Asked by: Lord Kempsell (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic following the publication by the Government of the United States on 25 January of the CIA’s analysis that the SARS-COV2 virus most likely originated in a laboratory.
Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
We recognise that there are questions that need to be answered about the origin and spread of COVID-19 to ensure that we can better prevent and prepare for future pandemics. The United Kingdom continues to support the World Health Organization in its ongoing expert study of the origins of COVID-19 and seeks a robust, transparent, and science-led review. This study remains open to testing all hypotheses that they deem reasonable. The Government has noted the Central Intelligence Agency’s assessment and will continually review our own assessment of the origins of the virus, considering any new intelligence. We will update the House of Commons and the House of Lords as and when there is anything new to say.
Asked by: Lord Kempsell (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government, what steps they are taking to ensure that all signs, notices and other displays of expired COVID-19 restrictions and guidance are removed from public places by the relevant authorities.
Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
There are no COVID-19 restrictions in the United Kingdom. Whilst the UK Health Security Agency supports local authorities through the provision of public health guidance, the placement and removal of signs in public places is a matter for individual local authorities.
Asked by: Lord Kempsell (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have an update on when Liberty Protection Safeguards will be introduced; and when they anticipate that these safeguards will replace the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards, as recommended by the Law Commission.
Answered by Lord Markham - Shadow Minister (Science, Innovation and Technology)
It has not proved possible to respond to this question in the time available before Dissolution. Ministers will correspond directly with the Member.
Asked by: Lord Kempsell (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government how many Deprivation of Liberty orders have been made in England and Wales since their inception; and whether they will provide a geographical breakdown of their prevalence across regions.
Answered by Lord Markham - Shadow Minister (Science, Innovation and Technology)
It has not proved possible to respond to this question in the time available before Dissolution. Ministers will correspond directly with the Member.
Asked by: Lord Kempsell (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government (1) what assessment they have made of the performance and impact of the statutory duty of candour on NHS staff and health service providers, and (2) how many fines have been imposed on healthcare organisations for failing to comply with the duty of candour, broken down by year since the duty was introduced.
Answered by Lord Markham - Shadow Minister (Science, Innovation and Technology)
A review announced by the Government in December 2023 is currently underway to assess the operation and enforcement of the statutory duty of candour. The process includes gathering evidence from National Health Service staff and health service providers via a Call for Evidence, which is currently live, and is due to close on 29 May 2024. The Care Quality Commission has provided figures on the number of fixed penalty notices issued to providers for failure to comply with the duty, since it was introduced in 2014. The following table shows the number if fixed penalty notices issued each year from 2014 to 2023:
Year | Fixed penalty notice |
2014 | 0 |
2015 | 0 |
2016 | 0 |
2017 | 0 |
2018 | 0 |
2019 | 0 |
2020 | 0 |
2021 | 3 |
2022 | 1 |
2023 | 0 |
Asked by: Lord Kempsell (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government how many people diagnosed with cancer underwent a needs assessment and were given a personalised care and support plan in (1) 2021, (2) 2022, and (3) 2023.
Answered by Lord Markham - Shadow Minister (Science, Innovation and Technology)
The information is not available, as the data is not collected in the format requested.
Asked by: Lord Kempsell (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government how many people who completed cancer treatment were offered an 'end of treatment summary' in (1) 2021, (2) 2022, and (3) 2023.
Answered by Lord Markham - Shadow Minister (Science, Innovation and Technology)
The information is not available, as the data is not collected in the format requested.
Asked by: Lord Kempsell (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they will take to ensure equity and quality in care and support across the entire cancer pathway, including (1) fairness and equity in diagnostics, (2) on time treatment, and (3) patients being offered conversations about the additional care and support they may need.
Answered by Lord Markham - Shadow Minister (Science, Innovation and Technology)
The Department is taking steps to ensure equity and quality in care and support for patients is available across the entire cancer pathway. Reducing inequalities and variation in cancer diagnosis and treatment are a priority for the Government, as is increasing early cancer diagnosis, as this is a key contributor to reducing cancer health inequalities. The Government is working jointly with NHS England on implementing the delivery plan for tackling the COVID-19 backlogs in elective care, and plans to spend more than £8 billion from 2022/23 to 2024/25 to help drive up and protect elective activity, including cancer diagnosis and treatment activity. As part of this, we are increasing diagnostic capacity by rolling out community diagnostic centres across England, with capacity prioritised for cancer checks. Additionally, and as outlined in the 2024/25 NHS England Planning Guidance, NHS England is providing over £266 million in cancer service development funding to Cancer Alliances, to support delivery of the operational priorities for cancer.
The Department's ministers and officials frequently meet with key stakeholders within the cancer community, including discussions on support for patients and their families. The National Health Service provides personalised cancer care and support plans, to support both patients and their families at all stages of their cancer journey. This is being delivered in line with the NHS Comprehensive Model for Personalised Care, empowering people to manage their care and the impact of their cancer, and maximise the potential of digital and community-based support.
General practice surgeries also conduct cancer care reviews at regular intervals after cancer diagnosis, to offer support with any needs patients may have. This includes providing access to other specialist-led services who work alongside patients’ medical teams, to support patients and their families, such as counsellors, rehabilitation specialists, or social prescribers, who can connect you to community groups or services for more support.
NHS England and the integrated care boards are responsible for commissioning and ensuring the healthcare needs of local communities in England are met, including for cancer patients. NHS England provides access to a personal health budget, which is an amount of NHS money that is allocated to support the health and wellbeing needs of a patient, if eligible.
Asked by: Lord Kempsell (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of new scientific discoveries in the field of longevity and radical life extension in order to better public health; and whether they have a strategy to promote longevity science.
Answered by Lord Markham - Shadow Minister (Science, Innovation and Technology)
We continue to monitor new research that shows promise for improving the health of the public. The Department commissions research through the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). The NIHR's strategy, Best Research for Best Health: The Next Chapter, highlights the need to fund research which responds to demographic pressures, including an ageing population. The NIHR welcomes funding applications for research into any aspect of human health, including ageing.