Asked by: Earl of Shrewsbury (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Markham on 8 January (HL1364), how many GPs adopted those medical record markers since (1) the guidance on firearm digital markers was produced, and (2) the memorandum of understanding was signed.
Answered by Lord Markham - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The digital firearms marker was rolled out to all general practices in England in May 2023 and NHS England is exploring the most effective way to report on its use. Information is currently not available in a format to be able to provide this detail. The memorandum of understanding was signed in 2019, and therefore predates the digital marker and we do not hold data from that time.
Asked by: Earl of Shrewsbury (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they will publish data on how many doctors have adopted the software for markers on the medical notes of firearm certificate holders.
Answered by Lord Markham - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
A digital version of the firearms marker has been rolled out to all general practices in England, and this was completed in May 2023.
When the police inform the general practitioner (GP) that the patient has been granted a firearms licence, the GP adds the appropriate clinical code to a patient’s medical record. The marker is used throughout the five-year validity of the firearm certificate and automatically highlights to the GP when patients recorded as firearms certificate holders or applicants are diagnosed with relevant medical conditions, such as depression or dementia.
The British Medical Association has produced guidance for GPs about firearm digital marker use and signed a memorandum of understanding in 2019 with the National Police Chiefs Council and the Home Office which encouraged GPs to place a firearms flag on patient records when requested.
Asked by: Earl of Shrewsbury (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care has had with the Home Office concerning the rollout of markers on the medical notes of firearm certificate holders.
Answered by Lord Markham - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
Following the publication of new Home Office statutory guidance for chief officers of police on firearms licensing, which came into effect on 1 November 2021, the Department and NHS England, formerly NHS Digital, worked with the Home Office, the British Medical Association, the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) and other stakeholders to design and roll out the new digital firearms marker.
Asked by: Earl of Shrewsbury (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Kamall on 12 October (HL2877), what information they have received from the 15 companies who have submitted a proposal to the Antivirals Taskforce.
Answered by Lord Kamall
The companies who have contacted the Antivirals Taskforce have provided a wide range of information to inform the Taskforce on the antiviral/s that they are developing. This includes, but is not limited to, detail on the antiviral’s mechanism of action, available evidence from completed studies, target patient populations and route of administration. This information helps the Antivirals Taskforce to further expand understanding on the most promising antivirals being developed worldwide.
Asked by: Earl of Shrewsbury (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many applications for product assessment the Antivirals Taskforce has received.
Answered by Lord Kamall
The Antivirals Taskforce proactively develops a pipeline of priority antiviral candidates to be considered for research and procurement in the United Kingdom. The Taskforce monitors antiviral candidates at all stage of development, working collaboratively with stakeholders to identify the most promising products. In addition, the Antivirals Taskforce is contacted by a wide range of companies, academics and patients to discuss the potential suitability of antiviral products. To date, 15 companies have submitted a proposal to the Taskforce to provide more information on their product.
Asked by: Earl of Shrewsbury (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps the Antivirals Taskforce has taken to identify suitable treatments for patients who have been exposed to COVID-19.
Answered by Lord Kamall
The Antivirals Taskforce proactively develops a pipeline of priority antiviral candidates to be considered for research and procurement in the United Kingdom. The Taskforce monitors antiviral candidates at all stage of development, working collaboratively with stakeholders to identify the most promising products. In addition, the Antivirals Taskforce is contacted by a wide range of companies, academics and patients to discuss the potential suitability of antiviral products. To date, 15 companies have submitted a proposal to the Taskforce to provide more information on their product.
Asked by: Earl of Shrewsbury (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the article in the Mail Online, published on 26 June which stated that "guidance on the use of non-alcohol sanitisers was 'confusing", whether they now intend to review that guidance; and which Task Force it was that was reported to have made that comment.
Answered by Lord Bethell
In response to the above statement made by the Taskforce on Innovation, Growth and Regulatory Reform, there is adequate guidance on the use of non-alcohol sanitisers from the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, including on flexible approaches to regulation that they are taking during the COVID-19 outbreak. There are no plans to review this guidance at the current time.
Asked by: Earl of Shrewsbury (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what are the (1) remit, and (2) powers, of the COVID-19 Antivirals Taskforce; to whom will the Chair of the Taskforce report; and by what date.
Answered by Lord Bethell
The Antivirals Taskforce was launched on 20 April 2021 with the aim of having two effective oral antiviral treatments which are deployable by autumn/winter 2021 to be taken in an outpatient setting.
The role of the Chair is to oversee the work of the Taskforce, ensuring it meets its core objectives and to work with a range of stakeholders to meet this ambitious timescale. The Chair also leads and is supported by the Antivirals Expert Advisory Group, which provides advice and recommendations to the Chair on various activities within the Taskforce. This is not a statutory appointment and there is no power to confer functions directly on the Chair. The Chair reports to the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care.
Asked by: Earl of Shrewsbury (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what progress they have made with the establishment of their COVID-19 Antivirals Taskforce, announced on 20 April.
Answered by Lord Bethell
On 28 May 2021 it was announced that Eddie Gray will be the Chair of the Antivirals Taskforce. Significant work has been conducted in recent months to identify suitable antiviral candidates and engage with clinical and industry experts.
Asked by: Earl of Shrewsbury (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the roll-out of COVID-19 home testing kits, whether their preferred testing method is (1) a lateral flow test, or (2) a saliva-based test; and what are the reasons for any such preference.
Answered by Lord Bethell
Our preferred method of home testing is swab-based lateral flow devices (LFDs) for asymptomatic people and swab-based polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests for symptomatic people. LFDs are used as they are practical, easy to interpret and can be used in a wide range of settings. PCR tests are used for those with symptoms as they are more sensitive to low levels of virus.