First elected: 1st May 1997
Left House: 30th March 2015 (Defeated)
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These initiatives were driven by Paul Burstow, and are more likely to reflect personal policy preferences.
MPs who are act as Ministers or Shadow Ministers are generally restricted from performing Commons initiatives other than Urgent Questions.
Paul Burstow has not been granted any Urgent Questions
The Bill failed to complete its passage through Parliament before the end of the session. This means the Bill will make no further progress. A Bill to hold corporations criminally accountable for abuse and neglect in care settings; to make provision to compel any person or organisation to supply information to Adult Safeguarding Boards; and to introduce a new offence of corporate neglect whereby a corporate body can be found guilty if the way in which its activities are managed or organised by its board or senior management is a substantial element in the existence or possible occurrence of abuse or neglect.
Paul Burstow has not co-sponsored any Bills in the current parliamentary sitting
Since signing the Pledge the Department has been actively engaging employees at all levels in a wide range of positively regarded and innovative initiatives. Focussing on building awareness and capability, this has included:
• introducing a mental health buddies scheme for managers;
• running workshops on managing employees with mental health illnesses;
• championing ‘Time to Talk Day’ on 5 February and;
• running events such as a talk by an international cricketer on his experience of depression and a film by Rethink Mental Illness, followed by a staff Q&A session with the Director and the person featured in the film.
DECC has taken the following steps to reduce mental health stigma and discrimination signing up to the Time to Change Pledge on 3rd December 2013:
- signed the Department of Health’s Public Health Responsibility Deal pledge on mental health and wellbeing in December 2013
- produced a “Mental Health Toolkit” in December 2013 to support DECC managers and staff, allowing them to understand how a disability or long-term health condition might affect people in the workplace and providing practical information, advice and tools to help inform decision-making
- promoted the Time to Change “Time to Talk Day” initiative to DECC staff by publishing staff stories of their own and experiences of mental health as part of a departmental day of open discussion on the topic of mental health in February 2014
- arranged a “Mental Wellbeing Week” in May 2014 providing a week of activities aimed at raising awareness of mental health issues to DECC staff and to our wider colleagues across Whitehall
- arranged for Dementia Friends to provide presentations to DECC staff and colleagues across Whitehall in May and June 2014 to raise awareness of Alzheimer’s disease and to ask for volunteers to become Dementia Friends
- supported the request from Una O’Brien for support of the Dementia Friends initiative across the Civil Service by encouraging all staff to complete the requisite online registration tool in June 2014
- wrote to all DECC staff in February 2014 encouraging them to support the Dementia Friends initiative by DECC is setting a departmental challenge - to create 50 Dementia Friends from our staff by March 2015
- published an article on the departmental intranet from a senior member of staff aimed at raising awareness of mental health and hidden disabilities in March 2015.
The Government is taking action to improve compliance with the National Minimum Wage (NMW) in the social care sector. We are working closely with the Department of Health, Communities and Local Government and HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC).
Over the period 1 April 2011 to 31 March 2013, HMRC have made enquiries into 224 employers in the social care sector. Over half of these were paying less than the minimum wage between them owing £1,319 729 arrears of pay to 6550 workers, with penalties issued with a total value of £146,931. There are 94 investigations currently underway in the social care sector.
The Department of Health have recently published statutory guidance for local authorities as part of the package of secondary legislation to accompany the Care Act. The chapter of statutory guidance on commissioning and market shaping explicitly states that local authorities should have evidence that contract terms, conditions and fee levels will not compromise care providers’ ability to pay at least minimum wages.
The Department of Health is asking all Local Authorities to sign up to the Social Care Commitment which incorporates a statement about employer compliance with minimum wage legislation. The Association of Directors of Adult Social Services has written out to all its members encouraging them to support the Commitment as a way of raising standards in adult social care.
The Department of Health is also working with the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services (ADASS), the Local Government Association (LGA) and the Health Services Management Centre at Birmingham University to develop as set of Commissioning Standards. Local authorities will be encouraged to use these as a benchmark to support them to improve commissioning practices, including those which have an impact on the social care workforce such as employer compliance with National Minimum Wage.
In addition to the actions we are currently taking to reduce non-compliance in the social care sector, we will also be:
• issuing guidance to employers so that they understand the NMW law, including tips to avoid common mistakes and the records that they should be keeping to prove that they are paying their workers correctly.
• encouraging care sector workers who have been underpaid to make a complaint- making sure that they understand their entitlement.
HMRC have started work on new targeted enforcement work in the care sector.
Any worker who is concerned that they have not received what they are entitled to should call the helpline on 0800 917 2368. HMRC follow up every complaint.
The Cabinet Office takes the issue of mental health discrimination seriously and is taking action to ensure that it provides an environment that supports the mental wellbeing of its staff.
Since signing the Time to Change pledge a senior mental health and wellbeing champion has been appointed. Activity has included: improving staff accessibility to support by revamping information in our induction packs and the intranet; creating and circulating guidance for managers on responding to mental health issues; encouraging discussions across the Cabinet Office by running a ‘Time to Talk’ day; and creating new opportunities for staff and managers to access mental health training.
The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.
The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.
The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.
I have been asked to reply.
The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.
· DCMS held a health and wellbeing event which included mental health as a key part of employee wellbeing. To support this, Time To Change representatives attended and ran a stall to raise awareness both of mental health and the stigma surrounding it, and the support available.
· DCMS set up market stalls at the last two 'All staff Away' days, giving a chance to discuss mental health with all staff.
· DCMS arranged an informal 'Time to Talk' tea & cake morning arranged during DCMS inclusion week to encourage all staff to discuss mental health to help reduce the stigma.
· All DCMS staff are invited to the regular meetings that are run by the Mental Health staff network.
· Interesting and informative articles posted on the Mental Health forum, to encourage staff to think about information on mental health that may not be common knowledge.
· DCMS will be taking part the Whitehall event at the end of March 2015 which is organised by 'Time to Change' to encourage all governmental departments to work together to reduce the stigma around Mental Health.
· DCMS have been encouraging all staff to complete the 'Unconscious Bias' e-learning and face to face to session to help identify, challenge, prevent and remove unconscious bias in the workplace.
Tackling mental health stigma and discrimination is vital. The Department for Education has continued to take action to tackle mental health stigma and discrimination since signing the Time to Change pledge.
The Department’s staff-led Wellbeing Network was launched at the time of the signing of the pledge and has run a series of staff events to help raise awareness of mental health issues. We have also delivered a series of mental health awareness workshops for staff and managers to help equip them with the skills needed to support and work effectively with people who have mild to moderate mental health issues. We have focused on raising awareness of the resources available to staff and managers, including guidance and briefings on mental health issues, access to support through our Employee Assistance Programme and occupational health advice, and mandating Unconscious Bias training for all managers.
Together with Time to Change, the Department also hosted an inaugural cross-departmental networking event to share good practice across the Civil Service on addressing mental health issues within the workplace.
Defra signed up to Time to Change in March 2014, and it forms part of a wider, established wellbeing programme. There have been a number of activities, including:
· launch of a Break the Stigma (BTS) group was launched in January 2014; an employee-led network of buddies providing support, information, and raising awareness of mental health issues. There are now over 140 BTS supporters and over 40 BTS buddies within the Department. BTS buddies share their personal experiences on our intranet and join team meetings to explain the issues of discrimination and stigma and highlight the role of line managers and colleagues in supporting people with mental ill-health.
· Awareness events were held during Mental Health Week, World Mental Health Day, European Week of Health and Safety (theme: Workplace Stress) and Time to Talk Day.
· Intranet pages provide information about mental health and wellbeing and sources of support (e.g. Employee Assistance Programme) for staff and Line Managers.
· Defra promotes Civil Service Learning resources and offers workshops on personal resilience, mindfulness and mental health awareness for line managers.
Mental health problems are common - but nearly nine out of ten people who experience them say they face stigma and discrimination as a result. This year mental health has been a strategic focus for our workplace inclusion programme. This work was instigated in August 2013 with our signing both the ‘Time to Change’ and ‘See Me Scotland’ pledges to tackle stigma.
Throughout the year we have sustained momentum on this agenda through:
· The delivery of a series of strategic and targeted communications including the UN Day for People with Disabilities and the ‘Time to Talk’ day.
· Working with external partners to conduct an in-depth and impartial audit of our management practices where they relate to the mental health of our staff.
· Sharing our learning with other government departments.
Our work in this area will continue over the coming year as we implement the recommendations of the audit above.
Since signing the Time to Change pledge on 26 February 2014, the Department has made significant steps to help reduce the stigma around mental health issues. These include:
· Establishing a staff-led Time to Change Working Group;
· Staff blogs describing their own personal experiences dealing with mental health issues, which have had a big impact in encouraging others to join the conversation;
· Regular blog and updates of progress from Director General (and DfT’s Disability Champion);
· Events on mental health included as part of the Department’s health and wellbeing week and its diversity and inclusion week;
· Promoting Time to Talk Day through, for example, senior-leadership team cascades and the distribution of materials to help start more conversations about mental health;
· A pilot of mental health first-aid training courses;
· Promoting guidance and information on the Department’s Intranet, including the support available through our Employee Assistance Provider (EAP).
· Employing a health and wellbeing coordinator tasked with removing barriers faced by people with mental health issues.
The Department is also part of the Time to Change Whitehall Learning Peer Network where colleagues across Whitehall share learning and resources.
Information on the number of adverse employment and support allowance sanction decisions broken down by the Summary International Classification of Diseases since January 2014 will shortly be published as part of a response to a Freedom of Information request here:
https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/dwp-statistical-foi-releases
I can confirm that the Department does hold monthly data detailing the reasons for sanctions in such cases.
Information on the number of adverse employment and support allowance sanction decisions broken down by the Summary International Classification of Diseases since January 2014 will shortly be published as part of a response to a Freedom of Information request here:
https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/dwp-statistical-foi-releases
I can confirm that the Department does hold monthly data detailing the reasons for sanctions in such cases.
DWP is actively committed to creating an environment where open conversations around mental health are encouraged in order to tackle the associated stigma and discrimination.
Activities undertaken since signing the Time to Change pledge in February 2014 include:
1) the introduction of training, including Unconscious Bias and Mental Health Awareness;
2) staff communications from the DWP Champion for Disability, Wellbeing and Work Life Balance;
3) development of comprehensive support and guidance for all staff through on-going work with external partners such as Occupational Health and Employee Assistance Providers and Business Disability Forum.
As with all of our policies, we will keep the operation of the sanctions system under review to ensure that it continues to operate effectively and as fairly as possible.
We continue to make improvements to the sanctions system as committed to in the Oakley Review. The Government has gone further than the scope of the Review, for example, we are reviewing all claimant communications and sanctions processes, not only for those Jobseekers Allowance claimants who come under the remit of the Review, but all Jobseekers Allowance claimants and also all Employment Support Allowance claimants.
We will continue to publish sanctions statistics on a quarterly basis.
Information is available which shows the number of ESA claimants who participate on the Work Programme and achieve a Job Outcome. This information also shows where a mental and behavioural disorder has been identified as the primary health condition by these participants. Information is available at:
The information requested is not readily available and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.
We do not hold information on job outcomes for Incapacity Benefit Reassessment claimants who are found fit for work.
We recognise that mental health is a mainstream issue for employment support and are committed to supporting people with common mental health conditions into employment. That is why the Department commissioned research into the effects that unemployment has on the mental health and wellbeing of Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA) claimants. In 2012 we published The Mental health in context: the national study of work-search and wellbeing report which examined the mental health and wellbeing of JSA claimants.
We also commissioned RAND Europe to undertake research to examine the existing evidence on mental health interventions and propose new approaches to develop the evidence base for future policy development. The report suggested a range of approaches to improve the alignment of mental health and employment services for people with common mental health conditions.
With the Department of Health we took forward a number of feasibility pilots based on the recommendations put forward in the report Psychological Wellbeing and Work: Improving Service Provision and Outcomes to explore the most promising and evidence-based approaches to supporting individuals with mental health conditions.
These pilots will contribute to a better evidence base for action and will inform our thinking about next steps not only for government, but for all who have a role to play including employers, commissioners, service providers and individuals.
We will expand these pilots from summer 2015 and use the learning from the early pilots to support the delivery of the next phase.
The information requested is shown in the table below.
Number of Incapacity Benefits Reassessments with a Fit for Work outcome split into International Classification of Diseases (2010) Condition Groups: 01 October 2013 to 31 March 2014
| |
Disabling condition groups | Fit for Work decisions |
Certain Infectious and Parasitic Diseases | - |
Neoplasms | - |
Diseases of the Blood and Blood forming organs and certain diseases involving the immune mechanism | - |
Endocrine, Nutritional and Metabolic Diseases | - |
Mental and Behavioural Disorders | 800 |
Diseases of the Nervous System | 100 |
Diseases of the Eye and Adnexa | - |
Diseases of the Ear and Mastoid Process | - |
Diseases of the Circulatory System | 100 |
Diseases of the Respiratory System | - |
Diseases of the Digestive System | - |
Diseases of the Skin and Subcutaneous System | - |
Diseases of the Musculoskeletal system and Connective Tissue | 500 |
Diseases of the Genitourinary System | - |
Pregnancy, Childbirth and the Puerperium | - |
Congenital Malformations, Deformations and Chromosomal Abnormalities | - |
Symptoms, Signs and Abnormal Clinical and Laboratory findings, not elsewhere classified | 300 |
Injury, Poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes | 100 |
Factors influencing health status and contact with health services | - |
Total | 2,000 |
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Source: Data in the tables above is derived from administrative data held by the DWP and assessment data provided by Atos Healthcare. | |
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Notes: |
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1. Figures are rounded to the nearest 100. “-“denotes nil or under 50. 2. Totals may not sum due to the rounding method used. | |
3. March 2014 is the latest data available. |
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4. The outcome recorded is the final DWP Decision Maker’s decision or the recommendation made by the Atos Healthcare Professional where the Decision Maker’s decision is not yet available. | |
5. The data presented above comes from benefit claims data held by the Department for Work and Pensions. In October 2008, ESA replaced IB for new claims. Starting with a trial in October 2010 and reaching a full scale national roll-out in April 2011, existing IB claims began to be phased out, with claimants reassessed to see if they qualify for ESA instead. | |
Special points to note
This is a follow on to PQ207639 answered on 1 September 2014 where we gave the data requested up to September 2013. We are now providing the data from October 2013 to March 2014 for IBR cases found fit for work, by disabling condition.
The information requested on Incapacity Benefits Reassessments is shown in the table below.
Number of Incapacity Benefits Reassessments with a Fit for Work outcome split into International Classification of Diseases (2010) Condition Groups
Date | Disabling condition groups | Fit for Work decisions |
Autumn 2010 (trial areas) | Certain Infectious and Parasitic Diseases | - |
Neoplasms | - | |
Diseases of the Blood and Blood forming organs and certain diseases involving the immune mechanism | - | |
Endocrine, Nutritional and Metabolic Diseases | - | |
Mental and Behavioural Disorders | 200 | |
Diseases of the Nervous System | - | |
Diseases of the Eye and Adnexa | - | |
Diseases of the Ear and Mastoid Process | - | |
Diseases of the Circulatory System | - | |
Diseases of the Respiratory System | - | |
Diseases of the Digestive System | - | |
Diseases of the Skin and Subcutaneous System | - | |
Diseases of the Musculoskeletal system and Connective Tissue | 100 | |
Diseases of the Genitourinary System | - | |
Pregnancy, Childbirth and the Puerperium | - | |
Certain conditions originating in the perinatal period | - | |
Congenital Malformations, Deformations and Chromosomal Abnormalities | - | |
Symptoms, Signs and Abnormal Clinical and Laboratory findings, not elsewhere classified | - | |
Injury, Poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes | - | |
Factors influencing health status and contact with health services | - | |
Not recorded | - | |
Total | 400 | |
Mar-11 to Sep-11 | Certain Infectious and Parasitic Diseases | 400 |
Neoplasms | 500 | |
Diseases of the Blood and Blood forming organs and certain diseases involving the immune mechanism | 100 | |
Endocrine, Nutritional and Metabolic Diseases | 700 | |
Mental and Behavioural Disorders | 30,000 | |
Diseases of the Nervous System | 2,000 | |
Diseases of the Eye and Adnexa | 200 | |
Diseases of the Ear and Mastoid Process | 200 | |
Diseases of the Circulatory System | 2,000 | |
Diseases of the Respiratory System | 800 | |
Diseases of the Digestive System | 900 | |
Diseases of the Skin and Subcutaneous System | 400 | |
Diseases of the Musculoskeletal system and Connective Tissue | 13,000 | |
Diseases of the Genitourinary System | 400 | |
Pregnancy, Childbirth and the Puerperium | 100 | |
Certain conditions originating in the perinatal period | - | |
Congenital Malformations, Deformations and Chromosomal Abnormalities | - | |
Symptoms, Signs and Abnormal Clinical and Laboratory findings, not elsewhere classified | 6,700 | |
Injury, Poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes | 4,000 | |
Factors influencing health status and contact with health services | 500 | |
Not recorded | - | |
Total | 62,900 | |
Oct-11 to Sep-12 | Certain Infectious and Parasitic Diseases | 700 |
Neoplasms | 900 | |
Diseases of the Blood and Blood forming organs and certain diseases involving the immune mechanism | 200 | |
Endocrine, Nutritional and Metabolic Diseases | 1,400 | |
Mental and Behavioural Disorders | 56,400 | |
Diseases of the Nervous System | 3,800 | |
Diseases of the Eye and Adnexa | 300 | |
Diseases of the Ear and Mastoid Process | 400 | |
Diseases of the Circulatory System | 3,700 | |
Diseases of the Respiratory System | 1,500 | |
Diseases of the Digestive System | 1,800 | |
Diseases of the Skin and Subcutaneous System | 800 | |
Diseases of the Musculoskeletal system and Connective Tissue | 26,300 | |
Diseases of the Genitourinary System | 700 | |
Pregnancy, Childbirth and the Puerperium | 100 | |
Certain conditions originating in the perinatal period | - | |
Congenital Malformations, Deformations and Chromosomal Abnormalities | - | |
Symptoms, Signs and Abnormal Clinical and Laboratory findings, not elsewhere classified | 13,200 | |
Injury, Poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes | 8,000 | |
Factors influencing health status and contact with health services | 1,000 | |
Not recorded | - | |
Total | 121,400 | |
Oct-12 to Sep-13 | Certain Infectious and Parasitic Diseases | 500 |
Neoplasms | 600 | |
Diseases of the Blood and Blood forming organs and certain diseases involving the immune mechanism | 100 | |
Endocrine, Nutritional and Metabolic Diseases | 800 | |
Mental and Behavioural Disorders | 24,900 | |
Diseases of the Nervous System | 2,200 | |
Diseases of the Eye and Adnexa | 300 | |
Diseases of the Ear and Mastoid Process | 300 | |
Diseases of the Circulatory System | 2,200 | |
Diseases of the Respiratory System | 900 | |
Diseases of the Digestive System | 1,000 | |
Diseases of the Skin and Subcutaneous System | 500 | |
Diseases of the Musculoskeletal system and Connective Tissue | 16,600 | |
Diseases of the Genitourinary System | 400 | |
Pregnancy, Childbirth and the Puerperium | 100 | |
Certain conditions originating in the perinatal period | - | |
Congenital Malformations, Deformations and Chromosomal Abnormalities | - | |
Symptoms, Signs and Abnormal Clinical and Laboratory findings, not elsewhere classified | 7,700 | |
Injury, Poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes | 4,800 | |
Factors influencing health status and contact with health services | 700 | |
Not recorded | - | |
Total | 64,700 |
Source: Data in the tables above is derived from administrative data held by the DWP and assessment data provided by Atos Healthcare.
Notes:
2. Disabling condition groups are based on the International Classification of Diseases (2010)
NHS England advises that this information is not collected in a way that would allow for a break-down in the way requested.
NHS England’s Specialised Commissioning Oversight Group has a remit to:
- provide assurance to NHS England that specialised commissioning strategic priorities are being met through operational delivery;
- drive the continuous improvement of standards and outcomes;
- reduce reduction of variation and inequalities for specialised commissioning; and
- provide assurance that there are robust systems and processes in place for the monitoring and assurance of Specialised Commissioning.
NHS England has advised that the current plans are to continue the group as established.
I regret that the information in my answer of 2 March 2015 was not provided in the format requested. I apologise for this oversight.
The information is shown in the table1.
| 2012 | 2013 | 2014 |
Patient organisations | 46 | 39 | 40 |
Manufacturers | 18 | 22 | 32 |
Professional organisations | 58 | 47 | 49 |
Other organisations | 23 | 12 | 13 |
1 Some organisations will be involved in more than one year.
Source: National Institute for Health and Care Excellence
The Directly Commissioned Services Committee has been disbanded as a governance committee within NHS England. The Specialised Services Oversight Group (SCOG) now makes the final decisions regarding Clinical Priorities Advisory Group (CPAG) recommendations. The average time between the Clinical Reference Group recommendation being made at CPAG and SCOG making a decision is two weeks.
Final decisions on commissioning policies are often subject to discussion between the Clinical Reference Group and CPAG. Recommendations from Clinical Reference Groups may be modified and re-proposed before a final decision.
NHS England has advised that, if a clinical policy is no longer considered required, for example, due to the publication of final technology appraisal guidance by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, then the policy is removed from its website and NHS England teams and hospitals are made aware of this through internal communications.
NHS England notifies other relevant parties through its Clinical Reference Groups’ registered stakeholders.
NHS England has advised that its Neuroscience Clinical Reference Group’s recommendation was to approve the clinical policy to support the routine commissioning of levodopa-carpidopa intestinal gel for advanced Parkinson’s disease and to go out to full public consultation.
The recommendation related to an in year commissioning decision.
NHS England has advised that decisions taken by screening panels are made in accordance with its interim commissioning policy on individual funding requests, which is available at:
www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/cp-03.pdf
Its individual funding request screening panels are skilled, experienced and trained in their role and NHS England does not consider that any decisions are made in error.
NHS England has advised that minutes do exist for each meeting of the Clinical Priorities Advisory Group (CPAG).
NHS England has advised that they intend to routinely publish minutes and the agendas of CPAG meetings in the future, and are considering how to make available minutes of previous meetings.
NHS England has advised that the draft clinical policy for recommending the funding of Duodopa was presented and considered in 2014-15. Before this time, the commissioning responsibility for Duodopa rested with clinical commissioning groups.
In the absence of guidance from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, it is for commissioners to make funding decisions on the basis of the evidence available.
NHS England has advised that it considers individual funding requests against published clinical policies.
In January 2014, we published Closing the Gap: Priorities for Essential Change in Mental Health. This set out 25 of the most important changes that we want to make in the next few years to improve the lives of people with mental health problems and help reduce health inequalities. This included reducing stigma and discrimination around mental health.
The Department is funding the Time to Change campaign from 2011/12 to 2015/16. This funding enables Time to Change to work with people with experience of mental health problems to challenge attitudes and discrimination; run social marketing campaigns and work with local and regional partners on community-led activity.
In addition, on the 10 October 2014, World Mental Health Day, I issued a challenge to FTSE 100 companies to sign up to Time to Change, highlighting the key role employers play in tackling mental health problems in the workplace and encouraging and supporting people back into work, as well as supporting overall employee wellbeing.
The Department provides Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) training for its staff. This course is delivered by Departmental staff who have been trained by MHFA England. The course provides staff with an understanding of a wide range of mental health issues/conditions. It provides staff with skills to feel confident to talk to individuals about mental health and provide assistance on a first aid basis. Through the course, the trainee will also gain knowledge of support services available and be able to signpost to appropriate support, where needed. The course encourages people to talk about mental health and one of its aims is to reduce mental health stigma and discrimination.
The Department takes part in the Time to Change Time to Talk Day. This is advertised on the staff intranet which provides details of the campaign and information on the wider work of Time to Change. Staff drop-in sessions are also held where staff can talk to Health and Wellbeing staff and MHFA trainers about mental health issues.
NHS England has advised that, once its national database is completely up and running and all data from the NHS England regions have been migrated over to it, NHS England will consider the publication of information on individual funding requests relating to specialised services.
Health Education England (HEE) has been mandated to develop mental health awareness training for all health care staff. This will be launched on 9 March. This is an introductory module with the aim of raising the awareness of mental health issues within healthcare staff. It is designed to give a broad overview of what encompasses mental illness, the link between mental and physical health diagnoses and outline possible treatment options.
The package ensures free access to all healthcare staff and is available as part of HEE E-Learning for Health.
Health Education England (HEE) is working with partners to develop an updated e-Learning programme comprising of a pre-assessment; three e-learning sessions on ‘Caring for Veterans and their Families’, ‘Mental Health problems in Veterans’, and ‘Veterans with Severe or Long-term Injuries’; and a post-course assessment.
The e-Learning package is expected to be available in summer 2015, following which HEE will work with partners to promote the package across the National Health Service.
Health Education England (HEE) is not currently developing a mutual health e-learning package to support continuing professional development for general practitioners (GPs).
However, HEE has been mandated by the Department to develop a mental health e-learning package which will be available to the public from 9 March. The package has been designed for all primary and secondary healthcare staff, including GPs.
No uptake figures are currently available.
Health Education England (HEE) has been working with the Nursing and Midwifery Council and Royal College of Midwives, to ensure midwives in training have a core training module focussing on perinatal mental health, with the intention that this will be in place for those entering training in 2015.
HEE has developed three perinatal mental health e-learning modules, in partnership with the Institute of Health Visiting, focusing on both the recognition and interventions needed around perinatal depression and other mental health disorders.
NHS England has confirmed that, to be successful, any individual funding request (IFR) for Duodopa must demonstrate exceptionality against the cohort of patients with Parkinson's disease in NHS England’s draft commissioning policy.
Although it does not routinely commission Duodopa for the treatment of advanced Parkinson’s disease, NHS England has advised that, it will consider funding this treatment in exceptional clinical circumstances. Clinicians can submit IFRs for this treatment to NHS England on behalf of their patients.
NHS England has IFRs for all treatments/interventions were received by NHS England through the standard IFR process. 238 of these were considered by an NHS England IFR panel.
21 requests for Duodopa were received as shown in the table.
IFR team | Indication | Number of IFRs received | Approved | Not Approved |
Midlands and East | Duodopa | 3 | 0 | 3 |
North | Duodopa | 5 | 0 | 5 |
London | Duodopa | 11 | 0 | 11 |
South | Duodopa | 2 | 0 | 2 |
Source: NHS England
NHS England is unable to provide monthly figures due to the small volume of requests as this could lead to the identification of individual patients.
NHS England has advised that the SSC1315 on Individual Funding Requests for Clinically Urgent Treatment Outside Established Policy has officially expired but has been maintained whilst a review is taking place regarding how such cases will be handled in the future.
It has confirmed that not all non-clinical IFRs require an expert opinion. This is only sought when it is felt that further expert opinion is required. It should be noted that Duodopa became NHS England’s responsibility from April 2014. Prior to then cases were considered by clinical commissioning groups.
Details of IFRs processed under specialised services circular SSC1315 for the period 1 October 2013 to 24 February 2015 are shown in the table:
IFR team | Indication | Number of IFRs received | Approved | Not Approved | ||
critical clinically urgent | urgent non-clinical | critical clinically urgent | urgent non-clinical | |||
Midlands & East | All | 11 | 5 | 6 | 0 | 0 |
Duodopa | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
North | All | 13 | 12 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
Duodopa | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
London | All | 37 | 31 | 3 | 3 | 0 |
Duodopa | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
South | All | 18 | 10 | 1 | 3 | 4 |
Duodopa | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
Source: NHS England
Further information about NHS England’s IFR process is available at:
www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/cp-03.pdf
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence has advised that the consultees for all technology appraisals over the years 2012-14 can be broken down into the specified groups as follows:
patient organisations: 83 separate patient groups
manufacturers: 52 separate companies
professional organisations: 93 separate professional groups
other organisations: 42 separate other organisations
Duodopa has never been routinely commissioned by NHS England.
NHS England assumed responsibility for directly commissioning specialised services in April 2013 and prior to this, responsibility for commissioning specialised services rested with the national NHS Specialised Services and the 10 regional specialised commissioning groups. Details of any consultations and commissioning decisions are not held centrally.
NHS England has advised that it has not conducted a formal consultation process yet but has engaged with stakeholders during the process of developing its draft commissioning policy on the treatment of advanced Parkinson’s disease with Duodopa (co-careldopa) that is awaiting prioritisation later this year.
Duodopa has never been routinely commissioned by NHS England.
NHS England assumed responsibility for directly commissioning specialised services in April 2013 and prior to this, responsibility for commissioning specialised services rested with the national NHS Specialised Services and the 10 regional specialised commissioning groups. Details of any consultations and commissioning decisions are not held centrally.