Asked by: Johnny Mercer (Conservative - Plymouth, Moor View)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of supply of EpiPen/epinephrine; and what steps his Department takes to help ensure sufficient supply of that medication.
Answered by Robert Jenrick - Shadow Secretary of State for Justice
Epipen 300 microgram pens and Epipen 150 microgram Epipens continue to be available and alternative brands of adrenaline auto-injectors also remain available.
Asked by: Johnny Mercer (Conservative - Plymouth, Moor View)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment he has made of the availability of NHS dentists in (a) Plymouth, Moor View constituency, (b) the South West and (c) England.
Answered by Maria Caulfield
In 2020/2021 there were 23,733 dentists with National Health Service activity in England and 2,560 in the South West. Data is not collected at constituency level.
Asked by: Johnny Mercer (Conservative - Plymouth, Moor View)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment his Department has made of the recruitment challenges in the NHS dentistry sector; and what steps he is taking to support the recruitment of NHS dentists.
Answered by Maria Caulfield
Following a three-year review of dental education and training, Health Education England set out recommendations in the Advancing Dental Care Review. These aim to tackle recruitment and retention challenges, attracting more dentists into the National Health Service. These recommendations will be implemented through the Dental Education Reform Programme.
The Department and NHS England and NHS Improvement are developing proposals to reform the current NHS dental contract, working with the British Dental Association. This aims to improve access for patients and make working for the NHS more attractive for dentists and their teams. The Department is also currently working with the General Dental Council on legislative proposals to allow greater flexibility to expand overseas registration routes open to international applicants.
Asked by: Johnny Mercer (Conservative - Plymouth, Moor View)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans his Department has to reform the NHS dental contract to improve access to NHS dentistry.
Answered by Maria Caulfield
The Department and NHS England and NHS Improvement are developing proposals for dental system reform, working with stakeholders, such as the British Dental Association. This includes proposals to improve patient access, reduce health inequalities and make the National Health Service a more attractive place to work for dentists.
Asked by: Johnny Mercer (Conservative - Plymouth, Moor View)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department plans to issue updated guidance following the lifting of covid-19 Plan B restrictions for people assessed as being clinically extremely vulnerable.
Answered by Maggie Throup
The Government ended the shielding programme on 15 September 2021. People previously considered clinically extremely vulnerable are advised to follow general guidance, while considering extra precautions to reduce the risk of infection. Updated public health advice was issued on 24 December 2021 for those previously considered clinically extremely vulnerable, which is available at the following link:
We have also issued guidance for people whose immune system means they are at higher risk of serious outcomes from COVID-19, which is available at the following link:
NHS England and NHS Improvement have written to general practices and hospital trusts in England to raise awareness of the guidance.
Asked by: Johnny Mercer (Conservative - Plymouth, Moor View)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether the Government's revised childhood obesity plan will make tackling noncommunicable diseases a priority.
Answered by Steve Brine
Obesity is a leading cause of serious non-communicable diseases such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease and some cancers. Many of the key measures in both chapters of our childhood obesity plan will have an impact on tackling obesity across all age groups. These include the soft drinks industry levy, sugar reduction and wider calorie reformulation programme, restricting promotions and calorie labelling in restaurants which will improve our eating habits and reduce the amount of sugar we consume.
Asked by: Johnny Mercer (Conservative - Plymouth, Moor View)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he has made an assessment of the way in which medical school places are allocated.
Answered by Steve Barclay
500 medical school places have already been allocated by the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) to established medical schools in England and will be available to students starting medical school from September 2018.
HEFCE and Health Education England (HEE) are currently undertaking a competitive bidding process for established and prospective new medical schools to bid for the remaining 1,000 places that will be available from September 2019. Amongst other criteria, bids will based on priorities such as widening participation in to the profession, a focus on priority specialties and geographical areas across England.
Bids are being assessed by an expert assessment panel and HEFCE and HEE are expected to confirm the allocation of the additional 1,000 places in March 2018.
The draft health and care workforce strategy that is currently out for consultation proposes that HEE will consider a periodic review of the number and allocation of medical school places.
Asked by: Johnny Mercer (Conservative - Plymouth, Moor View)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to his Department's news story of 9 August 2017, 1,500 extra medical undergraduate places confirmed, how those training places will be allocated.
Answered by Steve Barclay
500 medical school places have already been allocated by the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) to established medical schools in England and will be available to students starting medical school from September 2018.
HEFCE and Health Education England (HEE) are currently undertaking a competitive bidding process for established and prospective new medical schools to bid for the remaining 1,000 places that will be available from September 2019. Amongst other criteria, bids will based on priorities such as widening participation in to the profession, a focus on priority specialties and geographical areas across England.
Bids are being assessed by an expert assessment panel and HEFCE and HEE are expected to confirm the allocation of the additional 1,000 places in March 2018.
The draft health and care workforce strategy that is currently out for consultation proposes that HEE will consider a periodic review of the number and allocation of medical school places.
Asked by: Johnny Mercer (Conservative - Plymouth, Moor View)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what guidance is issued to 999 call centre staff on how to respond to callers who are feeling suicidal.
Answered by Jackie Doyle-Price
Data is not collected centrally.
Guidance for 999 call handlers on how to respond to callers who are feeling suicidal is developed and delivered by each local ambulance trust, informed by the Mental Health Care Crisis Concordat. This sets out the principles and good practice that should be followed by health staff, police officers and approved mental health professionals when working together to help people in a mental health crisis.
Asked by: Johnny Mercer (Conservative - Plymouth, Moor View)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many and what proportion of 999 calls received from or concerning a person who is feeling suicidal are responded to by (a) an ambulance, (b) the police, (c) the fire brigade and (d) other emergency services.
Answered by Jackie Doyle-Price
Data is not collected centrally.
Guidance for 999 call handlers on how to respond to callers who are feeling suicidal is developed and delivered by each local ambulance trust, informed by the Mental Health Care Crisis Concordat. This sets out the principles and good practice that should be followed by health staff, police officers and approved mental health professionals when working together to help people in a mental health crisis.