Asked by: Lord Cashman (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 implementing a targeted hygiene approach in the health sector and its applicability to wider societal settings during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Answered by Lord Bethell
No specific assessment has been made.
The Government will continue to monitor the impact of implementing non pharmaceutical interventions during the COVID-19 pandemic and consider any further actions required.
Asked by: Lord Cashman (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to their LGBT Action Plan 2018: Improving the lives of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender people, published on 3 July 2018, what progress they have made in reviewing the blood donation deferral period for men who have sex with men; who is leading that review; when they estimate that review to publish its recommendations; and what plans they have to ensure that the recommendations are relevant to all of the countries in the UK.
Answered by Lord Bethell
NHS Blood and Transplant are working collaboratively with lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender groups on the criteria for blood donation, through the FAIR (For Assessment of Individualised Risk) steering group. The FAIR group is using an evidence-based approach to explore if a more individualised blood donation risk assessment can be safely and practically introduced, while ensuring the safe supply of blood and blood products to patients.
The work of FAIR was slightly delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic, but the group has now submitted their report to the Advisory Committee on the Safety of Blood, Tissues and Organs (SaBTO) that advises United Kingdom ministers and health departments from the devolved administrations. The guidance provided by SaBTO is now being considered by Ministers and we will publish the conclusions in due course.
Asked by: Lord Cashman (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask Her Majesty's Government when they estimate that their proposals to abolish the Immigration Health Surcharge currently paid by care workers and NHS staff will be implemented.
Answered by Lord Bethell
Work by Department of Health and Social Care and Home Office officials is now underway on how to implement the change, and further details will be announced shortly.
Asked by: Lord Cashman (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what discussions they have had on access to Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP), and the Department of Health’s role in ensuring that NHS England provides continuity of access to PrEP to those currently using the drug.
Answered by Lord Prior of Brampton
The PROUD trial participants continue to receive pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) at the current time. We are working with Public Health England to ensure that the on-going needs of these individuals are taken into account in planning for the PrEP trial sites in which NHS England has agreed to invest up to £2 million.