On 27th June 2023, the House of Lords debated the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Bill in the second day of the report stage. Votes were held on amendments to the bill, in which Bishops took part:
The Bishop of London received the following written answer on 21st June 2023:
The Lord Bishop of London asked His Majesty’s Government what recent progress they have made towards reducing health inequalities; and what further steps they intend to take in the future.
Lord Markham (Con): The Government is committed to improving healthy life expectancy by five years by 2035 and reducing the gap between areas where it is highest and lowest by 2030, as stated in the Levelling Up White Paper.
Continue reading “Bishop of London asks about reducing health inequalities”The Bishop of London received the following written answers on 20th June 2023:
The Lord Bishop of London asked His Majesty’s Government, further to The Hewitt Review: an independent review of integrated care systems, published on 4 April, what plans they have to implement the recommendation contained in that review to publish a strategy for the social care workforce.
Continue reading “Bishop of London asks about patient care and health inequalities”On 19th June 2023, the Bishop of London tabled a question on reducing inequality of access to primary care using the Community Health Worker Model:
The Lord Bishop of London: To ask His Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the community health worker model in relation to reducing inequality of access to primary care.
Lord Evans of Rainow (Con): My Lords, the Government have made no formal assessment of the community health worker model. However, they are supporting the development of models like the Brazilian one through the additional roles reimbursement scheme. We have delivered on our manifesto commitment to recruit 26,000 additional primary care professionals a year ahead of the March 2024 target. Our Delivery Plan for Recovering Access to Primary Care will also create a more equitable approach, regardless of patients’ routes to access.
Continue reading “Bishop of London asks about community healthcare models to tackle health inequality”The following article, jointly authored by the Bishop of London and Pat Cullen, appeared in The Times Red Box on Monday May 22 2023
Nursing has come a long way since we both entered the profession for the first time in the 1980s. But the values that underpin it have remained constant: compassion, selflessness, dignity, and integrity.
Nurses will stop at nothing to look after their patients. The nursing profession is the beating heart of this country’s health and care system.
Ministers stood on their doorsteps during the pandemic clapping the heroic efforts of nurses. Now that seems like a distant memory.
Continue reading “‘MPs must oppose government plans that threaten nurses and others with dismissal’ – Bishop of London and RCN General Secretary article”The Bishop of London asked a question on access to PIP and other financial support for those suffering from long Covid and unable to work on 25th April 2023:
The Lord Bishop of London: My Lords, the advice of the DWP and DHSC is that, if those impacted by long Covid are unable to work, they will be able to access financial assistance through schemes such as PIP. However, in practice, as the noble Baroness said, there is a lack of recognition of long Covid among GPs and PIP assessors. What steps are the Government taking to make sure that more long Covid sufferers are identified and able to access financial support?
Continue reading “Bishop of London asks about financial support for those suffering from long Covid”The Bishop of London took part in a debate to mark International Women’s Day on 10th March 2023, speaking about the role of women in the Church of England and in healthcare and nursing:
The Lord Bishop of London: My Lords, it is wonderful to be able to participate in this year’s International Women’s Day debate alongside such inspirational women. It is an honour to follow the noble Baroness, Lady Finlay.
I was recently fortunate to have a participant from the Jo Cox Women in Leadership Programme spend a day with me and the Bishop of Stepney as we visited the Stepney area, which is part of the diocese of London. The House may know that the programme was set up in Jo’s memory and in recognition of her leadership and the empowerment of many women. I commend the programme and its recognition of the need for women leaders to spend their time with other women leaders.
Continue reading “Bishop of London speaks in debate to mark international women’s day”The Bishop of London spoke to a group of amendments related to health services during a debate on the Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Bill on 9th March 2023, raising concerns of the effect of the bill on individual health service staff, pressure on staff levels, and low morale in the healthcare service:
The Lord Bishop of London: My Lords, I rise to speak to this group of amendments on the inclusion of health services in the Bill. I am sorry that I have not been able to speak before. I declare my interests as set out in the register.
I have been a union member. I joined as a nurse—and as an NHS manager and a civil servant in the Department of Health—because I wanted protection. The relationship with unions was critical; it was the way in which we improved patient care. One of my overall concerns about the Bill is that it has the potential to break down the relationship which is so vital for patient care, as the noble Baroness, Lady Noakes, said.
I am grateful to the Royal College of Nursing, which has helped me in considering the Bill. I am sure that it will not surprise noble Lords to know that it does not support the Bill, for what I see as some good reasons: not least because it curtails the freedom to participate in what otherwise is lawful action.
My right reverend friend the Bishop of Manchester regrets that he cannot be here, but he shares my concern that far too much power is given to the Secretary of State in what we have already heard is only a skeleton Bill, and that there is a complete lack of clarity about how it could be used. It is open to abuse. I am surprised that, as many others have said, the detailed policy that becomes legislation is not there. I am concerned that those who work in the health service probably cannot see whether they are in there or not.
Continue reading “Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Bill: Bishop of London speaks on inclusion of health services in bill”The Bishop of London asked a question on government support for career progression to senior positions in nursing, during a debate on the pay disparity between men and women on 8th March 2023:
The Lord Bishop of London: My Lords, in 2019 the Royal College of Nursing found that 90% of all nurses in the UK are women and that they fill less than a third of senior positions and earn on average 17% less than men. That is despite the fact that the Royal College of Nursing also noted that nursing is a gendered profession seen as a woman’s role. What steps are the Government taking to ensure that female nurses progress to senior positions?
Baroness Scott of Bybrook (Con): I will talk to my colleagues in Health about that issue. I was not aware of it, but it is important and I will take it forward and come back to the right reverend Prelate.
The Bishop of London asked a question on increasing FCDO funding for healthcare efforts in Myanmar on Tuesday 7th March 2023, during a debate on support for those caring for patients outside of government controlled areas in that country:
The Lord Bishop of London: My Lords, the Burmese diaspora are working closely with NHS colleagues in delivering clinical education and training. Their time and expertise are gifted free of charge and supported by modest FCDO funds, which allow organisations such as the Tropical Health and Education Trust to organise and structure this support in a professional way. Could the Minister comment on whether he sees any scope for increasing those funds for UK health communities in their response to Myanmar?
Continue reading “Bishop of London asks about support for health professionals in Myanmar and the Burmese diaspora”
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