NHS: Hospital Waiting Times

Lord McColl of Dulwich Excerpts

Thursday 10th July 2014 Lords Chamber

[Earl Howe]

My Lords, the noble Lord knows of the economic constraints that this country has to contend with at the moment. Despite that, the Government are increasing the NHS budget over the course of this Parliament by £12.7 billion. That should indicate to the noble Lord the priority that we are giving to the NHS.

[Lord McColl of Dulwich (Con)]

My Lords, the Minister mentioned that the strain on the NHS is due to old people getting older, but is it not true that the strain is due to young people getting fatter and fatter? Is it not true that the Department of Health misled the nation by saying that the obesity epidemic—the worst for 90 years—is due to a lack of exercise when really it is due to people eating too much?

[Earl Howe]

My noble friend is a very eloquent advocate of this particular issue and he is of course right.