NHS Plan: Consultation

Debate between Lord Turnberg and Baroness Merron

Monday 2nd December 2024 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Merron (Lab)]

This is indeed one of the groups for whom we need to ensure absolute inclusion. As I mentioned, the work with integrated care systems will be particularly helpful in running the workshop. We train organisations to work with it, and it is designed so that it is easy to use. It can be used in events to reach the seldom-heard voices in communities, including those with learning disabilities. It is vital that we hear from them as we design an NHS fit for everybody for the future.

[Lord Turnberg (Lab)]

My Lords, one of the biggest causes of inequality is where you live in the country. If you live in the north-east or north-west, you live two, three or four years less than if you live in the south-west or south-east. Far fewer resources are available for people in those deprived areas: there are fewer doctors, nurses, physios, dentists and so on. What can the Government do to redress this gross imbalance?

[Baroness Merron (Lab)]

My noble friend allows me to say—and I hope your Lordships’ House will agree with this—that our approach will of course focus on addressing the social determinants of health. The goal will be to halve the gap in healthy life expectancy between the richest and the poorest regions. We are not just going to be moving from sickness to prevention as one of our three pillars, important though that is; we are also seeking, across government, to address the root causes of health inequalities. Again, that is being highlighted as part of the consultation.