Speeches by Hamilton.

“How do you feel the ICBs are interacting with what you are doing, considering that they hold that lead role?”

“Fantastic, thank you. Q103   Chair: I want to drill down to clarify this point. It was striking with the first panel that in answer to the question, “Do we want to put the delivery element of the plan on a statutory footing?”, they all agreed that that was the thing, but I am hearing a different thing from th…”

“Do you feel that system is working for you?”

“Ingrid, to round up.”

“I love that: clear standards for outcomes. I like things that are simple. Thank you.”

“Dawn, the same question.”

“Okay, that is very interesting. I will preface my next question by saying that ICBs are supposed to have some accountability in this area. They have the health commissioning for children and young people with SEND, and each ICB must have an executive lead for children and young people with SEND. Saying all that, the Ed…”

“For my last question, I am just looking for snappy answers. What national policy changes would help health bodies to meet their statutory responsibilities for children and young people living with SEND? What would you like to see in the national guidance? Make only one or two points.”

“Elliot, tell me a little about the cost element. At the moment, listening to all three of you, I think you are wonderful, but it sounds very kumbaya. As a local MP, that is not what I am hearing on the ground. Re the cost, I am just asking you a question: there never seems to be enough money out there, so for the NHS, …”

“Let me flip the switch, go back and ask you the question again. What do you think that DHSC can actually do to help with that? We agree that it should not stay with parents—I am with you on that; I have a grandson with issues—but at the end of the day, how can DHSC help in that situation?”

“I will ask Elliot the same question.”

“Is there funding connected to this? Much has been said about there being no direct funding and people struggling to get that—you may have a plan or a good idea, but there is nothing attached to ensure that it gets carried out.”

“Thank you. Ingrid, you highlighted that you were a nurse. Both of you hold very similar roles but, Ingrid, as someone who has been a nurse, what would you like to see?”

“Sorry, for someone who does not speak that language, can you just clearly say what you are talking about?”

“Would you say that, if we sort out social care—so, those blockages of beds—that would help with what is happening in corridor care?”

“Give me one example of how the problem can be fixed?”

“What can we do to better support staff in these environments? I will start by saying that this should not be happening at all, but it is happening, so what can we do to better support staff in these environments?”

“No, no. Just stick with staff.”

“I was a nurse myself and I took pride in what I was doing, the clothes I wore and how I looked after my patients. Is there a sense of embarrassment with everything that is going on?”

“Dr Higginson, may I go a step further? I am a great believer in the idea that people’s mental health suffers from corridor care. What have doctors and others in your team seen of deteriorating mental health, just from having the light on 24 hours a day and not being able to rest properly?”