Covid-19

Debate between Baroness Finlay of Llandaff and Lord Balfe

Thursday 23rd April 2020 Lords Chamber

[The Deputy Speaker]

Baroness Wheatcroft. No? We will move on to Lord Balfe.

[Lord Balfe (Con)]

In the Statement, the Minister referred to the need for people who have other medical needs to still contact their GP. In Cambridge, where I live, the opticians, chiropodists, dentists and surgeries are all closed, with different fierce notices on their doors. When the isolation requirements are lifted, could the Government make it a priority to get these vital medical services open again and get doctors back into surgeries, not at the end of the telephone? Perhaps we could at least teach them that Zoom exists.

[Lord Bethell]

I reassure my noble friend Lord Balfe that the amount of video treatment being given by doctors has gone through the roof. During this epidemic, we have seen the medical trade and patients embrace a huge amount of digital technology. We are working with the colleges to try to get all the services of the medical profession open at this time and the response has been largely positive.