Oral Answers to Questions

Kieran Mullan Excerpts

Tuesday 10th March 2020 Commons Chamber

[Helen Whately]

For the NHS, we have the NHS visa and a clear route to come to work in the health sector. For social care, there is a job to be done by employers, to make sure that working in social care is an attractive job that is well paid. I also recognise that there is a role for Government and for all of us in Parliament, to come together and support changes to how we fund social care. We need to fix the social care system for the future.

[Dr Kieran Mullan (Crewe and Nantwich) (Con)]

12. What steps his Department is taking to increase the range of healthcare professionals permitted to administer low-risk medicines.

[Jo Gideon (Stoke-on-Trent Central) (Con)]

18. What steps his Department is taking to increase the range of healthcare professionals permitted to administer low-risk medicines.

[The Secretary of State for Health and Social Care (Matt Hancock)]

We are currently considering all options to increase the range of healthcare professionals permitted to administer low-risk medicines. This is all part of making sure that our NHS workforce is as flexible as possible, and we will do that in the light of what can be done, while of course keeping a highlight on patient safety.

[Dr Mullan]

My constituent Jessica Warr works as an operating department practitioner in Leighton Hospital. She and her colleagues make a huge contribution to patient care. Would the Secretary of State agree to meet Jessica and other ODPs to hear their case for why allowing them to prescribe would allow them to enhance the care they provide for patients even further?

[Matt Hancock]

Yes, of course, I would be very happy to meet my hon. Friend and those he represents to make sure that we can get the right balance—the maximum possible flexibility, subject of course to patient safety.