NHS: Community Pharmacies

Debate between Lord Prior of Brampton and Baroness Janke

Tuesday 6th December 2016 Lords Chamber

[Lord Prior of Brampton]

This party does believe in competition. But it also believes that the NHS’s supporting community pharmacies to a very large extent when 40% of them are in clusters of three or more within 10 minutes’ walk from each other, and paying an establishment fee to each of those pharmacies, is probably not a very good allocation of resources.

[Baroness Janke (LD)]

My Lords, have the Government yet published the cost-based evidence for the cuts to the community pharmacies budget, and what safeguards will they put in place to ensure that the most needy communities are not hit hardest by the cuts to the pharmacies budget?

[Lord Prior of Brampton]

The pharmacy access scheme is being set up to deliver exactly what the noble Baroness is asking for—that rural pharmacies and those in very deprived areas will receive greater payments than others. I am not quite sure what report she is referring to. I will have to look at her question afterwards and write to her.

Children: Oral Health

Debate between Lord Prior of Brampton and Baroness Janke

Monday 31st October 2016 Lords Chamber

[Lord Prior of Brampton]

My noble friend has slightly confused me, I am afraid. There is no question that fluoride has an impact on oral health. I am not aware of any evidence to suggest that it has other, detrimental impacts on children’s or other people’s health. We have huge inequalities throughout the United Kingdom, most of which are as a result of social deprivation, poor housing, high unemployment and the like. Those are the fundamental drivers of health inequalities, rather than health systems per se.

[Baroness Janke (LD)]

My Lords, given the harm caused by high levels of sugar added to some processed foods, does the Minister agree that the present restraints on the food industry are woefully inadequate? Does he further agree that much tougher measures need to be taken if the Government are to meet their own public health objectives on oral health, diabetes and obesity?

[Lord Prior of Brampton]

My Lords, the introduction of the sugar levy is evidence that the Government take this matter extremely seriously and believe that it cannot be left solely to industry to reduce sugar levels. The Treasury is due to report on the extent of the sugar levy on 6 December. As part of the obesity strategy, targets are being set for nine key categories of food eaten predominantly by children. The results of reduction over time will be made transparent and open. A combination of those measures should have an impact.

Health Funding

Debate between Lord Prior of Brampton and Baroness Janke

Thursday 9th July 2015 Lords Chamber

[Lord Prior of Brampton]

The decisions about which services to reduce must lie with local authorities.

[Baroness Janke (LD)]

My Lords, does the Minister realise that many of the contracts for public health are already let in the medium term? Is the proposed cut on uncommitted funding, or are the Government proposing to give some help to local authorities who have no way of ending those contracts?

[Lord Prior of Brampton]

The noble Baroness raises a good question. This will be a crucial part of our consultation, which will take place very soon.