Asked by: Kate Hollern (Labour - Blackburn)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when his Department plans to respond to Questions 135958 and 136535, tabled by the hon. Member for Blackburn.
Answered by Edward Argar - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)
We take parliamentary scrutiny incredibly seriously and it is fundamentally important that hon. Members are provided with accurate and timely information to enable them to hold the Government to account. We are working rapidly to provide all Members with accurate answers to their questions, as well as supporting the Government’s response to the unprecedented challenge of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The hon. Member’s questions will be answered as soon as possible.
Asked by: Kate Hollern (Labour - Blackburn)
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 (a) potential effect of long covid on the delivery of local authority services and (b) cost of that disease to local authorities.
Answered by Nadine Dorries
The Government has made no specific assessment.
COVID-19 is a new disease and therefore it is not clear what the medical, psychological and rehabilitation needs will be for those experiencing long-term effects of the virus.
The Government will continue to monitor pressures in the National Health Service and local government and will keep future funding under review.
Asked by: Kate Hollern (Labour - Blackburn)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the effect of delays to local authorities receiving positive test results on the effectiveness of the NHS Track, Trace and isolate system.
Answered by Helen Whately - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
NHS Test and Trace is working closely with local authorities. Every day local authorities receive test, case and contact tracing data, with further data shared with local Directors of Public Health, to help control and manage outbreaks in their area. For week commencing 10 October 2020 67.9% of test results were received the day after the test was taken an increase from 60.8% the previous week.
Asked by: Kate Hollern (Labour - Blackburn)
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 support adult social care providers to prepare for the potential effect of a second wave of covid-19 infections in winter 2020-21.
Answered by Helen Whately - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The recommendations from the Social Care Sector Covid-19 Taskforce will shape our approach to COVID-19 in the adult social care sector and, in particular, the plans we put in place for winter which we will set out in the Adult Social Care Winter Plan. This will be published shortly.
Asked by: Kate Hollern (Labour - Blackburn)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
What assessment he has made of the availability of covid-19 testing for (a) care home residents and (b) home care recipients.
Answered by Helen Whately - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Government is committed to testing every resident in every care home in England when they need it. Around 30,000 care home residents have already been tested. We have started couriering tests directly to care homes and testing the whole home will now be done when it is needed to prevent outbreaks and control infections. We are offering testing to all social care workers and unpaid carers. We are also making tests available to over 65s and people they live with who show symptoms, which therefore includes many, although not all of those who receive home care
Asked by: Kate Hollern (Labour - Blackburn)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans he has to tackle health inequality between the north and the south of England.
Answered by Jackie Doyle-Price
People’s lives and their health are shaped by issues such as poverty and income, education, employment, and housing and environment. This was recognised in ‘Prevention is better than cure: our vision to help you live well for longer’, published in November 2018. This vision illustrates how prevention can help us meet the Ageing Society Grand Challenge Mission, as set out by the Prime Minister last year as part of our Industrial Strategy. The Government’s ambition is to ensure that people can enjoy five extra healthy, independent years of life by 2035, while narrowing the gap between the experience of the richest and poorest areas. A Prevention Green Paper will set out our further plans.
Public Health England and NHS Rightcare have produced tools and evidence to help commissioners understand the health of their populations and the issues driving inequalities in local areas. The NHS Long Term Plan has also set out action with all major programmes and every local area being required to set out specific measurable goals and mechanisms to reduce inequalities over the next five and 10 years.
Asked by: Kate Hollern (Labour - Blackburn)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he plans to take steps with Cabinet colleagues to tackle health inequalities that stem from income inequality.
Answered by Jackie Doyle-Price
People’s lives and their health are shaped by issues such as poverty and income, education, employment, and housing and environment. This was recognised in ‘Prevention is better than cure: our vision to help you live well for longer’, published in November 2018. This vision illustrates how prevention can help us meet the Ageing Society Grand Challenge Mission, as set out by the Prime Minister last year as part of our Industrial Strategy. The Government’s ambition is to ensure that people can enjoy five extra healthy, independent years of life by 2035, while narrowing the gap between the experience of the richest and poorest areas. A Prevention Green Paper will set out our further plans.
Public Health England and NHS Rightcare have produced tools and evidence to help commissioners understand the health of their populations and the issues driving inequalities in local areas. The NHS Long Term Plan has also set out action with all major programmes and every local area being required to set out specific measurable goals and mechanisms to reduce inequalities over the next five and 10 years.