Lord Brennan

– in the House of Lords at 3:31 pm on 21 November 2007.

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Photo of Lord Darzi of Denham Lord Darzi of Denham Parliamentary Under-Secretary, Department of Health, Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health) 3:31, 21 November 2007

My Lords, I am pleased to report that I spoke with my noble friend Lord Brennan earlier today. He is recovering well and is expected to return home tomorrow. I thank the staff of the House for their quick response, and I am grateful, too, for the presence of the defibrillator in the House. It was the defibrillator and its immediate availability that saved his life, as my noble friend was in ventricular fibrillation and had no cardiac output. This incident shows how important it is to have defibrillators in public places. I am also grateful to the House for allowing me to maintain my clinical skills, although, in the future, I would prefer to keep my practice in hospital rather than in the Chamber.

Photo of Earl Howe Earl Howe Shadow Minister, Health

My Lords, as someone who was in the Chamber when the noble Lord, Lord Brennan, was taken ill, perhaps I may express the relief of these Benches that the noble Lord is recovering so well. We look forward to seeing him back in his place very soon. I not only reiterate the importance of defibrillators, but emphasise the importance of having somebody such as the noble Lord, Lord Darzi, who is medically qualified, to attend to the noble Lord, which I congratulate him on doing with such expedition. There is no doubt that we all owe him a great debt of gratitude.

Photo of Lord McNally Lord McNally Leader, House of Lords, Spokesperson in the Lords, Ministry of Justice, Liberal Democrat Leader in the House of Lords

My Lords, I was not in the Chamber, but my noble friend Lady Tonge was. As a doctor, she gave the noble Lord a clean bill of health on his performance. In reporting to our Peers today, she also paid special tribute to the staff of this House and their training, which much complemented the skill of the noble Lord.

Photo of Baroness Masham of Ilton Baroness Masham of Ilton Crossbench

My Lords, I have just spoken to the son of the noble Lord, Lord Brennan, who said that he will come out of hospital on Friday. I hope that it was not my speech that made him have his episode, because I had spoken just before him. I congratulate the skilful surgeon who immediately leapt to his feet and saved the noble Lord's life.