"My Lords, we are discussing one of the most important decisions that any individual might make in their lives. It is important for the individual and for the state. I think that it is appropriate to ask that the critical meetings with the medical practitioners should be face-to-face, because that …..." Lord Birt - View Speech
"I am sorry; perhaps the noble Baroness can talk to me later, as I could not take in what she said.
I am, frankly, open-minded about the NHS question and accept the strength of what the noble Lord, Lord Stevens, says. It may well be that this is an organisation …..." Lord Birt - View Speech
"I do not think it for us, in framing in principle amendments, to deal with that level of issue, but the noble Lord is right—that is exactly what the body should do. We are talking about highly distressed people, and it should facilitate different kinds of response and reaction to …..." Lord Birt - View Speech
"Plainly, the NHS is a very large organisation and it offers a variety of different kinds of experience. I hope none of us uses A&E very often but, like everybody else, I have used it and, in my experience, I have found it very efficient indeed at handling everything.
"My Lords, I shall speak also to all the other amendments listed in my name and that of the noble Lord, Lord Pannick, who, having assiduously attended our sessions on the Bill thus far, as all will have noticed, deeply regrets that he cannot be present with us today.
"My Lords, I will try not to keep us too long from our lunch. This has been a lively and helpful debate, and I think it has exposed a fair number of critical issues that are yet to be resolved.
"The one issue that unites the whole Committee is that we have to have an effective service of palliative care in this country. The data in Australia, which varies from state to state, tells us that somewhere between 70% and 90% of people who come forward already have palliative care.
"Believe it or not, I have had cause, at various times in my life, to navigate the NHS, as probably everybody in this Committee has, and of course it is very difficult. However, when you go into A&E, you effectively do have a navigator. I do not think this is …..." Lord Birt - View Speech
"No, I am sorry—I have an argument to put; I am not going to take any interruptions.
Furthermore, one of Australia’s most senior and experienced practitioners tells me that, although in theory it must be a risk, she herself has never experienced a single example of coercion. On the contrary, …..." Lord Birt - View Speech