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Written Question
NHS: Drugs
Tuesday 30th April 2019

Asked by: Stephen Lloyd (Liberal Democrat - Eastbourne)

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 adequate supplies of treatments for (a) epilepsy and (b) bipolar disorder in all scenarios surrounding the UK's exit from the EU.

Answered by Stephen Hammond

The Department fully understands that maintaining access to treatments for epilepsy and bipolar disorder is vitally important to many people in this country.

The Government remains committed to leaving the European Union with a deal. We have now reached agreement with the EU on an extension to the Article 50 period until 31 October at the latest, with the option to leave earlier as soon as a Withdrawal Agreement has been ratified.

Under the terms of the Withdrawal Agreement, there will be an implementation period running till the end of 2020, during which there will be no changes to the current trading arrangements with the EU. Therefore, if the Withdrawal Agreement is ratified, the supply of medicines will continue on the same basis it does now during this period.

Leaving without a deal remains the legal default at the end of the extension period if no Withdrawal Agreement is agreed. Therefore, as a responsible Government, we will continue to prepare to minimise any disruption to the supply of medicines and medical products in a potential ‘no deal’ scenario. We are considering what impact this longer extension may have on our EU exit preparations, and are working closely with our stakeholders to review our position.

While we never give guarantees, we are confident that if everyone does what they need to do, the supply of medicines and medical products including treatments for epilepsy and bipolar disorder should be uninterrupted in the event we leave the EU without a deal.

The Department has a long-established pharmacist-led team and dedicated processes to deal with medicine shortages, whatever the cause. This team works closely with the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, the pharmaceutical industry, NHS England and others in the supply chain to help prevent shortages and to ensure that the risks to patients are minimised when they do arise.


Written Question
Bowel Cancer: Screening
Tuesday 20th March 2018

Asked by: Stephen Lloyd (Liberal Democrat - Eastbourne)

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

What the timetable is for the implementation of the faecal immunochemical test for bowel cancer screening.

Answered by Steve Brine

The UK National Screening Committee has recommended that the faecal immunochemical test (FIT) be the primary screening test for bowel cancer and NHS England remains absolutely committed to implementing FIT in 2018/19.

NHS England is working with Public Health England to finalise a number of practical arrangements around sensitivity, production and distribution of FIT kits, and diagnostic and pathology workforce capacity to ensure that when FIT is implemented, it is sustainable.


Written Question
Pharmaceutical Price Regulation Scheme
Thursday 8th March 2018

Asked by: Stephen Lloyd (Liberal Democrat - Eastbourne)

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if officials of his Department will meet patient organisations to ensure the patient voice is heard during the re-negotiation of the Pharmaceutical Price Regulation Scheme.

Answered by Steve Brine

Officials have met with patient organisations regarding their views on future medicines pricing arrangements on a number of occasions. Officials will continue to meet with patient organisations during 2018.


Written Question
Pharmaceutical Price Regulation Scheme
Thursday 8th March 2018

Asked by: Stephen Lloyd (Liberal Democrat - Eastbourne)

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 1 December 2017 to Question 115087 on Pharmaceutical Price Regulation Scheme, whether a decision has been made on the timing of negotiations with industry on the next Pharmaceutical Price Regulation Scheme.

Answered by Steve Brine

Informal discussions have already begun with industry regarding future medicines pricing arrangements. Formal negotiations will begin during 2018.


Written Question
Colorectal Cancer: Screening
Monday 5th March 2018

Asked by: Stephen Lloyd (Liberal Democrat - Eastbourne)

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 ensure the new faecal immunochemical test will be introduced in April 2018 as planned.

Answered by Steve Brine

It is expected that the faecal immunochemical test (FIT) will be implemented during 2018/19 as the primary screen test for the bowel cancer screening programme.

The Department has asked NHS England to lead the implementation of FIT and work through the practical steps to enable them to commission the new service from National Health Service providers. This will include: the sensitivity threshold at which FIT will be set; and consequent planning for colonoscopy and pathology workforce capacity; the distribution of the test kits; laboratory set up; new information technology links with the FIT analysing machines; staff training and public information. NHS England will undertake this with expert advice, practical support, standard setting and quality assurance from Public Health England.

As these practical steps are put into place, a more specific date in 2018 will be confirmed for the introduction of FIT as the primary screen test for the bowel cancer screening programme.


Written Question
Colorectal Cancer: Screening
Monday 5th March 2018

Asked by: Stephen Lloyd (Liberal Democrat - Eastbourne)

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, which health body will be responsible for making the final decision on the sensitivity threshold for the faecal immunochemical test when it is introduced into the bowel cancer screening programme due to be implemented in April 2018.

Answered by Steve Brine

It is expected that the faecal immunochemical test (FIT) will be implemented during 2018/19 as the primary screen test for the bowel cancer screening programme.

The Department has asked NHS England to lead the implementation of FIT and work through the practical steps to enable them to commission the new service from National Health Service providers. This will include: the sensitivity threshold at which FIT will be set; and consequent planning for colonoscopy and pathology workforce capacity; the distribution of the test kits; laboratory set up; new information technology links with the FIT analysing machines; staff training and public information. NHS England will undertake this with expert advice, practical support, standard setting and quality assurance from Public Health England.

As these practical steps are put into place, a more specific date in 2018 will be confirmed for the introduction of FIT as the primary screen test for the bowel cancer screening programme.


Written Question
Bowel Cancer: Screening
Monday 5th March 2018

Asked by: Stephen Lloyd (Liberal Democrat - Eastbourne)

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, which health body will be responsible for making the final decision on the sensitivity threshold for the faecal immunochemical test when it is introduced into the bowel cancer screening programme due to be implemented in April 2018.

Answered by Steve Brine

It is expected that the faecal immunochemical test (FIT) will be implemented during 2018/19 as the primary screen test for the bowel cancer screening programme.

The Department has asked NHS England to lead the implementation of FIT and work through the practical steps to enable them to commission the new service from National Health Service providers. This will include: the sensitivity threshold at which FIT will be set; and consequent planning for colonoscopy and pathology workforce capacity; the distribution of the test kits; laboratory set up; new information technology links with the FIT analysing machines; staff training and public information. NHS England will undertake this with expert advice, practical support, standard setting and quality assurance from Public Health England.

As these practical steps are put into place, a more specific date in 2018 will be confirmed for the introduction of FIT as the primary screen test for the bowel cancer screening programme.


Written Question
Bowel Cancer: Screening
Monday 5th March 2018

Asked by: Stephen Lloyd (Liberal Democrat - Eastbourne)

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 ensure the new faecal immunochemical test will be introduced in April 2018 as planned.

Answered by Steve Brine

It is expected that the faecal immunochemical test (FIT) will be implemented during 2018/19 as the primary screen test for the bowel cancer screening programme.

The Department has asked NHS England to lead the implementation of FIT and work through the practical steps to enable them to commission the new service from National Health Service providers. This will include: the sensitivity threshold at which FIT will be set; and consequent planning for colonoscopy and pathology workforce capacity; the distribution of the test kits; laboratory set up; new information technology links with the FIT analysing machines; staff training and public information. NHS England will undertake this with expert advice, practical support, standard setting and quality assurance from Public Health England.

As these practical steps are put into place, a more specific date in 2018 will be confirmed for the introduction of FIT as the primary screen test for the bowel cancer screening programme.


Written Question
Bowel Cancer: Screening
Wednesday 28th February 2018

Asked by: Stephen Lloyd (Liberal Democrat - Eastbourne)

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether a decision has been reached on the sensitivity threshold for the faecal immunochemical test when it is introduced into the bowel cancer screening programme due to be implemented in April 2018; and if he will make a statement.

Answered by Steve Brine

A decision is expected to be made in 2018/19 on the sensitivity threshold for the faecal immunochemical test (FIT) on its introduction to the bowel cancer screening programme.

NHS England remains committed to the implementation of FIT testing within the NHS Bowel Cancer Screening Programme from 2018. During 2018, NHS England will finalise a number of practical steps to ensure when FIT is implemented it is sustainable. These steps include: working with Public Health England who will be ensuring that the practical arrangements for managing the production and distribution of FIT kits are in place and working with local providers to ensure sufficient workforce capacity is in place to deliver FIT and save lives.


Written Question
Maternity Services: East Sussex
Tuesday 12th September 2017

Asked by: Stephen Lloyd (Liberal Democrat - Eastbourne)

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what risk assessment East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust carried out on the implications of potentially longer travel time resulting from the move of consultant-led maternity services to Hastings for the health of mothers and pre-born or new-born babies.

Answered by Philip Dunne

NHS Improvement advises that when making the decision in 2013 to consolidate consultant-led maternity services at one site, East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust considered a number of risks and mitigations, including risks to patient safety. As part of this assessment, the trust also looked at travel times.

The Government is clear that all service changes should be based on clear evidence that they will deliver better outcomes for patients. Any changes should meet the four tests for service change: they should have support from general practitioner (GP) commissioners, be based on clinical evidence, demonstrate public and patient engagement, and consider patient choice. Implementation of the agreed service changes is a matter for the local National Health Service. It is for the local NHS to keep any service change under review, in line with its role in ensuring services provided are high quality, safe and sustainable.