Asked by: Marsha De Cordova (Labour - Battersea)
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 increase provision of Child and Adult Mental Health Services for children with autism and ADHD in Battersea constituency.
Answered by Maria Caulfield - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade) (Minister for Women)
It is the responsibility of integrated care boards (ICBs) to make available appropriate provision to meet the health and care needs of their local populations, including in Battersea constituency area. We are supporting them to expand mental health services through the NHS Long Term Plan, which commits to increasing investment into mental health services by at least £2.3 billion a year by 2023/24. Part of this increased investment will enable an additional 345,000 children and young people aged zero to 25 years old to access National Health Service funded mental health support.
In recognition of the increased demand created by the COVID-19 pandemic, we invested an extra £79 million in 2021/22 to expand children’s mental health services, including enabling around 22,500 more children and young people to access community health services, 2,000 more to access eating disorder services and accelerating the coverage of mental health support teams in schools and colleges.
NHS England has consulted on the potential to introduce five new waiting time standards as part of its Clinically led Review of NHS Access Standards, including that children, young people and their families, presenting to community-based mental health services should start to receive care within four weeks from referral. As a first step, NHS England has recently shared and promoted guidance with its local system partners to consistently report waiting times to support the development of a baseline position. The Department is now working with NHS England on the next steps for introducing the new access and waiting time standards for mental health services.
In addition, NHS England is currently developing a national framework to support partners in local areas to commission and deliver autism assessment services for children, young people, and adults. The framework will be published in due course.
With respect to attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), in a recent Westminster Hall debate, on 1 February 2023, I committed to look at how we can improve data on ADHD assessment waiting times, to help improve access to ADHD assessments in a timely way and in line with the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guideline.
Asked by: Marsha De Cordova (Labour - Battersea)
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 reduce waiting times for Child and Adult Mental Health Services for children with autism and ADHD in Battersea constituency.
Answered by Maria Caulfield - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade) (Minister for Women)
It is the responsibility of integrated care boards (ICBs) to make available appropriate provision to meet the health and care needs of their local populations, including in Battersea constituency area. We are supporting them to expand mental health services through the NHS Long Term Plan, which commits to increasing investment into mental health services by at least £2.3 billion a year by 2023/24. Part of this increased investment will enable an additional 345,000 children and young people aged zero to 25 years old to access National Health Service funded mental health support.
In recognition of the increased demand created by the COVID-19 pandemic, we invested an extra £79 million in 2021/22 to expand children’s mental health services, including enabling around 22,500 more children and young people to access community health services, 2,000 more to access eating disorder services and accelerating the coverage of mental health support teams in schools and colleges.
NHS England has consulted on the potential to introduce five new waiting time standards as part of its Clinically led Review of NHS Access Standards, including that children, young people and their families, presenting to community-based mental health services should start to receive care within four weeks from referral. As a first step, NHS England has recently shared and promoted guidance with its local system partners to consistently report waiting times to support the development of a baseline position. The Department is now working with NHS England on the next steps for introducing the new access and waiting time standards for mental health services.
In addition, NHS England is currently developing a national framework to support partners in local areas to commission and deliver autism assessment services for children, young people, and adults. The framework will be published in due course.
With respect to attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), in a recent Westminster Hall debate, on 1 February 2023, I committed to look at how we can improve data on ADHD assessment waiting times, to help improve access to ADHD assessments in a timely way and in line with the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guideline.
Asked by: Marsha De Cordova (Labour - Battersea)
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 reduce waiting times for Child and Adult Mental Health Services for children with autism and ADHD.
Answered by Maria Caulfield - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade) (Minister for Women)
It is the responsibility of integrated care boards (ICBs) to make available appropriate provision to meet the health and care needs of their local populations, including in Battersea constituency area. We are supporting them to expand mental health services through the NHS Long Term Plan, which commits to increasing investment into mental health services by at least £2.3 billion a year by 2023/24. Part of this increased investment will enable an additional 345,000 children and young people aged zero to 25 years old to access National Health Service funded mental health support.
In recognition of the increased demand created by the COVID-19 pandemic, we invested an extra £79 million in 2021/22 to expand children’s mental health services, including enabling around 22,500 more children and young people to access community health services, 2,000 more to access eating disorder services and accelerating the coverage of mental health support teams in schools and colleges.
NHS England has consulted on the potential to introduce five new waiting time standards as part of its Clinically led Review of NHS Access Standards, including that children, young people and their families, presenting to community-based mental health services should start to receive care within four weeks from referral. As a first step, NHS England has recently shared and promoted guidance with its local system partners to consistently report waiting times to support the development of a baseline position. The Department is now working with NHS England on the next steps for introducing the new access and waiting time standards for mental health services.
In addition, NHS England is currently developing a national framework to support partners in local areas to commission and deliver autism assessment services for children, young people, and adults. The framework will be published in due course.
With respect to attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), in a recent Westminster Hall debate, on 1 February 2023, I committed to look at how we can improve data on ADHD assessment waiting times, to help improve access to ADHD assessments in a timely way and in line with the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guideline.
Asked by: Marsha De Cordova (Labour - Battersea)
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 increase provision of Child and Adult Mental Health Services for children with autism and ADHD.
Answered by Maria Caulfield - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade) (Minister for Women)
It is the responsibility of integrated care boards (ICBs) to make available appropriate provision to meet the health and care needs of their local populations, including in Battersea constituency area. We are supporting them to expand mental health services through the NHS Long Term Plan, which commits to increasing investment into mental health services by at least £2.3 billion a year by 2023/24. Part of this increased investment will enable an additional 345,000 children and young people aged zero to 25 years old to access National Health Service funded mental health support.
In recognition of the increased demand created by the COVID-19 pandemic, we invested an extra £79 million in 2021/22 to expand children’s mental health services, including enabling around 22,500 more children and young people to access community health services, 2,000 more to access eating disorder services and accelerating the coverage of mental health support teams in schools and colleges.
NHS England has consulted on the potential to introduce five new waiting time standards as part of its Clinically led Review of NHS Access Standards, including that children, young people and their families, presenting to community-based mental health services should start to receive care within four weeks from referral. As a first step, NHS England has recently shared and promoted guidance with its local system partners to consistently report waiting times to support the development of a baseline position. The Department is now working with NHS England on the next steps for introducing the new access and waiting time standards for mental health services.
In addition, NHS England is currently developing a national framework to support partners in local areas to commission and deliver autism assessment services for children, young people, and adults. The framework will be published in due course.
With respect to attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), in a recent Westminster Hall debate, on 1 February 2023, I committed to look at how we can improve data on ADHD assessment waiting times, to help improve access to ADHD assessments in a timely way and in line with the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guideline.
Asked by: Marsha De Cordova (Labour - Battersea)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what proportion of patients with sickle cell disease meet the eligibility criteria for free prescriptions.
Answered by Neil O'Brien
No specific assessment has been made. Information on the proportion of patients with sickle cell disease who meet the eligibility criteria for free prescriptions is not held centrally. Whilst sickle cell disease is not on the list of the qualifying conditions for a medical exemption from prescription charges, patients with sickle cell disease may meet the eligibility criteria for another prescription charge exemption and be in receipt of free prescriptions. Eligibility will depend on the patient's age, whether they are in qualifying full-time education, whether they are pregnant or have recently given birth, whether they have another qualifying health condition, or whether they are in receipt of certain benefits or a war pension.
Asked by: Marsha De Cordova (Labour - Battersea)
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 affordability of NHS prescription charges for patients living with sickle cell disease.
Answered by Neil O'Brien
No specific assessment has been made. Information on the proportion of patients with sickle cell disease who meet the eligibility criteria for free prescriptions is not held centrally. Whilst sickle cell disease is not on the list of the qualifying conditions for a medical exemption from prescription charges, patients with sickle cell disease may meet the eligibility criteria for another prescription charge exemption and be in receipt of free prescriptions. Eligibility will depend on the patient's age, whether they are in qualifying full-time education, whether they are pregnant or have recently given birth, whether they have another qualifying health condition, or whether they are in receipt of certain benefits or a war pension.
Asked by: Marsha De Cordova (Labour - Battersea)
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 potential merits of providing all patients with free NHS prescriptions.
Answered by Will Quince
There are no plans to make an assessment. Approximately 89% of prescription items are already dispensed free of charge and there are already a wide range of exemptions from prescription charges currently in place.
Asked by: Marsha De Cordova (Labour - Battersea)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he plans to update the medical conditions exemption list; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Will Quince
There are no plans to do so. Approximately 89% of prescription items are currently dispensed free of charge and there are a range of exemptions from prescription charges for which those with chronic medical conditions may meet the eligibility criteria and be in receipt of free prescriptions.
To support those who do not qualify for an exemption from prescription charges, the cost of prescriptions can be reduced by purchasing a prescription pre-payment certificate. A holder of a 12-month certificate can get all the prescriptions required for just over £2 per week. Additionally, those on a low income who do not qualify for an exemption may be eligible for assistance with prescription charges through the NHS Low Income Scheme.
Asked by: Marsha De Cordova (Labour - Battersea)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he plans to extend the temporary prescription charge freeze beyond April 2023; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Will Quince
Prescription charges provide a valuable source of revenue for the National Health Service. Prescription charges are subject to annual review. There are no plans to extend the freeze on prescription charges beyond April 2023.
Asked by: Marsha De Cordova (Labour - Battersea)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when the medicine pethidine is expected to be available for patients who have been prescribed it.
Answered by Will Quince
We are aware of supply issues with pethidine 50mg tablets until July 2023. However, alternative oral opioid analgesics remain available and clinicians who wish to continue to prescribe pethidine 50mg tablets can access these from specialist importers. Advice has been communicated to the National Health Service.