Covid-19: Resuscitation Orders

Baroness Evans of Bowes Park Excerpts

Wednesday 24th March 2021 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Hollins (CB) [V]]

My Lords, given the significantly higher number of excess deaths among people with learning disabilities last year, will the Minister commit to finding out what proportion of those deaths were associated with DNACPRs? Does he agree that the use of blanket DNACPRs for people with learning disabilities is an indication of the extent of the lack of confidence and competence among healthcare staff to accommodate their needs, and adds to the urgent need to introduce the Oliver McGowan mandatory training currently being piloted? A timetable for the widespread introduction of that training would be very welcome.

[The Lord Privy Seal (Baroness Evans of Bowes Park) (Con)]

My Lords, I am afraid that we are having questions that are far too long. Can people please keep their questions brief?

[Lord Bethell (Con)]

My Lords, we will address the audit points made by the noble Baroness. I completely endorse the importance of training; that is at the heart of the report and we acknowledge its importance. We are concerned about the number of people with learning disabilities who have died during the pandemic, and there will be a report on what the connections are.

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[Baroness Uddin (Non-Afl) [V]]

My Lords, regardless of Department of Health and Social Care policy and NHS instructions to clinicians, we know that DNACPR orders were made without adequate consultation and safeguards. Can the Minister assure this House that the Government will meet with families who have raised concerns about DNACPRs as the cause of deaths? Will he emphatically agree with this House and the families themselves that senior case reviews should be undertaken, with a panel of experts, of all cases where families have raised questions? Will he state categorically again that DNACPR without consent is—

[Baroness Evans of Bowes Park (Con)]

We will now hear from the Minister.

[Lord Bethell (Con)]

I reassure the noble Baroness that there has been a huge amount of stakeholder engagement, with Mencap, Turning Point and others. It is not the role of the CQC to do individual family reviews, but I can reassure her that we have learned important lessons from this process.