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Bishop of London asks about impact of diabetes on maternal mortality rate

On 19th November 2024, the Bishop of London asked a question on the impact of type 2 diabetes on the maternal mortality rate and the support available for women affected by this:

The Lord Bishop of London: My Lords, women with type 2 diabetes face a higher risk of miscarriage, stillbirth, neonatal deaths and birth defects. As we have heard, women who live in areas of high deprivation as well as women who come from black and minority ethnic groups are more likely to be impacted by type 2 diabetes. This compounds the existing inequalities in the maternal mortality rate. What steps are the Government taking to support integrated care boards to build relationships with these women who are most likely to experience these impacts, to ensure that they have the best maternity care and diabetic care, including ensuring they have access to continuous glucose monitoring where necessary?

Bishop of London asks about access to healthy foods for low-income families

The Bishop of London asked a question on access to healthy and nutritious food for low-income families on 18th November 2024, during a discussion on the cost effectiveness of anti-obesity drugs:

The Lord Bishop of London: My Lords, Henry Dimbleby’s National Food Strategy independent review details the factors that impact on our ability to eat healthily. They include having the facilities at home to be able to prepare fresh food and having the time to do so; it is also about where you live. About 3.3 million people cannot reach any food store selling raw ingredients by public transport. When it comes to combating obesity, what steps are the Government taking to assist low-income families, in particular, with accessing healthy and nutritious meals?

Bishop of London emphasises more funding needed for hospices, palliative care and palliative care research

On 24th October 2024, the Bishop of London took part in a debate on state funding of hospices, emphasising that more funding is needed to prioritise and support hospices, palliative care and palliative care research:

The Lord Bishop of London: My Lords, I too thank the noble Lord, Lord Farmer, for introducing this debate. I declare my interests as outlined in register, particularly that I am patron of Hospiscare in Exeter.

I suspect there has never been a more important moment in time to discuss the funding of the hospice sector, which is facing extreme challenges. It is also important to remember that hospices deliver excellent care to a significant number of people who are dying well. However, according to Hospice UK, the sector is facing the worst financial crisis in more than 20 years.

Bishop of London asks about funding for end-of-life care

The Bishop of London tabled a question on the adequacy of funding for end of life and palliative care on 4th September 2024:

The Lord Bishop of London: To ask His Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the adequacy of funding arrangements for accessible and equitable palliative and end of life care.

Baroness Merron (Lab, DHSC): My Lords, we want a society where every person receives high-quality, compassionate care, including at the end of their life. Integrated care boards are responsible for the commissioning of palliative and end-of-life care services to meet the needs of their local populations. This is to promote a more consistent national approach and supports commissioners in prioritising palliative and end-of-life care. We will be considering the next steps, including funding, more widely in the coming months.

Bishop of London speaks in debate on COVID-19 Enquiry Report

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.

King’s Speech Debate: Bishop of London calls for reform in the social care sector

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.

Votes: Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration) Bill

On 4th March 2024, the House of Lords debated the Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration Bill) in the first day of the report stage. Votes were held on amendments to the bill, in which Bishops took part:

Bishop of London takes part in debate to mark Holocaust Memorial Day

The Bishop of London spoke in a debate to mark Holocaust Memorial Day on 2nd February 2024, on the themes of the fragility of freedom and the need to challenge prejudice in all forms:

The Lord Bishop of London: My Lords, I start by thanking noble Lords for their contributions to this debate, and in particular those to whom the Holocaust and anti-Semitism continue to give deep, personal pain. I know that not only speaking in but listening to this debate will cause them greater concern and pain, so I thank them so much. It is a particular honour to follow the noble Lord, Lord Dubs, and the noble Baroness, Lady Anderson, whom I thank so much for what they said.

Last week, it was my privilege to be at the ceremony for Holocaust Memorial Day at the Guildhall in the City, along with a number of noble Lords. Those who were there could not help but be moved by the stories that people recalled. We recalled the murder of so many people in not only the Holocaust but the other genocides since: Darfur, Rwanda, Bosnia and Cambodia, to name but a few: each person loved; each person known; each person missed and each person grieved for. Their loss makes the world a poorer place, even decades later.

Bishop of London asks about access to green spaces

The Bishop of London asked a question about accessible green spaces on 1st February 2024:

The Lord Bishop of London: My Lords, it was welcome to see the introduction of funding for opening new permissive access in the latest update to the agricultural transition plan, released in January. According to the Ramblers, access to public rights of way and the time in nature that they provide is deeply unequal. Can the Minister explain how this funding will be steered towards routes that are most needed, and how she will ensure that these new routes are of sufficiently high quality to be accessible to as many people as possible?

Bishop of London asks about impact of Imprisonment for Public Protection sentences on rates of suicide and self harm

The Bishop of London asked a question on the impact of IPP (Imprisonment for Public Protection) Sentences on prisoners, particularly with regard to increased risks of self harm and suicide, on 31st January 2024:

The Lord Bishop of London: My Lords, the recently announced proposed change to the recall period for serving IPP sentences is welcomed. What assessment has the Minister made of the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman’s recommendation that prisoners’ IPP status should be considered as a potential risk factor for suicide and self-harm?

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