Asked by: Nicholas Brown (Independent - Newcastle upon Tyne East)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what planning his Department has undertaken to reduce flu transmissions in the community in winter 2021-22.
Answered by Maggie Throup
The Department has planned for over 35 million people to be offered a free flu vaccine during the upcoming winter season. We have also secured a central stock of flu vaccines in addition to local supplies.
We have expanded the children’s vaccination programme to include secondary school children up to year 11, to protect children and prevent onward transmission to vulnerable members of the community.
We have launched a marketing campaign encouraging eligible cohorts to book their flu vaccine. NHS England and NHS Improvement have recommissioned the national call and recall service to target groups of eligible individuals, informing them of their flu vaccination eligibility and remind them to make an appointment.
Asked by: Nicholas Brown (Independent - Newcastle upon Tyne East)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many individuals graduated from pre-registration midwifery training courses as qualified midwives in each of the last five academic years for which figures are available.
Answered by Edward Argar - Shadow Secretary of State for Health and Social Care
The Department does not hold this information.
Asked by: Nicholas Brown (Independent - Newcastle upon Tyne East)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to reduce waiting times for a dermatology appointment in England.
Answered by Maria Caulfield
We continue to support the National Health Service to increase activity to tackle waiting lists for treatment caused by the pandemic. We have provided £2 billion this year to reduce waiting times, including for patients waiting for dermatology appointments.
Asked by: Nicholas Brown (Independent - Newcastle upon Tyne East)
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 National Eczema Week.
Answered by Maria Caulfield
Where appropriate, patients can be referred to specialists in psychodermatology. the treatment of skin diseases using psychological techniques, through a network of specialised clinicians. The specialised dermatology Clinical Reference Group is currently reviewing the standards of care for psychodermatology, working closely with Psychodermatology UK. As part of the Mental Health Recovery Action Plan, the Government is accelerating key commitments in the NHS Long Term Plan, investing £110 million to expand Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) services. IAPT - Long Term Conditions services have been established across the country to support integrated pathways between IAPT services and physical health pathways for people with long term conditions, including eczema.
Whilst we had no specific events related to National Eczema Week, we recognise and commend the work of the voluntary and community sector organisations, who continue to raise awareness of eczema and the issues facing those living with the condition.
Asked by: Nicholas Brown (Independent - Newcastle upon Tyne East)
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 mental health services for those suffering with eczema.
Answered by Maria Caulfield
Where appropriate, patients can be referred to specialists in psychodermatology. the treatment of skin diseases using psychological techniques, through a network of specialised clinicians. The specialised dermatology Clinical Reference Group is currently reviewing the standards of care for psychodermatology, working closely with Psychodermatology UK. As part of the Mental Health Recovery Action Plan, the Government is accelerating key commitments in the NHS Long Term Plan, investing £110 million to expand Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) services. IAPT - Long Term Conditions services have been established across the country to support integrated pathways between IAPT services and physical health pathways for people with long term conditions, including eczema.
Whilst we had no specific events related to National Eczema Week, we recognise and commend the work of the voluntary and community sector organisations, who continue to raise awareness of eczema and the issues facing those living with the condition.
Asked by: Nicholas Brown (Independent - Newcastle upon Tyne East)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will publish (a) the latest data on waiting times for a dermatology appointment in England and (b) comparable data for the last three years.
Answered by Edward Argar - Shadow Secretary of State for Health and Social Care
The following table shows the median waiting times in the last three years for National Health Service dermatology services in England.
Month | Median waiting time in weeks |
July 2018 | 6.1 |
August 2018 | 6.7 |
September 2018 | 7.2 |
October 2018 | 6.9 |
November 2018 | 6.9 |
December 2018 | 7.8 |
January 2019 | 7.6 |
February 2019 | 6.1 |
March 2019 | 6.2 |
April 2019 | 6.6 |
May 2019 | 6.9 |
June 2019 | 6.6 |
July 2019 | 6.5 |
August 2019 | 7.4 |
September 2019 | 7.6 |
October 2019 | 7.7 |
November 2019 | 8 |
December 2019 | 8.8 |
January 2020 | 8.7 |
February 2020 | 7.4 |
March 2020 | 8.9 |
April 2020 | 12.2 |
May 2020 | 14.9 |
June 2020 | 16.6 |
July 2020 | 12.9 |
August 2020 | 9.5 |
September 2020 | 9 |
October 2020 | 9 |
November 2020 | 8.7 |
December 2020 | 9.7 |
January 2021 | 10.5 |
February 2021 | 10.4 |
March 2021 | 8 |
April 2021 | 7.7 |
May 2021 | 7.7 |
June 2021 | 7.6 |
July 2021 | 8.4 |
Source:
https://www.england.nhs.uk/statistics/statistical-work-areas/rtt-waiting-times/
Asked by: Nicholas Brown (Independent - Newcastle upon Tyne East)
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 availability of CT and MRI scans for the diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease.
Answered by Gillian Keegan
No such assessment has been made.
Asked by: Nicholas Brown (Independent - Newcastle upon Tyne East)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department has plans to run a regular national audit of specialist dementia diagnostic services, extending beyond the existing National Memory Clinic Audit.
Answered by Gillian Keegan
The National Memory Clinic Audit began this month and is managed by the Royal College of Psychiatrists. There are currently no plans to run additional regular national audits of specialist dementia diagnostic services. However, regions may decide to undertake local audits independently.
Asked by: Nicholas Brown (Independent - Newcastle upon Tyne East)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what guidance is available for non-residential social care providers not covered by mandatory covid-19 vaccination requirements.
Answered by Gillian Keegan
The Standard Operating Procedure for vaccination of frontline health and social care staff who do not work in a care home for older adults is available at the following link:
Asked by: Nicholas Brown (Independent - Newcastle upon Tyne East)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what support for prescription costs is available for women experiencing the menopause.
Answered by Edward Argar - Shadow Secretary of State for Health and Social Care
Women experiencing the menopause are not included in the list of people entitled to free prescriptions. Eligibility depends on having a qualifying medical condition, the patient’s age, whether they are in qualifying full-time education, whether they are pregnant or have recently given birth, or whether they are in receipt of certain benefits or a war pension.
However, people on a low income who do not qualify for an exemption may be eligible for full or partial help with prescription charges through application to the NHS Low Income Scheme. People who need a number of prescriptions each month can buy a prepayment certificate which can help reduce costs significantly. A holder of a 12-month certificate can get all the prescriptions they need for just over £2 per week.