My Lords, I could not let this opportunity pass without expressing my gratitude to all those who have played such a vital part in drafting, scrutinising and improving this important Bill. I know that it will now return to the other place. I wish it a fair wind and hope that we will soon see it enacted.
Throughout, noble Lords from all sides of the House have, quite rightly, focused on using the Bill to strengthen patient safety. Safety is now threaded throughout the Bill. I do so welcome that; it is something that the noble Baronesses, Lady Thornton and Lady Jolly, have both just mentioned. We have enshrined a very important safety recommendation in the Bill: we will now have a proper database to record the medical devices that are used and on which we and patients will be able to track their outcomes and detect safety more quickly. I cannot overstate just how important that is. Without this data, the healthcare system has been flying blind.
I have been very touched by the kind and thoughtful expressions of support from so many noble Lords in general debates and, in particular, for my amendments, which were triggered by the recommendations in First Do No Harm. The report enshrined in me that, at every opportunity, we must be reminded that the NHS is run for the people and is paid for by the people. Right now, the NHS is demonstrating a total commitment to saving lives and defeating this deadly virus—a virus that, as it sweeps around the world, devastates lives, livelihoods, education, personal budgets and a national aspiration for a better world.
In the dark days of the Second World War, Beveridge was preparing for a better Britain. In these dark days, there is a need to make plans—not just to return to what was there before but to look forward to something better. I believe that the patient safety commissioner
will provide something better and will improve patient safety and healthcare as a whole. I was thrilled that so many of your Lordships lent me their support in calling for this; I know that their voices made all the difference. I thank the Minister and the noble Baronesses, Lady Thornton and Lady Jolly, for their generous remarks today.
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The new commissioner will certainly have a challenging task. We continue to get a flow of calls, letters and emails recounting lives devastated by hormone pregnancy tests, the risks of sodium valproate taken by pregnant women and the insertion of surgical mesh. Only this week, a woman wrote to me saying: “I was left devastated that I was never given the truth by my consultant. I have suffered incredible, irreparable harm since 2010 and have lost my loving intimacy with my husband. I suffer constant pain and am unable to walk too far. I am not able to enjoy the interaction with nine grand- children and, most of all, I do not feel like a female at all”. The patient safety commissioner will have to respond to these sorts of concerns rapidly—more rapidly than we found during our review. In doing so, the commissioner will prevent avoidable harm and, I am sure, save lives.
In my last amendment, concerning redress for patients unavoidably harmed, I was heartened by the Minister’s response. The Minster told us:
“We are moved by the stories; I am totally and utterly sympathetic to the situation that the patients affected by these conditions find themselves in on a day-to-day basis. They are still living through it today. I would like to regard myself as a compassionate person”.
We recognise that. He went on to say that
“it is not appropriate to make policy on this kind of matter through primary legislation”;—[Official Report, 14/1/21; col. 963.]
perhaps he is right on that. He also went on to tell us that work is under way. I just ask: what work? When will it be delivered? These injured women and their families need answers. They deserve justice and some redress—and, what is more, they need it now.
Although my amendment was not carried, my noble friend knows that I am not one to give up easily. Indeed, we have established a powerful all-party parliamentary group. Its purpose is to see the remaining recommendations in my report implemented. On Tuesday, the First Do No Harm APPG will meet to hear the Minister for Safety, Nadine Dorries, address the group. Of course, everybody is welcome to join.
In summing up, I reserve special thanks for my noble friends the Minister, Lady Penn and Lord Howe. They have been a formidable trio, guiding the Bill through and designing and tabling a lot of government amendments. I know that steering through important legislation and improving it with a pandemic raging all around has been a most demanding task. The Minister has risen to that challenge. He has chosen and shown endless patience with me personally; he has listened; and, above all, he has acted. I also know that he has been truly moved by the suffering he has heard about, as he said today, and that this has motivated him to act. I thank him very much.
I also thank the officials who, behind the scenes, have worked so very hard on the Bill, with endless meetings, conversations and negotiations—not least in bringing forward a whole range of government amendments. They are warned: no doubt we shall
meet again for the raft of statutory instruments that will be before the House. But, actually, I look forward to that.
I consider this Bill a reforming Bill—perhaps a small step, not a great stride, but we must look on the bright side. I congratulate all noble Lords who put forward the other important amendments on medicines and medical devices that have been accepted by the Government, as we have just witnessed. With an independent patient safety commissioner, who will listen, especially to the patient groups and campaigners, put all patients first and fight for their causes, a significant change may arise. Out of Covid darkness, with the astonishing example set by NHS staff, I believe a better system will emerge.
In a time of war, Beveridge realised the aspirations of people had changed. In the time of Covid, they are changing now, and we have to acknowledge that patients and the public voice must be heard. If private enterprise can bring forward a vaccine in under a year, Ministers, parliamentarians, the department and the healthcare system should rise to the challenge of reform towards a totally patient-oriented service. That is what I believe is essential for the future of our country and our future health and well-being.