Asked by: Richard Holden (Conservative - Basildon and Billericay)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how much funding was provided by NHS England to the Culturally Sensitive Genetic Literacy project in the current financial year.
Answered by Andrew Gwynne - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.
Asked by: Richard Holden (Conservative - Basildon and Billericay)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many close relative marriage neonatal nurses there are in the NHS.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.
Asked by: Richard Holden (Conservative - Basildon and Billericay)
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 changes to the eligibility criteria for the Winter Fuel Payment on (a) primary care, (b) hospitals and (c) Pharmacy First.
Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
We know that patients are struggling to access their general practice (GP), especially throughout the winter period when demand is higher. We committed to restoring the front door of the National Health Service by shifting the focus of the NHS out of hospitals into the community. We know that when patients are not able to get a GP appointment, they end up in accident and emergency, which is worse for the patient, and more expensive for the taxpayer. That is why it is key that we increase the capacity of GP appointments. We have already committed to recruiting over 1,000 newly qualified GPs from October 2024 through an £82 million boost to the Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme, which will increase the number of GP appointments delivered.
In line with the requirements of the Public Sector Equality Duty, the Department for Work and Pensions produced an equality analysis as part of the ministerial decision-making process. This was published on 13 September 2024, and is available at the following link:
The Department for Work and Pensions will continue to monitor and review the impact of the policy, using this to inform any future decisions.
Asked by: Richard Holden (Conservative - Basildon and Billericay)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many cases of (a) HIV and (b) AIDS have been diagnosed due to mandatory opt-out testing in hospitals.
Answered by Andrew Gwynne - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The bloodborne viruses (BBVs) opt-out testing in emergency departments programme has identified 391 people with new HIV diagnoses between April 2022 and December 2023. In addition, 314 people were identified with HIV who had been previously diagnosed. Data on AIDS is not collected via the emergency department opt-out BBV testing programme. The published report is available at the following link:
Asked by: Richard Holden (Conservative - Basildon and Billericay)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he has statutory powers to prevent the (a) merger and (b) closure of GP services.
Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Health and Care Act 2022 included new powers in the National Health Service Act 2006, giving my Rt. Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, increased oversight of, and the option for earlier involvement in reconfiguration of services within the NHS.
Where there are concerns about a proposal by an NHS commissioner for a reconfiguration of NHS services, either relating to the process that has been followed or where the decision is not in the best interests of the health service in the area, then the Secretary of State may intervene under new powers introduced on 31 January 2024. This may include where there are concerns about a commissioner’s decision to merge or close a general practice (GP).
The closure of a GP surgery is an issue that is considered and decided upon by local commissioners following an application from a GP provider.
Practices close for a variety of reasons, including mergers or retirement, and so do not necessarily indicate a reduction in the quality of care. When a practice does close, patients are informed of the closure and advised to register at another local practice of their choice within their area.
Commissioners are accountable for ensuring that patients have access to a GP practice. In the event of a closure, commissioners will assess the need for a replacement provider before transferring patients to alternative practices when a GP surgery closes.
Asked by: Richard Holden (Conservative - Basildon and Billericay)
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 ensure the adequate supply of needles for (a) diabetic and (b) other healthcare provision.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
NHS Supply Chain sources, delivers, and supplies healthcare products for National Health Service trusts and healthcare organisations across England and Wales, and also has robust measures in place to ensure the continuity of supply of medical products, including needles. This includes close collaboration with suppliers, and managing supply levels. As a result of a broad supply base within the syringes and needles framework agreement, NHS Supply Chain seeks to maintain adequate volumes to meet demand, whilst minimising the risk of supply gaps.
The Department has arrangements in place to help ensure the continuity of the supply of medical products, such as needles, in the event of disruption. This includes the National Supply Disruption Response (NSDR), which acts as a single point of contact to the health and care system in the event of a supply issue. In the event a shortage does occur, the NSDR can work with the medical supply industry, the health and care system, and our system partners to put mitigations in place to help minimise any impact to patients and the provision of care.
Asked by: Richard Holden (Conservative - Basildon and Billericay)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many and what proportion of radiotherapy machines are beyond their recommended working life in each (a) integrated care board and (b) hospital.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Department does not hold data on how many and what proportion of radiotherapy machines are beyond their recommended working life in each integrated care board and hospital. From April 2022, the responsibility for investing in new radiotherapy machines sits with local systems.
Cancer patients are waiting too long for treatment. We will get the National Health Service diagnosing cancer on time and treating it faster, so that more patients survive this horrible set of diseases, and we will improve patients’ experience across the system. We will address the challenges in diagnostic waiting times, providing the number of computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, and other tests that are needed to reduce elective and cancer waits.
Asked by: Richard Holden (Conservative - Basildon and Billericay)
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 help improve waiting times for radiotherapy treatment.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Department does not hold data on how many and what proportion of radiotherapy machines are beyond their recommended working life in each integrated care board and hospital. From April 2022, the responsibility for investing in new radiotherapy machines sits with local systems.
Cancer patients are waiting too long for treatment. We will get the National Health Service diagnosing cancer on time and treating it faster, so that more patients survive this horrible set of diseases, and we will improve patients’ experience across the system. We will address the challenges in diagnostic waiting times, providing the number of computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, and other tests that are needed to reduce elective and cancer waits.
Asked by: Richard Holden (Conservative - Basildon and Billericay)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of making (a) rozanolixizumab, (b) zilucoplan and (c) efgartigimod available to NHS patients with myasthenia gravis (MG); and what (i) representations his Department has received from and (ii) meetings his Department has had with MG patients on that matter.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Department has made no such assessment. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) makes evidence-based recommendations for the National Health Service on whether new medicines should be routinely funded by the NHS, based on an assessment of their costs and benefits. The NICE is currently evaluating rozanolixizumab, zilucoplan, and efgartigimod within their licensed indications for the treatment of myasthenia gravis, and has not yet published final guidance.
The Department has received correspondence letters from constituents via their Member of Parliament regarding myasthenia gravis and the treatment for this condition, but there have not been any recent meetings between Ministers and patients with this condition.
Asked by: Richard Holden (Conservative - Basildon and Billericay)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether pay rises for (a) doctors and (b) other NHS staff will be met from existing NHS budgets.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
My Rt Hon. Friend, the Chancellor of the Exchequer’s statement on 29 July 2024 sets out the position across the Government, which includes departments making savings to pay towards the outcomes of the pay review bodies. The process for agreeing savings is not yet complete, however the intention is for the Department of Health and Social Care and HM Treasury to meet the pay review bodies’ recommendations for doctors and other National Health Service staff in 2024/25, and to resolve any funding needs in the usual way.