Asked by: Baroness Morris of Yardley (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps are being taken by NHS England to ensure that supplies of wigs contracted by the NHS offer a full range, including those appropriate for people of colour.
Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
During the process to renew what is now the current framework agreement, Wigs and Accessories, NHS Supply Chain conducted extensive engagement nationally to fully understand the provision and supply of wigs, and the requirements from both a National Health Service and supplier perspective. A significant challenge was that wig provision is predominantly conducted by the health and beauty industry, who were not familiar with public procurement law and healthcare framework tendering. NHS Supply Chain’s clinical and commercial teams worked closely with these industry groups to support their access to the wigs framework, to provide a wider range of products for NHS providers to access.
The current NHS Supply Chain framework will expire toward the end of 2025 and NHS Supply Chain’s teams are engaging with key stakeholders across the NHS to determine the future approach in this product area, with appropriateness for the wearer as one of the fundamental focus areas of consideration.
Asked by: Baroness Morris of Yardley (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of (1) the Voluntary Scheme for Branded Medicines Pricing and Access, and (2) the alternative statutory scheme, on the cost of homecare medicines services to the NHS.
Answered by Lord Markham - Shadow Minister (Science, Innovation and Technology)
The Voluntary Scheme for Branded Medicines Pricing and Access and the alternative statutory scheme apply to medicines cost and not to service delivery.