Asked by: Paulette Hamilton (Labour - Birmingham Erdington)
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 (a) tackle workforce shortages in respiratory care and (b) ensure (i) GPs and (ii) their teams have access to (A) training and (B) accreditation for (1) spirometry and (2) other diagnostic tests.
Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
We have launched a 10-Year Health Plan to reform the National Health Service and make it fit for the future. Ensuring we have the right people, in the right places, with the right skills, including for respiratory care, will be central to this vision.
The Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) sets the postgraduate curriculum for general practitioners (GPs) and ensures it remains up to date. All GPs must cover the curriculum before they are able to pass the examination to become a member of the RCGP and to work independently as a GP.
NHS England provides a wide range of resources to the NHS via the eLearning for Healthcare platform, including a respiratory diseases toolkit on the prevention and management of respiratory conditions, and diagnostic tests such as spirometry.
Asked by: Paulette Hamilton (Labour - Birmingham Erdington)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether any consultation took place between the Birmingham and Solihull Integrated Care System and (a) local stakeholders, (b) elected officials, (c) the police and (d) community organisations prior to the decision to relocate the North Birmingham Urgent Treatment Centre.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The reconfiguration of services is a matter for the local National Health Service. All service changes should be based on clear evidence that they will deliver better outcomes for patients. The NHS Birmingham and Solihull Integrated Care Board (ICB) conducted its own evaluation to assess the move of the Urgent Treatment Centre (UTC) from the Erdington Health and Wellbeing Centre to Good Hope Hospital. The plan aims to increase access to appropriate UTC services and reduce pressure on Good Hope Hospital’s accident and emergency department by ensuring patients who attend accident and emergency can be triaged and treated at the co-located UTC. The relocation of the UTC from its current location also takes into consideration the need to ensure the safety of patients and staff.
Good Hope Hospital is 0.8 miles closer to the original location of the UTC, prior to its first move to the Erdington Health and Wellbeing Centre. Patients continue to be able to access any of the six UTCs operating within Birmingham and Solihull. While the ICB does not plan to provide additional services in Erdington as a result of this temporary emergency change, the Erdington UTC based at the Stockland Green Primary Care Centre remains open for patients in the Erdington area. The ICB has liaised with:
- the UTC provider;
- landlords of the building, NHS Property Services; and
- West Midlands Police.
The ICB has also briefed the Birmingham Health and Scrutiny Oversight Committee, and complied with the Memorandum of Understanding between the Birmingham and Solihull Integrated Care System and the Birmingham and Solihull Joint Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee regarding local authority health scrutiny of health services.
The permanent future location of the North Birmingham UTC will be decided as part of a review of all UTC provision across Birmingham and Solihull, which is in its preliminary stages. During the process, the ICB will invite feedback from its communities, including elected representatives, to ensure the urgent care offer is fit for purpose and convenient for the ICB’s population in the longer term.
Any decision about the permanent future location will be subject to the normal statutory duties in relation to public involvement and consultation with the local authority.
Asked by: Paulette Hamilton (Labour - Birmingham Erdington)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department plans to to help establish alternative urgent care facilities in Birmingham Erdington constituency, in the context of the emergency relocation of the North Birmingham Urgent Treatment Centre to Good Hope Hospital.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The reconfiguration of services is a matter for the local National Health Service. All service changes should be based on clear evidence that they will deliver better outcomes for patients. The NHS Birmingham and Solihull Integrated Care Board (ICB) conducted its own evaluation to assess the move of the Urgent Treatment Centre (UTC) from the Erdington Health and Wellbeing Centre to Good Hope Hospital. The plan aims to increase access to appropriate UTC services and reduce pressure on Good Hope Hospital’s accident and emergency department by ensuring patients who attend accident and emergency can be triaged and treated at the co-located UTC. The relocation of the UTC from its current location also takes into consideration the need to ensure the safety of patients and staff.
Good Hope Hospital is 0.8 miles closer to the original location of the UTC, prior to its first move to the Erdington Health and Wellbeing Centre. Patients continue to be able to access any of the six UTCs operating within Birmingham and Solihull. While the ICB does not plan to provide additional services in Erdington as a result of this temporary emergency change, the Erdington UTC based at the Stockland Green Primary Care Centre remains open for patients in the Erdington area. The ICB has liaised with:
- the UTC provider;
- landlords of the building, NHS Property Services; and
- West Midlands Police.
The ICB has also briefed the Birmingham Health and Scrutiny Oversight Committee, and complied with the Memorandum of Understanding between the Birmingham and Solihull Integrated Care System and the Birmingham and Solihull Joint Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee regarding local authority health scrutiny of health services.
The permanent future location of the North Birmingham UTC will be decided as part of a review of all UTC provision across Birmingham and Solihull, which is in its preliminary stages. During the process, the ICB will invite feedback from its communities, including elected representatives, to ensure the urgent care offer is fit for purpose and convenient for the ICB’s population in the longer term.
Any decision about the permanent future location will be subject to the normal statutory duties in relation to public involvement and consultation with the local authority.
Asked by: Paulette Hamilton (Labour - Birmingham Erdington)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department plans to take steps to help mitigate the impact of increased travel requirements for patients following the relocation of the North Birmingham Urgent Treatment Centre to Good Hope Hospital.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The reconfiguration of services is a matter for the local National Health Service. All service changes should be based on clear evidence that they will deliver better outcomes for patients. The NHS Birmingham and Solihull Integrated Care Board (ICB) conducted its own evaluation to assess the move of the Urgent Treatment Centre (UTC) from the Erdington Health and Wellbeing Centre to Good Hope Hospital. The plan aims to increase access to appropriate UTC services and reduce pressure on Good Hope Hospital’s accident and emergency department by ensuring patients who attend accident and emergency can be triaged and treated at the co-located UTC. The relocation of the UTC from its current location also takes into consideration the need to ensure the safety of patients and staff.
Good Hope Hospital is 0.8 miles closer to the original location of the UTC, prior to its first move to the Erdington Health and Wellbeing Centre. Patients continue to be able to access any of the six UTCs operating within Birmingham and Solihull. While the ICB does not plan to provide additional services in Erdington as a result of this temporary emergency change, the Erdington UTC based at the Stockland Green Primary Care Centre remains open for patients in the Erdington area. The ICB has liaised with:
- the UTC provider;
- landlords of the building, NHS Property Services; and
- West Midlands Police.
The ICB has also briefed the Birmingham Health and Scrutiny Oversight Committee, and complied with the Memorandum of Understanding between the Birmingham and Solihull Integrated Care System and the Birmingham and Solihull Joint Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee regarding local authority health scrutiny of health services.
The permanent future location of the North Birmingham UTC will be decided as part of a review of all UTC provision across Birmingham and Solihull, which is in its preliminary stages. During the process, the ICB will invite feedback from its communities, including elected representatives, to ensure the urgent care offer is fit for purpose and convenient for the ICB’s population in the longer term.
Any decision about the permanent future location will be subject to the normal statutory duties in relation to public involvement and consultation with the local authority.
Asked by: Paulette Hamilton (Labour - Birmingham Erdington)
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 impact of the emergency relocation of the North Birmingham Urgent Treatment Centre to Good Hope Hospital on patient access to urgent treatment services in Birmingham Erdington constituency.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The reconfiguration of services is a matter for the local National Health Service. All service changes should be based on clear evidence that they will deliver better outcomes for patients. The NHS Birmingham and Solihull Integrated Care Board (ICB) conducted its own evaluation to assess the move of the Urgent Treatment Centre (UTC) from the Erdington Health and Wellbeing Centre to Good Hope Hospital. The plan aims to increase access to appropriate UTC services and reduce pressure on Good Hope Hospital’s accident and emergency department by ensuring patients who attend accident and emergency can be triaged and treated at the co-located UTC. The relocation of the UTC from its current location also takes into consideration the need to ensure the safety of patients and staff.
Good Hope Hospital is 0.8 miles closer to the original location of the UTC, prior to its first move to the Erdington Health and Wellbeing Centre. Patients continue to be able to access any of the six UTCs operating within Birmingham and Solihull. While the ICB does not plan to provide additional services in Erdington as a result of this temporary emergency change, the Erdington UTC based at the Stockland Green Primary Care Centre remains open for patients in the Erdington area. The ICB has liaised with:
- the UTC provider;
- landlords of the building, NHS Property Services; and
- West Midlands Police.
The ICB has also briefed the Birmingham Health and Scrutiny Oversight Committee, and complied with the Memorandum of Understanding between the Birmingham and Solihull Integrated Care System and the Birmingham and Solihull Joint Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee regarding local authority health scrutiny of health services.
The permanent future location of the North Birmingham UTC will be decided as part of a review of all UTC provision across Birmingham and Solihull, which is in its preliminary stages. During the process, the ICB will invite feedback from its communities, including elected representatives, to ensure the urgent care offer is fit for purpose and convenient for the ICB’s population in the longer term.
Any decision about the permanent future location will be subject to the normal statutory duties in relation to public involvement and consultation with the local authority.
Asked by: Paulette Hamilton (Labour - Birmingham Erdington)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether the relocation of the North Birmingham Urgent Treatment Centre to Sutton Coldfield is intended to be permanent; and what steps his Department plans to take to ensure equitable healthcare access in the long-term for residents in Birmingham Erdington constituency.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The reconfiguration of services is a matter for the local National Health Service. All service changes should be based on clear evidence that they will deliver better outcomes for patients. The NHS Birmingham and Solihull Integrated Care Board (ICB) conducted its own evaluation to assess the move of the Urgent Treatment Centre (UTC) from the Erdington Health and Wellbeing Centre to Good Hope Hospital. The plan aims to increase access to appropriate UTC services and reduce pressure on Good Hope Hospital’s accident and emergency department by ensuring patients who attend accident and emergency can be triaged and treated at the co-located UTC. The relocation of the UTC from its current location also takes into consideration the need to ensure the safety of patients and staff.
Good Hope Hospital is 0.8 miles closer to the original location of the UTC, prior to its first move to the Erdington Health and Wellbeing Centre. Patients continue to be able to access any of the six UTCs operating within Birmingham and Solihull. While the ICB does not plan to provide additional services in Erdington as a result of this temporary emergency change, the Erdington UTC based at the Stockland Green Primary Care Centre remains open for patients in the Erdington area. The ICB has liaised with:
- the UTC provider;
- landlords of the building, NHS Property Services; and
- West Midlands Police.
The ICB has also briefed the Birmingham Health and Scrutiny Oversight Committee, and complied with the Memorandum of Understanding between the Birmingham and Solihull Integrated Care System and the Birmingham and Solihull Joint Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee regarding local authority health scrutiny of health services.
The permanent future location of the North Birmingham UTC will be decided as part of a review of all UTC provision across Birmingham and Solihull, which is in its preliminary stages. During the process, the ICB will invite feedback from its communities, including elected representatives, to ensure the urgent care offer is fit for purpose and convenient for the ICB’s population in the longer term.
Any decision about the permanent future location will be subject to the normal statutory duties in relation to public involvement and consultation with the local authority.
Asked by: Paulette Hamilton (Labour - Birmingham Erdington)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he plans to provide additional interim healthcare services to people affected by the relocation of the North Birmingham Urgent Treatment Centre to Good Hope Hospital.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The reconfiguration of services is a matter for the local National Health Service. All service changes should be based on clear evidence that they will deliver better outcomes for patients. The NHS Birmingham and Solihull Integrated Care Board (ICB) conducted its own evaluation to assess the move of the Urgent Treatment Centre (UTC) from the Erdington Health and Wellbeing Centre to Good Hope Hospital. The plan aims to increase access to appropriate UTC services and reduce pressure on Good Hope Hospital’s accident and emergency department by ensuring patients who attend accident and emergency can be triaged and treated at the co-located UTC. The relocation of the UTC from its current location also takes into consideration the need to ensure the safety of patients and staff.
Good Hope Hospital is 0.8 miles closer to the original location of the UTC, prior to its first move to the Erdington Health and Wellbeing Centre. Patients continue to be able to access any of the six UTCs operating within Birmingham and Solihull. While the ICB does not plan to provide additional services in Erdington as a result of this temporary emergency change, the Erdington UTC based at the Stockland Green Primary Care Centre remains open for patients in the Erdington area. The ICB has liaised with:
- the UTC provider;
- landlords of the building, NHS Property Services; and
- West Midlands Police.
The ICB has also briefed the Birmingham Health and Scrutiny Oversight Committee, and complied with the Memorandum of Understanding between the Birmingham and Solihull Integrated Care System and the Birmingham and Solihull Joint Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee regarding local authority health scrutiny of health services.
The permanent future location of the North Birmingham UTC will be decided as part of a review of all UTC provision across Birmingham and Solihull, which is in its preliminary stages. During the process, the ICB will invite feedback from its communities, including elected representatives, to ensure the urgent care offer is fit for purpose and convenient for the ICB’s population in the longer term.
Any decision about the permanent future location will be subject to the normal statutory duties in relation to public involvement and consultation with the local authority.
Asked by: Paulette Hamilton (Labour - Birmingham Erdington)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he plans to take to ensure that Community Diagnostic Centres are accessible to everyone in (a) Birmingham Erdington constiituency and (b) England.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Community Diagnostic Centre (CDC) programme now delivers activity on 168 sites across the country, and data published in August 2024 showed CDCs have delivered over 10.4 million diagnostic tests since July 2021.
The National Health Service has endeavoured to ensure that each integrated care system (ICS) has at least two CDCs, and there is now a standard or large model CDC approved in every NHS integrated care system area. Locations of CDCs were determined based on a set of specific criteria, including need for diagnostic provision, accessibility for patients by private and public transport and factors which would support health inequalities.
Whilst there is no CDC located in the Birmingham Erdington constituency, Birmingham and Solihull ICB hosts three CDCs in the local area, including Washwood Heath CDC in Saltley, North Solihull CDC in Chelmsley Wood and South Birmingham CDC in Maypole. CDCs provide additional, digitally connected, diagnostic capacity in England, which supports existing diagnostic capacity, including at acute sites such as at Birmingham Heartlands Hospital.
NHS England is also supporting systems to make a wider range of direct access tests available to general practices (GP) nationally and in Birmingham, through the GP Direct Access Scheme. This includes via direct referrals to CDCs, than need for a pre appointment and to increase speed of access. Phases 1 and 2 of the GP Direct Access Scheme are focussed on expanding use of direct access tests for cancer and respiratory conditions, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
The Government has committed £1.5 billion of capital funding for new surgical hubs and diagnostic scanners. This will build capacity for over 30,000 additional procedures and over 1.25 million diagnostic tests, as well as new beds which will create more treatment space in emergency departments, reduce waiting times, and help shift more care into the community. More details will follow in due course.
Asked by: Paulette Hamilton (Labour - Birmingham Erdington)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps the Government is taking to help promote (a) cultural exchange and (b) community engagement initiatives between the UK and Moroccan diaspora communities.
Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The FCDO convenes events open to both British nationals residing in Morocco and Moroccan nationals. These include regular business networking events in Casablanca, events celebrating current, former, and future Chevening Scholars, and annual initiatives such as 'Ambassador for a Day' focusing on education and youth empowerment.
The British Council promotes cultural activity and exchange between the UK and Morocco on behalf of the UK government. Its activities span a variety of creative and cultural sectors, including filmmaking, literature, and music production, and its International Collaboration Grant currently supports artists in both the UK and Morocco.
Asked by: Paulette Hamilton (Labour - Birmingham Erdington)
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 (a) Birmingham Erdington constituency and (b) other areas covered by the Birmingham and Solihull Integrated Care Board to address the barriers to respiratory diagnostics identified in the report entitled Right Test Right Time, published by Asthma and Lung UK in August 2023.
Answered by Andrew Gwynne - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
In addition to the development of community diagnostic provision, on Monday 4 November the Birmingham Solihull Integrated Care Board (ICB) launched a system-wide campaign to encourage people to ‘breathe easy’ by getting their vaccines. Focusing primarily on flu, COVID-19, and the respiratory syncytial virus, the Breathe Easy campaign was designed to engage with people who are over 65 years old and living in the postcodes where it is known that vaccine uptake is low, as well as those who are aged six months to 64 years old and who have an increased risk of getting seriously ill from COVID-19 because of a health condition or treatment. The ICB is also urging pregnant women who are between 28 and 32 weeks of their pregnancy to ensure they are doing all they can to protect themselves and their unborn baby.
Radio, bus stop, bus interior, community radio, billboard, online, and supermarket adverts are all currently live, and will run until Christmas 2024. This campaign forms part of the integrated care system’s winter communications plan, which has been developed to bring partners together across the system to help create a movement asking people to take personal responsibility, drive action, increase trust in community health services, and educate, to prevent ill-health and ultimately protect the health of yourself, others, and the local National Health Service.