The Medical Innovation Bill I introduced last year in the House of Commons is designed to make it easier for doctors who have the fully-informed consent of their patient to innovate when treating patients with cancer and other similar diseases. A multi-disciplinary panel will also be required to give consent to ensure that any innovation that goes ahead is responsible innovation and not reckless experimentation. Lord Maurice Saatchi has promulgated this Bill in the House of Lords.
The good news before Christmas was that, in a rare move for a Private Members’ Bill, the Government has thrown its support behind this Bill. A Public Consultation by the Department of Health is soon to commence and anyone with an interest is encouraged to take part.Â
I was therefore very pleased last Friday to invite Lord Maurice Saatchi to Northampton to come and visit the Cynthia Spencer Hospice with me.
We met and spoke to doctors, nurses, volunteers and patients at the Hospice.
The Cynthia Spencer Hospice really is an exceptional place, with staff who are deeply devoted and committed to their work. I know from personal experience as well as my work as the MP for Northampton North that the Hospice provides a truly gold standard of care of which we can all be proud.
To watch a video about the visit, courtesy of the Herald and Post, you can click here.