Asked by: Bill Esterson (Labour - Sefton Central)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the action in the ME/CFS Final Delivery Plan to explore whether a specialised service should be prescribed for people with very severe ME/CFS, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential impact on patient safety and access to appropriate care of delaying that work until April 2027; whether he will publish any such assessment; and what specific interim measures, funding and monitoring arrangements will be put in place to support patients and hold integrated care boards accountable before that date.
Answered by Sharon Hodgson
Integrated care boards (ICBs) are expected to commission services for people with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) across all levels of severity, including those with severe and very severe ME/CFS, in line with national standards, service specifications, and clinical access policies set by NHS England. Prioritisation and funding remain at the discretion of ICBs.
Officials in the Department and NHS England are currently actively considering whether a specialised service for very severe ME/CFS should be commissioned by my Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care. A final decision will not be made until after the abolition of NHS England is complete, in April 2027, when processes will be clearer. This is as a result of potential changes to the legislative process which may occur as a result of transformation in NHS England. Officials continue to progress this action as far as possible ahead of April 2027, so that work can continue at pace following the completion of transformation in NHS England. This could include convening the clinical committee ahead of time.
Asked by: Bill Esterson (Labour - Sefton Central)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the NHS guidance webpage entitled Getting an IUD (intrauterine device) or copper coil fitted or removed, last reviewed on 15 February 2024, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of the extra pain relief that can be made available during the fitting of intrauterine devices on levels of people with endometriosis having intrauterine devices fitted.
Answered by Andrea Leadsom
Long-acting reversible contraceptive fitting services are commissioned at a local level to meet the needs of the local population. Local authorities and integrated care boards are responsible for ensuring services are delivered in accordance with quality and safety standards and clinical guidance.
The Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare (FSRH), who are responsible for the clinical issue of pain relief during intrauterine contraception procedures, have published updated clinical guidance for healthcare professionals on pain management during these procedures. FSRH guidance is clear that healthcare professionals should work in partnership with women to establish the best strategies for reducing anxiety, and the most effective interventions for minimising pain during intrauterine contraception procedures.
Asked by: Bill Esterson (Labour - Sefton Central)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of the ability of sexual health clinics to administer local anaesthetic for the fitting of intrauterine devices.
Answered by Andrea Leadsom
Long-acting reversible contraceptive fitting services are commissioned at a local level to meet the needs of the local population. Local authorities and integrated care boards are responsible for ensuring services are delivered in accordance with quality and safety standards and clinical guidance.
The Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare (FSRH), who are responsible for the clinical issue of pain relief during intrauterine contraception procedures, have published updated clinical guidance for healthcare professionals on pain management during these procedures. FSRH guidance is clear that healthcare professionals should work in partnership with women to establish the best strategies for reducing anxiety, and the most effective interventions for minimising pain during intrauterine contraception procedures.
Asked by: Bill Esterson (Labour - Sefton Central)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of the level of training given to staff on assessing when to stop IUD insertions if the patient feels pain or discomfort.
Answered by Andrea Leadsom
Individual employers providing contraception services are responsible for ensuring their staff are trained and competent to carry out their role.
The standard of training for health care professionals is the responsibility of respective independent statutory regulatory bodies, who set the outcome standards expected and approve courses. It is the responsibility of higher education and training institutions to write and teach a programme that enables their students to meet the regulators’ outcome standards.
Asked by: Bill Esterson (Labour - Sefton Central)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the NHS guidance webpage entitled Getting an IUD (intrauterine device) or copper coil fitted or removed, last reviewed on 15 February 2024, what the extra pain relief is that can be made available during the fitting of intrauterine devices.
Answered by Maria Caulfield
This is a clinical matter. The Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare (FSRH) has published a statement on pain associated with intrauterine device (IUD) insertion in 2021, which is available at the following link:
The Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare expects clinicians who insert IUDs to be able to demonstrate sufficient skills and knowledge in pain relief, and that options are discussed with patients as part of obtaining consent.
Asked by: Bill Esterson (Labour - Sefton Central)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when she plans to respond to the email correspondence of 27 September 2023 from the hon. Member for Sefton Central.
Answered by Andrew Stephenson
The Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Lord Markham) replied to the hon. Member on 24 November 2023.
Asked by: Bill Esterson (Labour - Sefton Central)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when he plans to respond to the email of 27 July 2023 from the Hon. member for Sefton Central, Case reference BE12979, on the use of medical equipment in people's homes.
Answered by Helen Whately - Shadow Secretary of State for Work and Pensions
We have received the Hon. Member’s correspondence and will reply as soon as possible.
Asked by: Bill Esterson (Labour - Sefton Central)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when he plans to respond to the email correspondence of 19 July 2023 from the hon. Member for Sefton Central relating to Impact Medical Ltd.
Answered by Will Quince
The Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Lord Markham) has received your letter and will reply shortly.
Asked by: Bill Esterson (Labour - Sefton Central)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when he plans respond to the correspondence from the hon. Member for Sefton Central of 25 April 2023 and 14 June 2023.
Answered by Maria Caulfield
I replied to the hon. Member on 14 June 2023.
Asked by: Bill Esterson (Labour - Sefton Central)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the average waiting time was for a referral by a GP to a specialist in Sefton Central constituency in the latest period for which data is available.
Answered by Neil O'Brien - Shadow Minister (Policy Renewal and Development)
The data is not available in the format requested.