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Written Question
DNACPR Decisions
Tuesday 22nd February 2022

Asked by: Lord Austin of Dudley (Non-affiliated - Life peer)

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Kamall on 31 January (HL5607), whether they collect comparative data showing the proportion of do not resuscitate notices that have been issued when a patient and their family have said they do not agree to such an order in comparison to the number of patients the hospital has admitted

Answered by Lord Kamall

The Department established a Ministerial Oversight Group to ensure consistent adherence to guidance on how Do Not Attempt Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (DNACPRs) are used. The National Health Service provides online guidance and information for the public on DNACPR decisions, including information on asking for a second opinion or a review and if there are concerns about, or disagreement with, a DNACPR form in a patient’s or family member’s medical records. The Care Quality Commission continues to ensure providers understand their responsibilities if allegations of inappropriate application of DNACPR decisions are brought to their attention, as well as raising cases with the relevant bodies including the General Medical Council as appropriate.

The Department does not record how many DNACPR decisions are in place or whether there is agreement with those decisions, nor do we collect comparative data showing the proportion of DNACPR decisions in comparison to hospital admissions.


Written Question
DNACPR Decisions
Tuesday 22nd February 2022

Asked by: Lord Austin of Dudley (Non-affiliated - Life peer)

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Kamall on 31 January (HL5607), how many do not resuscitate notices proposed by clinicians have not been subsequently imposed as a result of consulting a patient or their family who said they do not agree to such an order.

Answered by Lord Kamall

The Department established a Ministerial Oversight Group to ensure consistent adherence to guidance on how Do Not Attempt Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (DNACPRs) are used. The National Health Service provides online guidance and information for the public on DNACPR decisions, including information on asking for a second opinion or a review and if there are concerns about, or disagreement with, a DNACPR form in a patient’s or family member’s medical records. The Care Quality Commission continues to ensure providers understand their responsibilities if allegations of inappropriate application of DNACPR decisions are brought to their attention, as well as raising cases with the relevant bodies including the General Medical Council as appropriate.

The Department does not record how many DNACPR decisions are in place or whether there is agreement with those decisions, nor do we collect comparative data showing the proportion of DNACPR decisions in comparison to hospital admissions.


Written Question
DNACPR Decisions
Tuesday 22nd February 2022

Asked by: Lord Austin of Dudley (Non-affiliated - Life peer)

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Kamall on 31 January (HL5607), how many do not resuscitate notices have been issued at each hospital when a patient and their family have said they do not agree to such an order

Answered by Lord Kamall

The Department established a Ministerial Oversight Group to ensure consistent adherence to guidance on how Do Not Attempt Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (DNACPRs) are used. The National Health Service provides online guidance and information for the public on DNACPR decisions, including information on asking for a second opinion or a review and if there are concerns about, or disagreement with, a DNACPR form in a patient’s or family member’s medical records. The Care Quality Commission continues to ensure providers understand their responsibilities if allegations of inappropriate application of DNACPR decisions are brought to their attention, as well as raising cases with the relevant bodies including the General Medical Council as appropriate.

The Department does not record how many DNACPR decisions are in place or whether there is agreement with those decisions, nor do we collect comparative data showing the proportion of DNACPR decisions in comparison to hospital admissions.


Written Question
DNACPR Decisions
Tuesday 22nd February 2022

Asked by: Lord Austin of Dudley (Non-affiliated - Life peer)

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Kamall on 31 January (HL5607), how many do not resuscitate notices have been issued when a patient and their family have said they do not agree to such an order.

Answered by Lord Kamall

The Department established a Ministerial Oversight Group to ensure consistent adherence to guidance on how Do Not Attempt Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (DNACPRs) are used. The National Health Service provides online guidance and information for the public on DNACPR decisions, including information on asking for a second opinion or a review and if there are concerns about, or disagreement with, a DNACPR form in a patient’s or family member’s medical records. The Care Quality Commission continues to ensure providers understand their responsibilities if allegations of inappropriate application of DNACPR decisions are brought to their attention, as well as raising cases with the relevant bodies including the General Medical Council as appropriate.

The Department does not record how many DNACPR decisions are in place or whether there is agreement with those decisions, nor do we collect comparative data showing the proportion of DNACPR decisions in comparison to hospital admissions.


Written Question
DNACPR Decisions
Tuesday 22nd February 2022

Asked by: Lord Austin of Dudley (Non-affiliated - Life peer)

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Kamall on 31 January (HL5607), what measures are in place to ensure patients and their families are informed of their right to ask for a second opinion and a review of decisions to impose do not resuscitate notices with which they do not agree

Answered by Lord Kamall

The Department established a Ministerial Oversight Group to ensure consistent adherence to guidance on how Do Not Attempt Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (DNACPRs) are used. The National Health Service provides online guidance and information for the public on DNACPR decisions, including information on asking for a second opinion or a review and if there are concerns about, or disagreement with, a DNACPR form in a patient’s or family member’s medical records. The Care Quality Commission continues to ensure providers understand their responsibilities if allegations of inappropriate application of DNACPR decisions are brought to their attention, as well as raising cases with the relevant bodies including the General Medical Council as appropriate.

The Department does not record how many DNACPR decisions are in place or whether there is agreement with those decisions, nor do we collect comparative data showing the proportion of DNACPR decisions in comparison to hospital admissions.


Written Question
DNACPR Decisions
Tuesday 22nd February 2022

Asked by: Lord Austin of Dudley (Non-affiliated - Life peer)

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Kamall on 31 January (HL5607), how they ensure that there is a consistent approach at different hospitals and by different clinicians in cases where do not resuscitate notices are issued when a patient and their family have said they do not agree to such an order.

Answered by Lord Kamall

The Department established a Ministerial Oversight Group to ensure consistent adherence to guidance on how Do Not Attempt Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (DNACPRs) are used. The National Health Service provides online guidance and information for the public on DNACPR decisions, including information on asking for a second opinion or a review and if there are concerns about, or disagreement with, a DNACPR form in a patient’s or family member’s medical records. The Care Quality Commission continues to ensure providers understand their responsibilities if allegations of inappropriate application of DNACPR decisions are brought to their attention, as well as raising cases with the relevant bodies including the General Medical Council as appropriate.

The Department does not record how many DNACPR decisions are in place or whether there is agreement with those decisions, nor do we collect comparative data showing the proportion of DNACPR decisions in comparison to hospital admissions.


Written Question
DNACPR Decisions
Monday 31st January 2022

Asked by: Lord Austin of Dudley (Non-affiliated - Life peer)

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether (1) doctors, or (2) other hospital staff, are able to impose a do not resuscitate notice when a patient and their family have said they do not agree to such an order.

Answered by Lord Kamall

A patient or their family or advocate should be consulted before a Do Not Attempt Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (DNACPR) form is completed for them. The patient’s wishes and preferences should be considered but a doctor or senior responsible clinician does not need the consent of the patient or their family to complete a form if they think CPR is not in the patient’s best interests. CPR is a medical treatment and clinicians do not have to provide a treatment if they think it will be unsuccessful or would cause greater harm, even if the patient or their family do not agree with the decision.

The patient and their family should always be given the chance to understand what a DNACPR is, how the decision is made and why the doctor or medical staff in charge think CPR would not be a suitable treatment in their circumstance. If the patient, their family or advocate disagree with a DNACPR decision they can ask for a second opinion and a review.


Written Question
DNACPR Decisions
Monday 31st January 2022

Asked by: Lord Austin of Dudley (Non-affiliated - Life peer)

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether (1) doctors, or (2) other medical staff, are able to impose a do not resuscitate notice without the consent of (1) a patient, or (2) the patient's family.

Answered by Lord Kamall

A patient or their family or advocate should be consulted before a Do Not Attempt Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (DNACPR) form is completed for them. The patient’s wishes and preferences should be considered but a doctor or senior responsible clinician does not need the consent of the patient or their family to complete a form if they think CPR is not in the patient’s best interests. CPR is a medical treatment and clinicians do not have to provide a treatment if they think it will be unsuccessful or would cause greater harm, even if the patient or their family do not agree with the decision.

The patient and their family should always be given the chance to understand what a DNACPR is, how the decision is made and why the doctor or medical staff in charge think CPR would not be a suitable treatment in their circumstance. If the patient, their family or advocate disagree with a DNACPR decision they can ask for a second opinion and a review.


Written Question
Phenylketonuria: Sapropterin
Wednesday 17th March 2021

Asked by: Lord Austin of Dudley (Non-affiliated - Life peer)

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of NICE draft guidance on using Sapropterin for treating phenylketonuria, published on 25 February; and what plans they have to meet with the authors of that guidance.

Answered by Lord Bethell

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence is an independent body and is responsible for assessing new medicines and treatments in accordance with its existing methods and processes. It would not be appropriate for Ministers to intervene in the development of their recommendations.


Written Question
Twitter: Harassment
Monday 21st October 2019

Asked by: Lord Austin of Dudley (Non-affiliated - Life peer)

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make an assessment of the effect of anonymous (a) abuse and (b) threats made on Twitter on teenage mental health.

Answered by Nadine Dorries

We have no current plans to make such formal assessment.