Asked by: Lord Truscott (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 Bethell on 6 April (HL2662), what assessment they have made of the particular vulnerability of hay fever and asthma sufferers to COVID-19.
Answered by Lord Bethell
At present there is insufficient evidence to determine whether there is any particular vulnerability of hay fever and asthma sufferers to COVID-19.
The British Thoracic Society’s Advice for Healthcare Professionals Treating People with Asthma (adults) in relation to COVID-19 and the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence’s COVID-19 rapid guideline: severe asthma, recommend that patients should continue taking their regular medications in line with their personalised asthma action plan. Some patients with severe asthma have been identified as being potentially extremely vulnerable to COVID-19 and been placed in the shielding group.
With regards to hay fever, the Global Initiative for Asthma and the Allergic Rhinitis and its Impact on Asthma organisation recommend that people with allergic rhinitis should continue to take their nasal corticosteroids, as prescribed by their healthcare professional.
Asked by: Lord Truscott (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask Her Majesty's Government how much personal protection equipment NHS England has (1) purchased, and (2) supplied, to frontline NHS staff in the last four weeks.
Answered by Lord Bethell
As of 14 April, since the start of the COVID-19 outbreak we have delivered over 923 million pieces of personal protective equipment (PPE) to 58,000 different health and care settings including National Health Service trusts, general practitioners, pharmacies and community providers. We have provided PPE equipment to over 26,000 care homes including home care and hospices across the country. Over the Easter Bank Holiday weekend, over 48 million PPE items have been delivered.
We are working around the clock to give the NHS and the wider social care sector the equipment and support they need to tackle this outbreak. We have brought together the NHS, industry and the Armed Forces to create a new nationwide PPE distribution network, delivering critical PPE supplies to those who need it.
We have a 24 hours a day, seven days a week helpline for those experiencing supply disruption with business as usual ordering channels. Where there may be any shortages, we act on this immediately. Local Resilience Forums are also supporting care homes, hospices, home care and primary care in getting hold of PPE equipment.
Asked by: Lord Truscott (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have any plans to establish a centralised disease control centre, similar to the National Heath Command Centre in Taiwan.
Answered by Lord Bethell
The Department has a dedicated COVID-19 incident response team, set up in January 2020, which works closely with the National Health Service and Public Health England to co-ordinate central Government’s response to the virus.
Asked by: Lord Truscott (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to advise that the House of Lords be suspended to protect members, staff and the general public from COVID-19 infections.
Answered by Lord Bethell
In line with the latest Government advice and guidance from Public Health England, all visitor access to the Parliamentary estate stopped from 17 March. Access will be restricted to passholders and those on essential Parliamentary business.
This decision has been taken by the Speakers and supported by clerks of both Houses, and Parliamentary authorities. Hon. Members, noble Lords, Parliamentary staff and other members of the Parliamentary community will continue to be able to work on the estate where necessary but are being strongly encouraged to work from home where possible and to follow the latest guidance on social distancing.
Asked by: Lord Truscott (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to reports that the projected peak of COVID-19 will coincide with the hay fever season, what advice they are giving to hay fever sufferers
Answered by Lord Bethell
Individuals who suffer from hay fever should refer to the National Health Service and Public Health England guidance regarding the most common symptoms of COVID-19 and what to do if these are present. A copy of the online guidance is attached.
No specific guidance is planned for hay fever sufferers in relation to COVID-19, but NHS guidance on hay fever is attached.
Asked by: Lord Truscott (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 the effectiveness of mass testing to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 in the UK.
Answered by Lord Bethell
The number of people tested in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland is set to rapidly increase in the coming weeks. This will help identify whether there is a need for individuals to be self-isolating, as well as those people who have already contracted and fought the disease and are safe to return to work or go out in public. This includes National Health Service staff.
There is now capacity to carry out over 10,000 tests a day and this will rise to 25,000 by the end of April.
Widespread diagnostic testing during a pandemic is enormously important to controlling the spread of infection.
Asked by: Lord Truscott (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to close Parliament and advise peers to work from home.
Answered by Lord Bethell
In line with the latest Government advice and guidance from Public Health England, all visitor access to the Parliamentary estate stopped from 17 March. Access will be restricted to passholders and those on essential Parliamentary business.
This decision has been taken by the Speakers and supported by clerks of both Houses, and Parliamentary authorities. Hon. Members, noble Lords, Parliamentary staff and other members of the Parliamentary community will continue to be able to work on the estate where necessary but are being strongly encouraged to work from home where possible and to follow the latest guidance on social distancing.
Asked by: Lord Truscott (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 the report by the Imperial College COVID-19 response team Impact of non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) to reduce COVID19 mortality and healthcare demand, published on 16 March; and in particular that report's assessment of the impact of the UK's mitigation measures on (1) deaths, and (2) the capacity of the NHS.
Answered by Lord Bethell
The Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE) is responsible for ensuring that timely and coordinated scientific advice is made available to decision-makers, to support United Kingdom cross-Government decisions.
In fulfilling this role, SAGE considers a wide range scientific evidence. SAGE is supported in this role by a sub group (Scientific Pandemic Influenza Group on Modelling, SPI-M) that consists of members from Public Health England and experts from several academic research groups at UK universities. SPI-M considers the modelling work of all its members to reach a consensus view.
The report Impact of non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) to reduce COVID-19 mortality and healthcare demand, published on 16 March, is an important strand of the scientific evidence informing the Government’s response to the COVID-19 emergency.
Asked by: Lord Truscott (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 the most effective measures adopted by other countries to address COVID-19.
Answered by Lord Bethell
The Government are working closely with the World Health Organization, along with advice from leading scientists to ensure that the most effective measures are adopted for the United Kingdom.
Public Health England is also in regular contact with laboratories and public health organisations across the world in order to understand the processes they have adopted in relation to contact tracing, risk assessments, guidance and laboratory processes.
Asked by: Lord Truscott (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what is the projected UK death toll from COVID-19
Answered by Lord Bethell
The Government relies on modelling work undertaken by several academic groups, who report to the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE) through its various subgroups. SAGE will continue to publish the evidence that it considers.
From modelling and current data on the outbreak, it is likely that the United Kingdom death toll will rise, but it is not possible to estimate how many individuals will die currently. This will be dependent on the implementation of and adherence to public health measures, and the success of those measures in suppressing transmission of the virus and the numbers of cases of infection.