Asked by: Baroness Morgan of Huyton (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government what consideration they have given to implementing the recommendation of the Children's Commissioner to integrate children's health and education data with a unique ID.
Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Department of Health and Social Care is working with the Department for Education on plans to implement a single unique identifier for children, and to improve data sharing across services to support children and families, as set out in the recent policy document Keeping children safe, helping families thrive. A copy of this document is attached.
Asked by: Baroness Morgan of Huyton (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to resolve the differences between the COVID-19 self isolation rules applying to domestic and international students who are fully vaccinated with a vaccine approved for use in this country in order to avoid (1) reputational damage to English universities and the UK Government, and (2) negatively affecting the implementation of 'household' systems in universities to manage outbreaks; and what guidance they are providing to universities to support incoming students with the self isolation rules.
Answered by Lord Kamall - Shadow Minister (Health and Social Care)
Those who are fully vaccinated with a vaccine approved for use in and administered in the United Kingdom are not required to self-isolate if they are a contact of a positive case. Those under the age of 18 years and six months old are also not required to self-isolate if they are a contact of a positive case, which also applies to international students. Adults who have not been fully vaccinated in the UK, are legally required to self-isolate if they are the contact of a positive case. This continues to be kept under review, taking into account clinical judgement on risk and the prevalence of COVID within the UK and overseas.
The Government has published Contingency framework: education and childcare settings which provides detailed procedures and the principles for managing local outbreaks of COVID-19 in all education settings, including guidance to universities to support all incoming students with self-isolation rules. A copy of this guidance is attached.
Asked by: Baroness Morgan of Huyton (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the differences between the COVID-19 self isolation rules applying to domestic and international students who are fully vaccinated with a vaccine approved for use in this country; and what is the scientific or clinical basis for these differences.
Answered by Lord Kamall - Shadow Minister (Health and Social Care)
No such assessment has been made as domestic and international students are treated in the same way as any other individual. All those testing positive must self-isolate, regardless of vaccination status or where they were vaccinated. Those fully vaccinated in the United Kingdom are exempt from self-isolation if identified as a close contact. Those vaccinated abroad, are required to self-isolate if identified as a close contact.
Asked by: Baroness Morgan of Huyton (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care has to intervene in the ongoing negotiations between Vertex pharmaceuticals, NICE and NHS England on the price of the cystic fibrosis drug Orkambi to ensure that it is made available to patients as soon as possible.
Answered by Baroness Blackwood of North Oxford
NHS England and NHS Improvement is leading the negotiations with Vertex and has made a revised and improved offer to Vertex that would provide immediate funding for Orkambi and Symkevi in advance of a positive assessment by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), in addition to expanded access to Kalydeco which is already funded by the National Health Service for certain patients. No date has been agreed for a further meeting as of yet, however negotiations are ongoing between Vertex, NHS England and NHS Improvement and NICE.
Cystic fibrosis can have a devastating effect on the lives of those who suffer from it, and those close to them, and the Government wants to see patients access innovative treatments at a cost-effective price for the NHS. The Government fully supports NICE and NHS England in seeking to ensure access for patients to effective and innovative medicines at a price that represents value to the NHS, and it is not for Ministers to intervene in this process. The Department’s approach remains to strongly urge Vertex to accept NHS England and NHS Improvement’s generous offer, but in the absence of a deal, we have asked NHS England and NHS Improvement to continue to explore all options to ensure patients can access treatments as soon as possible.
Asked by: Baroness Morgan of Huyton (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of the lack of availability of Orkambi on patients with cystic fibrosis; and what plans they have to discuss this issue with (1) patients, and (2) other interested parties.
Answered by Baroness Blackwood of North Oxford
NHS England and NHS Improvement is leading the negotiations with Vertex and has made a revised and improved offer to Vertex that would provide immediate funding for Orkambi and Symkevi in advance of a positive assessment by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), in addition to expanded access to Kalydeco which is already funded by the National Health Service for certain patients. No date has been agreed for a further meeting as of yet, however negotiations are ongoing between Vertex, NHS England and NHS Improvement and NICE.
Cystic fibrosis can have a devastating effect on the lives of those who suffer from it, and those close to them, and the Government wants to see patients access innovative treatments at a cost-effective price for the NHS. The Government fully supports NICE and NHS England in seeking to ensure access for patients to effective and innovative medicines at a price that represents value to the NHS, and it is not for Ministers to intervene in this process. The Department’s approach remains to strongly urge Vertex to accept NHS England and NHS Improvement’s generous offer, but in the absence of a deal, we have asked NHS England and NHS Improvement to continue to explore all options to ensure patients can access treatments as soon as possible.
Asked by: Baroness Morgan of Huyton (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether a date has been set for Vertex pharmaceuticals, NICE and NHS England to convene a further meeting to discuss how the cystic fibrosis drug Orkambi can be made available to patients.
Answered by Baroness Blackwood of North Oxford
NHS England and NHS Improvement is leading the negotiations with Vertex and has made a revised and improved offer to Vertex that would provide immediate funding for Orkambi and Symkevi in advance of a positive assessment by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), in addition to expanded access to Kalydeco which is already funded by the National Health Service for certain patients. No date has been agreed for a further meeting as of yet, however negotiations are ongoing between Vertex, NHS England and NHS Improvement and NICE.
Cystic fibrosis can have a devastating effect on the lives of those who suffer from it, and those close to them, and the Government wants to see patients access innovative treatments at a cost-effective price for the NHS. The Government fully supports NICE and NHS England in seeking to ensure access for patients to effective and innovative medicines at a price that represents value to the NHS, and it is not for Ministers to intervene in this process. The Department’s approach remains to strongly urge Vertex to accept NHS England and NHS Improvement’s generous offer, but in the absence of a deal, we have asked NHS England and NHS Improvement to continue to explore all options to ensure patients can access treatments as soon as possible.