Asked by: Paul Bristow (Conservative - Peterborough)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many screenings for abdominal aortic aneurysms have taken place in the NHS, as part of the NHS AAA Screening Programme, in each month since April 2019.
Answered by Jo Churchill - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
The information is not held in the format requested.
Asked by: Paul Bristow (Conservative - Peterborough)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many diabetic eye screenings have taken place in the NHS, as part of the NHS Diabetic Eye Screening Programme, in each month since April 2019.
Answered by Jo Churchill - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
We do not receive data on a monthly basis for the diabetic eye screening programme. The data received is a cumulative indicator. The latest data from Public Health England is for the period October 2019 to December 2019, when a cumulative total of 2,340,428 eligible individuals attended a successful screening event, including routine digital screening, digital surveillance and slit lamp biomicroscopy surveillance.
The full quarterly data is available via the following link:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/nhs-screening-programmes-kpi-reports-2019-to-2020
Asked by: Paul Bristow (Conservative - Peterborough)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment Public Health England has made on the need for a national public awareness campaign on prostate cancer.
Answered by Jo Churchill - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
In 2014, Public Health England (PHE) ran a Be Clear on Cancer local pilot campaign focusing on prostate cancer in London. This included posters (by the roadside and in barber shops), print, tailored public health messaging on local radio, street ambassadors and public relations. Further information on this campaign for prostate cancer can be viewed at the following link:
https://prostatecanceruk.org/media/2457630/Be-Clear-on-Cancer-Web-Accessible-GP.pdf
An evaluation of the campaign showed that the activity raised awareness of the issue within the target audience. However, there was no evidence of an increase in general practitioner appointments as a result of the campaign. Further details can be viewed at the following link:
Asked by: Paul Bristow (Conservative - Peterborough)
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 trends in the use of noradrenaline throughout the NHS in England in each month of 2020.
Answered by Edward Argar - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)
NHS England and NHS Improvement undertake regular monitoring of the demand and supply position for priority medicines including noradrenaline. A table showing this information is attached.
We cannot make accurate projections of demand going forward. However, we have used the information regarding first wave usage to inform mitigations for a second wave, such as stockpiling.
Asked by: Paul Bristow (Conservative - Peterborough)
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 estimate of demand for noradrenaline during the remainder of 2020-21.
Answered by Edward Argar - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)
NHS England and NHS Improvement undertake regular monitoring of the demand and supply position for priority medicines including noradrenaline. A table showing this information is attached.
We cannot make accurate projections of demand going forward. However, we have used the information regarding first wave usage to inform mitigations for a second wave, such as stockpiling.
Asked by: Paul Bristow (Conservative - Peterborough)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, which individuals and professional organisations issue guidance on the stockpiling of noradrenaline for the treatment of covid-19 to (a) his Department and (b) NHS England.
Answered by Edward Argar - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)
In preparation for a second wave of COVID-19 and to protect the security of the supply of critical life-saving medicines and patient health across the United Kingdom, an assessment of intensive care unit and end of life care medicines and antibiotics that should be stockpiled, informed by senior clinicians and those with experience of treating COVID-19 patients, was led by NHS England in May and June and this fed into two Departmental tender exercises. Noradrenaline is one of the medicines that is being sourced by the Department.
Asked by: Paul Bristow (Conservative - Peterborough)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans he has made to ensure the adequate supply of ICU medicine supplies for the treatment of covid-19.
Answered by Edward Argar - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)
In preparation for a second wave of COVID-19 and to protect the security of the supply of critical life-saving medicines and patient health across the United Kingdom, an assessment of intensive care unit and end of life care medicines and antibiotics that should be stockpiled, informed by senior clinicians and those with experience of treating COVID-19 patients, was led by NHS England in May and June and this fed into two Departmental tender exercises. Noradrenaline is one of the medicines that is being sourced by the Department.
Asked by: Paul Bristow (Conservative - Peterborough)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the outcome was of his 23 July 2020 tender entitled the Supply of Supportive medicines for a UK stockpile of medicines for Covid-19 preparedness.
Answered by Edward Argar - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)
In preparation for a second wave of COVID-19 and to protect the security of the supply of critical life-saving medicines and patient health across the United Kingdom, an assessment of intensive care unit and end of life care medicines and antibiotics that should be stockpiled, informed by senior clinicians and those with experience of treating COVID-19 patients, was led by NHS England in May and June and this fed into two Departmental tender exercises. Noradrenaline is one of the medicines that is being sourced by the Department.
Asked by: Paul Bristow (Conservative - Peterborough)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps Clinical Commissioning Groups has taken to challenge abstinence-only approaches to alcoholism by GPs.
Answered by Jo Churchill - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidance describe best practice and health and care commissioners are expected to take them fully into account. Current guidelines for general practitioners and other health professionals to identify, assess and intervene for people misusing alcohol are available and can be viewed at the following link:
https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/cg115/chapter/1-guidance
Staff responsible for assessing and managing assisted alcohol withdrawal should be competent in the diagnosis and assessment of alcohol dependence and withdrawal symptoms and the use of drug regimens appropriate to the settings (for example, inpatient or community) in which the withdrawal is managed.
The Government has taken a robust approach to tackling alcohol harms. Between 2016 and 2020/21 we are investing more than £16 billion in local government public health services. In 2019/20 over £3 billion is to be used exclusively on public health including alcohol treatment services.
Asked by: Paul Bristow (Conservative - Peterborough)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether Clinical Commissioning Groups are encouraging GPs to identify heavy drinkers who would potentially benefit from a prescription for nalmefene in addition to psychosocial support.
Answered by Jo Churchill - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidance describe best practice and health and care commissioners are expected to take them fully into account. Current guidelines for general practitioners and other health professionals to identify, assess and intervene for people misusing alcohol are available and can be viewed at the following link:
https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/cg115/chapter/1-guidance
Staff responsible for assessing and managing assisted alcohol withdrawal should be competent in the diagnosis and assessment of alcohol dependence and withdrawal symptoms and the use of drug regimens appropriate to the settings (for example, inpatient or community) in which the withdrawal is managed.
The Government has taken a robust approach to tackling alcohol harms. Between 2016 and 2020/21 we are investing more than £16 billion in local government public health services. In 2019/20 over £3 billion is to be used exclusively on public health including alcohol treatment services.