I shall give an example of what happened to me. I cannot leave my home in Yorkshire without my helpers. One of my helpers is pregnant, which causes problems for the disabled person. There are certain things that the helper cannot do, such as helping someone into bed, out of...

I shall give an example of what happened to me. I cannot leave my home in Yorkshire without my helpers. One of my helpers is pregnant, which causes problems for the disabled person. There are certain things that the helper cannot do, such as helping someone into bed, out of...

These amendments deal with the provision of information, protection and support for recipients of direct payments for healthcare and the protection of staff providing services under a direct payment. I will address the amendments in turn, starting with those that relate particularly to information, advice, advocacy and support. Amendment 52...

These amendments deal with the provision of information, protection and support for recipients of direct payments for healthcare and the protection of staff providing services under a direct payment. I will address the amendments in turn, starting with those that relate particularly to information, advice, advocacy and support. Amendment 52...

I shall speak briefly to Amendments 55 and 56. An issue flagged up earlier this afternoon was what happens when the amount of a direct payment runs out? If someone is in receipt of a direct payment and then discovers that it is insufficient to pay for the healthcare that...

I shall speak briefly to Amendments 55 and 56. An issue flagged up earlier this afternoon was what happens when the amount of a direct payment runs out? If someone is in receipt of a direct payment and then discovers that it is insufficient to pay for the healthcare that...

This relates to the point that I was making before about what happens when the budget goes over. It does; it has happened with me.

This relates to the point that I was making before about what happens when the budget goes over. It does; it has happened with me.

I thank the Minister for his kind and full response. I hoped that we might have got to it quicker, but I realise that he has a lot on his plate. The issue will not go away. It will come back, and we will return to it at another time....

I thank the Minister for his kind and full response. I hoped that we might have got to it quicker, but I realise that he has a lot on his plate. The issue will not go away. It will come back, and we will return to it at another time....

Might I raise an issue about which the Minister may not be aware? At the beginning of the National Health Service—and I remember it well because I was practising medicine before it came in—it was possible for individuals to purchase what was known as an amenity bed while continuing to...

Might I raise an issue about which the Minister may not be aware? At the beginning of the National Health Service—and I remember it well because I was practising medicine before it came in—it was possible for individuals to purchase what was known as an amenity bed while continuing to...

I start by putting firmly on the record that the Government are committed to the NHS as a service based on clinical need and not the ability to pay—and the new NHS Constitution, as we debated last Monday, enshrines that principle. Our position is clear on the general question of...

I start by putting firmly on the record that the Government are committed to the NHS as a service based on clinical need and not the ability to pay—and the new NHS Constitution, as we debated last Monday, enshrines that principle. Our position is clear on the general question of...

Before the Minister replies, I thank the noble Lord, Lord Campbell-Savours for entering the debate. I have never heard the argument about the birth certificate before. It is a very interesting one. I was born on the north-west Indian frontier and have a birth certificate that is very strange indeed....

Before the Minister replies, I thank the noble Lord, Lord Campbell-Savours for entering the debate. I have never heard the argument about the birth certificate before. It is a very interesting one. I was born on the north-west Indian frontier and have a birth certificate that is very strange indeed....

Amendment 52 and the other amendments in this group are in large part about information and support and the training that goes with that. I have enormous sympathy with the considerations that have prompted Amendments 63A and 69B, tabled by the noble Baronesses, Lady Wilkins and Lady Campbell, and I...

Amendment 52 and the other amendments in this group are in large part about information and support and the training that goes with that. I have enormous sympathy with the considerations that have prompted Amendments 63A and 69B, tabled by the noble Baronesses, Lady Wilkins and Lady Campbell, and I...

I shall speak to two amendments: Amendment 57, which I tabled, and Amendment 54. In speaking to Amendment 57, I should point out that this comes from the UNISON stable. As I have said before, I have a non-pecuniary relationship with UNISON. Its concern should be heard during a Bill’s...

I shall speak to two amendments: Amendment 57, which I tabled, and Amendment 54. In speaking to Amendment 57, I should point out that this comes from the UNISON stable. As I have said before, I have a non-pecuniary relationship with UNISON. Its concern should be heard during a Bill’s...

I have one more question. What happens if one PCT gives a direct payment to one patient and the next PCT denies it to an absolutely identical patient? Is there a right of appeal?

I have one more question. What happens if one PCT gives a direct payment to one patient and the next PCT denies it to an absolutely identical patient? Is there a right of appeal?

I will bring this discussion back. We are running pilots across the country, and it is for the PCTs to submit innovative ideas that are locally worked through with all the stakeholders at a local level: patient groups, advocacy groups, the voluntary sector and others. They will bring us the...

I will bring this discussion back. We are running pilots across the country, and it is for the PCTs to submit innovative ideas that are locally worked through with all the stakeholders at a local level: patient groups, advocacy groups, the voluntary sector and others. They will bring us the...

I have a question, too. Will drug and alcohol services be included in direct payments? So many people are sitting in prison now and not getting the right treatment, because it comes from another budget and health or social services simply do not want to pay for it. I asked...

I have a question, too. Will drug and alcohol services be included in direct payments? So many people are sitting in prison now and not getting the right treatment, because it comes from another budget and health or social services simply do not want to pay for it. I asked...

I will speak as briefly as I can in support of the thrust of Amendment 58 in the name of the noble Baroness, Lady Cumberlege. In doing so, I declare an interest as a trustee of the Michael Sieff Foundation, a child welfare organisation, and as a trustee of TACT,...

I will speak as briefly as I can in support of the thrust of Amendment 58 in the name of the noble Baroness, Lady Cumberlege. In doing so, I declare an interest as a trustee of the Michael Sieff Foundation, a child welfare organisation, and as a trustee of TACT,...

Can I take my noble friend back to maternity services? Suppose that it can be shown that a maternity unit’s existence is threatened by the introduction of these payments in the case of maternity services. Does my noble friend believe that that should be taken into account, remembering that page...

Can I take my noble friend back to maternity services? Suppose that it can be shown that a maternity unit’s existence is threatened by the introduction of these payments in the case of maternity services. Does my noble friend believe that that should be taken into account, remembering that page...

Going back to the speech made by the noble Baroness, Lady Campbell, on Second Reading, which was read extensively by people outside the House, will my noble friend say whether the £200 mattress would fall within the direct payment budget? The £200 mattress became the symbol of that debate in...

Going back to the speech made by the noble Baroness, Lady Campbell, on Second Reading, which was read extensively by people outside the House, will my noble friend say whether the £200 mattress would fall within the direct payment budget? The £200 mattress became the symbol of that debate in...

I have coupled my name with the amendment tabled by my noble friend Lord Howe, and I declare an interest as executive director of Cumberlege Connections and patron of Independent Midwives UK. I thank the noble Lord, Lord Darzi, and the noble Baroness, Lady Thornton, for the briefing meeting that...

I have coupled my name with the amendment tabled by my noble friend Lord Howe, and I declare an interest as executive director of Cumberlege Connections and patron of Independent Midwives UK. I thank the noble Lord, Lord Darzi, and the noble Baroness, Lady Thornton, for the briefing meeting that...

We now come to a series of groups of amendments which are all about a crucial part of the Bill; namely the provisions to enable direct payments to be made in respect of healthcare. Many of those amendments stand in my name, and I offer no apology for having tabled...

We now come to a series of groups of amendments which are all about a crucial part of the Bill; namely the provisions to enable direct payments to be made in respect of healthcare. Many of those amendments stand in my name, and I offer no apology for having tabled...