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Speech in Lords Chamber - Mon 24 Nov 2025
Mental Health Bill [HL]

"My Lords, I entirely support my noble friend Lady Berridge. Following on from the noble Lord, Lord Meston, this is a really important issue in relation to my noble friend’s amendment. It is unfortunate that this issue was not put out to consultation because there is a lack of clarity. …..."
Baroness Buscombe - View Speech

View all Baroness Buscombe (Con - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: Mental Health Bill [HL]
Written Question
Prescriptions
Monday 9th June 2025

Asked by: Baroness Buscombe (Conservative - Life peer)

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government what is the percentage of free prescriptions in England that remain uncollected by patients and are subsequently destroyed by the NHS; and what is the average cost of uncollected and destroyed prescriptions to the Exchequer.

Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Department does not hold information on the number of prescriptions that are uncollected. The majority of uncollected prescriptions can be disassembled, and the medicines returned to the pharmacy’s stock, ready to be used to fill other prescriptions.

Speech in Lords Chamber - Wed 09 Nov 2022
Abuse and Deaths in Secure Mental Health Units

"My Lords, I currently chair the Joint Committee scrutinising the draft mental health Bill. This is an important Bill and is the subject of both Houses on a cross-party basis. We hope to publish our recommendations in the middle of January. Will my noble friend reassure me and the whole …..."
Baroness Buscombe - View Speech

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Speech in Lords Chamber - Thu 23 Apr 2020
Covid-19

"My Lords, I should like to say how encouraged I am by what my noble friend the Minister has said today on the progress made in tackling this virus. In asking my question, I stress that I have been urged so to do by many businesses, large and small, across …..."
Baroness Buscombe - View Speech

View all Baroness Buscombe (Con - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: Covid-19
Speech in Lords Chamber - Thu 13 Feb 2020
Health: Maternity Care Provisions in East Kent

"My Lords, there is no question but that our maternity services across the piece are under enormous pressure. We know that in 2017, somewhere between 30% and 40% of all babies born in the UK were born to foreign nationals. Will the Minister tell me, in broad terms, do foreign …..."
Baroness Buscombe - View Speech

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Speech in Lords Chamber - Thu 05 May 2016
National Living Wage: Social Care

"My Lords, related to this is the whole issue of the better care fund. I think that Ministers will accept that while the better care fund is quite right, the delivery of it has not been properly thought through. In which case, what steps are the Government now taking to …..."
Baroness Buscombe - View Speech

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Speech in Grand Committee - Thu 27 Feb 2014
Young People: Suicide

"My Lords, I, too, thank the noble and right reverend Lord for obtaining this valuable debate. I also declare an interest, of which I am very proud, as chairman of the advisory board for the Samaritans. I want to talk about how both government and the private sector are working …..."
Baroness Buscombe - View Speech

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Speech in Grand Committee - Tue 23 Apr 2013
Suicide

"

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what support they are providing to community groups, voluntary organisations, charities and faith groups that support people at risk of suicide...."
Baroness Buscombe - View Speech

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Speech in Grand Committee - Tue 23 Apr 2013
Suicide

"My Lords, I thank all noble Lords who are contributing to this short debate. It is a tough subject and deserves our attention and support. I begin by paying tribute to the work of the Samaritans which is, this year, celebrating 60 years of amazing support for people from all …..."
Baroness Buscombe - View Speech

View all Baroness Buscombe (Con - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: Suicide
Speech in Grand Committee - Tue 23 Apr 2013
Suicide

"So, my Lords, what can be done in addition to the wonderful support of the Samaritans and other related charities, such as Combat Stress? Technology is key to recognising that young people, in particular, no longer use a phone in the conventional way. They text and use social media to …..."
Baroness Buscombe - View Speech

View all Baroness Buscombe (Con - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: Suicide