Compulsory Emergency First Aid Education (State-funded Secondary Schools) Bill

Debate between Rachael Maskell and Philip Davies

Friday 20th November 2015 Commons Chamber

[Rachael Maskell]

I thank the hon. Lady for her intervention —clearly we know what we are talking about, and I totally agree with what she has just highlighted.

The reality of that or any other situation is that if people have the skills, they can administer them. The Bill is not just about CPR; it is also about dealing with bleeding or choking, situations we may come across at any point. As one of those bystanders, you would feel totally helpless, knowing that you could have saved the neighbour, the friend or the relative—we might even be talking about someone saving you. That is why I urge hon. Members to allow this Bill to go forward.

[Philip Davies]

In a previous speech in Parliament, the hon. Lady talked about how teachers must also have more of a say. She said:

“They cannot be told how important their professionalism is in one breath and then not be trusted to make the best decisions for children in the next.”—[Official Report, 22 June 2015; Vol. 597, c. 678.]

How does her support for a compulsory measure, whether teachers like it or not, fit in with what she said previously about how we should trust them as professionals?

[Rachael Maskell]

I thank the hon. Gentleman for making that point, because I can tell him that 84% of secondary teachers support the Bill. Clearly, teachers want these provisions to be brought in, so this is in line with my previous statements in the House.

Whatever the medical condition, we know that it is only the start of a journey for a patient, who then will go on to use wider NHS services. Having worked in intensive care for 20 years, I know the cost of that time delay; individuals could have hypoxic brain injury or other such conditions as a result, which would place real strain on not only the services, but the family and the life of the individual. For that reason, it is vital to ensure that the Bill has a safe passage to its next stage.

As I have said, I will keep my comments brief. What we are seeing today is the start of a journey towards us being a nation of life savers, which is what I hope the Bill will achieve in time. I urge the Minister to allow this Bill to continue to the Committee stage.