Asked by: Gregory Stafford (Conservative - Farnham and Bordon)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of proactive cardiac screening on preventing sudden cardiac deaths among young people.
Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
In the United Kingdom, national screening programmes are introduced based on the recommendations of the UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC), an independent scientific advisory committee which advises ministers and the National Health Service in all four countries on all aspects of population and targeted screening and which supports implementation.
The UK NSC last reviewed screening for sudden cardiac death in people under the age of 39 years old in 2019, and concluded that population screening should not be offered. Further information is available at the following link:
https://view-health-screening-recommendations.service.gov.uk/sudden-cardiac-death/
The UK NSC is currently examining the evidence for this condition and will open a public consultation to seek comments from members of the public and stakeholders on this in due course. Further information, including on how to keep up to date on the work of the UK NSC, is available at the following link:
https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/uk-national-screening-committee
Asked by: Gregory Stafford (Conservative - Farnham and Bordon)
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 increase access to cardiac screening for young people with no prior symptoms of heart conditions.
Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
In the United Kingdom, national screening programmes are introduced based on the recommendations of the UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC), an independent scientific advisory committee which advises ministers and the National Health Service in all four countries on all aspects of population and targeted screening and which supports implementation.
The UK NSC last reviewed screening for sudden cardiac death in people under the age of 39 years old in 2019, and concluded that population screening should not be offered. Further information is available at the following link:
https://view-health-screening-recommendations.service.gov.uk/sudden-cardiac-death/
The UK NSC is currently examining the evidence for this condition and will open a public consultation to seek comments from members of the public and stakeholders on this in due course. Further information, including on how to keep up to date on the work of the UK NSC, is available at the following link:
https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/uk-national-screening-committee
Asked by: Gregory Stafford (Conservative - Farnham and Bordon)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he plans to support wider access to cardiac screening provided by (a) Cardiac Risk in the Young and (b) other charities.
Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
In the United Kingdom, national screening programmes are introduced based on the recommendations of the UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC), an independent scientific advisory committee which advises ministers and the National Health Service in all four countries on all aspects of population and targeted screening and which supports implementation.
The UK NSC last reviewed screening for sudden cardiac death in people under the age of 39 years old in 2019, and concluded that population screening should not be offered. Further information is available at the following link:
https://view-health-screening-recommendations.service.gov.uk/sudden-cardiac-death/
The UK NSC is currently examining the evidence for this condition and will open a public consultation to seek comments from members of the public and stakeholders on this in due course. Further information, including on how to keep up to date on the work of the UK NSC, is available at the following link:
https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/uk-national-screening-committee
Asked by: Gregory Stafford (Conservative - Farnham and Bordon)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what funding has been allocated under the NHS 10-Year Plan to support cardiac screening programmes for young people.
Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
In the United Kingdom, national screening programmes are introduced based on the recommendations of the UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC), an independent scientific advisory committee which advises ministers and the National Health Service in all four countries on all aspects of population and targeted screening and which supports implementation.
The UK NSC last reviewed screening for sudden cardiac death in people under the age of 39 years old in 2019, and concluded that population screening should not be offered. Further information is available at the following link:
https://view-health-screening-recommendations.service.gov.uk/sudden-cardiac-death/
The UK NSC is currently examining the evidence for this condition and will open a public consultation to seek comments from members of the public and stakeholders on this in due course. Further information, including on how to keep up to date on the work of the UK NSC, is available at the following link:
https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/uk-national-screening-committee
Asked by: Gregory Stafford (Conservative - Farnham and Bordon)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to ensure that young people diagnosed with heart conditions receive appropriate (a) lifestyle advice, (b) treatment and (c) follow-up care to prevent cardiac arrest.
Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
Most cases of sudden cardiac death (SCD) are related to undetected cardiovascular disease. In the younger population, SCD is often due to congenital heart defects. Given this, genomics has an important role to play in diagnosing and supporting the treatment and management of a number of cardiac conditions. The National Genomic Test Directory sets out the eligibility criteria for patients to access testing as well as the genomic targets to be tested and the method that should be used, and this includes genomic testing for a number of conditions which affect the heart, including, for example, testing for familial hypercholesteremia (FH), cardiomyopathies, Long QT syndrome, Brugada syndrome, and others. Further information on the National Genomic Test Directory is available at the following link:
https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/national-genomic-test-directories/
The 10-Year Health Plan includes a commitment to establish a genomics population health service, accessible to all by the end of the decade. Further information on the 10-Year Health Plan is available at the following link:
The genomics population health service will be key to delivering a number of other commitments in the 10-Year Health Plan, including: expanding the National Health Service whole genome sequencing programme, with a focus on risks in relation to common disease areas including cardiovascular disease; expanding genomic testing for inherited causes of major diseases to allow earlier detection and intervention, including cardiovascular disease predisposition, for example due to FH; and beginning to integrate genomic insights into cardiovascular disease prevention and care through a service evaluation, with Our Future Health implementing Integrated Risk Scores.
NHS England has published a national service specification for inherited cardiac conditions for all ages, that covers patients who often present as young adults with previously undiagnosed cardiac disease or families requiring follow up due to a death from this cause. The service specification is available at the following link:
https://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/cardiology-inherited-cardiac-conditions.pdf
This describes the service model and mandated guidelines and guidance that should be followed to support the diagnosis and treatment of patients or family members. It also includes the requirement for inherited cardiac conditions services to investigate suspected cases. NHS England has also published a suite of national service specifications and standards for congenital heart disease (CHD), which define the standards of care expected from organisations funded by NHS England, to support and improve the diagnosis and treatment of patients with congenital cardiac problems. The standards for CHD are available at the following link:
NHS England works closely with the Congenital Heart Networks to support work to maintain and monitor elective CHD surgery activity, waiting lists, and waiting times across England, noting that there are interdependencies with critical care capacity. NHS England’s Clinical Reference Group (CRG) has identified that there is scope for improvement in antenatal diagnosis rates for congenital heart defects, and has established a workstream to understand the causes of variation in foetal cardiology services across England. The CRG is also working closely with relevant professional organisations and charities to develop a national workforce strategy for CHD.
Asked by: Gregory Stafford (Conservative - Farnham and Bordon)
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 reduce the number of young sudden cardiac deaths through the 10 Year Health Plan.
Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
Most cases of sudden cardiac death (SCD) are related to undetected cardiovascular disease. In the younger population, SCD is often due to congenital heart defects. Given this, genomics has an important role to play in diagnosing and supporting the treatment and management of a number of cardiac conditions. The National Genomic Test Directory sets out the eligibility criteria for patients to access testing as well as the genomic targets to be tested and the method that should be used, and this includes genomic testing for a number of conditions which affect the heart, including, for example, testing for familial hypercholesteremia (FH), cardiomyopathies, Long QT syndrome, Brugada syndrome, and others. Further information on the National Genomic Test Directory is available at the following link:
https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/national-genomic-test-directories/
The 10-Year Health Plan includes a commitment to establish a genomics population health service, accessible to all by the end of the decade. Further information on the 10-Year Health Plan is available at the following link:
The genomics population health service will be key to delivering a number of other commitments in the 10-Year Health Plan, including: expanding the National Health Service whole genome sequencing programme, with a focus on risks in relation to common disease areas including cardiovascular disease; expanding genomic testing for inherited causes of major diseases to allow earlier detection and intervention, including cardiovascular disease predisposition, for example due to FH; and beginning to integrate genomic insights into cardiovascular disease prevention and care through a service evaluation, with Our Future Health implementing Integrated Risk Scores.
NHS England has published a national service specification for inherited cardiac conditions for all ages, that covers patients who often present as young adults with previously undiagnosed cardiac disease or families requiring follow up due to a death from this cause. The service specification is available at the following link:
https://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/cardiology-inherited-cardiac-conditions.pdf
This describes the service model and mandated guidelines and guidance that should be followed to support the diagnosis and treatment of patients or family members. It also includes the requirement for inherited cardiac conditions services to investigate suspected cases. NHS England has also published a suite of national service specifications and standards for congenital heart disease (CHD), which define the standards of care expected from organisations funded by NHS England, to support and improve the diagnosis and treatment of patients with congenital cardiac problems. The standards for CHD are available at the following link:
NHS England works closely with the Congenital Heart Networks to support work to maintain and monitor elective CHD surgery activity, waiting lists, and waiting times across England, noting that there are interdependencies with critical care capacity. NHS England’s Clinical Reference Group (CRG) has identified that there is scope for improvement in antenatal diagnosis rates for congenital heart defects, and has established a workstream to understand the causes of variation in foetal cardiology services across England. The CRG is also working closely with relevant professional organisations and charities to develop a national workforce strategy for CHD.
Asked by: Gregory Stafford (Conservative - Farnham and Bordon)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of broadband limitations on the digital competitiveness of SMEs.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
Broadband connectivity is vital for businesses and plays a critical role in driving growth and productivity across the UK.
While no direct assessment has been made of the potential impact of broadband limitations on digital competitiveness, wider government analysis has shown that increased broadband speeds lead to an improvement in turnover and productivity for SMEs. That is why government continues to ensure that UK SMEs benefit from high quality digital infrastructure and is committed to ensuring at least 99% of premises receive gigabit broadband coverage by 2032, with over 88% now able to do so.
Asked by: Gregory Stafford (Conservative - Farnham and Bordon)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps his Department is taking to improve broadband resilience to support (a) cloud-based telephony and (b) payment systems used by small businesses.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) is working to improve the resilience of broadband that will support a range of services including cloud-based telephony and digital payment systems used by small businesses. DSIT works with Ofcom, which enforces legal duties on providers to maintain secure, reliable networks. Government and industry work together through the Electronic Communications Resilience and Response Group (EC-RRG) to promote resilience within the sector, and to respond to emergencies.
Asked by: Gregory Stafford (Conservative - Farnham and Bordon)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what recent discussions he has had with (a) Openreach and (b) CityFibre on delays in full fibre line installations to businesses based in the Farnham and Bordon constituency.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
The Farnham and Bordon constituency is set to benefit from three live Project Gigabit contracts: the Hampshire and East & West Sussex contracts, being delivered by CityFibre, and the West and Mid Surrey contract being delivered by Openreach. These contracts are targeted at premises that are not expected to receive a gigabit-capable connection as part of a broadband supplier’s commercial rollout, and we are in regular contact with both suppliers to monitor their progress against planned delivery milestones.
Where a delay is reported as part of a supplier’s commercial rollout, we cannot intervene as we are bound by Subsidy Control regulations. However, we keep commercial plans under review and will continue to refresh our plans for reaching any remaining premises in line with the government’s ambition for nationwide gigabit coverage by 2032.
Asked by: Gregory Stafford (Conservative - Farnham and Bordon)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what recent assessment he has made of the impact of geographic differences in full fibre availability on local economic development.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
Digital infrastructure is a powerful driver of economic growth and development. In 2023, the telecoms services industry contributed around 2.5% to UK real GVA, up from 0.3% in 2010.
Geographical areas with lower levels of full fibre availability are less likely to benefit economically than areas with higher levels of full fibre availability. Government interventions, alongside the commercial market, are addressing this disparity. Evidence from the government’s Superfast programme showed that for every £1 spent on connections to premises left behind by the market, up to £4.57 was generated in economic and social benefits. Employment in the local areas benefiting from the programme also increased by 0.88%. We expect Project Gigabit to continue to drive local economic growth and development in areas which stand to benefit from the programme.
Building Digital UK also publishes independent evaluations of its programmes at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/building-digital-uk-research-portal