NHS Plan: Consultation

Baroness Winterton of Doncaster Excerpts

Monday 2nd December 2024 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Merron (Lab)]

I thank the noble Lord. Yesterday, I was at an in-person event in Folkestone, and as with all such events up and down the country, it had used systems to find a wide range of people, including young people, who, as he rightly says, are often unlinked with the health service. I emphasise our continued monitoring and our efforts to reach the groups he speaks of. So far, we know that men, those aged under 35, and black Asian and black British people have engaged least with Change NHS. We are now stepping up our efforts.

[Baroness Winterton of Doncaster (Lab)]

My Lords, will my noble friend the Minister look at the role that pharmacists might play in any consultation? While they may not be an obvious source of reaching out, they are embedded in communities and talk to patients and users frequently. If they could be harnessed, it would much improve the consultation.

[Baroness Merron (Lab)]

I am very grateful to all those, including pharmacists, who have used all their networks and contacts to spread the word. That is why we have had over 60,000 responses and more than 1 million visits in what is the largest ever consultation in the history of the NHS. I call on all groups to continue their efforts to ensure that voices across all communities are heard loud and clear.