Biography
Lewis Atkinson has raised health and social care issues extensively through 40 debate speeches, with a particular focus on NHS mental health waiting lists, which he has highlighted multiple times as requiring clear waiting time standards and greater prioritisation. He has also addressed rare disease screening, particularly spinal muscular atrophy newborn screening, disability benefits reform linked to service accessibility, and follow-up care waiting lists. His engagement has encompassed broader parliamentary debates on assisted dying and palliative care, reflecting his work with the Petitions Committee.
Generated from their own Hansard record, below
“…International evidence makes the link between extreme heat and poorer mental health across the population increasingly clear. The Office for National Statistics estimates that one in every 32 suicides in recent years in the UK has been attributable to extreme heat.”
Record by topic
- Palliative & end of life care9th of 56896.0
- Assisted dying9th of 37193.0
- Mental health36th of 88084.0
- Cancer20th of 62254.0
- NHS waiting lists55th of 53418.0
- NHS & care workforce/staffing17th of 30215.0
- Rare diseases12th of 20215.0
- Public health & prevention125th of 68812.0
- Diabetes33rd of 1906.0
- Dementia108th of 2513.0
- Adult social care & reform186th of 3763.0
- Health inequalities135th of 2883.0
- Dentistry access100th of 1943.0
- GP access93rd of 2413.0
What they’ve said
“…As she reviews the funding formula, will she ensure that officers have ongoing access to wellbeing and mental health support to help them respond to communities as they have been?…”
Policing in Cleveland · 2026-09-01 · Read on Hansard ↗
“…PIP has likely increased due to difficulty accessing vital services and support, such as community mental health services” and Access to Work. Does he agree that the reform of disability benefits in the future must go hand in hand with improving those support services, such as by widening Access to Work and, in particu…”
Timms Review: Interim Report · 2026-07-09 · Read on Hansard ↗
“Q9. Too many people are waiting too long for NHS mental health care, with over 6,000 adults waiting up to two years. In Sunderland, grassroots organisations like the wonderful Betsy Jenny café are providing support to our community, but they cannot substitute for timely, NHS-funded care.”
Engagements · 2026-07-01 · Read on Hansard ↗
“…Ukraine managed to begin newborn screening for SMA in the midst of a full-scale Russian invasion. Given that, the petitioners simply ask, “Why is this screening not in place universally here too?”…”
Spinal Muscular Atrophy: Newborn Screening Test · 2026-06-22 · Read on Hansard ↗
“I beg to move, That this House has considered e-petition 755980 relating to spinal muscular atrophy and the newborn screening test. It is a pleasure to serve with you in the Chair, Mr Mundell, and a privilege to open the debate as a member of the Petitions Committee. I want to begin with two little girls.”
Spinal Muscular Atrophy: Newborn Screening Test · 2026-06-22 · Read on Hansard ↗
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