Asked by: Karin Smyth (Labour - Bristol South)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the contract awarded by her Department to PA Consulting Services Limited on 8 January 2024 under procurement reference CF-2104, what the estimated cost to the public purse will be of the completed work.
Answered by Andrew Stephenson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.
Asked by: Karin Smyth (Labour - Bristol South)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the contract awarded by her Department to KPMG LLP on 14 March 2023 under procurement reference CF-2270, whether the initial trust pipeline and Statement of Work delivery units have been identified for the implementation of the Federated Data Platform.
Answered by Andrew Stephenson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
NHS England ran a framework competition for technical support and implementation services, to support in delivering transformational changes across NHS England, integrated care boards, and NHS trusts in England. This included building capability for the Federated Data Platform (FDP), and enhancing wider data services functions, platforms, and integrating services. This contract was awarded to KPMG LLP.
The FDP Programme Team includes resources provided via this contract, in addition to substantive NHS England employees. NHS England has confirmed that a statement of work, along with an initial trust pipeline, have been identified. The team is continuing to engage with organisations that have piloted FDP products, and organisations in the pipeline, to firm up the rollout
Asked by: Karin Smyth (Labour - Bristol South)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the contract awarded by her Department to KPMG LLP on 14 March 2023 under procurement reference CF-2270, whether a programme team has been established by the supplier for the contracted work.
Answered by Andrew Stephenson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
NHS England ran a framework competition for technical support and implementation services, to support in delivering transformational changes across NHS England, integrated care boards, and NHS trusts in England. This included building capability for the Federated Data Platform (FDP), and enhancing wider data services functions, platforms, and integrating services. This contract was awarded to KPMG LLP.
The FDP Programme Team includes resources provided via this contract, in addition to substantive NHS England employees. NHS England has confirmed that a statement of work, along with an initial trust pipeline, have been identified. The team is continuing to engage with organisations that have piloted FDP products, and organisations in the pipeline, to firm up the rollout
Asked by: Karin Smyth (Labour - Bristol South)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the contract awarded by her Department to PA Consulting Services Limited on 8 January 2024 under procurement reference CF-2104, whether the supplier has delivered a pilot build of a replacement Content Management System for the National Institute for Health and Care Research websites.
Answered by Andrew Stephenson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
PA Consulting have undertaken the foundational work required to replace the Content Management System for the National Institute for Health and Care Research. The work is continuing within the existing contract and will be finalised as part of a new contract, which will be established when the current contract concludes. The new contract will be established pursuant to the Department’s C249854 Digital Strategy Services invitation to tender.
Asked by: Karin Smyth (Labour - Bristol South)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps she is taking to improve staff retention on the New Hospitals Programme.
Answered by Andrew Stephenson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.
Asked by: Karin Smyth (Labour - Bristol South)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps she is taking to reduce vacancies on the New Hospitals Programme.
Answered by Andrew Stephenson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.
Asked by: Karin Smyth (Labour - Bristol South)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the roll out of the Government's Projects Academy for staff working on the New Hospitals Programme.
Answered by Andrew Stephenson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
As is usual for major Government programmes, the New Hospitals Programme (NHP) is using both internal and external resources to ensure the right capabilities and specialist skills are in place to deliver the programme. The NHP is procuring its long-term delivery partner, which will provide flexible external expertise in technical design, commercial functions, programme delivery capabilities, and other areas.
The NHP is developing a Knowledge and Skills Transfer (KST) Strategy to embed the self-sustaining knowledge and skills required to deliver the programme, ensuring that as the balance within the team changes, the appropriate transfers take place.
The NHP continues to support its employees' development and regularly reviews the Learning and Development offer available across the programme, to support staff in the successful delivery of the programme. This includes supporting staff within the NHP, and Project Directors from NHS England trusts, to take advantage of the Government’s Project Academy by participating in the Project Leadership Programme and Major Projects Leadership Academy.
Asked by: Karin Smyth (Labour - Bristol South)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps she is taking to help increase (a) internal expertise and (b) capacity in the New Hospitals Programme in (i) technical design and (ii) programme delivery.
Answered by Andrew Stephenson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
As is usual for major Government programmes, the New Hospitals Programme (NHP) is using both internal and external resources to ensure the right capabilities and specialist skills are in place to deliver the programme. The NHP is procuring its long-term delivery partner, which will provide flexible external expertise in technical design, commercial functions, programme delivery capabilities, and other areas.
The NHP is developing a Knowledge and Skills Transfer (KST) Strategy to embed the self-sustaining knowledge and skills required to deliver the programme, ensuring that as the balance within the team changes, the appropriate transfers take place.
The NHP continues to support its employees' development and regularly reviews the Learning and Development offer available across the programme, to support staff in the successful delivery of the programme. This includes supporting staff within the NHP, and Project Directors from NHS England trusts, to take advantage of the Government’s Project Academy by participating in the Project Leadership Programme and Major Projects Leadership Academy.
Asked by: Karin Smyth (Labour - Bristol South)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what her planned timetable is for publication of the implementation plan for the Medical Technology Strategy.
Answered by Andrew Stephenson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Government published the Medical Technology Strategy: One Year On policy paper on 9 April 2024. This paper outlines key achievements since the publication of the inaugural Medical Technology Strategy in February 2023. It also outlines our plan to streamline and integrate the innovation pathway, detailing next steps and milestones.
The paper reiterated the Government’s commitment to collaborate with key stakeholders to deliver our plan, including industry, patient groups, clinicians and the wider health and social care system.
Asked by: Karin Smyth (Labour - Bristol South)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if she will make it her policy to publish the informative learning and feedback from the Innovative Devices Access Pathway pilot.
Answered by Andrew Stephenson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Innovative Devices Access Pathway (IDAP) pilot is due to run until March 2025. We are conducting internal and external reviews to seek feedback and learning from the pilot. This will provide comprehensive insights and knowledge to inform the feasibility and development of a future IDAP pathway. The outcome of these reviews will inform a wider evaluation of the IDAP. Further details of the future IDAP pathway, and the outcome of the pilot, will be shared in due course.