Asked by: Barry Gardiner (Labour - Brent West)
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 potential merits of establishing a national training centre for robotic surgery within the NHS to provide surgical training that is independent of the manufacturers of robotic surgery equipment.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Department has no current plans to establish such a national training centre. The Department continues to work with the National Health Service and other partners to develop pathways for delivering innovative medical technology into the hands of front-line clinicians.
The curricula and method of delivery of surgical specialty training is set by the Royal College of Surgeons. The General Medical Council approves curricula and assessment systems for each training programme.
Asked by: Barry Gardiner (Labour - Brent West)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to use (a) robots and (b) AI to help support training on innovative surgical techniques.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Department and NHS England support the development and use of innovative surgical approaches across the system, where clinically appropriate. Use of such innovative approaches can drive efficiency and improve patient outcomes, but should and will be driven by local and specific need.
The curricula and method of delivery of surgical specialty training is set by the Royal College of Surgeons. The General Medical Council approves the curricula and assessment systems for each training programme.
Asked by: Barry Gardiner (Labour - Brent West)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will visit the Griffin Institute at Northwick Park Hospital in Brent West constituency.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
Ministers regularly consider visits across the country to see the impact of their policy areas. Any plans to visit specific locations will be notified to the relevant Members of Parliament in advance.
Asked by: Barry Gardiner (Labour - Brent West)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what mental health support he is providing to NHS workers who are treating covid-19 patients.
Answered by Helen Whately - Shadow Secretary of State for Work and Pensions
We have funded a comprehensive package of support that includes a dedicated staff helpline, specialist bereavement support and free access to mental health and wellbeing apps. The NHS People Plan, published in July 2020, also puts staff wellbeing at its core and includes appointing a wellbeing guardian in every National Health Service organisation, free parking and support to work flexibly and take time off. This is strengthened further by the mental health and wellbeing hubs being set up across the country that are providing rapid outreach and assessment services to help frontline staff.
Asked by: Barry Gardiner (Labour - Brent West)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what measures his Department has put in place for healthcare workers who are shielding from covid-19 and unable to complete their three year nursing revalidation.
Answered by Helen Whately - Shadow Secretary of State for Work and Pensions
As the independent regulator of nurses and midwives in the United Kingdom and nursing associates in England, the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) is responsible for nurse revalidation.
On 30 March 2020, the Department laid a statutory instrument allowing the NMC to respond to the pandemic by adapting some of its operating procedures. To support registrants due to revalidate from March 2020, the NMC has extended revalidation timeframes and broadened the criteria for demonstrating continuing professional development. These changes aim to minimise the incidence of lapsed registrations during COVID-19 whilst maintaining public safety and confidence in the nursing profession.
Asked by: Barry Gardiner (Labour - Brent West)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many answers to written parliamentary questions in respect of NHS Track and Trace were drafted by Deloitte.
Answered by Helen Whately - Shadow Secretary of State for Work and Pensions
As part of their work in helping respond to the pandemic, Deloitte have provided support to civil servants answering Written Questions where required.
Information on the number of questions which have contributions by Deloitte could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.
Asked by: Barry Gardiner (Labour - Brent West)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what comparative assessment has been made of the relative risk of potentially overwhelming the health service by prioritising people aged 80 and over and prioritising all frontline health care workers in the NHS for the covid-19 vaccine.
Answered by Nadhim Zahawi
No such comparative assessment has been made. The Department has taken advice from the independent Joint Committee on Vaccinations and Immunisation (JCVI) on priority groups for COVID-19 vaccination. The JCVI advised that the first priority for any COVID-19 vaccination programme should be the reduction of COVID-19 mortality and the protection of health and social care staff and systems. All those 80 years of age and over and frontline health and social care workers have been offered vaccinations in priority group two.
Asked by: Barry Gardiner (Labour - Brent West)
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 the Home Secretary on ensuring illegal migrants and overstayers cooperate with public health services during the covid-19 outbreak.
Answered by Nadhim Zahawi
The Secretary of State for Health and Social Care has regular discussions with his counterparts across Government.
Vaccination against COVID-19 is a primary care service. It is therefore not within scope of the Charging Regulations and is available free of charge to anyone living in the United Kingdom, including those living here without permission. If an individual is registered with a general practitioner (GP) practice, they will be invited for the vaccine at the appropriate time based on the prioritisation set out by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation. If an individual is not registered with a GP, National Health Service regional teams working with the appropriate local system will contact unregistered people to ensure they are offered the vaccine.
Asked by: Barry Gardiner (Labour - Brent West)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate his Department has made of the number of illegal migrants and overstayers who are reluctant to engage with the NHS during the covid-19 outbreak as a result of concerns over their immigration status.
Answered by Nadine Dorries
We have made no such estimate.
Asked by: Barry Gardiner (Labour - Brent West)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what public information he is providing to reassure (a) illegal migrants and (b) overstayers that they should not avoid medical treatment if they have symptoms of covid-19, and can come forward for (i) medical assistance or (ii) to receive immunisation without being reported to the Home Office.
Answered by Edward Argar - Shadow Secretary of State for Health and Social Care
The Department has published a message on the National Health Service website stating that overseas visitors to England, including anyone living in the United Kingdom without permission, will not be charged for testing or treatment for COVID-19 or for vaccination. The message also states that no immigration checks are needed to receive these services.
This message has been shared with Public Health England and included in the migrant health guide. Translated information on testing and treatment is currently available in 40 languages and will shortly be updated to include the information on vaccination. The Department is engaged in producing further communications materials and is working with other government departments to ensure this message reaches vulnerable migrant groups.