Wednesday 11th March 2020

(4 years, 1 month ago)

Commons Chamber
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Matt Hancock Portrait Matt Hancock
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It is for Public Health England to make advice available and to give guidance. We will always follow the scientific advice on what makes the biggest impact. It is interesting, listening to the scientists, that sometimes the things that we, as lay people, may feel intuitively will have the biggest impact do not in fact have the biggest impact. The measures that we are taking and proposing to take include, for instance, looking at asking people who have symptoms, however mild, to stay at home. We are aiming to do the things that have the biggest impact. There are some things that feel right but do not have an impact at all. That is why it is so important to follow the science and what Public Health England says.

Luke Evans Portrait Dr Luke Evans (Bosworth) (Con)
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Primary care clinicians are expected to collect quality and outcomes framework data, which can be-time consuming and take them away from their clinical work. Will the Secretary of State consider suspending QOF data?

Matt Hancock Portrait Matt Hancock
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We are looking to reduce bureaucratic burdens on primary care and GPs—we were looking at it anyway, but we have accelerated that work because of this outbreak. We have moved to a principle of “digital first” in primary care and with out-patients: unless there are clinical or practical reasons, all consultations should be done by telemedicine.