Asked by: Jim Shannon (Democratic Unionist Party - Strangford)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how much (a) his Department and (b) NHS England have spent on (i) Part IX, Value-Based Procurement and (ii) the MedTech Commercial Strategy reforms.
Answered by Zubir Ahmed - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Department and NHS England have spent:
These figures do not include the Department and NHS England staff time.
Asked by: Jim Shannon (Democratic Unionist Party - Strangford)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many people living in England are (a) blind and (b) partially sighted, broken down by age.
Answered by Zubir Ahmed - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The specific data requested is not held centrally, however the Registered Blind and Partially Sighted People data collection provides national statistics on individuals in England with a Certificate of Vision Impairment (CVI) who are on local authority registers. A CVI formally certifies someone as sight impaired or as severely sight impaired. The latest figures are from 2022/23 and can be found at the following link:
As of 31 March 2023, there were 268,500 people registered as blind and partially sighted in England. The following table shows the number of people registered as blind/severely sight impaired, as of 31 March 2023, broken down by age:
0 to 4 | 5 to 17 | 18 to 49 | 50 to 64 | 65 to 74 | 75 and over |
420 | 3,730 | 18,530 | 19,725 | 15,100 | 75,810 |
In addition, the following table shows the number of people registered as partial sight/sight impaired persons, as of 31 March 2023, broken down by age:
0 to 4 | 5 to 17 | 18 to 49 | 50 to 64 | 65 to 74 | 75 and over |
430 | 5,920 | 17,650 | 16,920 | 14,115 | 80,150 |
Asked by: Jim Shannon (Democratic Unionist Party - Strangford)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, who the members are of the Cardiovascular Disease Modern Service Framework Task and Finish Group.
Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
There are two appointed co-chairs to the Cardiovascular Disease Modern Service Framework (CVD MSF) Task and Finish Group, namely Dr. Jessica Randall-Carrick and Sir Andrew Goddard.
The membership of the group comprises of a wide range of representatives from 31 stakeholder organisations, including, charities, professional bodies, patient, and public voices, the Department, and NHS England, related to cardiovascular disease and associated conditions.
The Department and NHS England are engaging widely with stakeholders to co-produce the CVD MSF, ensuring that experts, people, and communities are at the heart of its development.
The CVD MSF will be published later this year and will support consistent, high quality, and equitable care whilst fostering innovation across the cardiovascular disease pathway.
Asked by: Jim Shannon (Democratic Unionist Party - Strangford)
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 the long-term financial and psychological impact of blood cancer on patients.
Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
It is a priority for the Government and the National Health Service to support people who are living with cancer, and for those people who have been through cancer treatment.
Through the National Cancer Plan, we will improve experiences and outcomes for people living with and beyond cancer. Every cancer patient will receive a tailored support plan, covering treatment, mental health, and employment support. Every patient will also have a named neighbourhood care lead to coordinate their care and support after treatment. We will support patients to stay in and return to work through Health and Growth Accelerators and a new employer collaborative, in partnership with cancer charities, the NHS, and the Government.
Asked by: Jim Shannon (Democratic Unionist Party - Strangford)
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 merits of extending the free school milk entitlement through the Nursery Milk Scheme to the end of the academic year in which a child turns five.
Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Nursery Milk Scheme (NMS) is a statutory scheme which allows early years childcare settings to reclaim the cost of providing one-third of a pint of milk per day to children under the age of five years old who attend a setting for two or more hours per day.
The NHS Business Services Authority, which delivers the NMS on behalf of the Department, does not hold data relating to the number of children who became ineligible for free milk as a result of the age eligibility cut-off of the NMS.
There are no plans to extend eligibility for the NMS to cover children until the end of the academic year, during which they reach their fifth birthday. However, the School Food Standards provide that milk must be available in schools for those who want it at least once a day during school hours. Separate legislation allows pupils who are eligible for free school meals to continue to receive free milk at school after the age of five years old. Free school meal eligibility will be expanded from September 2026 to more disadvantaged children, leading to higher attainment, improved behaviour, and better outcomes. As eligibility widens, more children will be able to access free milk.
Asked by: Jim Shannon (Democratic Unionist Party - Strangford)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many children became ineligible for free school milk as a result of the age eligibility cut-off of the Nursery Milk Scheme in the last 12 months.
Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Nursery Milk Scheme (NMS) is a statutory scheme which allows early years childcare settings to reclaim the cost of providing one-third of a pint of milk per day to children under the age of five years old who attend a setting for two or more hours per day.
The NHS Business Services Authority, which delivers the NMS on behalf of the Department, does not hold data relating to the number of children who became ineligible for free milk as a result of the age eligibility cut-off of the NMS.
There are no plans to extend eligibility for the NMS to cover children until the end of the academic year, during which they reach their fifth birthday. However, the School Food Standards provide that milk must be available in schools for those who want it at least once a day during school hours. Separate legislation allows pupils who are eligible for free school meals to continue to receive free milk at school after the age of five years old. Free school meal eligibility will be expanded from September 2026 to more disadvantaged children, leading to higher attainment, improved behaviour, and better outcomes. As eligibility widens, more children will be able to access free milk.
Asked by: Jim Shannon (Democratic Unionist Party - Strangford)
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 age-based eligibility criteria for free school milk on (a) educational and (b) health inequalities.
Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Nursery Milk Scheme (NMS) is a statutory scheme which allows early years childcare settings to reclaim the cost of providing one-third of a pint of milk per day to children under the age of five years old who attend a setting for two or more hours per day.
The NHS Business Services Authority, which delivers the NMS on behalf of the Department, does not hold data relating to the number of children who became ineligible for free milk as a result of the age eligibility cut-off of the NMS.
There are no plans to extend eligibility for the NMS to cover children until the end of the academic year, during which they reach their fifth birthday. However, the School Food Standards provide that milk must be available in schools for those who want it at least once a day during school hours. Separate legislation allows pupils who are eligible for free school meals to continue to receive free milk at school after the age of five years old. Free school meal eligibility will be expanded from September 2026 to more disadvantaged children, leading to higher attainment, improved behaviour, and better outcomes. As eligibility widens, more children will be able to access free milk.
Asked by: Jim Shannon (Democratic Unionist Party - Strangford)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what his planned timetable is for the implementation of the Cardiovascular Disease Modern Service Framework in (a) community care, (b) primary care, and (c) secondary care.
Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Cardiovascular Disease Modern Service Framework (CVD MSF) will be published later this year.
The Department and NHS England are working together to deliver the CVD MSF, and as part of this, are considering how the modern service framework can be implemented in the community, as well as parts of primary and secondary care.
Wide engagement with stakeholders is underway to co-produce the CVD MSF, ensuring that experts, people, and communities are at the heart of its development.
Asked by: Jim Shannon (Democratic Unionist Party - Strangford)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when he expects to publish the Cardiovascular Disease Modern Service Framework; and if he will set out the planned timetable for its implementation.
Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Cardiovascular Disease Modern Service Framework (CVD MSF) will be published later this year.
The Department and NHS England are working together to deliver the CVD MSF, and as part of this, are considering how the modern service framework can be implemented in the community, as well as parts of primary and secondary care.
Wide engagement with stakeholders is underway to co-produce the CVD MSF, ensuring that experts, people, and communities are at the heart of its development.
Asked by: Jim Shannon (Democratic Unionist Party - Strangford)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what is the criteria for disabled people to access transport from the Ambulance Service for hospital appointments.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
Non-Emergency Patient Transport Schemes (NEPTS) often provide funded transport where a medical condition means that a patient would struggle to safely attend their treatment independently. NEPTS can be provided by ambulance trusts or other providers depending on local arrangements.
In 2019, NHS England set out updated eligibility criteria, which includes disability criteria, which is available at the following link:
https://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/B1244-nepts-eligibility-criteria.pdf
We want disabled people’s access to, and experience of, healthcare services to be equitable, effective and responsive to their needs.
NEPTS in England is an operational matter for the National Health Service and how the NEPTS guidance is implemented at a local level is determined by integrated care boards and their partners, including local ambulance trusts.