Latest news with #SteveDarling
BBC News
12 hours ago
- Health
- BBC News
NHS Devon scraps changes to cardiac care after objections
Planned trial changes to overnight heart attack services in south Devon have been Devon said it would not be going ahead with the proposals to drive out-of-hours heart attack patients to hospital in Exeter rather than Torbay to help cut costs and divert resources to cut treatment backlogs, said the Local Democracy Reporting signed a petition against the plan and two MPs said in the Commons the move could have endangered people. The service withdrew the plans in May to consider feedback and it now said it would develop a broader cardiology strategy for the region to be revealed next month. It said the strategy would be guided by clinical data and public feedback."Rather than only focusing on Percutaneous Coronary Intervention, the scope will be expanded to include prevention such as cardiovascular disease, urgent and emergency care and elective care," it said."The priority remains the commissioning of safe, reliable and sustainable cardiology services that meet the needs of Devon's population now and in the future." Steve Darling, Liberal Democrat MP for Torbay, said the U-turn was "very good news" and showed people "won't stand by when vital services are at risk"."It's not a definitive victory but it feels like a step in the right direction, now it all depends on where this journey ends," he said."By campaigning we have achieved the outcomes that many people wanted, and we can have higher levels of confidence that we know where we are heading."
ITV News
2 days ago
- Politics
- ITV News
'Palliative care is the deal-breaker': MPs change their minds ahead of final assisted dying vote
West Country Assisted dying Politics A number of West Country MPs who supported legalising assisted dying last year are now planning to vote against the bill, because of concerns over palliative care and a lack of "genuine choice" for terminally ill people. ITV News understands that the bill, which will be up for its third and final reading on Friday, will pass through to the next stage, albeit with a narrower majority than it had in November. Steve Darling, the Liberal Democrat MP for Torbay, says he voted in favour of changing the law because he was "keen to have a further conversation", but now has a "real fear" that people without access to sufficient palliative care will feel they have no other option but to choose an assisted death. "I want to see that people have genuine choices at the end of life, but you've got to make sure the environment is right and the safeguards are there," he tells ITV News. "Without appropriate social care and palliative care being in the right place, people might end up in 'Hobson choice', and that is my real fear." The Lib Dem says it's the "deal-breaker" for him, despite being "sympathetic" to the principle of assisted dying. An historic vote last year saw a majority of MPs back a change in the law, which would allow terminally ill adults in England and Wales, with fewer than six months to live, to apply for an assisted death. This would be subject to approval by two doctors and a panel of three experts, featuring a social worker, senior legal figure and psychiatrist. Since the vote in November, the bill has undergone a number of significant - and controversial - changes. If it passes the next hurdle on Friday, it will progress to the House of Lords where it will undergo further scrutiny - meaning any change would not be agreed for months yet. Brian Mathew, the Lib Dem MP for Melksham and Devizes, has also changed his mind - in part due to personal experience but also because of similar concerns over social care. "I voted for it to start with because I felt it needed proper discussion," he explains. "After going through that discussion personally, with friends and with my constituents, you've really got to look at these things deeply, and I just don't think that end of life care is sufficient in this country at the moment." He has also drawn on the memory of his sister's death in deliberations over the final MPs' vote. "Things can happen," he says. "My sister, for example, she'd been battling cancer for a decade and towards the end she was out of consciousness most of the time. But just literally a few days before she died, she suddenly became lucid. "This was a lady who had been profoundly deaf her whole life, so communication had never been easy. She wanted to speak to her then young sons, and she did. They came and she wanted to give them advice on life, telling them to do the best in their lives, precious things." The MP adds: "If she had clocked out early, that would not have been able to happen." In May, MPs returned to the Commons for a second emotional debate. In it, they voted for one new clause to be added to the bill, which will ensure 'no person', including any medical professional, is obliged to take part in assisted dying. Stroud Labour MP, Dr Simon Opher, has been on the bill committee - a panel of MPs that has scrutinised the legislation line-by-line and has put forward several amendments. In this case, the committee has often worked into the early hours, debating and going through the bill in close detail. Dr Opher describes the "polarising moment" in his clinical career that led him to backing the right of some terminally ill people to choose to end their own lives. He has now been in favour of changing the law for more than a decade. After a recently diagnosed patient took their own life, Opher says "it seemed like we'd really let down that family. It was awful, absolutely awful". He adds: "People are taking the law into their own hands now. People are going to Dignitas, people are committing suicide as well. "And also around the world now, this is not unusual. We are not ahead of the game here. We've actually learnt quite a lot from other jurisdictions. "This is the safest assisted dying legislation in the world that we are presenting, and that's because we've gone through a very, very robust process." South West Devon MP, Rebecca Smith, was one of the 275 who rejected it last November, along with Chief Secretary to the Treasury and Bristol North West MP, Darren Jones. "The principle of assisted dying I'm not in favour of full stop, anyway," she tells ITV News. "I don't think there can ever be enough safeguards to make sure people don't fall through the cracks, that there isn't a slippery slope to more extreme or liberal forms of what we see happening in other countries." The Conservative MP admits she has a "public faith" but is critical of the intervention from Dame Esther Rantzen, who argues that many have fought against changing the law because of 'secret religious views'. "It's really important to remember that none of us go through life without a world view that impacts how we make decisions," Smith says. "For people who don't have faith to accuse those who do of somehow being tarnished by that, is really disingenuous. "Everyone has experiences in life that shape the decisions they make... to say religion is worse than any other lens is really quite offensive." The last time MPs voted on the issue in 2015, the bill was defeated by 330 votes to 118, but the composition of the Commons has significantly changed following last year's general election. Assisted dying is currently banned in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, with a maximum prison sentence of 14 years.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Mapped: The worst-hit areas for PIP cuts as more than 1.3m could lose support under Labour's plans
Around 1.3 million people are at risk of losing key financial support after Labour's welfare cuts, new analysis has found, as the worst hit areas in the UK are revealed. The changes will focus chiefly on disability benefits, with the Personal Independence Payment (PIP) most affected. This weekly-paid benefit is designed to help with the associated costs of having a disability, and is claimed by 3.7 million people. From November 2026, it will effectively become harder to claim as the eligibility criteria for it is tightened. Here's what that could mean for your area: The government data, analysed by the Liberal Democrats, shows that around 1.1 million PIP claimants and 200,000 enhanced-rate claimants would lose some of their payment if their assessment were conducted after the changes. The statistics also break down the impact by constituency, revealing that more deprived areas are likely to be hardest hit. Liverpool Walton was shown to be the constituency with the most people who could lose support, followed by Blackpool South and Liverpool Riverside. Around 5,000 people in every constituency face losing some PIP payments. Under the new criteria, around 87 per cent of those claiming the lower level would miss out based on their last point score, the analysis found. A further 13 per cent on the enhanced rate – worth £110.40 a week – would also lose this entitlement. The government has faced strong criticism over the changes from charities, campaign groups and MPs since they were announced in March. Research from the Joseph Rowntree Foundation found that the plans threaten to plunge 400,000 people into poverty – higher than the OBR's forecast of 250,000. Meanwhile, a report from a group of cross-party MPs on Monday found that disabled people could lose more than £10,000 a year as a result of the cuts. Prime minister Keir Starmer said on Sunday that he would not change course despite threats of a backbench revolt, telling reporters: 'We have got to get the reforms through and I have been clear about that from start to finish.' Liberal Democrat work and pensions spokesperson, Steve Darling MP said: 'Many of the most vulnerable in our society are already on the brink and these figures reveal the scale of the misery that could be inflicted if these cuts go ahead. 'We need to see the government realise that this has the potential to devastate people's lives and make it much harder to stay in work. Ministers must change course to avoid the real pain that could be inflicted.' Responding as he released the data, DWP minister Sir Stephen Timms said: 'The number of people currently on PIP and did not score 4 points in one category in their last assessment should not be equated with the number who are likely to lose PIP. 'The OBR has determined that 9 in 10 people currently on PIP will still be receiving it by the end of this Parliament. No one will lose access to PIP immediately. The changes, subject to parliamentary approval, would be brought in from November 2026. 'After that date, no one will lose PIP without first being reassessed by a trained assessor or healthcare professional, who assesses individual needs and circumstance.' The DWP has been contacted for comment.
The Guardian
29-05-2025
- General
- The Guardian
Second Lib Dem MP withdraws support for England and Wales assisted dying bill
A second Liberal Democrat MP has said they have changed their mind over the assisted dying bill and will vote against it at the next Commons stage, in another sign of a wider, if so far slight, ebbing away of support for the measure. In an email to constituents, Brian Mathew, the Melksham and Devizes MP, said that while he had backed the bill at its second reading vote, in April, scrutiny of the plans had left 'several concerns I feel have been inadequately answered'. His announcement follows comments last week by Steve Darling, the Torbay MP who is also the Lib Democrat work and pensions spokesperson. Darling said that while he had backed the bill in April he was now 'marginally against' it, but had not yet decided whether he would vote against it or abstain. About eight other MPs who either supported the private member's bill, led by Labour MP Kim Leadbeater, at its second reading or did not vote have said they will now oppose it. However, at least two who abstained in April are now supporters, while the Runcorn and Helsby byelection earlier in May resulted in a Labour MP who opposed the plan replaced by a Reform UK one who backs it. Given the second reading of the bill was passed with a majority of 55, the numbers thus far indicate it should also get through the third reading, scheduled for 20 June. A week before, on 13 June, MPs will debate amendments to the bill for a second day. The first day of debates on amendments drawn up during a lengthy committee stage resulted in some changes being agreed, including an opt-out for all healthcare workers from being involved in assisted dying, extending the exemption from just doctors. That debate also featured angry complaints from some MPs opposed to assisted dying after the prominent campaigner Esther Rantzen argued many in their camp were fighting against the changes to the law because of secret religious views. In his message to constituents, Mathew said he had heard 'eloquent and challenging viewpoints' from all sides, and he changed his stance over the bill following the recent weeks of debates. 'I share the concerns of many constituents that individuals facing terminal illness will take the decision based on concerns that they have become a burden upon their family,' he wrote. 'This is a serious concern for me; I worry that in someone's final days, this question will loom heavy when it does not need to.' This was all the more the case, Mathew said, when the palliative care system as it stood was so bad. Speaking ahead of the first day of debates about amendments, Leadbeater warned that if MPs voted down her bill at third reading then 'the conversation ends' on the subject, with dreadful consequences for many terminally ill people. She dismissed the idea that if the bill was defeated, the subject could return as government legislation or a royal commission, noting the long gap between the last time assisted dying was debated in the Commons, in 2015, and her efforts. 'What worries me is, if the bill doesn't pass, the conversation ends, and that would be really dreadful for so many people, for so many reasons,' she said.
BBC News
28-05-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Devon heart attack care trial pulled to review feedback
A proposal to trial changes to heart attack services in part of Devon has been withdrawn to allow time to consider feedback on the Devon's Integrated Care Board (ICB) was due to discuss a "test and learn" process for out-of-hours services in Torbay and Exeter during a meeting on part of the move, the trial could have seen patients driven to hospital in Exeter rather than Torbay to help cut costs and release resources to cut treatment following concerns raised locally, NHS Devon said it had decided to delay the proposal so comments can be reviewed before an updated plan is presented to the ICB in July. 'Deeply concerning' A report which formed part of the trial from NHS Devon said it believed consolidating centres might "provide increased value with minimal and clinically acceptable impact on safety and quality".However, the idea was criticised by Liberal Democrat MPs Steve Darling and Caroline Voaden who both raised the issue in the House of MP Darling said the proposal put patients at risk of not receiving treatment fast enough while South Devon MP Voaden said it would put people in critical Torbay Conservative MP Kevin Foster also raised concerns with the trial, which he described as "deeply concerning". In a statement on Wednesday, NHS Devon said its chair and chief executive had decided to pull the plans from the board meeting off the back of "wide-ranging" comments from politicians, health professionals and patients."This will enable the feedback to be fully considered and allow time to reflect on whether such a process will lead to clarity on future commissioning arrangements to ensure the long-term sustainability of this important service," NHS Devon added its key priority was to commission "safe, reliable and sustainable" services for the future of healthcare in the Devon said: "We will engage with our clinicians and partners to design this and find the most effective solutions for the whole population of Devon."An updated proposal will be presented to the board in July, taking into account the valuable feedback received."
