Asked by: Lord Hunt of Kings Heath (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking with NHS England to promote the principles of value-based procurement in the purchase and dispensation of absorbent continence products; and to ensure that pressure on NHS organisations to deliver short-term savings does not undermine the adoption of those principles.
Answered by Lord Markham - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The disposable continence tender is due to be issued to the market later this year. To ensure that the National Health Services requirements are considered during the procurement process, the NHS Supply Chain are undertaking significant engagement across the health and social care system. This includes customers in the acute and wider community setting, suppliers, trade associations, professional bodies, and end user reference groups, to understand their requirements from a commercial, value, sustainability, and supply resilience perspective.
The NHS Supply Chain are currently working with suppliers of disposable continence products to understand the value-based procurement and sustainability offerings on the purchase of continence products. The NHS Supply Chain have identified a trust who are committed to supporting us in understanding this value, in the form of a pilot study and potential case study. More information can be provided once these studies have been finalised and confirmed.
To support value-based procurement decisions more broadly across medical technologies, a standard methodology is being developed to assess the value of medical technology beyond upfront cost alone. It is intended that this will support the adoption of products which demonstrate value to the whole system, and ensure the best products are reaching patients.
The Government is working closely with NHS England and wider health partners to develop the methodology and plans for implementation at both a national and local level. The Government is committed to working collaboratively with industry and the procurement community in developing the methodology and will share an initial proposal in due course.
Asked by: Lord Hunt of Kings Heath (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of international phase 3 clinical trials which suggest that Vorasidenib could offer a new treatment option for low-grade glioma; and whether they intend to make it available to brain tumour patients.
Answered by Lord Markham - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
If the manufacturer applies for a marketing authorisation in the United Kingdom, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency will consider clinical trial evidence in making a licensing decision. Subject to licensing, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence will consider the clinical trial evidence, when making decisions on whether vorasidenib should be recommended for routine National Health Service funding.
Asked by: Lord Hunt of Kings Heath (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of analysis by the Guardian which found that funding for testing and treating sexually transmitted infections fell by 33 per cent since 2013, and what assessment they have made of the consequential additional costs to the NHS.
Answered by Lord Markham - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
Local authorities are responsible for commissioning comprehensive open access to most sexual health services. Dedicated sexual health services play a key public health role in diagnosis, early treatment, and management of sexually transmitted infections. Individual local authorities are responsible for making funding and commissioning decisions, working with local partners including the National Health Service via the integrated care systems, about the sexual health services that best meet the needs of their local populations through the Public Health Grant, including online and in-person provision.
In 2023/24, we allocated more than £3.5 billion to local authorities in England to fund public health services, including sexual health services, through the Public Health Grant. In 2024/25, the total Public Health Grant to local authorities will be £3.603 billion. This will provide local authorities with an average 2.1% cash increase compared to 2023/24.
Asked by: Lord Hunt of Kings Heath (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the costs of additional inpatient hospital care for sexually transmitted infections resulting from cuts in funding for sexual health services.
Answered by Lord Markham - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
Local authorities are responsible for commissioning comprehensive open access to most sexual health services. Dedicated sexual health services play a key public health role in diagnosis, early treatment, and management of sexually transmitted infections. Individual local authorities are responsible for making funding and commissioning decisions, working with local partners including the National Health Service via the integrated care systems, about the sexual health services that best meet the needs of their local populations through the Public Health Grant, including online and in-person provision.
In 2023/24, we allocated more than £3.5 billion to local authorities in England to fund public health services, including sexual health services, through the Public Health Grant. In 2024/25, the total Public Health Grant to local authorities will be £3.603 billion. This will provide local authorities with an average 2.1% cash increase compared to 2023/24.
Asked by: Lord Hunt of Kings Heath (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of cuts in sexual health services from £14.41 per head in 2013–14 to £9.58 per head in 2022–23.
Answered by Lord Markham - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
We have provided cash growth in the Public Health Grant each year over the 2021 Spending Review period. In 2024/25, this will increase to £3.603 billion, providing local authorities with an average 2.1% cash increase compared to 2023/24.
Local government is well placed to make decisions about the services that best meet the needs of their local populations. It is the responsibility of local authorities working with local partners, including the National Health Service via integrated care systems, to commission different kinds of services to fit local circumstances and priorities.
Asked by: Lord Hunt of Kings Heath (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether the NHS refers patients with Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder to the Birmingham Food Refusal Service.
Answered by Lord Markham - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
Commissioning pathways for avoidant restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID) are locally determined, by integrated care boards. NHS England advises that all eating disorder teams should work collaboratively to address coexisting and co-occurring conditions as needed, in accordance with the published national guidance. NHS England recognises the importance of patient-centre care, which ensures that care is tailored to meet the needs of children and young people with varied presentations, including ARFID. The children and young people’s eating disorder guidance is being updated to reflect this, with publication expected later in 2024.
Asked by: Lord Hunt of Kings Heath (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impacts of endemic bullying of students and newly qualified midwives on (1) retention, and (2) the treatment of pregnant women, in the NHS, as highlighted in the #Saynotobullyinginmidwifery report published on 12 November 2023.
Answered by Lord Markham - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
Whilst no specific assessment has been made, the National Health Service takes bullying and harassment very seriously. All employers across the NHS should have a robust policy on bullying, outlining how it should be handled, and the support available to staff.
In June 2023, NHS England published their Equality Diversity and Inclusion Improvement Plan which set out a series of high impact actions, including the requirement for NHS organisations to review data by protected characteristics on bullying, harassment, discrimination, and violence, and to develop plans to improve staff experience. This includes promoting environments where staff feel they are able to speak up and raise concerns.
The plan also sets out the need for NHS organisations to provide psychological support to those who report that they have been a victim of bullying or harassment. NHS England has also developed an NHS Civility and Respect programme to tackle bullying and harassment in the NHS, and to create a culture of civility and respect.
On retention, we have set a very ambitious target in the Long Term Workforce Plan to reduce the overall leaver rate. We are not starting from scratch and a lot of work has been done through the NHS People Plan and NHS People Promise, to make the NHS a better and more modern employer by improving leadership and workplace culture, supporting staff health and wellbeing, and tackling issues such as bullying, harassment and discrimination. We will continue to prioritise this through the NHS National Retention Programme.
Asked by: Lord Hunt of Kings Heath (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to ensure that the Worcestershire and Herefordshire Integrated Care Board will make available services to people suffering from Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder.
Answered by Lord Markham - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
It is for integrated care boards to determine what specific services they commission, based on local needs and national guidance. NHS England continues to work with eating disorder services and local commissioners to improve access to treatment for all children and young people with a suspected eating disorder including those presenting with avoidant restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID).
NHS England recognises the importance of making available services to people suffering from ARFID. The children and young people’s eating disorder guidance is being updated to reflect this, with publication expected later in 2024. NHS England also advises that all eating disorder teams should work collaboratively with other community teams to address coexisting and co-occurring conditions as needed.
Asked by: Lord Hunt of Kings Heath (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of understaffing in maternity units on levels of bullying, as highlighted in the #Saynotobullyinginmidwifery report published on 12 November 2023.
Answered by Lord Markham - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The National Health Service takes bullying and harassment very seriously. All employers across the NHS should have a robust policy on bullying, outlining how it should be handled, and the support available to staff.
In June 2023, NHS England published their Equality Diversity and Inclusion Improvement Plan which set out a series of high impact actions, including the requirement for NHS organisations to review data by protected characteristics on bullying, harassment, discrimination, and violence, and to develop plans to improve staff experience. This includes promoting environments where staff feel they are able to speak up and raise concerns. NHS England has also developed an NHS Civility and Respect programme to tackle bullying and harassment in the NHS, and to create a culture of civility and respect.
Since 2021, the Government has invested an additional £165 million a year to improve maternity and neonatal care, which will rise to an additional £186 million a year from 2024/25, with part year effect in 2023/24. This will improve the quality of care for mothers and babies and increase the number of midwifery posts available.
NHS England has established a nursing and midwifery retention programme, supporting organisations to assess themselves against a bundle of interventions aligned to the People Promise, and to use the outcome of this to develop a high-quality retention improvement plan locally.
A key part of our strategy is the Perinatal Culture and Leadership Programme to support perinatal leadership teams to develop the conditions for a positive culture of safety and continuous improvement. It aims to improve the quality of care by enabling leaders to drive change with a better understanding of the relationship between leadership, safety improvement, and safety culture.
£2.8 million has been invested into the Perinatal Culture and Leadership Development Programme, which will support multi-professional teams from across maternity and neonatal services, to take time out together. It will create space for team and individual reflection and re-design, with a common purpose.
In January 2021, a new £500,000 fund for Maternity Leadership Training was announced for NHS maternity and neonatal leaders. The training aims to equip leaders with a range of skills and knowledge to address poor workplace culture and facilitate collaborative working between nurses, doctors, midwives and obstetricians.
Asked by: Lord Hunt of Kings Heath (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether integrated care boards (ICBs) have been informed of the details of the Children’s Hospice Grant for children’s palliative care, including (1) the amounts awarded to each ICB, and (2) the distribution method to be used.
Answered by Lord Markham - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
NHS England currently supports palliative and end of life care for children and young people through the Children and Young People’s Hospice Grant. Last year, NHS England confirmed that it will be renewing the funding for 2024/25, once again allocating £25 million of funding for children’s hospices using the same prevalence-based allocation approach as in 2022/23 and 2023/24. This prevalence-based approach ensures funding matches local need. Funding will be distributed via integrated care boards (ICBs) in line with National Health Service devolution.
All ICBs in England, including those in the West Midlands, were notified of the amount of funding that each ICB will receive during week commencing 19 February 2024. Additionally, all ICBs in England, including those in the West Midlands, will be notified of the distribution method to be used very shortly.
The Department and NHS England hope to be able to provide the greater clarity that the sector is seeking on this important funding stream to children’s hospices in the coming weeks.