King’s Speech

Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick Excerpts

Wednesday 20th May 2026 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick (Lab)]

My Lords, it is a pleasure to follow the noble Baroness, Lady Shawcross-Wolfson. I welcome the gracious Speech and a number of the important measures contained therein. In particular, I support the NHS modernisation Bill, the Northern Ireland Troubles Bill, which rightly seeks to place victims and survivors at the centre of this difficult, vexatious legacy, and the European partnership Bill, which offers the prospect of renewed economic co-operation and prosperity. Indeed, I continue to believe that closer alignment with the European Union is essential for our long-term future. I also welcome the social housing renewal Bill. Access to secure, affordable housing is not simply an economic issue; it is fundamental to personal health, family stability and overall well-being.

I want to concentrate, like many noble Lords right across the Chamber, on health. I welcome the Government’s commitment to rebuilding public services after years of strain and fragmentation, as was evidenced by the previous Government. The NHS modernisation Bill presents a real opportunity to restore coherence to the system. As the noble Lord, Lord Dodds, has already said, we already have that single chart in Northern Ireland for each of our patients, but the sad reality is that it does not reflect GP services or one’s contact with the GP or primary care. At the heart of this NHS modernisation Bill, the issue is simple: people want timely access to care and treatment. They want shorter waiting lists, faster diagnoses and services that work seamlessly together.

Previous reforms back in 2011-12 created unnecessary fragmentation, something we have seen clearly in areas such as childhood vaccination programmes, which we are currently examining in the specialist Childhood Vaccinations Committee. There, complexity has undermined delivery, and that must be addressed. I have been contacted, like many noble Lords, by a range of organisations, including Parkinson’s UK, the Royal Osteoporosis Society and groups representing those with chronic skin conditions, all highlighting the same issues—long waiting times, gaps in care and inconsistent access to treatment. I hope that the structural issues highlighted in the NHS modernisation Bill can help to address those matters.

Parkinson’s UK, for example, has emphasised the importance of a fully integrated system. The move towards a single patient record could transform care by ensuring that those with complex long-term conditions receive co-ordinated treatment across multiple services. However, it rightly stresses that essential NHS England functions must not be lost in transition. It also highlights the critical importance of clinical expertise, particularly in neurology, given that one in six people in the UK lives with a neurological condition. Expertise must remain at the heart of decision-making, so I ask the Minister how the Government will ensure that key clinical advisory roles are retained within the new system, and what assurances can be given that the time-critical medicines programme will be delivered in full.

For patients with Parkinson’s, delays in medication are not just inconvenient; they can be life-threatening, but also, prevention must remain a priority. Fracture liaison services are a clear example of where early intervention can prevent further harm. These services identify patients after a first fracture, begin treatment and reduce the risk of reoccurrence. When will the Government publish a clear rollout plan to ensure universal access by 2030, an issue that was raised in previous debates? I am confident that this Government are committed to rebuilding and strengthening our NHS. The direction is right, but obviously delivery will be the key. We must ensure that reform leads not only to structural change but to real, tangible improvements in patients’ lives.