agree with my noble friend that the prevention of illness is as important as the cure. In conversations I have had with the NHS and other healthcare professionals, there is a focus on prevention. Some noble Lords may remember the debate we had a couple of weeks ago, focusing on the prevention of obesity rather than treating its symptoms. The NHS is prioritising FLS and similar services when it comes to prevention, understanding that this benefits not only patients but taxpayers.

Covid-19: Plan B

Debate between Lord Kamall and Lord Brownlow of Shurlock Row

Wednesday 20th October 2021 Lords Chamber

[Lord Kamall (Con)]

The new office OHID, the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities, clearly assesses a number of factors and government policy to help those from more deprived communities and in more deprived areas. If the noble Baroness has specific examples and wishes to write to me, I will answer.

[Lord Brownlow of Shurlock Row (Con)]

My Lords, would my noble friend tell me whether the Government are still happy with the composition, mathematical modelling and advice from SAGE?

[Lord Kamall (Con)]

May I write to my noble friend on that?