Asked by: Flick Drummond (Conservative - Meon Valley)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the Answer of 12 October 2015 to Question 10658, if he will ensure that the national improvement framework for hepatitis C services contain guidance on the alignment of screening programmes for hepatitis C, HIV, tuberculosis and other blood-borne viruses or associated conditions.
Answered by Jane Ellison
Recommendations on testing for hepatitis C are evidence-based, including whether it is appropriate to align with guidance on testing for other conditions. It should be noted that the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence has already published guidance on testing for hepatitis B and C. Screening programmes are considered and recommended by the United Kingdom National Screening Committee.
Asked by: Flick Drummond (Conservative - Meon Valley)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans the Government has to increase capacity in general practice and primary care.
Answered by George Freeman
On 19 June, the Secretary of State set out the first stages of a New Deal for General Practice, including:
‒ an estimated 5,000 more doctors working in general practice by 2020;
‒ investing £1 billion over four years in infrastructure and £150 million through the Prime Minister’s Challenge Fund; and
‒ reducing bureaucracy to release capacity.