National Health Service: Healthcare Advice Debate

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Department: Department of Health and Social Care

National Health Service: Healthcare Advice

Baroness McIntosh of Hudnall Excerpts
Tuesday 16th July 2019

(5 years, 5 months ago)

Lords Chamber
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Baroness McIntosh of Hudnall Portrait Baroness McIntosh of Hudnall (Lab)
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The Minister has just given a very eloquent explanation of her view of the relationship with Amazon, but does she agree that it is a bit counterintuitive to assume that a company as big and commercially successful as Amazon is not getting some value from the relationship with the NHS? Can she explain what that value is?

Baroness Blackwood of North Oxford Portrait Baroness Blackwood of North Oxford
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Amazon is seeking to ensure that it provides a service to its customers. In this instance, we have ensured that we have provided an open API: any company that chooses to develop a service linking to the information on the NHS website is able to do so. This is not an exclusive contract with Amazon. As I have already said, other companies are able to do so and some already have done. It is not a specific benefit for Amazon. It is something that other companies have already availed themselves of and is of benefit to the NHS and NHS patients.