Asked by: Anna Sabine (Liberal Democrat - Frome and East Somerset)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the criteria is for medication for long-term illnesses to be exempt from prescription charges.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
There are no current plans to review the list of prescription charge exemptions or the list of medical conditions that entitle someone to apply for a medical exemption certificate.
There are extensive arrangements in place in England to ensure that prescriptions are affordable for everyone. Approximately 89% of prescription items are dispensed free of charge in the community in England, and there is a wide range of exemptions from prescription charges already in place for which those with chronic illnesses may be eligible. Eligibility depends on the patient’s age, whether they are in qualifying full-time education, whether they are pregnant or have recently given birth, whether they have a qualifying medical condition or whether they are in receipt of certain benefits or a war pension.
People on low incomes can apply for help with their health costs through the NHS Low Income Scheme. People who need to pay and need many prescription items could save money with a prescription prepayment certificate (PPC). PPCs allow people to claim as many prescriptions as they need for a set cost, with three-month and 12-month certificates available. The 12-month PPC can be paid for in ten monthly direct debit instalments.
The list of specified medical conditions that provide exemption from prescription charges is available at the following link:
https://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/check-if-you-have-nhs-exemption/medical-exemption-certificates
The exemption covers all the patient’s prescriptions, not just those for the qualifying condition.
Asked by: Anna Sabine (Liberal Democrat - Frome and East Somerset)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department plans to review prescription charges for long-term medication.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
There are no current plans to review the list of prescription charge exemptions or the list of medical conditions that entitle someone to apply for a medical exemption certificate.
There are extensive arrangements in place in England to ensure that prescriptions are affordable for everyone. Approximately 89% of prescription items are dispensed free of charge in the community in England, and there is a wide range of exemptions from prescription charges already in place for which those with chronic illnesses may be eligible. Eligibility depends on the patient’s age, whether they are in qualifying full-time education, whether they are pregnant or have recently given birth, whether they have a qualifying medical condition or whether they are in receipt of certain benefits or a war pension.
People on low incomes can apply for help with their health costs through the NHS Low Income Scheme. People who need to pay and need many prescription items could save money with a prescription prepayment certificate (PPC). PPCs allow people to claim as many prescriptions as they need for a set cost, with three-month and 12-month certificates available. The 12-month PPC can be paid for in ten monthly direct debit instalments.
The list of specified medical conditions that provide exemption from prescription charges is available at the following link:
https://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/check-if-you-have-nhs-exemption/medical-exemption-certificates
The exemption covers all the patient’s prescriptions, not just those for the qualifying condition.
Asked by: Anna Sabine (Liberal Democrat - Frome and East Somerset)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what data his Department holds on the proportion of mothers who (a) breastfeed, (b) use formula and (c) use both for infants in the first six weeks of life.
Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Department collects, holds, and publishes numbers and rates of babies fully breastfed, partially breastfed, and not at all breastfed, at six to eight weeks of age. It can be assumed that babies partially breastfed and not at all breastfed are receiving formula milk for at least part of their diet. The data is provided to the Department by local authorities.
The Department publishes the data quarterly and annually, for England, by region, and by upper tier local authority. The latest annual data is for the financial year 2023/24, and the latest quarterly data is for the second quarter of the 2024/25 financial year.
In the financial year 2023/24, 52.7% of babies were breastfed or partially breastfed in England. This proportion has been improving since the financial year 2020/21 when it was 47.6%.
In addition, the Department publishes data on the numbers and rates of babies receiving breastmilk as their first feed. This is published annually for England, by region, and by upper tier local authority. This data is collected by NHS England in the Maternity Services Data Set.
The latest data is for the financial year 2023/24 when 71.9% of babies received breastmilk as their first feed. The proportion of babies whose first feed was breast milk has remained at approximately 72% each year between 2019 and 2024.
Asked by: Anna Sabine (Liberal Democrat - Frome and East Somerset)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the age range will be of people considered by the Children and Young People with Cancer Taskforce.
Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Department is committed to improving outcomes and patient experience for children, teenagers, and young adults with cancer, from birth to 24 years of age. That is why we have relaunched the Children and Young People Cancer Taskforce, which will identify tangible ways to drive improvements for cancer patients across this age range. The taskforce’s membership, which is currently being finalised, will reflect the diversity of needs across these patient groups.
We recognise that cancer in teenagers and young people is different to cancer in adults and children, and so age-appropriate care is necessary, particularly regarding treatment, diagnosis, and wider support, as per the NHS England service specifications. Department officials are working with chairs of the taskforce to develop the Terms of Reference ahead of the first meeting, currently planned for March. The taskforce will consider the most appropriate dissemination routes or publication channels for taskforce materials in due course.
Asked by: Anna Sabine (Liberal Democrat - Frome and East Somerset)
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 impact of the transition between children social care and adult social care on patients.
Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Department works closely with the Department for Education and other partners to understand the difficulties young disabled people and their families can face when they transition into adult social care, and to identify opportunities to better support young people at this crucial stage of their life.
Asked by: Anna Sabine (Liberal Democrat - Frome and East Somerset)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what support is available for mothers experiencing poor mental health post-partum related to breastfeeding.
Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
Whilst the relationship with breastfeeding and postnatal depression is complex, a successful breastfeeding experience may protect against mental health issues such as postnatal depression.
Through the Family Hubs and Start for Life programme, the Department is providing £18.5 million in 2025/26 to 75 local authorities in England with high levels of deprivation to improve infant feeding services and provide practical support with breastfeeding. Local authorities are using this investment to put in place a range of specialist support and advice to help parents to meet their infant feeding goals no matter how they choose to feed their baby.
We are also helping the early years workforce to better understand the links between breastfeeding and perinatal mental health. In August 2023, a free e-learning package was launched which has already been taken up by hundreds of staff.
Asked by: Anna Sabine (Liberal Democrat - Frome and East Somerset)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans he has to improve (a) awareness of and (b) access to formula milk for infants.
Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
Infant feeding is critical to a baby’s healthy growth and development. The Government is committed to giving every child the best start in life and that includes helping families to access support to feed their baby.
Whilst breastfeeding has significant health benefits, we recognise that for those families that cannot or choose not to breastfeed, it is vital that they have access to infant formula that is affordable and high quality. Infant formula regulations ensure that all infant formula is suitable for meeting the nutritional needs of babies, regardless of the price or brand.
The Competition and Markets Authority is undertaking a market study on infant and follow on formula and is due to publish its final report, with recommendations later this month. We welcome this report and will carefully consider its findings and recommendations including any on increasing awareness of, and access to, infant formula.
Asked by: Anna Sabine (Liberal Democrat - Frome and East Somerset)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to increase the uptake of HPV vaccinations for (a) girls and (b) boys.
Answered by Andrew Gwynne
NHS Commissioned School Aged Immunisation Service providers have robust catch-up plans in place for the adolescent human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination programme. This is based on population need, and utilises opportunities from the move to one dose in September 2023. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) works closely with several charities to develop resources to raise awareness of HPV. The UKHSA also publishes annual statistics, which are available at the following link:
These support local National Health Service teams in developing plans to improve uptake and reduce inequalities for the HPV universal programme. NHS England has improved digital communications on vaccinations, including expanding the NHS app, and has improved access to the vaccine outside of schools, through community clinics at convenient times and locations. The UKHSA produces a number of HPV resources, which are available at the following link:
https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/hpv-vaccination-programme.
Materials are also available on the UKHSA Health Publications website in a range of languages and accessible formats, at the following link:
https://www.healthpublications.gov.uk/Home.html
Asked by: Anna Sabine (Liberal Democrat - Frome and East Somerset)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to increase the uptake of smear tests.
Answered by Andrew Gwynne
To support improving access and uptake of the NHS Cervical Screening Programme, the National Health Service has a series of initiatives underway, including:
Asked by: Anna Sabine (Liberal Democrat - Frome and East Somerset)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans he has to introduce dental provision for students in schools.
Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
We are committed to implementing a national targeted supervised toothbrushing programme to three, four, and five year olds living in our most deprived areas.