Asked by: Helen Maguire (Liberal Democrat - Epsom and Ewell)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps her department are taking to support those living with Postural Tachycardia Syndrome (PoTS) particularly in relation to there only being 2 PoTS specialists.
Answered by James Frith - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
I refer the Hon. Member to the answer provided on 15 June to Question 6594.
Asked by: Helen Maguire (Liberal Democrat - Epsom and Ewell)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, in relation to, question 15159, how many womenâs health hubs in England currently provide information and education on breast awareness, checking and screening eligibility.
Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The information requested on women's health hubs is not held by the Department. Breast screening is delivered through the NHS Breast Screening Programme, which invites eligible women aged 50 to 71 years old every three years. Information on breast awareness and screening eligibility is available through the National Health Service website and the NHS App.
There are currently no plans to change the existing local surveillance arrangements for women at moderate and high risk of breast cancer.
Asked by: Helen Maguire (Liberal Democrat - Epsom and Ewell)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to question 15160, whether there are plans to integrate screening for women at moderate and high risk into the breast screening programme.
Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The information requested on women's health hubs is not held by the Department. Breast screening is delivered through the NHS Breast Screening Programme, which invites eligible women aged 50 to 71 years old every three years. Information on breast awareness and screening eligibility is available through the National Health Service website and the NHS App.
There are currently no plans to change the existing local surveillance arrangements for women at moderate and high risk of breast cancer.
Asked by: Helen Maguire (Liberal Democrat - Epsom and Ewell)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many grants awarded through the Utilisation and Modernisation Fund in financial year 2025-26 have supported schemes aimed at improving the environmental sustainability of primary care premises, including improvements to lighting, ventilation and heating systems, energy-efficiency measures and other works supporting net zero objectives; and what the total value of those grants was.
Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The information is not held in the format requested.
Asked by: Helen Maguire (Liberal Democrat - Epsom and Ewell)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment the Department has made of the adequacy of the enforcement of Regulation 20 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014 (Duty of Candour) at independent sector providers delivering NHS funded care; and how many enforcement actions the Care Quality Commission has taken in respect of Regulation 20 at such providers in each of the last three years.
Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) does not centrally record whether providers are delivering National Health Service funded care, so cannot identify Regulation 20 duty of candour breaches by those independent providers.
In the last three years, the CQC has suspended the registration of one independent healthcare organisation for breaches of Regulation 20. The CQC has also requested action plans from two independent healthcare organisations for breaches of Regulation 20.
All providers of NHS funded care must comply with the NHS Complaints (England) Regulations 2009 in their complaints handling arrangements. This includes the requirement to advise a complainant of their right to refer their complaint to the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO) if they are dissatisfied with the response to their complaint. It is the role of the PHSO to independently investigate complaints that NHS and NHS-funded organisations have not acted properly or fairly.
While it is not the role of the CQC to enforce the complaints regulations, it does assess whether registered providers have effective arrangements for receiving, handling, and responding to complaints as part of its regulatory role, and may take action where providers fail to meet the relevant regulatory requirements.
Asked by: Helen Maguire (Liberal Democrat - Epsom and Ewell)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps the department are taking to assure itself that independent sector providers delivering NHS funded care comply with the Local Authority Social Services and National Health Service Complaints (England) Regulations 2009, including the requirement to inform complainants of their right to refer a complaint to the Health Service Ombudsman.
Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) does not centrally record whether providers are delivering National Health Service funded care, so cannot identify Regulation 20 duty of candour breaches by those independent providers.
In the last three years, the CQC has suspended the registration of one independent healthcare organisation for breaches of Regulation 20. The CQC has also requested action plans from two independent healthcare organisations for breaches of Regulation 20.
All providers of NHS funded care must comply with the NHS Complaints (England) Regulations 2009 in their complaints handling arrangements. This includes the requirement to advise a complainant of their right to refer their complaint to the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO) if they are dissatisfied with the response to their complaint. It is the role of the PHSO to independently investigate complaints that NHS and NHS-funded organisations have not acted properly or fairly.
While it is not the role of the CQC to enforce the complaints regulations, it does assess whether registered providers have effective arrangements for receiving, handling, and responding to complaints as part of its regulatory role, and may take action where providers fail to meet the relevant regulatory requirements.
Asked by: Helen Maguire (Liberal Democrat - Epsom and Ewell)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what discussions she has had with integrated care boards on expanding access to community optometry-led urgent eye care services.
Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
Integrated care boards are responsible for deciding whether to commission enhanced eye care services from high street optical practices to meet the needs of their local populations. This is in line with the 10-Year Health Planâs commitment to local decision making.
As part of our 10-Year Health Plan, the Department is investing ÂŁ20 million to equip high street optometrists with the digital tools they need to refer patients faster and more accurately, helping more people get convenient eye care closer to home.
Accident and emergency departments should still be used for genuine emergencies, and we expect patients to be assessed and directed to the service that best meets their needs.
Asked by: Helen Maguire (Liberal Democrat - Epsom and Ewell)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment her department has made on the recommendations provided in the âEye care everywhere: taking pressure off Emergency Departments in Englandâ policy paper published by the Association of Optometrists.
Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
Integrated care boards are responsible for deciding whether to commission enhanced eye care services from high street optical practices to meet the needs of their local populations. This is in line with the 10-Year Health Planâs commitment to local decision making.
As part of our 10-Year Health Plan, the Department is investing ÂŁ20 million to equip high street optometrists with the digital tools they need to refer patients faster and more accurately, helping more people get convenient eye care closer to home.
Accident and emergency departments should still be used for genuine emergencies, and we expect patients to be assessed and directed to the service that best meets their needs.
Asked by: Helen Maguire (Liberal Democrat - Epsom and Ewell)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment her Department has made of geographical variation in commissioning community urgent eye care services in England.
Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
Integrated care boards are responsible for deciding whether to commission enhanced eye care services from high street optical practices to meet the needs of their local populations. This is in line with the 10-Year Health Planâs commitment to local decision making.
As part of our 10-Year Health Plan, the Department is investing ÂŁ20 million to equip high street optometrists with the digital tools they need to refer patients faster and more accurately, helping more people get convenient eye care closer to home.
Accident and emergency departments should still be used for genuine emergencies, and we expect patients to be assessed and directed to the service that best meets their needs.