06Apr 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Farron leads cross-party demand for action on PPE and radiotherapy to prevent Covid-19 cancer deaths

Parliamentary news
Liberal Democrat MP Tim Farron is leading a cross-party call urging the Health Secretary to prioritise the supply of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for radiotherapy professionals and to take steps to boost radiotherapy capacity to save lives. In a letter from the All Party Parliamentary Group on Radiotherapy, which is chaired by local MP Tim Farron, the cross-party group of MPs set out that they have received reports that ‘patients are now demanding that the clinicians wear PPE’ and expressed concern that ‘some radiotherapy centres have no PPE and little priority has been given to this work force and patient group’. The MPs also highlight that the demand for radiotherapy services is rising sharply as surgical options for cancer treatment are reduced due to the coronavirus response and clinicians are moving some…
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05Apr 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Lib Dems lead cross-party call for improved mental health support amidst Covid-19 crisis

Parliamentary news
The Liberal Democrats have secured cross-party and third sector support for their call for the Government to improve mental health support during the coronavirus crisis.Writing to the Secretary of Health, the cross-party group of Parliamentarians have expressed fears that government advice to stay at home will leave people “worried about coronavirus, their jobs, housing” and “anxious about their family’s health and their own.”Over 40 MPs from across the political spectrum have signed the letter highlighting the “inextricable link” between mental and physical health and urging the Government to: launch a publicity campaign signposting the mental health support available during the coronavirus crisis.send public health leaflets, which include advice on looking after mental  health and signposts to organisations that can offer mental health support during the crisis, to all homes.increase the level of funding for mental health charities offering support during the coronavirus crisis, to reduce pressure on the NHS. The Mental Health…
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05Apr 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Davey responds to election of Sir Keir Starmer as Leader of the Labour Party

Parliamentary news
Responding to the election of Sir Keir Starmer as the new Leader of the Labour Party, Acting Leader of the Liberal Democrats Ed Davey said: “At this moment of national crisis, the role of all opposition parties must be to support measures to tackle the coronavirus, whilst also standing up for the most vulnerable by properly scrutinising the Government. I look forward to working with Keir Starmer on that task. “Saving lives from coronavirus remains the absolute priority. Vital issues such as expanding testing capacity, access to adequate protective equipment for frontline health and social care staff, and ensuring the most vulnerable are not left behind as a result of the economic uncertainty are at the top of the agenda.  “Liberal Democrats will always work with whoever we can to pursue our…
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05Apr 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Lib Dems call for scrutiny through virtual Parliament

Parliamentary news
Responding to the news that the Prime Minister has invited opposition party leaders to attend a briefing on the coronavirus, Acting Leader of the Liberal Democrats Ed Davey said: “We will of course engage with the Government about its strategy to tackle the coronavirus during this national crisis, continuing the constructive approach to questioning we have adopted from the start. “There are vital issues to address, not least how testing capacity is expanded faster, how our frontline health and social care staff access proper protective kit and how to cushion the economic crisis so groups of people aren’t unfairly excluded and our most vulnerable citizens aren’t left behind.  “The best way to work together to combat this crisis is to ensure opposition parties are able to question the Government effectively…
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05Apr 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Government must go further to prevent Covid-19 crisis in prisons

Parliamentary news
Responding to news that the Ministry of Justice will temporarily release risk-assessed prisoners who are within two months of their release date to reduce the risk of coronavirus spreading in prisons, Liberal Democrat Justice spokesperson Daisy Cooper said: “It's a relief to see that the Government are finally listening to prison governors, who have been warning of a Covid-19 crisis in overcrowded prisons for weeks. This decision should have come much sooner given the scale of the threat. “The Government must urgently take steps to further reduce risk in prisons, including releasing all low-risk prisoners serving short sentences - not just those already reaching the final months of their sentence. This would significantly reduce overcrowding in prisons, better protecting prison staff, prisoners and - by reducing transmission - help our NHS.”
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05Apr 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Shifting goalposts for ventilator targets risks public confidence

Parliamentary news
Responding to the Health Secretary's statement today on the Andrew Marr Show that the required target for ventilators has been lowered to 18,000 from 30,000, Liberal Democrat Health Spokesperson Munira Wilson said: “Rather than shift the goalposts for vital equipment like ventilators, the Government must be realistic in the promises it makes during this crisis. Ministers are now risking losing public confidence in their ability to meet the goals already set out, whether on increasing the number of tests or the availability of personal protective equipment for frontline health and social care staff.  “The vast majority of people will do whatever they can to support the NHS, protect their loved ones and help in their communities through this crisis. In return, people want to be reassured that every single avenue is being explored…
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03Apr 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Lib Dem concern over ‘chopping and changing’ of PPE guidance

Parliamentary news
Responding to news that the Government has issued updated guidance on Personal Protective Equipment for NHS staff, Liberal Democrat Health, Wellbeing and Social Care spokesperson Munira Wilson said: “While it is right that stricter guidance is now in place to give staff the best possible protection, the Government's chopping and changing of guidance on personal protective equipment does nothing to inspire confidence. “The reality remains unchanged: many NHS workers lack anything close to adequate PPE. They are risking their own health, the health of their loved ones and their patients, as a result. Some have resorted to their own makeshift alternatives in the face of shortages, from skiing goggles as eye protection to turning old OHP slides into visors. This is simply not good enough. “It is imperative that the Government lays out in no…
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03Apr 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Government must set out when every NHS and social worker will be tested

Parliamentary news
Responding to the announcement from the Health Secretary that the Government aims to carry out 100,000 tests a day by the end of April, Acting Leader of the Liberal Democrats Ed Davey said: “While Liberal Democrats have full confidence in the Chief Medical Officer, the response from Government Ministers where coronavirus testing is concerned has been disgracefully slow. “Moves now to increase testing are welcome, and we hope they succeed, but NHS workers’ confidence has been shaken after previous promises from the Secretary of State that have not been delivered. We need much greater transparency now.  “The Government must also explain why the UK’s level of testing is still so low compared to some other countries and set out exactly when every NHS and social worker will be tested.”
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03Apr 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Government loan scheme changes “miss the crucial problem”

Parliamentary news
Acting Leader of the Liberal Democrats Ed Davey will argue the Chancellor's latest changes to the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loans Scheme still rely too much on traditional lenders, and will call on the Government and the British Business Bank to fast track cash to desperate businesses by opening the scheme to new lenders including the UK's growing Fin Tech industry. Acting Leader of the Liberal Democrats Ed Davey said: “Although the Chancellor's loan scheme is well-intentioned, it was badly designed from the start and the latest changes don't address the fundamental flaw in terms of the over-reliance on traditional lenders.   “Despite huge handouts in the 2008 financial crisis, the big banks have shown themselves institutionally incapable of serving the needs of Britain's small and medium sized businesses, at the speed this crisis demands. The Chancellor…
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03Apr 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

NHS debt write off “win” must come with testing and PPE investment

Parliamentary news
Liberal Democrat MP Tim Farron has claimed a campaign victory as the Government annouces it will write off over £13bn of NHS debt and he has called for investment in Covid-19 testing and PPE for NHS staff. The announcement comes after former Leader of the Liberal Democrats, Tim Farron, revealed last year through a freedom of information request that £607,404,854 worth of interest on outstanding debt was paid by NHS Trusts to the Department for Health and Social Care in the previous five years. Liberal Democrat MP Tim Farron said: “It should not have taken an international pandemic crisis for this to happen but it is very good news all the same. “On top of these debts were huge interest rates that robbed our local hospitals of millions of pounds every year.…
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