Asked by: Jeff Smith (Labour - Manchester, Withington)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate her Department has made of the average timescale for a diagnosis of coeliac disease from the point a person presents to their GP with symptoms; and what assessment she has made of the impact of the time taken for a diagnosis on patient mental and physical health.
Answered by Andrew Stephenson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
Diagnostic services, including tests for coeliac disease, are provided in a range of settings, including community diagnostic centres (CDCs). We are expanding diagnostic capacity through the delivery of the CDC programme. NHS England assesses the delivery of diagnostic services, including by analysing regular management information for activity in CDCs as well as a national data collection for gastroscopy.
NHS England has also invested in senior clinical leadership in gastroenterology, which includes coeliac disease, as a priority workstream in the national Getting It Right First Time programme. However, it is the responsibility of integrated care boards (ICBs) to commission services to meet the needs of their local populace, including the diagnosis and ongoing management of coeliac disease.
The Government and NHS England are taking steps to support people waiting for appointments and surgery for long-term conditions, including those waiting for a coeliac disease diagnosis, by offering online support, increasing elective capacity, and encouraging personalised support.
NHS England launched the My Planned Care platform in February 2022, giving patients advice and support to manage their health, and avoid significant deterioration of symptoms whilst they wait for appointments. This online platform includes advice on physical and mental health. In addition, through the NHS Long Term Plan, the Government is providing record levels of investment and increasing the mental health workforce to expand and transform National Health Service mental health services in England, helping to reduce waiting times.
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence promotes its guidance on coeliac disease, which includes information for the public via its website, newsletters, and other media.
Asked by: Jeff Smith (Labour - Manchester, Withington)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps her Department is taking to help increase public awareness of coeliac disease.
Answered by Andrew Stephenson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
Diagnostic services, including tests for coeliac disease, are provided in a range of settings, including community diagnostic centres (CDCs). We are expanding diagnostic capacity through the delivery of the CDC programme. NHS England assesses the delivery of diagnostic services, including by analysing regular management information for activity in CDCs as well as a national data collection for gastroscopy.
NHS England has also invested in senior clinical leadership in gastroenterology, which includes coeliac disease, as a priority workstream in the national Getting It Right First Time programme. However, it is the responsibility of integrated care boards (ICBs) to commission services to meet the needs of their local populace, including the diagnosis and ongoing management of coeliac disease.
The Government and NHS England are taking steps to support people waiting for appointments and surgery for long-term conditions, including those waiting for a coeliac disease diagnosis, by offering online support, increasing elective capacity, and encouraging personalised support.
NHS England launched the My Planned Care platform in February 2022, giving patients advice and support to manage their health, and avoid significant deterioration of symptoms whilst they wait for appointments. This online platform includes advice on physical and mental health. In addition, through the NHS Long Term Plan, the Government is providing record levels of investment and increasing the mental health workforce to expand and transform National Health Service mental health services in England, helping to reduce waiting times.
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence promotes its guidance on coeliac disease, which includes information for the public via its website, newsletters, and other media.
Asked by: Jeff Smith (Labour - Manchester, Withington)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, who is responsible for diagnosis of coeliac disease within NHS England; and what steps her Department takes to (a) monitor the adequacy of diagnostic services for coeliac disease and (b) ensure accountability of that role holder.
Answered by Andrew Stephenson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
Diagnostic services, including tests for coeliac disease, are provided in a range of settings, including community diagnostic centres (CDCs). We are expanding diagnostic capacity through the delivery of the CDC programme. NHS England assesses the delivery of diagnostic services, including by analysing regular management information for activity in CDCs as well as a national data collection for gastroscopy.
NHS England has also invested in senior clinical leadership in gastroenterology, which includes coeliac disease, as a priority workstream in the national Getting It Right First Time programme. However, it is the responsibility of integrated care boards (ICBs) to commission services to meet the needs of their local populace, including the diagnosis and ongoing management of coeliac disease.
The Government and NHS England are taking steps to support people waiting for appointments and surgery for long-term conditions, including those waiting for a coeliac disease diagnosis, by offering online support, increasing elective capacity, and encouraging personalised support.
NHS England launched the My Planned Care platform in February 2022, giving patients advice and support to manage their health, and avoid significant deterioration of symptoms whilst they wait for appointments. This online platform includes advice on physical and mental health. In addition, through the NHS Long Term Plan, the Government is providing record levels of investment and increasing the mental health workforce to expand and transform National Health Service mental health services in England, helping to reduce waiting times.
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence promotes its guidance on coeliac disease, which includes information for the public via its website, newsletters, and other media.
Asked by: Jeff Smith (Labour - Manchester, Withington)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether she has made an assessment of the potential implications for her Department’s policies of the report by the APPG on Hormone Pregnancy Test entitled Bitter Pill: Primodos - the forgotten thalidomide, published on 27 February 2024.
Answered by Maria Caulfield - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade) (Minister for Women)
We remain hugely sympathetic to the families who believe that they have suffered due to the use of Hormone Pregnancy Tests (HPTs). In 2017 an independent Expert Working Group conducted a comprehensive review of the available scientific evidence, and concluded that the data did not support a causal association between the use of HPTs, such as Primodos, and adverse pregnancy outcomes. This remains the Government’s position. The Government has committed to reviewing any new evidence related to HPTs, and a possible causal association with adverse pregnancy outcomes.
Asked by: Jeff Smith (Labour - Manchester, Withington)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if she will implement the recommendations in the report by the APPG on Hormone Pregnancy Test entitled Bitter Pill: Primodos - the forgotten thalidomide, published on 27 February 2024.
Answered by Maria Caulfield - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade) (Minister for Women)
We remain hugely sympathetic to the families who believe that they have suffered due to the use of Hormone Pregnancy Tests (HPTs). In 2017 an independent Expert Working Group conducted a comprehensive review of the available scientific evidence, and concluded that the data did not support a causal association between the use of HPTs, such as Primodos, and adverse pregnancy outcomes. This remains the Government’s position. The Government has committed to reviewing any new evidence related to HPTs, and a possible causal association with adverse pregnancy outcomes.
Asked by: Jeff Smith (Labour - Manchester, Withington)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the intended implementation date is of the Memorandum of Understanding agreed by the UK Health Security Agency and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control on 1 December 2021.
Answered by Will Quince
On 1 December 2021, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) signed and implemented the Memorandum of Understanding to strengthen the collaboration between the two agencies on communicable diseases prevention and control. Further details on the cooperation activities and areas of mutual interest are set out at the following links:
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/ukhsa-signs-memorandum-of-understanding-with-ecdc
The European Legionnaires’ Disease Surveillance Network (ELDSNet) notification system is one of the EpiPulse surveillance systems that facilitates collection, analysis and dissemination of indicator- and event-based surveillance data on infectious diseases and associated health issues, including global epidemic intelligence, whole-genome sequencing, and health determinants.
Appointed experts from the European Union (EU)/European Economic Area (EEA) and non-EU countries within ECDC’s cooperation framework, and international organisations, can access the EpiPulse platform to report and analyse cases of infectious diseases and pathogens that may threaten public health in the EU/EEA.
The United Kingdom has a nominated EpiPulse Focal Point to oversee and manage access as a non-EU country within ECDC’s cooperation framework. Two experts from each of the four nations have been nominated to have access to disease specific domains on ECDC’s EpiPulse platform. EpiPulse incorporates the functions of ELDSNet. UK tour operators do not have access to the database as they are provided only to EU/EEA. Tour operators are advised by ABTA – The Travel Association to liaise with their suppliers and about the importance of following the Legionella 15 point plan to reduce the potential risk of Legionnaires’ disease and to keep accurate records of this as part of their due diligence procedures.
Further to the memorandum of understanding, UKHSA and ECDC have worked on a Joint Action Plan to maximise technical cooperation on specific topics to enhance UK health security. This plan is at an advanced stage and is expected to be signed off this year once the Windsor Framework is agreed.
Asked by: Jeff Smith (Labour - Manchester, Withington)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether the Memorandum of Understanding between the UK Health Security Agency and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) signed on 1 December 2021 enables UK Tour Operators to regain access to the ECDC’s database in order to be informed of legionella clusters in the EU.
Answered by Will Quince
On 1 December 2021, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) signed and implemented the Memorandum of Understanding to strengthen the collaboration between the two agencies on communicable diseases prevention and control. Further details on the cooperation activities and areas of mutual interest are set out at the following links:
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/ukhsa-signs-memorandum-of-understanding-with-ecdc
The European Legionnaires’ Disease Surveillance Network (ELDSNet) notification system is one of the EpiPulse surveillance systems that facilitates collection, analysis and dissemination of indicator- and event-based surveillance data on infectious diseases and associated health issues, including global epidemic intelligence, whole-genome sequencing, and health determinants.
Appointed experts from the European Union (EU)/European Economic Area (EEA) and non-EU countries within ECDC’s cooperation framework, and international organisations, can access the EpiPulse platform to report and analyse cases of infectious diseases and pathogens that may threaten public health in the EU/EEA.
The United Kingdom has a nominated EpiPulse Focal Point to oversee and manage access as a non-EU country within ECDC’s cooperation framework. Two experts from each of the four nations have been nominated to have access to disease specific domains on ECDC’s EpiPulse platform. EpiPulse incorporates the functions of ELDSNet. UK tour operators do not have access to the database as they are provided only to EU/EEA. Tour operators are advised by ABTA – The Travel Association to liaise with their suppliers and about the importance of following the Legionella 15 point plan to reduce the potential risk of Legionnaires’ disease and to keep accurate records of this as part of their due diligence procedures.
Further to the memorandum of understanding, UKHSA and ECDC have worked on a Joint Action Plan to maximise technical cooperation on specific topics to enhance UK health security. This plan is at an advanced stage and is expected to be signed off this year once the Windsor Framework is agreed.
Asked by: Jeff Smith (Labour - Manchester, Withington)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether the ELDSNet notification system is part of the Memorandum of Understanding agreed upon between the UK Health Security Agency and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control on 1 December 2021.
Answered by Will Quince
On 1 December 2021, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) signed and implemented the Memorandum of Understanding to strengthen the collaboration between the two agencies on communicable diseases prevention and control. Further details on the cooperation activities and areas of mutual interest are set out at the following links:
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/ukhsa-signs-memorandum-of-understanding-with-ecdc
The European Legionnaires’ Disease Surveillance Network (ELDSNet) notification system is one of the EpiPulse surveillance systems that facilitates collection, analysis and dissemination of indicator- and event-based surveillance data on infectious diseases and associated health issues, including global epidemic intelligence, whole-genome sequencing, and health determinants.
Appointed experts from the European Union (EU)/European Economic Area (EEA) and non-EU countries within ECDC’s cooperation framework, and international organisations, can access the EpiPulse platform to report and analyse cases of infectious diseases and pathogens that may threaten public health in the EU/EEA.
The United Kingdom has a nominated EpiPulse Focal Point to oversee and manage access as a non-EU country within ECDC’s cooperation framework. Two experts from each of the four nations have been nominated to have access to disease specific domains on ECDC’s EpiPulse platform. EpiPulse incorporates the functions of ELDSNet. UK tour operators do not have access to the database as they are provided only to EU/EEA. Tour operators are advised by ABTA – The Travel Association to liaise with their suppliers and about the importance of following the Legionella 15 point plan to reduce the potential risk of Legionnaires’ disease and to keep accurate records of this as part of their due diligence procedures.
Further to the memorandum of understanding, UKHSA and ECDC have worked on a Joint Action Plan to maximise technical cooperation on specific topics to enhance UK health security. This plan is at an advanced stage and is expected to be signed off this year once the Windsor Framework is agreed.
Asked by: Jeff Smith (Labour - Manchester, Withington)
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 help reduce waiting times for cancer (a) diagnosis and (b) treatment in Manchester Withington constituency.
Answered by Helen Whately - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
To support elective recovery and reduce waiting times, including in cancer care, the Government worked with NHS England to publish the delivery plan for tackling the COVID-19 backlogs in elective care in February 2022. To deliver this plan, the Government plans to spend more than £8 billion from 2022/23 to 2024/25 to help drive up and protect elective activity, including cancer diagnosis and treatment activity.
Diagnostics are a crucial part of cancer pathways. The Government awarded £2.3 billion at the 2021 Spending Review to transform diagnostic services over the next three years. As part of this investment, up to 160 new Community Diagnostic Centres will deliver additional diagnostic capacity in England.
Asked by: Jeff Smith (Labour - Manchester, Withington)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how the Major Conditions Strategy will tackle waiting times for cancer diagnosis and treatment in Manchester, Withington constituency.
Answered by Helen Whately - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Major Conditions Strategy will cover the cancer patient pathway from prevention, through treatment, to follow-up care, and set out the standards patients should expect in the short term and over a five year timeframe.