Asked by: Kit Malthouse (Conservative - North West Hampshire)
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 progress of the New Hospital Programme.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Government’s New Hospital Programme: Plan for Implementation was published in January 2025 and put the programme on a credible and sustainable footing, ensuring taxpayers get maximum value for money. We are committed to delivering all schemes and are moving at pace with the funding in place for design work, construction, and business case development for schemes in Wave 0 and Wave 1.
The National Audit Office and Public Accounts Committee (PAC) both recently published assessments of the programme and both recognised that the Plan for Implementation had put the programme on a more realistic footing. We will respond to the PAC’s report and recommendations formally in the usual way.
Asked by: Kit Malthouse (Conservative - North West Hampshire)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what information his Department holds on where licenced donor animal blood is sourced from to develop animal blood-enriched agar for use across the NHS; and if he will make a statement about the importance of sustainable national supply of this material
Answered by Zubir Ahmed
The Department recognises that animal blood-enriched agar is a critical component in microbiological diagnostics, and we recognise the importance of a sustainable and secure supply of such materials.
There are a number of suppliers on NHS Supply Chain’s current framework which offer donor animal blood supply for diagnostic use which support a level of resilience across England. To date there has been no issues with supply.
Where challenges in the supply of key products arise, these would be escalated to the Department’s National Supply Disruption Response, which works collaboratively with suppliers, manufacturers, and system partners to understand the nature of the disruption and to support appropriate mitigations.
The Department does not routinely centrally collect detailed information on the source of the licensed donor animal blood used in the manufacture of blood-enriched agar.
Asked by: Kit Malthouse (Conservative - North West Hampshire)
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 level of resilience of UK donor animal blood supply for diagnostic use across the NHS and the need for continuous supply.
Answered by Zubir Ahmed
The Department recognises that animal blood-enriched agar is a critical component in microbiological diagnostics, and we recognise the importance of a sustainable and secure supply of such materials.
There are a number of suppliers on NHS Supply Chain’s current framework which offer donor animal blood supply for diagnostic use which support a level of resilience across England. To date there has been no issues with supply.
Where challenges in the supply of key products arise, these would be escalated to the Department’s National Supply Disruption Response, which works collaboratively with suppliers, manufacturers, and system partners to understand the nature of the disruption and to support appropriate mitigations.
The Department does not routinely centrally collect detailed information on the source of the licensed donor animal blood used in the manufacture of blood-enriched agar.
Asked by: Kit Malthouse (Conservative - North West Hampshire)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what role animal blood-enriched agar plays in (a) bacterial culture, (b) antimicrobial susceptibility testing, (c) AMR surveillance and (d) the recent meningitis outbreak.
Answered by Sharon Hodgson - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Department supports the use of validated laboratory methods to ensure accurate diagnosis, effective treatment, and robust surveillance, while encouraging the development and adoption of suitable alternatives where these can be used safely and effectively. These methods and alternatives include:
- bacterial culture, in which animal blood‑enriched agar is commonly used in clinical laboratories to help bacteria grow so that infections can be identified accurately. Some bacteria require enriched growth conditions, and the appearance of the growth on these media can help distinguish between different types of bacteria;
- antimicrobial susceptibility testing, where, in certain cases, blood‑enriched agar is required to test whether specific bacteria remain sensitive to particular antibiotics. This ensures that test results are reliable and supports clinicians in choosing the most effective treatment for patients;
- antimicrobial resistance surveillance, where laboratory results are generated using established culture and susceptibility testing methods, including blood‑enriched agar where clinically appropriate, contribute to national antimicrobial resistance surveillance. This information helps monitor resistance trends and informs public health policy and clinical guidance; and
- the recent meningitis outbreak, during which blood‑enriched agar was used, as a standard laboratory medium, in the identification of bacteria that can cause meningitis. It forms part of routine diagnostic and public health laboratory practice and supports the timely confirmation and investigation of cases during outbreaks. During the recent outbreak, such media formed part of the standard range of laboratory methods available to support diagnosis where clinically appropriate.
Asked by: Kit Malthouse (Conservative - North West Hampshire)
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 align medicines spending growth with NHS budget growth in real terms.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The allowed rate of growth for branded medicines is established by the 2024 Voluntary Scheme for Branded Medicines Pricing, Access and Growth (VPAG).
The VPAG plays an important role in delivering improved health gains from medicines in the National Health Service across the United Kingdom, by securing rapid access to new medicines, supporting economic growth, and contributing to a financially sustainable health service.
We are taking decisive action to review the scheme to unlock innovation and drive investment in the UK's world-class pharmaceutical sector.
This review is ongoing, demonstrating our commitment to creating an environment where this innovative sector can thrive.
Asked by: Kit Malthouse (Conservative - North West Hampshire)
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 potential impact of the (a) voluntary scheme for branded medicines pricing, access and growth and (b) statutory scheme payment rates on attracting pharmaceutical companies to invest in (i) clinical trials, (ii) research and development and (iii) manufacturing.
Answered by Ashley Dalton
Life sciences is a key growth-driving sector and is a core part of our modern Industrial Strategy. The 2024 Voluntary Scheme for Branded Medicines Pricing and Access (VPAG) introduced, for the first time, an approximately £400 million industry-funded VPAG Investment Programme. Funding from the VPAG Investment Programme is used to accelerate work across the United Kingdom on clinical trials, manufacturing, and health technology assessments. This is encouraging the United Kingdom’s economic growth, collaboration, and innovation in the health and life sciences sector.
In recognition of the concerns raised by industry regarding the higher than expected headline payment percentage rates in the VPAG this year, the Department brought forward an expedited scheme review. The conclusion to this review will be communicated in due course.
Any company that chooses not to be part of the VPAG will automatically be subject to the statutory scheme, which was recently subject to amendments, which will come into force on 1 July 2025. The purpose of these amendments is to restore broad commercial equivalence with the VPAG, to ensure that the schemes can continue to work together to meet our objectives of acting in the best interests of industry, patients, the National Health Service, and the broader economy. An impact assessment was conducted and published alongside the amending statutory instrument for this most recent update, which included consideration of the impact on clinical trials and manufacturing.
Additionally, the Government is developing the Life Sciences Sector Plan and 10-Year Health Plan to make the UK the premier destination for life sciences investment, by fostering an environment where innovation thrives.
Asked by: Kit Malthouse (Conservative - North West Hampshire)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what (a) statutory and (b) non-statutory direct ministerial appointments excluding special advisers he has made; and (i) who the appointee was and (ii) what the (A) remuneration, (B) title and (C) terms of reference was for each appointment.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
My Rt hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care is responsible for making a range of public appointments, some of which are established in statute, and some of which are not. As of 29 August 2024, my Rt hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care had not made any public appointments directly, without competition.
Separate to public appointments, and in line with Cabinet Office guidance, ministers can also make direct ministerial appointments. As of 29 August 2024, my Rt hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care had made two such appointments. The first of which is the Rt hon. Professor Lord Darzi, who has been appointed to lead the independent audit of the National Health Service. This is an unpaid position, and details of this appointment and the terms of reference are available, respectively, at the following two links:
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/independent-investigation-ordered-into-state-of-nhs
The second appointment is Paul Corrigan, who has been appointed as a Senior Strategy Advisor for the 10-Year Health Plan. This is a paid position, at a rate of £350 per day. Further details on the terms of reference for the role will be released shortly on the GOV.UK website.
Asked by: Kit Malthouse (Conservative - North West Hampshire)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many people who were (a) drunk and (b) under the influence of alcohol attended Hampshire Hospital NHS Foundation Trust accident and emergency or urgent care centres in each of the last three years; and how many such patients were repeat attendees.
Answered by Jane Ellison
This information is not collected centrally.
We have written to Elizabeth Padmore, Chair of Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust informing her of my hon. Friend’s enquiry. She will reply shortly and a copy of the letter will be placed in the Library.
Asked by: Kit Malthouse (Conservative - North West Hampshire)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many children aged under 18 have visited A&E departments due to (a) breathing difficulties and (b) other symptoms relating to the completion of legal highs in each of the last three years.
Answered by Jane Ellison
This information is not collected centrally.