The Bishop of Bristol received the following written answer on 17th June 2025:
The Lord Bishop of Bristol asked His Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the impact of the increase to the immigration health surcharge by 66 per cent in 2024.
Continue reading “Bishop of Bristol asks about impact of the immigration health surcharge”The Bishop of Bristol received the following written answer on 2nd June 2025:
The Lord Bishop of Bristol asked His Majesty’s Government how much income the NHS has received from immigration health surcharge payments in each of the last two financial years.
Continue reading “Bishop of Bristol asks about health services for migrants”The Bishop of London took part in a debate on the upcoming review of the Physician and Anaesthetist Associate Roles on 5th December 2024, highlighting the need for clarity and trust in the healthcare system:
The Lord Bishop of London: My Lords, it is good to participate in this important debate and I am grateful to the noble Baroness, Lady Bennett, for having secured it. I declare my entry in the register of interests, specifically that I was formerly the Government’s Chief Nursing Officer.
This is clearly a complex issue, and I join other noble Lords in welcoming the Government’s recently announced review of the physician associates and anaesthetist associates. In building an NHS fit for the future, it is right that the right people with the right training and the right competence undertake the right roles. Over the last 20 years, we have seen an expanding of roles to release medical staff to do what only they can do; for example, the development of nurse-led assessment, advanced nurse practitioners and nurse prescribing, and the expansion of the role of pharmacists. In some sense, the development of physician associates and anaesthetist associates is part of this change. However, any change in role and the healthcare workforce needs to be carefully implemented and regulated. Therefore, I welcome the regulation of physician associates and anaesthetist associates, but I too question whether their regulation should take into account the outcome of this review, rather than moving ahead at present.
The main points I will make are around clarity and trust. Noble Lords will often hear me speak in this place about the essential commodity of trust in healthcare and the health of the nation. Research carried out by Healthwatch found that the public awareness of physician associate roles is mixed, particularly among older people, who are less likely to know the difference between a PA and a GP. Clear information needs to be given to people about the healthcare worker they are seeing, and they need to be reassured that they are competent and working to clear standards.
Continue reading “Bishop of London speaks in debate on new healthcare roles”The Bishop of London asked a question on leadership and productivity in the healthcare service on 5th December 2024:
The Lord Bishop of London: My Lords, productivity is now often spoken of in relation to the National Health Service, which the Minister mentioned in his Answer to the Question. The Health Foundation looked at NHS productivity and identified maintaining morale and motivating the workforce as key to it. Alongside essential things such as targets, what effort are the Government making to continue softer leadership, including listening to the workforce and fostering good industrial relations?
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The Bishop of St Albans received the following written answers on 7th October 2024:
The Lord Bishop of St Albans asked His Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Sherlock on 5 August (HL273), when they will review their commitments in the Disability Action Plan, published on 5 February; and where they will publish their response.
Continue reading “Bishop of St Albans asks about disability, international health cooperation, and vaccine access”On 3rd September 2024, the Bishop of London spoke in a debate on the first report of the COVID-19 Enquiry, highlighting the reports findings on pre-existing health inequalities in the UK, and the significance of faith to healthcare needs:
The Lord Bishop of London: My Lords, I declare my interest as set out in the register. It is good to have this opportunity to speak in this debate and to acknowledge the important recommendations of this first report from the Covid inquiry. The pandemic was a seismic event for us all, and a great tragedy for many. My thoughts and prayers go to those who have lost individuals because of the pandemic. My thanks and gratitude go to those who stepped up and beyond to care for and protect us.
I want to highlight a couple of points from the report. The first is that the clearest flaw identified in the risk assessment was the underlying health of the UK population prior to 2020, as mentioned by the noble Baroness, Lady Tyler. We are all aware of the entrenching and exposing effect that the pandemic had on health inequalities. We are all aware of the impact that non-clinical factors such as housing have on our health. We are all aware of the vast difference in healthy life expectancy depending on where we live. We are all aware that those living in more deprived areas are more clinically vulnerable on average, but spend much more time in front-line jobs.
Continue reading “Bishop of London speaks in debate on COVID-19 Enquiry Report”The Bishop of London gave a speech during the debate on the King’s Speech on 19th July 2024, on the topic of health and social care, drawing attention to the need for reform in the social care sector:
The Lord Bishop of London: My Lords, it is an honour to respond to the gracious Speech. I welcome the Minister as she joins us in this House at the Dispatch Box. I also thank the noble Baroness, Lady Jolly, for her contribution to the House, not just on health and social care; those of us who are female priests and bishops thank her for her support.
I welcome many of the Government’s healthcare announcements, especially the two public health legislative measures. I too am glad to see the tobacco and vapes Bill continue. Smoking continues to be one of the leading causes of preventable deaths following the lines of inequality, so bringing forward this Bill will be a significant step forward in our public health agenda. The announcement that the Government will legislate to restrict the advertising of junk food to children and the sale of high-caffeine energy drinks is also welcome. As we have heard, obesity is one of the major health challenges that we face and, again, its impacts are hugely unequal.
Continue reading “King’s Speech Debate: Bishop of London calls for reform in the social care sector”The Bishop of Southwark received the following written answer on 30th April 2024:
The Lord Bishop of Southwark asked His Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of shortages in the supply of prescription drugs.
Lord Markham (Con, DHSC): There are approximately 14,000 medicines licensed for supply in the United Kingdom, and the overwhelming majority are in good supply.
Continue reading “Bishop of Southwark asks about shortages of prescription drugs”The Bishop of St Albans received the following written answer on 30th April 2024:
The Lord Bishop of St Albans asked His Majesty’s Government:
The Bishop of St Albans received the following written answer on 29th April 2024:
The Lord Bishop of St Albans asked His Majesty’s Government whether they have made an assessment of the impact of rural pharmacy closures on access to primary care.
Lord Markham (Con, DHSC): It is the statutory duty of every local authority in England to undertake pharmaceutical needs assessments for their areas including those that are rural in nature, every three years, to ensure provision continues to meet their population’s needs. Integrated care boards have regard to those assessments when commissioning services and where a pharmacy closure impacts on the access to services, a new contractor can apply to open a pharmacy in the area.
Continue reading “Bishop of St Albans asks about pharmacy provision in rural areas”
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