Oral Answers to Questions

Dehenna Davison Excerpts

Monday 1st February 2021 Commons Chamber

[Claire Coutinho (East Surrey) (Con)]

What regional support his Department has provided in tackling the covid-19 outbreak.

[Dehenna Davison (Bishop Auckland) (Con)]

What regional support his Department has provided in tackling the covid-19 outbreak.

--- Later in debate ---

[James Heappey]

I certainly do. I am delighted that defence personnel have been of such use to the local authorities in the south-east. Personnel from all three services are employed in a range of roles to support frontline NHS services, both providing direct clinical care and undertaking support roles to free up NHS staff. I know from everything that I have heard from nursing directors and clinicians across the country that their contribution has been of enormous benefit and we are very grateful to them all.

[Dehenna Davison [V]]

Having volunteered at a new local vaccine centre in Bishop Auckland, I have seen the looks of joy and relief on people’s faces. I was pleased to hear that the Ministry of Defence is standing up more than 40 vaccine quick reaction forces, ready to help ensure that the vaccine roll-out reaches even the most remote areas of the UK. Could my hon. Friend update the House on how many of these teams have been deployed and to where?

[James Heappey]

With pleasure: 42 vaccine quick reaction force teams comprising 252 defence personnel are deployed across seven NHS England regions to locations determined by NHS priorities. As my hon. Friend says, their primary effort is to ensure that the roll-out of the vaccine is equally paced across the country. Where we can reinforce the efforts of local NHS trusts, that is exactly what these quick reaction teams are there to do.