Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that medical-grade probe covers are used in ultrasound procedures instead of non-medical materials, such as condoms.

Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is the regulator of medical devices in the United Kingdom. It works to make sure that medicines and healthcare products available in the UK are safe and effective. We would expect the use of probes that are medical devices to be within their intended purpose as defined by their manufacturer. Use of a medical device outside of its intended purpose can be done at the discretion of a healthcare professional.

The MHRA does not have a role in regulating healthcare practitioners in clinical settings. The MHRA has issued guidance on the off-label use of medical devices, which sets out that an individual should use medical devices as described by the manufacturer in the instructions. If you use the device in any other way, it’s considered ‘off-label’ use.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that known allergens and perfumes present in condoms are labelled on condom packaging.

Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is continuing its work to strengthen the regulation of medical devices in the United Kingdom and ensure medical devices are safe and effective. A condom is a medical device, and medical devices placed on the UK market are subject to rules requiring labels and instructions for use to contain precautions related to certain materials in the device that could result in sensitisation or an allergic reaction.

The MHRA undertakes a range of compliance and enforcement activities to ensure medical devices being placed on the UK market meet relevant regulation requirements. Once a medical device is on the market, the MHRA continuously monitors their safety, including via reports of suspected adverse events associated with medical devices received through the Yellow Card scheme. Should any new safety concerns be identified, we will take necessary regulatory action to minimise these and ensure the benefits of use continue to outweigh the risks.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have, if any, to update public health guidance for travellers to the United States of America, particularly in regard to measles, tuberculosis and flu viruses.

Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) Travel Advice provides information to British nationals travelling overseas, including any health risks. Country Travel Advice pages link to the National Travel Health Network and Centre (NaTHNaC)'s Travel Health Pro website, which offers comprehensive health advice and country-specific advice to travellers on a full range of health issues, including measles, tuberculosis and flu viruses where appropriate. NaTHNaC is commissioned by the UK Health Security Agency to provide travel health advice to the British public. Travel Advice pages are kept under regular review.

Travel Health Pro website: https://travelhealthpro.org.uk/countries

Found: After Clause 2 BARONESS BENNETT OF MANOR CASTLE BARONESS FREEMAN OF STEVENTON BARONESS SMITH OF LLANFAES