Asked by: Clive Betts (Labour - Sheffield South East)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what advice he has received on the potential impact of medical innovation in the NHS on global research and development investment decisions; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Will Quince
The Government’s Life Sciences Vision, published in July 2021, sets out our ambition to stimulate the United Kingdom’s life sciences sector. The Vision commits the Government to supporting the National Health Service to test, purchase and spread innovative technologies more effectively, to result in cutting-edge science and innovations being embedded widely across the NHS, as early as possible, and rapidly adopted across the rest of the world.
We are working with industry and system partners to make the NHS the country’s most powerful driver of innovation. This work is overseen by the Life Science Council, chaired by the Secretaries of State for the Department of Health and Social Care and the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, and driven through the Life Sciences Vision Delivery Board, chaired by Ministers within the departments. We will continue to work closely with a wide range of public and private sector bodies and stakeholders across the sector to deliver the Life Sciences Vision.
Asked by: Clive Betts (Labour - Sheffield South East)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department is taking steps to change (a) NICE and (b) NHS England’s processes to help adapt to developing cell and gene therapies.
Answered by Will Quince
National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) carried out a comprehensive review of its methods and processes in early 2022. The changes introduced will ensure its methods and processes are suited to new and emerging types of technology, including cell and gene therapies, and provide more equitable access (to these technologies) for those with severe diseases.
As committed to under Action 12 of England Rare Diseases Action Plan 2022, NHS England are developing a strategic approach for gene therapies and other advanced therapy medicinal products based on horizon scanning. This work is ongoing and the Department will receive an update on progress and next steps ahead of publication of the action plan, due in early 2023.
Asked by: Clive Betts (Labour - Sheffield South East)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps they are taking to encourage clinical trials for cell and gene therapy.
Answered by Will Quince
The National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) provides investment to support multiple organisations in encouraging clinical trials across all specialities. This includes 20 NIHR Biomedical Research Centres and 28 NIHR Clinical Research Facilities across England which have the capacity and expertise to deliver clinical trials for cell and gene therapies.
NHS Blood and Transplant also operate three advanced therapy units to support cell therapies and are building a new Clinical Biotechnology Centre to increase the United Kingdom’s ability to develop new gene therapies. Innovate UK has also established the Cell and Gene Therapy Catapult to help companies, researchers and innovators throughout development, manufacturing and clinical adoption, to accelerate the process of cell and gene therapies coming to market
Asked by: Clive Betts (Labour - Sheffield South East)
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 notify immunocompromised people who are eligible for a covid-19 spring booster vaccination; and which part of the NHS is responsible for informing those people.
Answered by Maggie Throup
Individuals aged 12 years old and over who are immunosuppressed are eligible to receive a spring booster dose. Local National Health Service systems are responsible for inviting eligible individuals with appointments available online through the National Booking Service or via 119.
The NHS and charity and community leaders have published an open letter to encourage people with a weakened immune system to receive their COVID-19 vaccinations, which is available at the following link:
Asked by: Clive Betts (Labour - Sheffield South East)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department will carry out an impact assessment of the Government's Living Safely with Covid strategy on any potential risk posed by that strategy to people who are immunocompromised or immunosuppressed.
Answered by Maggie Throup
It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.
Asked by: Clive Betts (Labour - Sheffield South East)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, for what reason people who were tested at a covid-19 test site that used LAMP tests and subsequently tested positive are not eligible for Test and Trace Support Payments but people who received a positive result from a PCR test are eligible for those payments.
Answered by Maggie Throup
LAMP testing has not been used widely for the general public. However, the UK Health Security Agency informed local authorities that applicants who test positive for COVID-19 via this route should receive the £500 support payment, provided they met the other eligibility criteria. The scheme closed on 24 February 2022.
Asked by: Clive Betts (Labour - Sheffield South East)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will meet with charities supporting immunocompromised and immunosuppressed groups to discuss what the Government will do to support them to live safely with covid-19.
Answered by Maggie Throup
We will continue to meet with charities and stakeholders representing those who are immunosuppressed or immunocompromised. The Chief Executive of the UK Health Security Agency, Dr Jenny Harries, is the clinical lead for programmes supporting these patients and has met with charities at stakeholder engagement sessions.
Asked by: Clive Betts (Labour - Sheffield South East)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he will appoint a dedicated lead for immunocompromised and immunosuppressed people in Government in order to provide adequate communication and guidance on covid-19 to this group.
Answered by Maggie Throup
The Chief Executive of the UK Health Security Agency, Dr Jenny Harries, is the Senior Coordinating Clinical Lead for the programmes supporting these patients.
Asked by: Clive Betts (Labour - Sheffield South East)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he intends to issue specific guidance for people who are immunocompromised or immunosuppressed on how to manage their risk to covid-19 in the Living Safely with Covid strategy.
Answered by Maggie Throup
On 25 February 2022, the Government issued updated public health advice for people who were previously considered clinically extremely vulnerable, which is available at the following link:
For most people, they are no longer at substantially greater risk than the general population and are advised to follow general guidance on reducing the risk of infection with COVID-19, in addition to any further advice from their doctor.
Updated guidance was also issued for those whose immune system means they are at higher risk of serious illness from COVID-19, which is available at the following link:
Enhanced protection is also offered by treatments, additional vaccinations and potentially other non-clinical interventions. The NHS Volunteer Responders programme is available to offer short-term help, such as telephone support or help with collecting shopping, medication and other essential supplies.
Asked by: Clive Betts (Labour - Sheffield South East)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will provide free covid-19 testing for asymptomatic close contacts of immunocompromised people.
Answered by Maggie Throup
From 1 April 2022, free lateral flow device testing for the general public in England will no longer be available. There will be some limited testing available for a small number of at-risk groups. The Government will provide further information on eligible groups in due course.