VerbatimParliament, as it happens
Karin Smyth

Karin Smyth

Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

LabourMP for Bristol South

What Karin said recently

Debate

General Medical Council

“I thank the right honourable Member for North East Cambridgeshire (Steve Barclay) for raising this extremely serious matter very powerfully on behalf of his constituent Elizabeth, following the tragic loss of her son Jack. Our thoughts are …”

Legislation

Health Bill

“I was going to say that sometimes it is the hope that kills you, but instead I will say that it is a pleasure to close the debate on behalf of this Government. Let me begin by commending the many fantastic speeches that we have heard this e…”

Written statement

Senior NHS Workforce

“I am pleased to announce that we are publishing our response to the recommendations made by the independent Senior Salaries Review Body (SSRB) for the 2026/27 financial year.…”

Debate

Allied Health Professionals

“I add my thanks to my honourable Friend the Member for Thurrock (Jen Craft) for introducing the debate and to my honourable Friend the Member for Dudley (Sonia Kumar) for bringing it forward and setting out her role as a physiotherapist. I …”

Debate

Palliative Care

“I thank my honourable Friend the Member for York Central (Rachael Maskell) for securing this important debate. We entered Parliament at the same time; we were immediately on opposite sides of the assisted dying debate, and we remain so. Alt…”

Questions

Oral questions: Health and Social Care

“It should not be so difficult for women to get a diagnosis for a condition that every single one of us goes through. That is why this Government took a landmark step forward by including menopause in the NHS health checks for the first time…”

Questions

Oral questions: Women and Equalities

“We are committed through our 10-year health plan to prioritising women’s health as we build an NHS that is fit for the future. That includes renewing the women’s health strategy, investing in research that addresses health inequalities and …”

Legislation

Medical Training (Prioritisation) Bill

“In the interests of time, I will address the amendments at the end of proceedings, when I have heard from them—I think we have the gist of most of those issues. I restate our firm commitment to the Bill and all clauses. Let me turn to claus…”

Legislation

Medical Training (Prioritisation) Bill

“It is a pleasure to close on behalf of the Government. I welcome the support of the Opposition spokespeople and the Chair of the Health and Social Care Committee, the honourable Member for Oxford West and Abingdon (Layla Moran). I put on re…”

Debate

NHS Urgent Care: Staffordshire

“It is a pleasure to respond to this debate, and I am grateful to my honourable Friend the Member for Cannock Chase (Josh Newbury) for securing it and raising in a constructive way the important matter of urgent care in Staffordshire. It is …”

Questions

Oral questions: Health and Social Care

“The PATHWAYS trial has undergone a thorough independent review and has received all the regulatory and ethical approvals. The sponsors of the study, King’s College London and South London and Maudsley NHS foundation trust, are working to en…”

Read Karin’s full contribution →11× at the despatch box
Written statement

NHS Pensions: McCloud Implementation

“On 1 July 2025, I issued a written statement on the implementation of the McCloud remedy for affected NHS Pension Scheme members. I informed the House that a number of deadlines by when the NHS Business Services Authority was required to pr…”

Questions

Oral questions: Health and Social Care

“Thanks to our investment and modernisation of the NHS, the Government are putting cancer services on the road to recovery by opening up community diagnostic centres on evenings and weekends, building new surgical hubs and investing in new r…”

Read Karin’s full contribution →16× at the despatch box

Never miss what Karin says

Create a free account to read the full debates — and get an email the moment Karin next speaks in the House.

Follow Karin Smyth →Read on Verbatim