Asked by: Lord Rennard (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have, if any, to increase the use of digital technology in care pathways for people with diabetes.
Answered by Lord Bethell
NHS England and NHS Improvement have taken several steps to promote access to digital self-management support for patients with type 1 and type 2 diabetes.
They are currently working to widen access including by redeveloping and supporting implementation of an online, self-management support tool called ‘Healthy Living for People with Type 2 diabetes’ and are actively considering ways to educate the public on the importance of a healthy diet and lifestyle. They are also investing in the wider adoption of several digital interventions and commissioning a package of new online self-management courses to help people living with both type 1 and type 2 diabetes.
Asked by: Lord Rennard (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the benefit of offering digital (1) coaching, (2) education, and (3) weight management, programmes to people with type 2 diabetes.
Answered by Lord Bethell
NHS England and NHS Improvement have taken several steps to promote access to digital self-management support for patients with type 1 and type 2 diabetes.
They are currently working to widen access including by redeveloping and supporting implementation of an online, self-management support tool called ‘Healthy Living for People with Type 2 diabetes’ and are actively considering ways to educate the public on the importance of a healthy diet and lifestyle. They are also investing in the wider adoption of several digital interventions and commissioning a package of new online self-management courses to help people living with both type 1 and type 2 diabetes.
Asked by: Lord Rennard (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that services and treatment for patients with cancer return to the level provided before the COVID-19 pandemic.
Answered by Lord Bethell
In response to COVID-19, 21 Cancer Alliances across England now have arrangements in place for cancer hubs. These are hospitals dedicated to cancer care away from hospitals dealing with the virus to keep often vulnerable cancer patients safe.
Essential and urgent cancer treatment has continued throughout the pandemic period, and we are now working on the restoration and recovery of all cancer services.
As part of the restoration of services, NHS services will continue to identify ring-fenced diagnostic and surgical capacity for cancer, as well as delivering treating patients in cancer hubs, to ensure that referrals, diagnostics and treatment are brought back to pre-pandemic levels.
Asked by: Lord Rennard (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to deal with the backlog of cancer treatments that have been delayed or postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Answered by Lord Bethell
In response to COVID-19, 21 Cancer Alliances across England now have arrangements in place for cancer hubs. These are hospitals dedicated to cancer care away from hospitals dealing with the virus to keep often vulnerable cancer patients safe.
Essential and urgent cancer treatment has continued throughout the pandemic period, and we are now working on the restoration and recovery of all cancer services.
As part of the restoration of services, NHS services will continue to identify ring-fenced diagnostic and surgical capacity for cancer, as well as delivering treating patients in cancer hubs, to ensure that referrals, diagnostics and treatment are brought back to pre-pandemic levels.
Asked by: Lord Rennard (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the case for suspending charging for prescriptions in England to assist pharmacies and patients by removing the need to collect and pay such charges during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Answered by Lord Bethell
Prescription charge is a valuable source of income for the National Health Service. We have no plans to suspend them.