Extract from PMQs - May 26
Thursday, 27 May 2021 08:30
Dr Poulter [V]: I draw the House’s attention to my declaration in
the Register of Members’ Financial Interests as a practising NHS
doctor who has been working on the frontline of the NHS during the
pandemic. My right hon. Friend will be aware that the Health and
Social Care Act 2012 resulted in local authority commissioning of
addiction services. Ten years later, almost all addiction services
are now run by non-NHS providers. The result is that the numbers in
alcohol treatment have...Request free
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Dr Poulter [V]: I draw the House’s attention to
my declaration in the Register of Members’ Financial Interests as a
practising NHS doctor who has been working on the frontline of the
NHS during the pandemic. My right hon. Friend will be aware that
the Health and Social Care Act 2012 resulted in local authority
commissioning of addiction services. Ten years later, almost all
addiction services are now run by non-NHS providers. The result is
that the numbers in alcohol treatment have fallen, many alcohol
detoxes take place in an unplanned manner, and opiate and alcohol
deaths are at record levels. Does my right hon. Friend agree that,
for the sake of patients, we must bring the commissioning and
provision of addiction services back to the NHS, and will he meet
me and experts in this field to discuss how we can get this
right?
The Prime Minister: I want to thank my hon.
Friend for everything that he has done throughout this pandemic in
the NHS, but also for raising this vital issue. I am proud that
under this Government we are seeing the biggest increase for 15
years in treatment for substance abuse, but the specific points he
raises we will make sure we address with
Dame Carol Black who is undertaking a
review of drugs and treatment. We will make sure that his point is
fed in.
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