Asked by: Tessa Munt (Liberal Democrat - Wells and Mendip Hills)
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 publish the findings of the consultation entitled Improving the experiences of people with ME/CFS: interim delivery plan, published on 9 August 2023.
Answered by Andrew Gwynne - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
We are committed to improving the care and support for people with myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME/CFS), also known as chronic fatigue syndrome. We recognise how devastating the symptoms can be, and the significant impact they can have on patients and their families.
We published a summary report of the responses to the 2023 consultation on the interim delivery plan on 19 December 2024. The responses to that consultation, along with continued close engagement with stakeholders, will inform the development of the final ME/CFS delivery plan, which we aim to publish by the end of March 2025. The plan will focus on boosting research, improving attitudes and education, and bettering the lives of people with this debilitating disease.
The report is available at the following link:
Asked by: Tessa Munt (Liberal Democrat - Wells and Mendip Hills)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what his planned timetable is to respond to the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman's Report entitled End of life care: improving Do Not Attempt cardiopulmonary resuscitation conversations for everyone, published on 14th March 2024.
Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
I have responded to the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman's March 2024 report entitled End of life care: improving Do Not Attempt cardiopulmonary resuscitation conversations (DNACPR), in a letter dated 5 November 2024. In this response, the Department set out the ongoing work on each of the recommendations in the report.
The Department is committed to ensuring that DNACPR discussions do not happen in silo or only in emergency settings, which is often too late and carried out under extreme stress, but as a part of wider advance care planning (ACP) conversations. To facilitate this, the Department and the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman will jointly convene a roundtable to further discuss ACP and the findings of this report.
Asked by: Tessa Munt (Liberal Democrat - Wells and Mendip Hills)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether the delivery plan for ME/CFS will include measures to improve the safety of NHS care for patients with ME.
Answered by Andrew Gwynne - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
No assessment has been made on the impact of myalgic encephalomyelitis, also known as chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS), and long COVID on economic growth. However, the Government recognises that long-term sickness continues to be the most common reason for economic inactivity among the working age population. As part of the Get Britain Working plan, more disabled people and those with health conditions will be supported to enter and stay in work, by devolving more power to local areas so they can shape a joined-up work, health, and skills offer that suits the needs of the people they serve.
The Government has established a Growth Mission Board focused squarely on reviving economic growth, and has established a new Growth Delivery Unit in HM Treasury to track and support delivery of key growth priorities.
The final ME/CFS delivery plan is a priority for the Department, and it is our intention to publish a response summary later this autumn. We cannot comment on the exact content of the final delivery plan at this time, but it will be shaped by the consultation responses, along with continued close engagement with stakeholders, with three broad themes of attitudes and education, research, and living with ME/CFS. We aim to publish this in the winter of 2024/25.
The Department funds ME/CFS research through the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). The NIHR and the Medical Research Council (MRC) are committed to funding high-quality research to understand the causes, consequences, and treatment of ME/CFS, and are actively exploring next steps for research in this area. The NIHR welcomes funding applications for research into any aspect of human health, including ME/CFS.
Ring-fencing funding for ME/CFS has been considered and discussed with the community during the development of the Interim Delivery Plan for ME/CFS, as well as the recent roundtables on ME/CFS and Long COVID. Ring-fencing is not usual practice for research funders as applications in all areas compete for the funding available. These applications are subject to peer review and judged in open competition, with awards being made on the basis of the importance of the topic to patients and health and care services, value for money, and scientific quality. In all areas, the amount of NIHR funding depends on the volume and quality of scientific activity. Funding for high quality research is available through NIHR programmes, and there is support available for researchers to successfully apply for these awards.
Over the last five years, the NIHR has invested over £3.6 million in research programme funding for ME/CFS. This includes over £1.5 million to the DecodeME study, co-funded with the MRC, which aims to understand if there is a genetic component to the condition, and in doing so increase our understanding of ME/CFS to support the development of diagnostic tests and targeted treatments.
Asked by: Tessa Munt (Liberal Democrat - Wells and Mendip Hills)
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 with the Chancellor of the Exchequer of the potential impact of (a) ME and (b) long covid on economic growth.
Answered by Andrew Gwynne - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
No assessment has been made on the impact of myalgic encephalomyelitis, also known as chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS), and long COVID on economic growth. However, the Government recognises that long-term sickness continues to be the most common reason for economic inactivity among the working age population. As part of the Get Britain Working plan, more disabled people and those with health conditions will be supported to enter and stay in work, by devolving more power to local areas so they can shape a joined-up work, health, and skills offer that suits the needs of the people they serve.
The Government has established a Growth Mission Board focused squarely on reviving economic growth, and has established a new Growth Delivery Unit in HM Treasury to track and support delivery of key growth priorities.
The final ME/CFS delivery plan is a priority for the Department, and it is our intention to publish a response summary later this autumn. We cannot comment on the exact content of the final delivery plan at this time, but it will be shaped by the consultation responses, along with continued close engagement with stakeholders, with three broad themes of attitudes and education, research, and living with ME/CFS. We aim to publish this in the winter of 2024/25.
The Department funds ME/CFS research through the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). The NIHR and the Medical Research Council (MRC) are committed to funding high-quality research to understand the causes, consequences, and treatment of ME/CFS, and are actively exploring next steps for research in this area. The NIHR welcomes funding applications for research into any aspect of human health, including ME/CFS.
Ring-fencing funding for ME/CFS has been considered and discussed with the community during the development of the Interim Delivery Plan for ME/CFS, as well as the recent roundtables on ME/CFS and Long COVID. Ring-fencing is not usual practice for research funders as applications in all areas compete for the funding available. These applications are subject to peer review and judged in open competition, with awards being made on the basis of the importance of the topic to patients and health and care services, value for money, and scientific quality. In all areas, the amount of NIHR funding depends on the volume and quality of scientific activity. Funding for high quality research is available through NIHR programmes, and there is support available for researchers to successfully apply for these awards.
Over the last five years, the NIHR has invested over £3.6 million in research programme funding for ME/CFS. This includes over £1.5 million to the DecodeME study, co-funded with the MRC, which aims to understand if there is a genetic component to the condition, and in doing so increase our understanding of ME/CFS to support the development of diagnostic tests and targeted treatments.
Asked by: Tessa Munt (Liberal Democrat - Wells and Mendip Hills)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of ring-fencing biomedical research funding for ME.
Answered by Andrew Gwynne - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
No assessment has been made on the impact of myalgic encephalomyelitis, also known as chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS), and long COVID on economic growth. However, the Government recognises that long-term sickness continues to be the most common reason for economic inactivity among the working age population. As part of the Get Britain Working plan, more disabled people and those with health conditions will be supported to enter and stay in work, by devolving more power to local areas so they can shape a joined-up work, health, and skills offer that suits the needs of the people they serve.
The Government has established a Growth Mission Board focused squarely on reviving economic growth, and has established a new Growth Delivery Unit in HM Treasury to track and support delivery of key growth priorities.
The final ME/CFS delivery plan is a priority for the Department, and it is our intention to publish a response summary later this autumn. We cannot comment on the exact content of the final delivery plan at this time, but it will be shaped by the consultation responses, along with continued close engagement with stakeholders, with three broad themes of attitudes and education, research, and living with ME/CFS. We aim to publish this in the winter of 2024/25.
The Department funds ME/CFS research through the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). The NIHR and the Medical Research Council (MRC) are committed to funding high-quality research to understand the causes, consequences, and treatment of ME/CFS, and are actively exploring next steps for research in this area. The NIHR welcomes funding applications for research into any aspect of human health, including ME/CFS.
Ring-fencing funding for ME/CFS has been considered and discussed with the community during the development of the Interim Delivery Plan for ME/CFS, as well as the recent roundtables on ME/CFS and Long COVID. Ring-fencing is not usual practice for research funders as applications in all areas compete for the funding available. These applications are subject to peer review and judged in open competition, with awards being made on the basis of the importance of the topic to patients and health and care services, value for money, and scientific quality. In all areas, the amount of NIHR funding depends on the volume and quality of scientific activity. Funding for high quality research is available through NIHR programmes, and there is support available for researchers to successfully apply for these awards.
Over the last five years, the NIHR has invested over £3.6 million in research programme funding for ME/CFS. This includes over £1.5 million to the DecodeME study, co-funded with the MRC, which aims to understand if there is a genetic component to the condition, and in doing so increase our understanding of ME/CFS to support the development of diagnostic tests and targeted treatments.
Asked by: Tessa Munt (Liberal Democrat - Wells and Mendip Hills)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the Answer of 6 March 2015 to Question 225987, for what reasons the Answer states that a contract for University Hospital Bristol to deliver stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) was transferred to NHS England in April 2013 when that hospital first acquired a gamma knife to deliver SRS in October 2013.
Answered by Jane Ellison
All existing contracts for stereotactic radiosurgery and stereotactic radiotherapy services, including that with University Hospital Bristol, were transferred to NHS England on 1 April 2013. Gamma Knife treatments started at University Hospital Bristol in October 2013, as there was an identified need for this provider to replace its existing equipment.
NHS England intends to update the information contained within the Stereotactic Radiosurgery and Radiotherapy Services - needs assessment and service review to reflect the 2014-15 contract position as part of the work to review the results of the consultation on the future provision of stereotactic radiosurgery services.
Asked by: Tessa Munt (Liberal Democrat - Wells and Mendip Hills)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the Answer of 6 March 2015 to Question 225987, which refers to there being a contract for stereotactic radiosurgery and stereotactic radiotherapy services (SRS) with University Hospital Bristol, for what reasons that hospital is listed as non-contracted and non-commissioned to deliver SRS in the NHS England document Stereotactic radiosurgery and radiotherapy services needs assessment and service review, published in November 2014.
Answered by Jane Ellison
All existing contracts for stereotactic radiosurgery and stereotactic radiotherapy services, including that with University Hospital Bristol, were transferred to NHS England on 1 April 2013. Gamma Knife treatments started at University Hospital Bristol in October 2013, as there was an identified need for this provider to replace its existing equipment.
NHS England intends to update the information contained within the Stereotactic Radiosurgery and Radiotherapy Services - needs assessment and service review to reflect the 2014-15 contract position as part of the work to review the results of the consultation on the future provision of stereotactic radiosurgery services.
Asked by: Tessa Munt (Liberal Democrat - Wells and Mendip Hills)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, with reference to the Answer of 25 February 2014, Official Report, column 279W and 28 February 2014, Official Report, column 583W, on NHS: innovation, for what reason NHS England has not published the minutes of the meetings referred to in the Answers; and if he will direct NHS England to publish those minutes.
Answered by George Freeman
The remit of patient and public engagement now falls to NHS England’s new Patient and Public Voice Assurance Group which met for the first time in June 2014.
Discussions about the publication of the minutes of the Patient and Public Voice Assurance Group are ongoing.
The Patient and Public Engagement Steering Group is no longer in existence and NHS England has no plans to publish the minutes of the Patient and Public Engagement Steering Group.
Asked by: Tessa Munt (Liberal Democrat - Wells and Mendip Hills)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the Answers of 26 January 2015 to Question 221450 and of 2 March 2015 to Questions 225136, 225137 and 225138, for what reasons funding is provided to University Hospital Bristol to treat patients with gamma knife radiosurgery; when that funding approval was given; and who authorised that funding.
Answered by Jane Ellison
Since 1 April 2013, radiosurgery treatment is planned and paid for by NHS England to a national specification, developed through public consultation. All existing contracts for stereotactic radiosurgery and stereotactic radiotherapy services, including that with University Hospital Bristol, were transferred to NHS England on 1 April 2013. NHS England has continued to commission against these contracts, during the review of stereotactic radiosurgery and radiotherapy.
The future provision of stereotactic radiosurgery services in NHS England will be determined by the procurement exercise that will follow on from the consultation exercise that has recently ended. Until this process is completed there are no plans to change current commissioning arrangements.
Asked by: Tessa Munt (Liberal Democrat - Wells and Mendip Hills)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how much has been spent on the NHS Choices Winter Health Advice campaign; and for what purpose that expenditure has been incurred.
Answered by Jane Ellison
The total budget for NHS England’s national ‘Feeling under the weather’ (NHS Choices Winter Health Advice) campaign, for financial year 2014-15, is £6 million. The budget delivered two waves of national campaign activity. The first wave ran from 27 October 2014 to 8 January 2015 and the second wave from 17 January to 1 March 2015.
The ‘Feeling under the weather’ campaign has been created to help reduce the number of elderly and frail people requiring emergency admissions through urgent and emergency care services, particularly accident and emergency departments. The campaign aims to achieve this by raising awareness about what medical help is available and should be sought, depending on the severity of the ailment.