Asked by: Zubir Ahmed (Labour - Glasgow South West)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment she has made of the risks to patients arising from the promotion and sale online of ivermectin and other unlicensed or unproven products as treatments for cancer; and what steps the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency is taking to prevent the promotion and sale of such products.
Answered by James Frith - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) recognises the risks associated with the promotion and sale of ivermectin and other unauthorised or unproven products as treatments for cancer. Ivermectin is not authorised in the United Kingdom for the treatment or prevention of cancer, and claims that it can treat, prevent or cure cancer may mislead patients and risk them delaying or foregoing proven medical treatment.
The MHRA takes robust enforcement action against the illegal promotion, advertising and supply of unauthorised medicines, including online. Through its Criminal Enforcement Unit, the MHRA investigates suspected breaches of the Human Medicines Regulations 2012, and has the power to seize illicit medicines and, where appropriate, pursue prosecution.
Asked by: Zubir Ahmed (Labour - Glasgow South West)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment she has made of the potential merits for reducing the normal pension age for ambulance workers under the NHS Pension Scheme to bring it into line with the retirement age for police and fire service workers.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
Police and fire service workers generally pay higher pension contributions than ambulance staff. Giving ambulance workers the same normal pension age as police and fire service workers would require higher contributions from all NHS Pension Scheme members, and there are currently no plans for such a change.
Under flexible retirement options, ambulance workers can retire before normal pension age with an actuarially reduced pension or access the Early Retirement Reduction Buy Out option to retire up to three years earlier without a reduction, with costs that may be shared with their employers.
Asked by: Zubir Ahmed (Labour - Glasgow South West)
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 support vulnerable people to meet Public Health England's recommended minimum home temperatures.
Answered by Sharon Hodgson
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has produced public-facing guidance on Keeping warm and well: staying safe in cold weather which sets out who might be more vulnerable to cold weather and why, advice on how to keep homes warm, links to energy saving tips, energy efficiency measures, Government support available for those on low incomes, and links to further information from the Met Office, Age UK, and NHS England.
UKHSA has also produced guidance for those caring for and working with the most vulnerable during cold periods, including for adult social care managers and healthcare professionals. Action cards are available for commissioners, health and social care providers, and the voluntary and community sector.
UKHSA also holds winter preparedness webinars to support partners to assess risks to their most vulnerable residents and put measures in place to support them ahead of cold periods.
Asked by: Zubir Ahmed (Labour - Glasgow South West)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of Public Health England's recommended minimum home temperatures for vulnerable people.
Answered by Sharon Hodgson
The UK Health Security Agency’s (UKHSA’s) Adverse Weather and Health Plan (AWHP) brings together guidance and key actions for local and national partners to prepare, build, and respond to adverse weather events, including cold periods. It includes guidance for keeping homes warm in cold weather, and links to the UKHSA’s Keeping warm and well: staying safe in cold weather guidance which recommends keeping commonly used rooms at a minimum of 18 degrees.
The plan is regularly reviewed based on the latest evidence, our experience in implementing the plan, feedback from users of the plan, and the recommendations of the AWHP reports.