Asked by: Jess Brown-Fuller (Liberal Democrat - Chichester)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will review the decision by NHS Hampshire and Isle of Wight Integrated Care Board to close Westbourne Surgery.
Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Department understands that the general practice (GP) partners at Emsworth Medical Practice have arrived at the decision to propose the closure of the Westbourne Branch Surgery and that the proposed date of closure is 27 June 2025.
There are no plans to review the decision by NHS Hampshire and Isle of Wight Integrated Care Board to close Westbourne Surgery. There is a high bar set out in guidance for intervention by my Rt. Hon. friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, in contested reconfiguration cases, who would expect all avenues of local resolution to be exhausted before a call-in request is made.
Responsibility for the delivery, implementation, and funding decisions for services ultimately rests with the appropriate National Health Service commissioner, in this case, NHS Hampshire and Isle of Wight Integrated Care Board (ICB), rather than the Department. The closure of a GP surgery is an issue that is considered and decided upon by local commissioners following an application from a GP provider.
Local health and care organisations are best placed to make decisions on commissioning services for their communities, working with local authorities, stakeholders, and local populations to meet people’s needs.
When a practice does close, patients will be informed of the closure and advised to register at another local practice of their choice within their area. Commissioners must put in place appropriate measures to ensure that the affected patients have access to GP services.
Asked by: Jess Brown-Fuller (Liberal Democrat - Chichester)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what his planned timeline is for responding to the Competition and Markets Authorities recommendations in their report into the infant formula and follow-on formula market, published on 20 February 2024.
Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
Infant feeding is critical to a baby’s healthy growth and development. The Government is committed to giving every child the best start in life, and that includes helping families to access support to feed their baby.
Whilst breastfeeding has significant health benefits, we recognise that for those families that cannot or choose not to breastfeed, it is vital that they have access to infant formula that is affordable and high quality. Infant formula regulations ensure that all infant formula is suitable for meeting the nutritional needs of babies, regardless of the price or brand.
The Government welcomes the Competition and Markets Authority’s market study into the United Kingdom’s infant formula and follow-on formula market. We are working closely with other Government departments and the devolved administrations to carefully consider its findings and recommendations, and will respond fully in due course.
Asked by: Jess Brown-Fuller (Liberal Democrat - Chichester)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of US tariffs on the UK pharmaceutical industry.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Department is working closely with United Kingdom pharmaceutical firms and trade associations to understand how United States tariffs may impact the sector and the trade of individual products. As this is an evolving situation, these assessments are ongoing, but we will continue to closely review the potential impact as more information becomes available.
Asked by: Jess Brown-Fuller (Liberal Democrat - Chichester)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he has had discussions with Cabinet colleagues on the Competition and Markets Authority's infant formula and follow-on formula market study, published on 14 February 2025.
Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
Infant feeding is critical to a baby’s healthy growth and development. The Government is committed to giving every child the best start in life and that includes helping families to access support to feed their baby. Whilst breastfeeding has significant health benefits, we recognise that for those families that cannot or choose not to breastfeed, it is vital that they have access to infant formula that is affordable and high quality. Infant formula regulations ensure that all infant formula is suitable for meeting the nutritional needs of babies, regardless of the price or brand.
The Government welcomes the Competition and Markets Authority’s market study report on infant formula and follow-on formula. We are working with other Government Departments and the Devolved Governments to consider its recommendations, and relevant Ministers will also be consulted.
The legislation which sets the general principles and requirements of overall food law places a statutory requirement to consult on potential changes to food law.
Asked by: Jess Brown-Fuller (Liberal Democrat - Chichester)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department plans to take to consider the recommendations from the Competition and Markets Authority's infant formula and follow-on formula market study, published on 14 February 2025.
Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
Infant feeding is critical to a baby’s healthy growth and development. The Government is committed to giving every child the best start in life and that includes helping families to access support to feed their baby. Whilst breastfeeding has significant health benefits, we recognise that for those families that cannot or choose not to breastfeed, it is vital that they have access to infant formula that is affordable and high quality. Infant formula regulations ensure that all infant formula is suitable for meeting the nutritional needs of babies, regardless of the price or brand.
The Government welcomes the Competition and Markets Authority’s market study report on infant formula and follow-on formula. We are working with other Government Departments and the Devolved Governments to consider its recommendations, and relevant Ministers will also be consulted.
The legislation which sets the general principles and requirements of overall food law places a statutory requirement to consult on potential changes to food law.
Asked by: Jess Brown-Fuller (Liberal Democrat - Chichester)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the Competition and Markets Authority's infant formula and follow-on formula market study, published on 14 February 2025, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of launching a public consultation on infant formula regulations.
Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
Infant feeding is critical to a baby’s healthy growth and development. The Government is committed to giving every child the best start in life and that includes helping families to access support to feed their baby. Whilst breastfeeding has significant health benefits, we recognise that for those families that cannot or choose not to breastfeed, it is vital that they have access to infant formula that is affordable and high quality. Infant formula regulations ensure that all infant formula is suitable for meeting the nutritional needs of babies, regardless of the price or brand.
The Government welcomes the Competition and Markets Authority’s market study report on infant formula and follow-on formula. We are working with other Government Departments and the Devolved Governments to consider its recommendations, and relevant Ministers will also be consulted.
The legislation which sets the general principles and requirements of overall food law places a statutory requirement to consult on potential changes to food law.
Asked by: Jess Brown-Fuller (Liberal Democrat - Chichester)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether the Government plans to implement the recommendations within the Competition and Markets Authority's infant formula and follow-on formula market study, published on 14 February 2025.
Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
Infant feeding is critical to a baby’s healthy growth and development. The Government is committed to giving every child the best start in life and that includes helping families to access support to feed their baby. Whilst breastfeeding has significant health benefits, we recognise that for those families that cannot or choose not to breastfeed, it is vital that they have access to infant formula that is affordable and high quality. Infant formula regulations ensure that all infant formula is suitable for meeting the nutritional needs of babies, regardless of the price or brand.
The Government welcomes the Competition and Markets Authority’s market study report on infant formula and follow-on formula. We are working with other Government Departments and the Devolved Governments to consider its recommendations, and relevant Ministers will also be consulted.
The legislation which sets the general principles and requirements of overall food law places a statutory requirement to consult on potential changes to food law.
Asked by: Jess Brown-Fuller (Liberal Democrat - Chichester)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether GP training includes a mandatory rotation on (a) obstetrics and (b) gynaecology.
Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The curricula for postgraduate medical specialty training are set by individual royal colleges and faculties. The General Medical Council approves curricula and assessment systems for each training programme. Curricula emphasise the skills and approaches that a doctor must develop in order to ensure accurate and timely diagnoses and treatment plans for their patients. The Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) sets the curriculum that all general practitioners (GPs) must cover before they are able to pass the examination to become a member of the RCGP and to work independently as a GP.
Obstetrics and gynaecology are not mandatory specialties in a GP programme, and there are no mandatory jobs in GP specialty training. GP training is a balanced programme which allows the trainee to meet the outcomes of the curriculum. Women's health, including sexual and reproductive health, is a significant element of the General Practice and Community Placement elements of GP specialty training and of the curriculum.
Asked by: Jess Brown-Fuller (Liberal Democrat - Chichester)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of US tariffs on the domestic supply of (a) methylphenidate and (b) pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Department is working closely with life sciences stakeholders and other Government departments to assess the potential impact of United States tariffs on global medicine supply chains. We have a range of well-established processes to mitigate risks to patients where there are shortages. We will continue to review the need to utilise these procedures as more information becomes available on the impact of tariffs on any specific products or companies.
Asked by: Jess Brown-Fuller (Liberal Democrat - Chichester)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what progress he has made on increasing the availability of (a) methylphenidate and (b) pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
As a result of intensive work, some issues with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder medicines have resolved. All strengths of lisdexamfetamine, atomoxetine capsules, atomoxetine oral solution, and guanfacine prolonged-release tablets are now available.
However, whilst supply of methylphenidate prolonged-release tablets has greatly improved, some issues persist. We are continuing to work to resolve these remaining issues by engaging with all suppliers of methylphenidate prolonged-release tablets and capsules to assess the challenges faced and their actions to address them. We are also directing suppliers to secure additional stocks, expedite deliveries where possible, and review plans to build further capacity to support the continued growth in demand for the short and long-term. The Department is also working with new suppliers of methylphenidate prolonged-release tablets to improve supply and resiliency for the United Kingdom’s market.
The Department is continuing to engage with all suppliers of pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy (PERT) to mitigate the supply issue that is affecting the whole of the UK. Through this, we have managed to secure additional volumes of PERT for 2025 for the UK. We are continuing to work with all suppliers to understand what more can be done to add further resilience to the market. The Department has also reached out to specialist importers who have sourced unlicensed stock to assist in covering the remaining gap in the market.
In the longer term, the Department has had interest from non-UK suppliers wishing to bring their products to the UK and, along with colleagues in the Medicine and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, we are working with these potential suppliers, and if authorised, these products could further diversify and strengthen the market.