Resistant Hypertension

Debate between Lord Weir of Ballyholme and Baroness Merron

Wednesday 24th June 2026 Lords Chamber

[Lord Weir of Ballyholme (DUP)]

My Lords, I welcome the remarks made so far by the Minister. We are aware of the drivers and that hypertension can lead to strokes and heart attacks. In particular, about 5% to 10% of those with hypertension have resistant hypertension. I ask the Minister specifically: when the cardiovascular disease modern service framework is published, will the Government consider explicitly defining resistant hypertension as a distinctive, high-risk subgroup, so that we will be able to ensure that a focus can be put on it and to help strategies to minimise serious cardiovascular diseases?

[Baroness Merron (Lab)]

The noble Lord makes a helpful point. Indeed, the modern service framework will soon be published. Of course, as blood pressure is one of the seven risk factors for cardiovascular disease, as the noble Lord referred to, we have to improve detection and management. That is what the modern service framework will drive forward, particularly in local areas. Yes, it will make reference not just to hypertension, which is more widely applicable, but to resistant hypertension, as he suggested.

NHS: Dementia Treatment Trials

Debate between Lord Weir of Ballyholme and Baroness Merron

Monday 22nd June 2026 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Merron (Lab)]

My noble friend makes a very fair observation that probably applies to many situations. When we talk about diagnosis, we are talking about getting the right people diagnosed, and quickly. That is why the modern service framework, as I mentioned earlier, will be developed and is being developed with partners and those with a particular interest. That will make sure that any interventions not only improve dementia care but improve diagnosis and the waiting times for diagnosis.

[Lord Weir of Ballyholme (DUP)]

My Lords, it is welcome that the Government seem to be setting national targets for dementia diagnosis. But targets are valuable only if they are accompanied by timeframes, not simply for diagnosis but for a treatment plan. Will the Government consider proposals such as from Alzheimer’s Research UK, which talks about an 18-week target for diagnosis and the development of a treatment plan for each patient?

[Baroness Merron (Lab)]

We will indeed consider that, and we are very grateful to Alzheimer’s Research UK and other organisations for working with us to get to the right place.

NHS: Wheelchair Services

Debate between Lord Weir of Ballyholme and Baroness Merron

Monday 24th November 2025 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Merron (Lab)]

The points that the noble Lord has raised are crucial—not least that, as I alluded to earlier, one type of wheelchair does not suit everybody. That is why I am keen to see the results of the Wheelchair Quality Framework, which, as I mentioned to my noble friend, was published in April. That sets out quality standards and statutory requirements, including offering personalised wheelchair budgets, which would assist in the circumstances that the noble Lord describes.

[Lord Weir of Ballyholme (DUP)]

My Lords, I declare an interest as a frequent wheelchair user and as a member of the all-party group. Some concerns have been expressed that the competition for contracts for wheelchairs is very limited and that a number of wheelchair providers are not even submitting their names to be considered for those contracts because they feel that it is not worth their while. What action are the Government taking to ensure that there is sufficient choice within the NHS and that the market is large enough to ensure that companies will actually bid for those contracts?

Healthcare Provision: Inequalities

Debate between Lord Weir of Ballyholme and Baroness Merron

Monday 20th October 2025 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Merron (Lab)]

In a number of ways—I refer, for example, to the Mental Health Act, which is very significant in respect of the group we are discussing. We have already taken action in that regard in a legislative form.

However, the noble Lord is right. We started in a difficult place, but I am more than hopeful about the whole approach through the 10-year plan. So while I cannot give a month-by-month answer to the noble Lord—much as I would like to—I can say that in the course of the next 10 years, the matters to which he refers will be addressed. I believe that a neighbourhood health service designed around the specific needs of local populations will be a great contributor to this.

[Lord Weir of Ballyholme (DUP)]

My Lords, we have seen in debates across a wide range of medical matters such as perinatal care, dementia and cardiovascular issues that there is widespread geographical disparity within the country, often driven by different approaches taken by different NHS trusts. Can the Minister outline how she intends to use the 10-year plan as a driver for greater uniformity of services, to ensure that there is not that postcode lottery disparity for many patients?

Alzheimer’s Disease

Debate between Lord Weir of Ballyholme and Baroness Merron

Monday 13th October 2025 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Merron (Lab)]

The noble Lord is right to identify what are exciting developments in this area. We are investing in dementia research across all areas. That includes causes and diagnosis, as well as prevention, treatment, care and support, including for carers—I think it is important to identify the wide range. In preparation, we are ensuring that clinical trials are maximised and that reductions in waiting times happen. As I said, through the modern service framework we will be looking at the arrangements as a whole, which will give the useful range of direction that we need to address the point that the noble Lord made.

[Lord Weir of Ballyholme (DUP)]

My Lords, in the light of other positive developments, such as the ADAPT and READ-OUT trials which concentrate on using blood tests to ensure that diagnosis is done more effectively, can the Government outline what steps they are taking to make sure that the NHS is able to adopt such innovations, to ensure that everyone has a right to an early and effective diagnosis?

[Baroness Merron (Lab)]

In addition to the points that I have already made, I add that our work through the life sciences plan will be of great assistance in ensuring that we remove obstacles and make the route to which the noble Lord refers as quick as possible, so that we can move from development to delivery for the people who actually need this. We will ensure that we reduce friction and optimise access to and uptake of new medicines. That includes speed of decisions and implementation, which I am sure will be most welcome.