NHS and Social Care: Joint Working

Debate between Lord Rook and Baroness Merron

Thursday 26th June 2025 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Merron (Lab)]

Good—thank you. This derives from the review by Sir Gordon Messenger. The first review was in 2022 and Sir Gordon came up with seven recommendations to strengthen leadership and management. To build on that, in November, Secretary of State Wes Streeting asked Sir Gordon to deliver further recommendations. That is why we now have a new national entry-level induction for new staff. As of 25 April this year, for example, it is being used by nearly 70% of trusts and ICBs to support staff enrolment. That shows how much it was needed and how much change it will make.

[Lord Rook (Lab)]

My Lords, the Archbishops’ Commission on Reimagining Care identified a number of solutions to tackle the workforce challenges in adult social care. These included better pay, improved career progression and role redesign. Could the Minister outline some of the steps that the Government are taking to address low pay, and to develop better training and development programmes and a more strategic approach to career progression in the sector?

[Baroness Merron (Lab)]

I very much welcome that report and am pleased that the Government have been responsive to identifying what we need to do. I never tire of saying that, to support the workforce in the way that my noble friend said, we are introducing a new fair pay agreement for adult social care and implementing the first universal career structure for adult social care. That will—and I know noble Lords are concerned about this—lift the status and attraction of work in social care. I believe that, alongside, for example, the apprenticeships that we are now making available and many other measures, we will get to a place where those in the workforce are doing the job we would like them to do and are being properly recognised on all counts for it.

Funerals: Death Certificate Delays

Debate between Lord Rook and Baroness Merron

Thursday 3rd April 2025 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Merron (Lab)]

We are always happy to learn from the practices of other Governments, and we will continue to work on speed and, as I said, to keep distress and delay at a minimum.

[Lord Rook (Lab)]

My Lords, I point to my entry in the register of interests as an Anglican priest. I am particularly glad that my noble friend the Minister mentioned the challenges for faith communities and the important role that ministers of religion have not only in conducting funerals but in supporting families with grief and loss. Obviously, a delay to those things can cause family stress and tension. What are the Government doing to engage Muslim communities, which particularly feel the stress and pressure of this issue given their obligation to have swift funerals?

[Baroness Merron (Lab)]

I pay great attention to this area, as I mentioned in my response to the noble Lord, Lord Polak. I met faith group leaders in December, and we have worked very closely with faith groups to develop the medical examiner system. The faith groups are very supportive of the reforms, have broadly welcomed the implementation and continue to work with us to identify any issues, for which I am very grateful. Data from regional medical examiner offices in England, although unpublished, indicate that 88% of requests for urgent scrutiny—the group we are talking about in the faith communities—were met. Indeed, in Wales the corresponding figure has been assessed to be 99%. I assure all noble Lords that we are working extremely hard to make sure that the system reduces any unnecessary delays, and we will continue to do so.