All 1 Debates between Lord Polak and Lord Prior of Brampton

National Clinical Director of Adult Neurology

Debate between Lord Polak and Lord Prior of Brampton
Thursday 9th June 2016

(7 years, 9 months ago)

Lords Chamber
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Lord Polak Portrait Lord Polak (Con)
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I want to register a sort of interest: 28 years ago, almost to the day, I was given six months to live. I had a brain tumour and was saved by a team of neurologists at the Royal Free Hospital. I hope that, in listening to this, the Minister and the department will always remember that individuals and families are at the forefront of this. If there is a belief that somebody central is needed to ensure that the best treatment is given, maybe we could look at it again.

Lord Prior of Brampton Portrait Lord Prior of Brampton
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I do not want in any way to diminish the huge clinical importance of this and the suffering of many people with long-term neurological conditions. They are among some of the worst illnesses that anyone can have and I am delighted that my noble friend recovered from his. From everything that I have been told by NHS England and Bruce Keogh, I do not believe that the lack of a national clinical director will in any way detract from the resources that we are making available to neurology.