Asked by: Cheryl Gillan (Conservative - Chesham and Amersham)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what (a) research his Department has commissioned on and (b) what medical advice is available for people suffering post-covid-19 illnesses.
Answered by Helen Whately - Shadow Secretary of State for Work and Pensions
The Department invests over £1 billion a year in health and care research through the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR). It is not usual practice for the NIHR to ring-fence a proportion of its budget for research into particular topics or conditions. The NIHR Recovery and Learning Call is currently open to researchers to submit research proposals on patients suffering post-COVID-19 illnesses.
The NIHR Recovery and Learning Call will fund research to better understand and manage the health and social care consequences of the global COVID-19 pandemic beyond the acute phase. The research will focus specifically on health outcomes, public health, social care and health service delivery and to mitigate the impact of subsequent phases and aftermath.
Asked by: Cheryl Gillan (Conservative - Chesham and Amersham)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when the Government plans to publish its new Autism Strategy.
Answered by Helen Whately - Shadow Secretary of State for Work and Pensions
We are fully committed to publishing an impactful autism strategy, which covers all ages. We expect to publish the refreshed strategy later this year subject to our response to COVID-19.
Asked by: Cheryl Gillan (Conservative - Chesham and Amersham)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what was the cost to the public purse of substandard personal protective equipment from Turkey and China during the covid-19 outbreak.
Answered by Jo Churchill
There will be no cost to the National Health Service of any personal protective equipment arriving from Turkey which did not meet the necessary standards. All gowns which have arrived from China have passed quality control and are fit for use.
Asked by: Cheryl Gillan (Conservative - Chesham and Amersham)
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 extend covid-19 testing for all eligible care homes to residents in supported living settings.
Answered by Helen Whately - Shadow Secretary of State for Work and Pensions
Further expansion of testing to other adult social care settings will be guided by clinical advice on relative priority and available testing capacity.
We are listening to views about how different groups may be affected by the virus and are continuing to explore how we can support other parts of the sector such as those in supported living settings.
We have significantly increased testing capacity so everyone with symptoms of COVID-19 can be tested. Anyone with suspected symptoms in these settings can also access testing by self-refer via the following link:
www.nhs.uk/ask-for-a-coronavirus-test
Asked by: Cheryl Gillan (Conservative - Chesham and Amersham)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what further report she plans to commission following the publication of the PHE report Covid 19 - Disparities in the risks and outcomes.
Answered by Kemi Badenoch - Leader of HM Official Opposition
As Minister for Equalities, I am working with the Race Disparity Unit and the Department for Health and Social Care to carry forward work to identify and fill the gaps in PHE’s review; and work across government to take appropriate steps to mitigate disparities identified. The terms of reference for this work, which include quarterly updates to the Prime Minister and Secretary of State for Health and Social Care on progress, were published on GOV.UK on 4 June. The timeframe will be announced in due course.
Asked by: Cheryl Gillan (Conservative - Chesham and Amersham)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many people have been reported as contracting covid-19 more than once.
Answered by Jo Churchill
Public Health England is not aware of any patients contracting COVID-19 more than once in England.
Asked by: Cheryl Gillan (Conservative - Chesham and Amersham)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the situation relating to covid-19, what advice his Department is providing to parents of young children with chronic lung conditions; and whether those children can be removed from schooling.
Answered by Jo Churchill
Schools in the United Kingdom closed on Friday 20 March 2020. Only children of key workers, and some children that attend special schools, may continue to attend school after this date.
People who have been identified by their general practice as being high risk from COVID-19 infection will receive a letter from the National Health Service this week telling them what additional precautions they need to take. Guidance on social distancing and vulnerable people is available to view here at the following link:
The stay at home guidance is available to view here at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-stay-at-home-guidance/stay-at-home-guidance-for-people-with-confirmed-or-possible-coronavirus-covid-19-infection
Local Health Protection Teams from PHE will work with the Local Education Authority, headteachers, principals or management teams, to advise on the management of children, pupils, students or staff in relation to COVID-19.
General PHE advice on COVID-19 is updated regularly and can be viewed here at the following link:
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-information-for-the-public
Asked by: Cheryl Gillan (Conservative - Chesham and Amersham)
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 make Tildacerfont available on the NHS.
Answered by Jo Churchill
Tildacerfont does not have a Marketing Authorisation for use in the United Kingdom and is not routinely available on the National Health Service. Tildacerfront is still in early development and is being studied for use in the treatment of patients with classic congenital adrenal hyperplasia. Once the trials with the product are complete, the drug manufacturer will be able to apply for a Marketing Authorisation.
Most new medicines are assessed by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) through its technology appraisal or highly specialised technologies programmes which make recommendations for the NHS on whether treatments represent an effective use of NHS resources. NHS commissioners are legally required to fund treatments recommended by NICE. If the manufacturer seeks a Marketing Authorisation for Tildacerfont, it will be considered through the established topic selection process to determine whether it should be assessed by NICE.
If Tildacerfont receives a Marketing Authorisation, funding decisions will be the responsibility of NHS commissioners, taking into account the available evidence and any relevant NICE recommendations.
Asked by: Cheryl Gillan (Conservative - Chesham and Amersham)
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 reduce or eliminate hospital car parking charges for nurses, doctors and essential healthcare workers.
Answered by Stephen Hammond
The level and appropriateness of car parking charges at National Health Service sites is the responsibility of the local NHS trust. We have published the NHS Car Parking Principles which clearly state that concessions should be offered to groups who most need help, such as staff who cannot travel by public transport due to their shift pattern.
However, given it is the responsibility of the local NHS trust, the Department has no jurisdiction to reduce or eliminate hospital car parking charges for nurses, doctors and essential healthcare workers.