I congratulate my hon. Friend the Member for Stafford (Jeremy Lefroy) on introducing this Bill. He has set out its content comprehensively, in great detail and with great clarity. I also congratulate him on having the foresight to include as one of the sponsors of the Bill my hon. Friend the Member for Mid Norfolk (George Freeman), who is now of course the Minister speaking for the Government on it. That was a smart move.
Perhaps everyone in this country sometimes takes our national health service for granted as something that is always there. Whatever the political arguments may be about the NHS, we all know that it is part of the bedrock of British society—part and parcel of the fabric of this country. In essence, it boils down to two things. First, there is the scientific element: the technical expertise of the scientists, the doctors, and the people who put the drugs together and study the biology of the human body and the interaction of drugs within it.
There is also the human side—the care side. When someone is ill, they rely on the scientists to come up with a solution, but sometimes there is no solution and the scientists say, “We’re sorry—we can’t help you.” Sadly, even after decades of advances, there are still all too many ailments that afflict the human condition. In those cases, and in those where people, for whatever reason, may be nearing the end of their lives, it comes down to the human touch—the care and the everyday things that are not really related to science at all, just to common humanity. Regrettably, as seen most notably in the constituency of my hon. Friend the Member for
Stafford—the reasons have been well explored—sometimes that care is not there. I am not going blame A, B or C for what happened—whatever happened has happened and we are where we are. Terrible things have happened and care has not been up to standard—we all accept that.
What we must now consider is whether it is possible to redesign the regulatory framework in such a way as to try to reduce the risk of what has happened in the past ever happening again. I do not pretend that this Bill will achieve that 100%. My support for it is based not on that premise, but on the premise that, on balance, it will be an improvement.
The Bill’s first proposed provision for a duty—an obligation—to inspect care makes absolute sense. Millions of people outside this Chamber will, frankly, be amazed that that is not already the case. It would be entirely uncontroversial to enshrine in law that requirement of the NHS regulator.
Secondly, the proposal for a common identifier is common sense. When members of my own family have had to go into hospital—this has happened recently and, sadly, it happens on too many occasions—they tell me, time and again, “The only thing that really annoys me is that I constantly have to give information.” Surely a common identifier would save time for our NHS. I am pleased that the professional bodies support the proposal. There are one or two technical and minor concerns, and clause 2 goes a long way to dealing with them. I am sure that any further concerns can be dealt with in Committee.
On balance, this is a sensible Bill, which has been very carefully explained to us this morning. I wish it a speedy passage through this House and the other place.
10.8 am