My Lords, Amendment 284 would implement one of the major recommendations of the Independent Medicines and Medical Devices Safety Review. I will say from the start that I so welcome the government amendments. I thank the Minister and the civil servants for crafting them in such a thorough way.

There is...

My Lords, Amendment 284 would implement one of the major recommendations of the Independent Medicines and Medical Devices Safety Review. I will say from the start that I so welcome the government amendments. I thank the Minister and the civil servants for crafting them in such a thorough way.

There is...

Recruitment and retention is just one reason why United Lincolnshire Hospitals Trust is currently going through the special measures process. Will the Secretary of State join me in paying tribute to the staff in Lincolnshire, and does he agree that part of the challenge that the trust faces on recruitment and retention will be solved by the establishment of a medical school in Lincolnshire?

Recruitment and retention is just one reason why United Lincolnshire Hospitals Trust is currently going through the special measures process. Will the Secretary of State join me in paying tribute to the staff in Lincolnshire, and does he agree that part of the challenge that the trust faces on recruitment and retention will be solved by the establishment of a medical school in Lincolnshire?

If I may say so, that question was absolutely beautifully put. I do congratulate the staff. I have met the staff of Lincoln hospital, although I have not been to all the hospitals in the trust, and it is very nice to see the hon. Member for Lincoln (Ms Lee) in her place. Wherever the new medical schools eventually end up, one of the key priorities will be their ability to get more doctors from areas where we are struggling to recruit.

If I may say so, that question was absolutely beautifully put. I do congratulate the staff. I have met the staff of Lincoln hospital, although I have not been to all the hospitals in the trust, and it is very nice to see the hon. Member for Lincoln (Ms Lee) in her place. Wherever the new medical schools eventually end up, one of the key priorities will be their ability to get more doctors from areas where we are struggling to recruit.

If the Health Secretary does visit Huddersfield and Dewsbury, can I join the party? [Interruption.] I will not spoil his visit. I would like him to meet our local vice-chancellor, who would be very interested in having a teaching hospital in Huddersfield if the money were available to start one up. Will the Secretary of State meet my vice-chancellor when he comes to Dewsbury and Huddersfield?

If the Health Secretary does visit Huddersfield and Dewsbury, can I join the party? [Interruption.] I will not spoil his visit. I would like him to meet our local vice-chancellor, who would be very interested in having a teaching hospital in Huddersfield if the money were available to start one up. Will the Secretary of State meet my vice-chancellor when he comes to Dewsbury and Huddersfield?

In principle, I would be delighted to meet the hon. Gentleman’s local vice-chancellor, but I have to tell him that the decision about where the new medical schools will be based will be taken independently of me, because I have a constituency interest in the issue as well.

In principle, I would be delighted to meet the hon. Gentleman’s local vice-chancellor, but I have to tell him that the decision about where the new medical schools will be based will be taken independently of me, because I have a constituency interest in the issue as well.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many agency nurses worked in London teaching hospitals in (1) 2011–12, (2) 2012–13, and (3) 2013–14; and how many are working or have worked in the National Health Service in the current financial year.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many agency nurses worked in London teaching hospitals in (1) 2011–12, (2) 2012–13, and (3) 2013–14; and how many are working or have worked in the National Health Service in the current financial year.

I would not expect the hon. Lady to want to listen to me on the “Today” programme, but I have been talking a lot today about the measures, including in my topical statement. I will tell her exactly what we are doing: this week we are announcing measures to restrict the use of agency staff, which was an important, necessary short-term measure in response to what happened at Mid Staffs. We need to move beyond that. Later in the week we will be helping trusts reduce their procurement costs and taking a number of measures, so a lot is happening. There are a lot of challenges, but I know that NHS trusts can deliver.

I would not expect the hon. Lady to want to listen to me on the “Today” programme, but I have been talking a lot today about the measures, including in my topical statement. I will tell her exactly what we are doing: this week we are announcing measures to restrict the use of agency staff, which was an important, necessary short-term measure in response to what happened at Mid Staffs. We need to move beyond that. Later in the week we will be helping trusts reduce their procurement costs and taking a number of measures, so a lot is happening. There are a lot of challenges, but I know that NHS trusts can deliver.

For the first time in recent history, many of London’s more prestigious teaching hospitals—King’s College, University College London, Guys and St Thomas’s, and the Royal Free—are all forecasting deficit budgets. Apart from crossing his fingers and hoping the economy picks up to fund investment, what exactly is the Secretary of State going to do to tackle this problem?

For the first time in recent history, many of London’s more prestigious teaching hospitals—King’s College, University College London, Guys and St Thomas’s, and the Royal Free—are all forecasting deficit budgets. Apart from crossing his fingers and hoping the economy picks up to fund investment, what exactly is the Secretary of State going to do to tackle this problem?

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will list the members of the Leeds Teaching Hospital Trust who reside in the Leeds Metropolitan District. - Inc fact that the information requested is available from the Commission's Chair, Sir William Wells.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will list the members of the Leeds Teaching Hospital Trust who reside in the Leeds Metropolitan District. - Inc fact that the information requested is available from the Commission's Chair, Sir William Wells.

Whether they will review the current system of support for academic research in National Health Service hospitals, in particular the effect of the Culyer levy on certain teaching hospitals outside London; and, if so, when. [HL 5282].

Whether they will review the current system of support for academic research in National Health Service hospitals, in particular the effect of the Culyer levy on certain teaching hospitals outside London; and, if so, when. [HL 5282].

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his Answer of 13th January, 397 c499W, on Leeds Teaching Hospital NHS Trust, if he will set out the reasons that were given for not renewing the contract with NHS professionals. - This is a matter for the Trust.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his Answer of 13th January, 397 c499W, on Leeds Teaching Hospital NHS Trust, if he will set out the reasons that were given for not renewing the contract with NHS professionals. - This is a matter for the Trust.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make a statement on Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust decision on the use of NHS professionals. - (Holding answer 2 December 2002).

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make a statement on Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust decision on the use of NHS professionals. - (Holding answer 2 December 2002).

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what requirement there is on the special trustees of each of the London teaching hospitals to consider the health needs of (a) London as a whole and (b) the area of London the hospital services, when making decisions as to the use...

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what requirement there is on the special trustees of each of the London teaching hospitals to consider the health needs of (a) London as a whole and (b) the area of London the hospital services, when making decisions as to the use...