Speeches by George.

“Moving on to the legislation under which you operate, you have described it as antiquated, and you are certainly running two parallel frameworks at the moment. The Government have acknowledged—certainly the previous Government did, but I believe the present one also have—that it is unacceptable that the GMC can appeal …”

“To go back to the nuts and bolts, you are halfway through the transition period for registration. How is that going? Do you know what population is likely to register and what proportion of them have registered so far?”

“But isn’t it really a known unknown? Someone knows, and that is presumably the employers at the local level. Surely it is not beyond the wit of any man or woman to corral that data pretty quickly.”

“If that is the case, there is no need for delay, is there? If you think the majority are registered, presumably the nomenclature issue is no reason why you cannot start referring—”

“But part of the evidence base is the controversy, anxiety and the turf wars going on between professions for which you, as the GMC, are responsible for regulating. Surely that is very much the focus of your responsibility.”

“Okay. In terms of parallels with the nursing profession, how do you think that is proceeding? Do you share notes with the NMC?”

“There are budgetary pressures to find intermediate people on lower salaries to undertake the functions that a higher-paid person was undertaking before. You mentioned anxiety and controversy. To what extent do you think the GMC has a role in quelling or resolving the controversies and anxieties within the profession? D…”

“And you could call them assistants rather than associates—there is nothing stopping you, but you are saying that in law you cannot.”

“But you have responsibility to ensure patient safety—that is fundamental to your purpose. Surely it is your role both to inform the Government and to respond back to NHS providers in circumstances where patients are being put in danger as a result of decisions about the skills mix and staffing levels operating within t…”

“What can you say to reassure us that you are having those conversations, and that you are not just saying there are conversations behind closed doors where we are supposed to imagine what they are?”

“Okay, but that has happened on your watch. There is still controversy and anxiety, so do you not think you owe it to the industry—to those who are regulated by you—to acknowledge that you perhaps could have done more, to apologise, and to say that you have a role in repairing those relationships going forward?”

“As my hon. Friend knows, I strongly support his proposed legislation; indeed, I am a sponsor of it. Does he agree that, in order to advance new regulations, the Government need to review whether there is sufficient bridleway capacity across the countryside to avoid the necessity of using roads? It is clear that there a…”

“I thank the Minister for his reply. He has described the impact that the storm has had on our communities. As he rightly says, west Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly took the brunt of the storm, but it nevertheless had a devastating effect throughout Cornwall, south-west England and beyond. Nursing home patients were ev…”

“(Urgent Question): To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will make a statement following Storm Goretti.”

“I understand that, but before the shift happens, we have to make sure the baseline within the acute sector is coping with the demand. As I understand it, because of the iron-clad financial constraints on acute trusts, there is a recruitment freeze across a lot of them. Is that something that you, Minister, could look a…”

“We all agree that it is better to shift from hospital to community. People want to be treated closer to home, not further from home. But the expert panel found that it would be completely inappropriate to shift the burden of palliative care into the community unless sufficient planning and resources were in place. You …”

“That seems to be contrary to—”

“As well as the patient, there is also the family around them in the home. The expert panel identified that the value of unpaid carers is effectively about £29 billion, in terms of supporting those in need of end-of-life and palliative care. Is that going to be part of your MSF? Is your MSF going to be integrated with o…”

“Right.”

“You mean there is a gradual diminution of numbers and proportions that are admitted.”