My Lords, I thank the noble Baroness, Lady Greengross, for tabling her amendments, which ensure that we consider dementia care in respect of this Bill and return to recognising the impact that the social prescribing of music and arts can make to dementia sufferers, particularly for patients at the onset of symptoms—although I also heard what my noble friend Lord Winston said about the research needed on this issue. Noble Lords have on many occasions stressed their strong support for Music for Dementia and Singing for the Brain, and it would be good to hear from the Minister what progress is being made. We have also had extensive debates on the importance of social prescribing, and of the arts across health and social care settings, so, again, I think we do not need to repeat what has been said.
On Amendment 291, the key thing is the call for the duty to be placed on each local authority and integrated care system to implement the National Dementia Strategy for their own areas. It is a timely reminder of the need for the promised National Dementia Strategy: can the Minister provide a publication date for it, and update the House on its progress and on the increased funding that the Government have promised will be provided for the implementation of the dementia care plan?
My noble friend Lord Hunt’s Amendment 297D is a stark reminder of the Joint Committee on Human Rights’ concerns over the visiting bans operated in some care homes before the pandemic, following relatives’ complaints about their loved ones’ treatment and standards of care. As the noble Baroness, Lady Brinton, stressed, we know that during the pandemic itself the ban on outside visits of relatives and friends caused huge anxiety and suffering among residents and their families alike, and it is very welcome that visiting rules have now been eased, although the need for maintaining PPE, testing and infection control routines and constant vigilance continues.
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The noble Baroness, Lady Masham, and other noble Lords have cited serious cases of abuse. However, we also know that the CQC has found that the majority of care homes provide good-quality care against a backdrop of inadequate funding, substantial staff shortages, endemic low pay, and lack of appreciation and recognition of the skills and dedication of care home staff.
My noble friend’s call in his amendment for a proper review into the existing legislative and legal framework on the circumstances under which notices are issued banning relatives from visiting, or under which service users are denied visits or contact with family members or informal carers, or residents are required to leave the homes altogether following disputes between the care home and relatives, is a way forward to ensure that the concerns raised on this issue by noble Lords, the Relatives & Residents Association, the Joint Committee on Human Rights and Age UK are addressed.
Amendment 297A, from the noble Baroness, Lady Hodgson, concerns named GPs for the over-65s. I am sure that is something we would all like to see for general practice patients. How practical it is in the light of the current pressures on GPs and primary care remains to be seen, and I look forward to the Minister’s response on this.
As was mentioned, a key part of the Secretary of State’s recent big idea on future reorganisation was a plan to end GPs’ private practitioner status and bring all GPs under NHS control, even as we speak on this Bill and as we read recently in the media. How would the integrated care systems we are focusing on in this Bill fit into this further NHS reorganisation?