Member

The noble Baroness, Lady May, cited a number of statistics and I appreciated those. We have explored the proposals from the NPCC. I noted the significant concerns articulated so well by the noble Baroness, Lady Watkins, but we have heard considerable concerns expressed also by health and care professionals and therefore we need to be minded in that respect. There are also concerns about the potential impact on staffing in an already stretched workforce, which has been discussed already in this Chamber. Any consideration of changes in these powers would need extensive engagement with other professional bodies, patients and the public, as well as an assessment of impact and costs.