Asked by: Sarah Green (Liberal Democrat - Chesham and Amersham)
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 promote awareness of early symptoms of Parkinson's disease amongst GPs.
Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
General practitioners (GPs) are responsible for ensuring their own clinical knowledge, including of Parkinson’s disease, remains up-to-date, and for identifying learning needs as part of their continuing professional development. This activity should include taking account of new research and developments in guidance, such as that produced by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, to ensure that they can continue to provide high quality care to all patients. All doctors registered in the United Kingdom are expected to meet the professional standards set out in the General Medical Council’s (GMC’s) Good Medical Practice. In 2012, the GMC introduced revalidation, which supports doctors in regularly reflecting on how they can develop or improve their practice, giving patients confidence that doctors are up to date with their practice, and promoting improved quality of care by driving improvements in clinical governance.
The training curricula for postgraduate trainee doctors, set by the Royal College of General Practitioners, has to meet the standards set by the GMC. Whilst curricula do not necessarily highlight specific conditions for doctors to be aware of, they do emphasise the skills and approaches that a doctor must develop to ensure accurate and timely diagnoses and treatment plans for their patients.
Asked by: Sarah Green (Liberal Democrat - Chesham and Amersham)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what funding the Government provides for research into a cure for Parkinson's disease.
Answered by Andrew Gwynne - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Government’s responsibility for delivering Parkinson’s disease research is shared between the Department of Health and Social Care, with research delivered by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), and the Department of Science, Innovation and Technology, with research delivered via UK Research and Innovation. The Government spent a total of £79.06 million on research into Parkinson’s disease between the financial years 2019/20 and 2023/24.
As well as funding research itself, the NIHR invests significantly in research expertise and capacity, specialist facilities, support services, and collaborations to support and deliver research in England. Collectively, this forms the NIHR’s infrastructure. The NIHR’s infrastructure enables the country’s leading experts to develop and deliver high-quality translational, clinical, and applied research into Parkinson’s disease. For example, in the financial year 2022/23, the NIHR Clinical Research Network enabled 114 studies related to Parkinson’s disease.
Asked by: Sarah Green (Liberal Democrat - Chesham and Amersham)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate he has made of the number of consultants specialising in the treatment of Parkinson's disease required to meet current needs of patients.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
We have launched a 10-Year Health Plan to reform the National Health Service. A central and core part of the plan will be our workforce and how we ensure we train and provide the staff, technology, and infrastructure the NHS needs to care for patients across our communities.
No such estimate has been made. We are committed to training the staff we need, including neurologists and consultants specialising in treating Parkinson’s Disease, to ensure that patients are cared for by the right professional, when and where they need it.
As of August 2024, there are 1,917 full-time equivalent (FTE) doctors working in the specialty of neurology in NHS trusts and integrated care boards in England, which is 146, or 8.2%, more than a year ago, and 473, or 32.7%, more than five years ago. Of these, there are 975 FTE consultants, which is 47, or 5%, more than a year ago, and 179, or 22.5%, more than five years ago. In 2024, there are 367 doctors in the NHS in England in postgraduate specialty training for neurology. This is 44, or 13.6%, more than five years ago.
Asked by: Sarah Green (Liberal Democrat - Chesham and Amersham)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if his Department will take steps to encourage students to take up careers in neurology.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
We have launched a 10-Year Health Plan to reform the National Health Service. A central and core part of the plan will be our workforce and how we ensure we train and provide the staff, technology, and infrastructure the NHS needs to care for patients across our communities.
No such estimate has been made. We are committed to training the staff we need, including neurologists and consultants specialising in treating Parkinson’s Disease, to ensure that patients are cared for by the right professional, when and where they need it.
As of August 2024, there are 1,917 full-time equivalent (FTE) doctors working in the specialty of neurology in NHS trusts and integrated care boards in England, which is 146, or 8.2%, more than a year ago, and 473, or 32.7%, more than five years ago. Of these, there are 975 FTE consultants, which is 47, or 5%, more than a year ago, and 179, or 22.5%, more than five years ago. In 2024, there are 367 doctors in the NHS in England in postgraduate specialty training for neurology. This is 44, or 13.6%, more than five years ago.
Asked by: Sarah Green (Liberal Democrat - Chesham and Amersham)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to his strategy for NHS workforce planning, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of shortages in the number of clinicians specialising in neurology on the adequacy of care for patients with (a) Parkinson's Disease and (b) other neurological conditions.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
Currently, there are no specific plans to make an assessment of the potential impact of shortages in the number of clinicians specialising in neurology on the adequacy of care for patients with Parkinson's disease or other neurological conditions.
As of July 2024, there were over 1,800 full-time equivalent (FTE) doctors working in the specialty of neurology in National Health Service trusts and other organisations in England. This includes over 900 FTE consultant neurologists. In 2023, the fill rate for recruitment into the specialty of neurology in England was 94%.
The NHS workforce has been overworked for years, leading to staff becoming burnt out and demoralised. We must be honest about the challenges we are facing. The NHS is broken but not beaten and together we will turn it around.
We have launched a 10-Year Health Plan to reform the NHS. The plan will set out a bold agenda to deliver on the three big shifts needed, to move healthcare from hospital to the community, from analogue to digital, and from treatment to prevention. A central and core part of the 10-Year Health Plan will be our workforce and how we ensure we train and provide the staff, technology, and infrastructure the NHS needs to care for patients across our communities.
There are a number of initiatives supporting service improvement and better care for patients with Parkinson’s disease in England, including the Getting It Right First Time (GIRFT) Programme for Neurology, the RightCare Progressive Neurological Conditions Toolkit, and the Neurology Transformation Programme (NTP).
The GIRFT National Specialty Report made recommendations designed to improve services nationally and to support the NHS to deliver care more equitably across the country. In addition, the NTP has developed a model of integrated care for neurology services to support integrated care boards to deliver the right service, at the right time for all neurology patients, including providing care closer to home.
Asked by: Sarah Green (Liberal Democrat - Chesham and Amersham)
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 number of specialist Parkinson's Nurses required to meet the current needs of patients.
Answered by Andrew Gwynne - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Department does not hold data specifically on the number of people waiting for treatment for Parkinson’s disease in England. The Department does hold data on waiting times for neurology, but not broken down by specific conditions. The latest data for referral to treatment waiting times in England, from September 2024, shows there were over 234,000 patients waiting for a neurology appointment, and that 54% of patients were seen by a neurologist within 18 weeks.
There are a number of initiatives supporting service improvement and better care for patients with Parkinson’s disease in England, including the Getting It Right First Time (GIRFT) Programme for Neurology, the RightCare Progressive Neurological Conditions Toolkit, and the Neurology Transformation Programme (NTP).
The GIRFT National Specialty Report made recommendations designed to improve services nationally, and to support the National Health Service to deliver care more equitably across the country. The report highlighted differences in how services are delivered, and provided the opportunity to share successful initiatives between trusts to improve patient services nationally. In addition, the NTP has developed a model of integrated care for neurology services to support integrated care boards to deliver the right service, at the right time for all neurology patients, including providing care closer to home.
Once diagnosed, and with a management strategy in place, the majority of people with Parkinson’s can be cared for through routine access to primary and secondary care. NHS England commissions the specialised elements of Parkinson’s care that patients may receive from 27 neurology centres across England. Within specialised centres, neurological multidisciplinary teams ensure patients can access a range of health professionals, including Parkinson’s disease nurses, psychologists, and allied health professionals such as dieticians and speech and language therapists, and that they can receive specialised treatment and support according to their needs.
No specific assessment has been made of the number of specialist Parkinson’s nurses required to meet the current need of patients in England. While the Department does not hold data specifically on the number of Parkinson’s specialist staff in England, we do hold data on the numbers working in the wider speciality of neurology. As of July 2024, there were over 1,800 full-time equivalent (FTE) doctors working in the specialty of neurology in NHS trusts and other organisations in England. This includes over 900 FTE consultant neurologists. In 2023, the fill rate for recruitment into the specialty of neurology in England was 94%.
The NHS workforce has been overworked for years, leading to staff becoming burnt out and demoralised. We must be honest about the challenges we are facing. The NHS is broken but not beaten and together we will turn it around.
We have launched a 10-Year Health Plan to reform the NHS. The plan will set out a bold agenda to deliver on the three big shifts needed to move healthcare from hospital to the community, from analogue to digital, and from treatment to prevention.
A central and core part of the 10-Year Health Plan will be our workforce and how we ensure we train and provide the staff, technology, and infrastructure the NHS needs to care for patients across our communities.
Asked by: Sarah Green (Liberal Democrat - Chesham and Amersham)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what data his Department currently holds on waiting lists for treatment for Parkinson's Disease in England.
Answered by Andrew Gwynne - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Department does not hold data specifically on the number of people waiting for treatment for Parkinson’s disease in England. The Department does hold data on waiting times for neurology, but not broken down by specific conditions. The latest data for referral to treatment waiting times in England, from September 2024, shows there were over 234,000 patients waiting for a neurology appointment, and that 54% of patients were seen by a neurologist within 18 weeks.
There are a number of initiatives supporting service improvement and better care for patients with Parkinson’s disease in England, including the Getting It Right First Time (GIRFT) Programme for Neurology, the RightCare Progressive Neurological Conditions Toolkit, and the Neurology Transformation Programme (NTP).
The GIRFT National Specialty Report made recommendations designed to improve services nationally, and to support the National Health Service to deliver care more equitably across the country. The report highlighted differences in how services are delivered, and provided the opportunity to share successful initiatives between trusts to improve patient services nationally. In addition, the NTP has developed a model of integrated care for neurology services to support integrated care boards to deliver the right service, at the right time for all neurology patients, including providing care closer to home.
Once diagnosed, and with a management strategy in place, the majority of people with Parkinson’s can be cared for through routine access to primary and secondary care. NHS England commissions the specialised elements of Parkinson’s care that patients may receive from 27 neurology centres across England. Within specialised centres, neurological multidisciplinary teams ensure patients can access a range of health professionals, including Parkinson’s disease nurses, psychologists, and allied health professionals such as dieticians and speech and language therapists, and that they can receive specialised treatment and support according to their needs.
No specific assessment has been made of the number of specialist Parkinson’s nurses required to meet the current need of patients in England. While the Department does not hold data specifically on the number of Parkinson’s specialist staff in England, we do hold data on the numbers working in the wider speciality of neurology. As of July 2024, there were over 1,800 full-time equivalent (FTE) doctors working in the specialty of neurology in NHS trusts and other organisations in England. This includes over 900 FTE consultant neurologists. In 2023, the fill rate for recruitment into the specialty of neurology in England was 94%.
The NHS workforce has been overworked for years, leading to staff becoming burnt out and demoralised. We must be honest about the challenges we are facing. The NHS is broken but not beaten and together we will turn it around.
We have launched a 10-Year Health Plan to reform the NHS. The plan will set out a bold agenda to deliver on the three big shifts needed to move healthcare from hospital to the community, from analogue to digital, and from treatment to prevention.
A central and core part of the 10-Year Health Plan will be our workforce and how we ensure we train and provide the staff, technology, and infrastructure the NHS needs to care for patients across our communities.
Asked by: Sarah Green (Liberal Democrat - Chesham and Amersham)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of setting statutory limits on increases to car parking charges at stations in line with the cap on annual rail fare rises.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Car parking charges are not regulated and it is a commercial decision for the Train Operators. Local decision-makers have a better understanding of their passengers and will have a greater knowledge of other factors such as demand and the availability of other nearby car parking facilities.
The Code of Practice for Accessible Stations sets out guidance on Blue Badge provision and ensuring that parking payment facilities are accessible
Asked by: Sarah Green (Liberal Democrat - Chesham and Amersham)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will make an assessment of the adequacy of the time period for exemption from Council Tax for retirement properties left vacant after death of their owner.
Answered by Jim McMahon - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
Where a dwelling is left empty following the passing of the occupant, the dwelling will be exempt from council tax until probate is granted or letters of administration are signed. A further six months exemption is available so long as the dwelling remains empty and has not been transferred or sold to a new owner. The government does not have any plans to change this exemption.
Asked by: Sarah Green (Liberal Democrat - Chesham and Amersham)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she has made an assessment of the adequacy of funding for further education colleges to meet staffing costs in the light of (a) increased employer National Insurance contributions and (b) sector pay agreements.
Answered by Janet Daby - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
As a part of the public sector, further education (FE) colleges will be compensated for the increased employer National Insurance contributions. Details about this compensation will be announced in the future.
My right hon. Friend, the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced £300 million in 2025/26 for FE at the Autumn Budget 2024, to ensure young people are developing the skills they need to succeed. The department will set out in due course how this is distributed.
The government does not set pay or conditions within FE. This remains the responsibility of individual providers.
To boost the recruitment and retention of teachers, the department has extended targeted retention incentive payments of up to £6,000 after tax to eligible early-career FE teachers in key subject areas.