Commons Sense

House of Commons · Adjournment Debate

Young Adults with Spinal Injuries

29 February 2024 · 1 other contributor

Opened by Helen Hayes Lab Dulwich and West Norwood

NHS

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Helen Hayes raised concerns about young adults with spinal injuries in the House of Commons. A government minister responded. Other MPs also contributed.

Key points

  • The speech highlighted the case of Tom Lazarides, a young student who died in 2023 after suffering spinal cord injuries in 2020.
  • Helen Hayes criticised the NHS discharge-to-assess policy and the lack of transparency in the continuing healthcare funding eligibility process.
  • Minister Nigel Evans offered condolences and pledged to investigate concerns about the discharge-to-assess policy and patient involvement in care decisions.

How the debate unfolded

MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said.

Opened the debate

Helen Hayes Lab Dulwich and West Norwood

The speech highlighted the tragic case of Tom Lazarides, a young student who suffered catastrophic spinal cord injuries in 2020. Helen Hayes detailed how Tom's family struggled to receive NHS Continuing Healthcare funding despite his clear medical needs, leading to delays and inadequate care that likely contributed to his untimely death in 2023. She criticised the discharge-to-assess policy and the lack of transparency and patient involvement in the eligibility assessment process.

Other contributors (1)
  • Helen Whately Con Fareham

    Expressed condolences to Tom's family and acknowledged the issues raised by Helen Hayes, promising to investigate further outside of the debate.

Government Response

Nigel Evans

Minister Nigel Evans offered his deepest condolences to Tom Lazarides’s family. He acknowledged the concerns about the discharge-to-assess policy and the eligibility assessment process for continuing healthcare funding, expressing willingness to investigate these issues further outside of the debate. The minister emphasised the importance of patient involvement in decisions regarding their care and pledged to ensure that individuals with complex needs receive the appropriate support.

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