10 September 2026: Question for short debate on the use of patient data for research put forward by Lord Patel.

The National Health Service is one of Britain’s greatest institutions. After 30 years as a front-line NHS consultant in women’s health, I believe it can be more than a healthcare provider.

4 September 2026: Debate on the Report from the Economic Affairs Committee Preparing for an Ageing Society.

Having written and campaigned on declining birth rates since 2009, I will focus my remarks on the fertility aspect of this challenge. Last year, we had the lowest birth rate since 1977.

3 September 2026: Labour debate on the Government’s political priorities and legislative agenda put forward by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath.

What is striking about this Government’s priorities is their willingness to confront Britain’s hardest problems head-on, placing the country first. Health now needs a similar approach.

3 September 2026: Debate on the action needed on skills, vocational training, and further and higher education to improve outcomes for those from deprived and disadvantaged communities and strengthen regional growth put forward by Baroness Morgan of Huyton.

Skills, training, employment, health and regional growth are deeply interconnected. If we want to reduce regional inequalities, we must create opportunities for young people where they live.

16 July 2026: Debate on the Government’s record on education, employment and welfare since July 2024 put forward by Baroness Lady Evans of Bowes Park.

Education, employment and welfare are interconnected. When education fails, employment suffers. When secure work is out of reach, welfare dependency rises.

9 July 2026: A debate on the impact of cuts to Official Development Assistance on international development outcomes for women and girls put forward by Baroness Sugg.

In my role as a former vice-chair and trustee of the British Red Cross, I was closely involved in programmes supporting mothers and babies affected by conflict.

9 July 2026: A debate on the upcoming Modern Service Framework for Dementia and Frailty put forward by Lord Weir of Ballyholme.

Dementia is not gender neutral. We may not have a cure at the moment, but we can cure the inequity in access to research, clinical trials, early diagnosis and effective treatments.

18 June 2026: A debate taking note of the Government’s actions to tackle child poverty put forward by Baroness Lister of Burtersett.

I want to focus my remarks on what I know best: health. Child poverty is not simply a social issue; it is a public health crisis. Unless we address it, we will continue to pay the price for decades to come in poorer health, greater inequality and rising demands on our NHS.

15 June 2026: A short debate on the number of diagnoses of mental health conditions in the past 5 years put forward by Baroness Maclean of Redditch.

While mental ill-health is rising across our society, the deterioration has been particularly marked among girls and women. I do not for one moment minimise the crisis in male mental health.