Asked by: Paul Blomfield (Labour - Sheffield Central)
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 potential merits of introducing a public awareness campaign on the health dangers of nitrous oxide use.
Answered by Jo Churchill - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
No assessment has been made. FRANK, the government’s drug information and advisory website, provides information on a wide range of drugs including nitrous oxide. It covers the risks of using nitrous oxide, including the risks of mixing it with alcohol. It also signposts users to support services and provides a 24 hour free-to-use confidential helpline, text and email message services and online chat.
Asked by: Paul Blomfield (Labour - Sheffield Central)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the stock level of rapid lateral flow covid-19 tests is; and how many of those tests are needed to provide for twice weekly rapid lateral flow testing for all people in England.
Answered by Jo Churchill - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
We estimate that between 35 to 45 million tests per week will be needed to provide twice weekly rapid lateral flow testing for all people in England. We have a stock level that far exceeds this to allow us to actively manage ongoing replenishment, monitor uptake and adjust incoming supply.
Asked by: Paul Blomfield (Labour - Sheffield Central)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department has undertaken an assessment of the potential effect on (a) the gambling industry and (b) gamblers of that industry taking a self-regulatory approach to gambling addition.
Answered by Jo Churchill - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
No such assessment has been made. The gambling industry is currently regulated by the Gambling Commission, established under the Gambling Act 2005. The role of the Gambling Commission is to permit gambling in so far as it is consistent with the licensing objectives of keeping gambling fair and crime free and protecting children and other vulnerable persons from being harmed or exploited by it.
We are working closely with the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport in their comprehensive review of the Gambling Act 2005, ensuring the regulatory framework is fit for purpose and protects children and vulnerable people from gambling-related harms.
Asked by: Paul Blomfield (Labour - Sheffield Central)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 12 March 2021 to Question 158991 on Coronavirus: Vaccination, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of prioritising special school staff for receipt of covid-19 vaccines.
Answered by Nadhim Zahawi
In line with the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation’s (JCVI) advice, special school staff will not be prioritised for a COVID-19 vaccination based on their occupation. Special school staff will be prioritised for vaccination according to their age and clinical risk along with the rest of the population. There are currently no plans to deviate from the JCVI’s advice on prioritisation.
Asked by: Paul Blomfield (Labour - Sheffield Central)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when he plans to respond to Question 158024, tabled by the hon. Member for Sheffield Central on 24 February 2021.
Answered by Edward Argar - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)
We take parliamentary scrutiny incredibly seriously and it is fundamentally important that hon. Members are provided with accurate and timely information to enable them to hold the Government to account. We are working rapidly to provide all Members with accurate answers to their questions, as well as supporting the Government’s response to the unprecedented challenge of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The hon. Member’s question will be answered as soon as possible.
Asked by: Paul Blomfield (Labour - Sheffield Central)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, for what reason his Department amended the definition of severe asthma sufferers as those who were formally shielding, regularly take steroid tablets or had ever had an emergency hospital admission; and what impact assessment was undertaken before that definition was amended.
Answered by Jo Churchill - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
People suffering from severe asthma are more likely to have had an emergency hospital admission or have taken oral steroids for a specified frequency. These criteria were behind the decision to include severe asthma sufferers as part of priority group six for vaccination.
Regarding shielding, patients with severe asthma were identified as being priority group four or clinically extremely vulnerable (CEV) by two routes. An algorithm was used to identify patients who received high levels of certain asthma medication. Inpatients were also directly added to the CEV list by a clinician in either primary or secondary care following the shielding advice for those with severe respiratory conditions, which was published by the British Thoracic Society in April 2020.
Asked by: Paul Blomfield (Labour - Sheffield Central)
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 potential merits of prioritising people with ME and chronic fatigue syndrome for covid-19 vaccination.
Answered by Nadhim Zahawi
The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) has not identified any robust data to indicate that, as a group, persons with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome are at higher risk of mortality from COVID-19 and therefore are not included as a group for prioritisation for vaccination in the vaccine programme.
Prioritisation for phase two has not yet been decided, but interim advice has been published by the JVCI recommending an age-based approach which the Government has accepted in principle. Phase two of the COVID-19 vaccine programme will cover all adults under 50 not already included in Phase one.
Asked by: Paul Blomfield (Labour - Sheffield Central)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
What recent assessment he has made of the effect of the covid-19 outbreak on the operation of child and adolescent mental health services.
Answered by Nadine Dorries
We know that some children and young people have found this period difficult for their mental health and we are absolutely committed to ensuring they have access to the right support.
Children and young people’s community and specialist mental health services have remained open throughout the pandemic and continue to offer support using digital and remote approaches while maintaining face to face appointments where appropriate.
All mental health trusts have made available 24 hours a day, seven days a week all age urgent mental health helplines so children and young people in crisis can get urgent help when they need it.
Asked by: Paul Blomfield (Labour - Sheffield Central)
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 effect of online treatment on removing barriers to treatment for women suffering from gambling disorder.
Answered by Jo Churchill - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
No specific assessment has been made.
Asked by: Paul Blomfield (Labour - Sheffield Central)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment his Department has made of the need for a prevalence survey on levels of problem gambling among women.
Answered by Jo Churchill - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
The NHS Long Term Plan announced the creation of up to 15 specialist gambling clinics by 2023/24. Work continues on the phased expansion of these services, enabling the National Health Service to explore how best to use existing treatment models to reach those most in need of support.
The Department commissioned Public Health England to undertake the first ever comprehensive evidence review focussed on gambling-related harm. The review will look at the prevalence, determinants and harms associated with gambling, alongside the social and economic burden of gambling-related harms. This includes reviewing the evidence on young people, men and women. The review will be published later this year.
Alongside this, the National Institute of Health Research commissioned a research unit in Sheffield University to undertake a mapping review of the effectiveness of national and international policies and interventions to reduce gambling-related harms.