House of Commons
20 October 2026
Contents updated on 20 Oct 2026
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Actual start House of Commons
Follow its sittings34:16 - 34:59
Speaker 1
Order. Before we begin, I know the thoughts of the House today will be with Helen Haines, the Member of Parliament for Indi in the Australian House of Representatives, who has critically been injured following an incident outside her electoral office. The safety and security of elected officials is crucial and must remain a focus for us all.
My thoughts are with Helen, her family, and our Australian colleagues and friends. On behalf of the House, I have written to the Speaker of the Australian House of Representatives, Speaker Milton Dick, to express our sympathies. Right, order. Let us come to questions. Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Elsie Blundell.
34:59 - 35:01
Speaker 2
Question number one, Mr. Speaker.
35:01 - 35:02
Minister.
35:02 - 35:26
Speaker 4
Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and can I absolutely endorse those comments on behalf of our colleagues. Mr. Speaker, I also know that the honourable member and many other colleagues are deeply concerned about the issues at the Northern Care Alliance, and as of June this year, the trust has been placed under the highest level of regional oversight and support from NHS England. It is imperative that rapid improvements are made, governance systems are strengthened, and every patient receives the standard of care that they deserve.
35:26 - 35:53
Speaker 3
Elsie Blundell. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
My constituents are very concerned about Northern Care Alliance hospitals. Across the trust, there have been 10 serious incidents which were found to be wholly preventable between 2025 and 2026, lengthy delays causing severe harm to patients and also industrial action. This has culminated in a sustained decline in performance in national rankings when it comes to patient safety. What options therefore are on the table if the trust does not show urgent signs of improvement?
35:53 - 36:24
Speaker 4
Well she quite rightly on behalf of her constituents highlights the number of issues that have led to this significant regulatory intervention and support. Formal action is available, further action is available to NHS England and the CQC if necessary. We want to make sure now the focus though is on supporting and challenging the trust to make the rapid and sustained improvements that are necessary on those key areas. And I know that her and her other colleagues will work closely with the trust. I always encourage MPs to work closely with their trust to make sure that that happens, but other measures will be available if necessary.
36:24 - 36:25
Rachel Maskell.
36:25 - 36:27
Speaker 5
Thank you, question two.
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