Biography
Steve Darling has engaged extensively on health and social care through 40 debate speeches, with particular focus on NHS capital investment in Torbay hospital, mental health funding, learning disability and autism provision, and adult social care challenges in his constituency. He has repeatedly raised concerns about funding cuts affecting Devon services, including the mental health partnership trust and integrated care board, whilst also championing initiatives such as defibrillators in police vehicles and improvements to Healthwatch accountability. His contributions reflect his role on the Work and Pensions Committee and his position as a councillor in Torbay, the south-west's most deprived local authority.
Generated from their own Hansard record, below
“Families across Torbay are struggling to receive adequate special educational needs and disabilities provision. I know that other MPs are able to engage meaningfully with their local authorities to support those families, but sadly, the leader of Conservative-led Torbay council has written to me saying that it will not…”
Record by topic
- Mental health105th of 88033.0
- Learning disability & autism159th of 89924.0
- Heart disease & stroke29th of 39812.0
- Maternity & neonatal68th of 43812.0
- Unpaid carers48th of 28312.0
- Cancer126th of 62212.0
- Adult social care & reform61st of 3769.0
- A&E & ambulance response55th of 2586.0
- GP access93rd of 2413.0
- Palliative & end of life care329th of 5683.0
- Public health & prevention417th of 6883.0
- Rare diseases80th of 2023.0
- Dentistry access100th of 1943.0
- Dementia108th of 2513.0
- NHS waiting lists323rd of 5343.0
What they’ve said
“The Secretary of State is quite right to highlight the link between mental health illness and street homelessness. Sadly, over the 30 years I have served the people of Torbay, I have seen it quadruple, and it feels to me that street homeless people are just the tip of the iceberg in relation to the homelessness we see…”
Building Homes and Renewing Communities · 2026-09-03 · Read on Hansard ↗
“…ver, really disappointed in the failure of my local council, Torbay council, to engage with me appropriately on special educational needs and disabilities issues. An MP should be there to champion his constituents, and I am now having to take this matter on to the ombudsman.”
Sir David Amess Summer Adjournment · 2026-07-16 · Read on Hansard ↗
“…Jay was unlucky in a number of ways. He was unlucky to have a cardiac arrest at the age of 18. He was extremely unlucky that the defibrillator that could have saved his life was only two minutes away, locked behind the gates of a school.”
Defibrillators in Police Vehicles · 2026-07-08 · Read on Hansard ↗
“…Going back to the serious issue of cardiac arrests, the medical evidence shows that for every minute without intervention, there is a 10% reduction in survival for individuals.…”
Defibrillators in Police Vehicles · 2026-07-08 · Read on Hansard ↗
“The abolition of Healthwatch will see the NHS and the Government effectively marking their own homework. Can the Minister please give some assurances about how the Government will ensure that the voice of those with learning disabilities, complex needs and dementia is heard?”
Healthwatch · 2026-06-09 · Read on Hansard ↗
Contributions reproduced under the Open Parliament Licence.