Coronavirus Update

Nigel Evans Excerpts

Tuesday 14th July 2020 Commons Chamber

[Dr Lisa Cameron (East Kilbride, Strathaven and Lesmahagow) (SNP) [V]]

[Inaudible.]

[Mr Deputy Speaker (Mr Nigel Evans)]

Lisa, we cannot hear you. We will come back to you at the end. We will try to sort out the technical problem.

[James Sunderland (Bracknell) (Con)]

Will the Secretary of State please outline what is being done to enhance procurement resilience within the NHS? Also, what is being done to ensure that British companies get orders for PPE, not just China?

--- Later in debate ---

[Matt Hancock]

The hon. Lady raises an incredibly important question for the small but significant proportion of people who have long-term detrimental effects from coronavirus. I am glad that Michael Rosen got such excellent care at the Whittington, and I can assure him and the hon. Lady that we are putting in place NHS treatment for people with long-term impacts and research to make sure we understand as much as possible about those long-term impacts, because they are still little understood.

[Mr Deputy Speaker]

We will try one more time to reach Dr Lisa Cameron.

[Dr Cameron [V]]

Thank you, Mr Deputy Speaker. As chair of the all-party parliamentary group for disability, I have been hearing concerns from those who may be exempt from wearing face masks but are fearful of being confronted because not all disabilities are visible. Will the Secretary of State join me in congratulating East Kilbride’s Hannah Kelsall on developing free “chase the rainbow” carry cards that explain this exemption? Ultimately, no one should ever be challenging vulnerable people outside. It takes a lot of courage for many to leave their homes, but these innovative cards are providing reassurance for many across my constituency and beyond.

--- Later in debate ---

[Matt Hancock]

The programme that we have in hospitals is a risk-based one, according to the risk of the individual. It is much harder to put that risk base in place in care homes. Both of these proposals, while seemingly different, are based on the same clinical advice.

[Mr Deputy Speaker (Mr Nigel Evans)]

I would like to thank the Secretary of State for the statement today.