Asked by: Lord Dodds of Duncairn (Democratic Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have held with drug and medicine manufacturers in relation to the withdrawal of medicines from sale in the Northern Ireland market because of the costs resulting from the operation of the Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland.
Answered by Lord Bethell
The Department, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency and the Northern Ireland Department of Health are continuing to work closely with industry partners and will continue to do so throughout 2021 to help ensure the continuity of supply of medicines to Northern Ireland. This includes regular and intensive engagement with industry to understand any issues and to support them in their preparations to comply with the Protocol.
Asked by: Lord Dodds of Duncairn (Democratic Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of (1) the efficiency of the roll-out of COVID-19 vaccinations in each region of England, and (2) how that compares with the roll-out of such vaccinations in (a) Northern Ireland, (b) Scotland, and (c) Wales.
Answered by Lord Bethell
Each region within England and each of the devolved administrations have different population levels, clinical needs and logistical challenges to meet when deploying COVID-19 vaccines. The Government assesses the efficiency of the programme against these and other factors.
The Government works with the devolved administrations to ensure the vaccine programme is rolled out as quickly and efficiently as possible in each region. Allocation of vaccines is based upon the Barnett Formula. This ensures that all of the United Kingdom receives a fair share of vaccines. Approximately 27.1 million people in England, 838,000 in Northern Ireland, 2.6 million people in Scotland and 1.6 million in Wales have now received their first dose.
Asked by: Lord Dodds of Duncairn (Democratic Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what discussions he has had with local authorities on ensuring the adequacy of the provision of guidance for the most vulnerable people on their entitlement to free dental health care in certain circumstances.
Answered by Steve Brine
No discussions have taken place with local authorities about the adequacy of guidance for vulnerable people on their entitlement for free dental health care. However, the Department, NHS Business Services Authority and NHS England recognise concerns that some patients may not be clear on whether they are exempt from charges and have been working to further improve the information available to patients around eligibility. This includes promoting an easy read patient information booklet, creating an online eligibility checker and developing a national awareness campaign.
Information on which groups of patients are exempt is widely available. All dental practices providing National Health Service care are contractually required to display a standard poster setting out current NHS charges and highlighting that patients may be exempt from or entitled to help with charges. This poster along with a patient leaflet setting out NHS dental entitlements in more detail, is provided free of charge to every practice in England delivering NHS dental treatment.
As well as in all NHS dental practices information on charges and exemptions is also available through other channels such as the NHS Website dental section (formerly NHS Choices) and in the NHS ‘help with health costs’ booklet. NHS England also runs periodic local initiatives, where it assesses whether there is a need to further raise awareness locally among those patients who may be exempt or are through low income entitled to partial help with costs.
Asked by: Lord Dodds of Duncairn (Democratic Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he has taken to promote continued cooperation with the EU in the Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed and similar mechanisms after the UK leaves the EU.
Answered by Steve Brine
The Government continues to negotiate full access to the Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed network as it will be mutually beneficial for the European Union and United Kingdom to continue this vital data-sharing on food safety.
The UK is an active contributor to EU incidents systems such as the EU Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed, regularly providing essential updates to Member States and the EU Commission. The UK is also a close neighbour and significant exporter to the EU food market. It is important for the EU, as well as for the UK, that this relationship continues without compromising confidence in food safety.
Asked by: Lord Dodds of Duncairn (Democratic Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department has taken to tackle public health misinformation on social media platforms.
Answered by Steve Brine
The Department ensures that all official information is badged appropriately with the Government crest; National Health Service branding or associated public health campaign branding, to reinforce its credibility. Any misinformation detected is dealt with on a case by case basis depending on the level of impact it could have on public health.
We are working closely with the Department for Culture, Media and Sport on their white paper on Online Harms. Information on the upcoming white paper and Government Communication Service’s existing advice can be viewed at the following links:
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-laws-to-make-social-media-safer
https://gcs.civilservice.gov.uk/news/5-trends-in-leading-edge-communications/
Asked by: Lord Dodds of Duncairn (Democratic Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential effect of fruit contamination in Australia on UK consumers.
Answered by Steve Brine
We are aware of the reported concerns in Australia around needles in strawberries and metal in bananas. Based on the information available we do not consider this to be a food safety issue in the United Kingdom. We will continue to monitor the situation.
Asked by: Lord Dodds of Duncairn (Democratic Unionist Party - 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 effectiveness of the steps taken by his Department to help veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder.
Answered by Jackie Doyle-Price
Early in 2017, NHS England launched the Veterans Mental Health Transition, Intervention and Liaison Service (TILS) and Complex Treatment Service (CTS). TILS provides in-reach services for those in transition, leading up to, and leaving the armed forces; services for veterans with complex presentation; general services for veterans. The purpose of the CTS, which builds on the launch of TILS, is to provide an enhanced service for veterans who have military attributable complex mental health problems, including post-traumatic stress disorder, which have not been resolved earlier in the care/support pathway.
Since October 2010, the Veterans Information Service has contacted all service leavers by email or post 12 months after discharge, to make them aware of mental health and other support available to them.
Further details can be found on the NHS website at the following link:
https://www.nhs.uk/using-the-nhs/military-healthcare/nhs-mental-health-services-for-veterans/
Asked by: Lord Dodds of Duncairn (Democratic Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the Government press release entitled PM pledges action on suicide to mark World Mental Health Day, published on 9 October 2018, what assessment he has made of the benefits throughout the UK of the extra money announced for the Samaritans charity over the next four years.
Answered by Jackie Doyle-Price
The Government is providing funding of up to £1.8 million over the next four years to support the Samaritans United Kingdom-wide freephone helpline. This will help to ensure that millions of people who contact the Samaritans helpline each year from across the UK can continue to receive support when they reach out for help.
The Samaritans regularly monitors and reviews the effectiveness of its helpline.
Asked by: Lord Dodds of Duncairn (Democratic Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment has has made of the effect of the implementation of the general data protection regulation on administrative operations within the NHS.
Answered by Jackie Doyle-Price
No comprehensive assessment has yet been made within the National Health Service as we are still rolling out guidance. NHS England has provided a comprehensive suite of guidance products to help organisations recognise their obligations and put effective governance and risk management arrangements in place across the health and care sectors.
Asked by: Lord Dodds of Duncairn (Democratic Unionist Party - 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 effectiveness of the steps taken by his Department to help veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder.
Answered by Jackie Doyle-Price
Early in 2017, NHS England launched the Veterans Mental Health Transition, Intervention and Liaison Service (TILS) and Complex Treatment Service (CTS). TILS provides in-reach services for those in transition, leading up to, and leaving the armed forces; services for veterans with complex presentation; general services for veterans. The purpose of the CTS, which builds on the launch of TILS, is to provide an enhanced service for veterans who have military attributable complex mental health problems, including post-traumatic stress disorder, which have not been resolved earlier in the care/support pathway.
Since October 2010, the Veterans Information Service has contacted all service leavers by email or post 12 months after discharge, to make them aware of mental health and other support available to them.
Further details can be found on the NHS website at the following link:
https://www.nhs.uk/using-the-nhs/military-healthcare/nhs-mental-health-services-for-veterans/