Access to Orkambi

Debate between Ivan Lewis and James Frith

Tuesday 17th July 2018 Commons Chamber

[Mr Lewis]

I agree entirely. We sometimes spend vast amounts of public money reacting to a problem, and the rhetoric is all about prevention and early intervention, but we end up doing the opposite. This is a very good example of that.

[James Frith (Bury North) (Lab)]

rose—

[Mr Lewis]

I will give way to my hon. Friend and then I have to make progress.

[James Frith]

I congratulate my hon. Friend on securing this debate. Does he agree that there is a human cost to this gridlock for cystic fibrosis sufferers, who are victims of this disease and this disagreement? Frankly, NHS England should get in a room with Vertex and they should stay in there until they come out with an agreement to end this gridlock, so that cystic fibrosis sufferers do not see this debate just as yet another conversation but as delivering change and transformation of their lives.

[Mr Lewis]

My hon. Friend clearly wants to finish my speech off for me. Of course, he is absolutely right to make that point. The most important thing to see from this debate is action, not words. I will go on to talk about what those actions should be.