Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what her timetable is for the rollout of Endo Barriers on the NHS.

Answered by Andrew Stephenson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

The implantation of a duodenal–jejunal bypass liner, also known as an endo barrier, for managing type 2 diabetes, is not recommended by the NICE, and therefore not available on the National Health Service. Current evidence on the safety and efficacy of the device for managing type 2 diabetes is limited in quality and quantity. For this reason, the NICE recommends that the procedure should only be done as part of a research study. Further information on the NICE guidelines is available at the following link:

https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ipg518/chapter/1-Recommendations

The NICE may update the guidance, upon publication of further evidence. The NICE recommends that people with type 2 diabetes receive eight care processes at least annually, to support them to achieve three treatment targets to prevent diabetes related complications. The care processes include checks on blood glucose and body mass index, to support weight management. Delivery of all eight care processes is associated with reduced emergency admissions, amputations, and retinopathy. NHS England commissions two national lifestyle services to support adults with type 2 diabetes to manage their weight and improve their health and wellbeing. These are the NHS Digital Weight Management Programme and the NHS Type 2 Diabetes Path to Remission Programme. The NICE guidance for the care and management for adults with type 2 diabetes is available at the following link:

https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng28

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of classifying covid-19 as an occupational disease for healthcare workers; and whether his Department has had discussions with relevant professional bodies on that matter.

Answered by Mims Davies - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

The DWP is advised by the Industrial Injuries Advisory Council (IIAC), an independent scientific body, on changes to the list of occupational diseases for which Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit (IIDB) can be paid.

The Council considered the available scientific and epidemiological evidence around COVID-19 infection and published a Command Paper entitled, ‘COVID-19 and occupational impacts’ in November 2022 found here.

The Command Paper recommends that the list of prescribed occupational diseases for which IIDB can be paid should be expanded to include health and social care workers with five serious pathological complications following COVID-19 infection.

The Department is currently carrying out a detailed assessment of the report’s recommendations and will respond in due course.

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 impact of the covid-19 pandemic on (a) waiting times for mental health care services and (b) the quality of mental health care provision in each of the last three years.

Answered by Maria Caulfield - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade) (Minister for Women)

We have made no specific assessments. The COVID-19 pandemic inevitably caused service disruption and increased pressure on mental health services contributing to rising need, demand and complexity of presentations.

Despite these significant challenges, mental health services in the National Health Service have continued to deliver progress against some of the key ambitions in the NHS Long Term Plan throughout this period. This includes meeting the early intervention in psychosis waiting time standard, delivering the commitment for mental health support teams to cover 20-25% of pupils in schools and colleges in England a year ahead of schedule and the roll out of 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, urgent mental health helplines nationwide when the pandemic hit.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he plans to take to ensure that NHS capacity is maintained in the event of staff sickness or bed occupancy over the winter months due to covid-19.

Answered by Maria Caulfield - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade) (Minister for Women)

NHS England is currently working with local systems to review capacity and pressures. Further guidance for the National Health Service on winter planning and priorities is expected to be issued in due course.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the allocation by the Government of £270 million to private hospitals to help tackle an Omicron surge, if he will publish the contracts between NHS and private hospitals in respect of the allocation of that funding.

Answered by Edward Argar - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)

We are unable to provide the information requested as it is commercially sensitive. However, NHS England plans to publish the contract award notices in line with the deadlines set out in the Public Contract Regulations 2015.

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 safeguard patients with (a) dementia and (b) other illnesses in the context of the changing way the NHS is having to treat and correspond with patients as a result of the covid-19 outbreak.

Answered by Gillian Keegan - Secretary of State for Education

During the pandemic, NHS England and NHS Improvement’s guidance to primary care systems stated that a blended approach to appointments should be maintained, using both face to face and remote consultation as per the needs of the patient. This guidance is available at the following link:

https://www.england.nhs.uk/coronavirus/wp-content/uploads/sites/52/2021/10/BW999-our-plan-for-improving-access-and-supporting-general-practice-oct-21.pdf

We continue to work with stakeholders and health and care system partners to identify and implement actions to support people with dementia and their carers, including modifying dementia diagnosis and care pathways.

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 tackle the impact of staff absences due to the Omicron covid-19 variant on delivering care.

Answered by Edward Argar - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)

The National Health Service is providing additional guidance for managers to support staff affected by the impacts of COVID-19, such as signposting to wellbeing resources and mental health hubs. The deployment of a flexible workforce, such as temporary agency or bank staff, allows the NHS to meet fluctuations in demand and staffing levels.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will review the 14 day covid-19 isolation period operating within children’s mental health units.

Answered by Gillian Keegan - Secretary of State for Education

On 17 January 2022, guidance was updated to recommend that the inpatient isolation period for COVID-19 cases or contacts is reduced from 14 days to 10 days, with some exceptions. It also outlines that NHS services, including children’s mental health units, should take a risk assessment approach to implementing the guidance in their area.

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 impact of the 14 day covid-19 isolation periods in children’s mental health units on (a) the children using the units and (b) their parents.

Answered by Gillian Keegan - Secretary of State for Education

No specific assessment has been made. However, commissioners and clinical teams have used digital forms of communication to maintain and, where possible, enhance therapeutic engagement, including supporting contact with parents and families.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will publish the details of the ministerial direction he has issued regarding the New Covid Surge Deal With the Independent Health Sector including providing (a) the costs of arrangements including how much the NHS will pay per patient, (b) what budget the money will come from and whether Trust budgets or NHSE and (c) whether the deal specifies if the private sector will be required to prioritise NHS patients over private patients.

Answered by Edward Argar - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)

The letter issuing the Direction was published on GOV.UK on 12 January 2022.

NHS England estimates a cost of £75 to £90 million per month whilst the ‘surge arrangements’ within the contract are not activated. If surge arrangements are activated, NHS England estimates the maximum cost of the arrangements to be £175 million per month. However, this is based on surge arrangements being activated nationally, which is considered to be unlikely. While prices are based on the National Health Service national tariff, it is not possible to provide the cost per patient as this is dependent on the type of activity completed, the minimum income guarantee when surge arrangements are not activated and the not-for-profit cost recovery model when they are.

Funding will be provided from the overall NHS budget and local systems will not face higher costs as a result of these new arrangements. If surge arrangements are activated, the NHS will have access to 100% of the facilities, staffing and resources of the independent sector provider in the affected system. When surge arrangements are not activated, the independent sector providers may continue to perform private work as usual.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will publish guidance on the right for patients to request being treated by vaccinated staff.

Answered by Edward Argar - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)

The NHS Constitution for England sets out the rights to which patients are entitled, which includes the right to be involved in decisions about their care and the right to be cared for in a clean, safe, secure and suitable environment. However, there is no specific entitlement for patients in National Health Service facilities to request they are treated by vaccinated staff.

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 maximise NHS capacity and help increase the NHS’s resilience during the covid-19 outbreak.

Answered by Edward Argar - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)

The National Health Service is ensuring that all medically fit patients are discharged to increase bed capacity, using non-acute beds in local systems and the independent sector, and expanding the use of ‘virtual wards’ to care for patients safely at home. Nightingale hubs are also under construction to deliver up to an additional 4,000 beds, should they be needed.

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 ability of mental health services to function effectively in the context of the additional pressure on health services as a result of high levels of covid-19 cases.

Answered by Gillian Keegan - Secretary of State for Education

Mental health services have remained open throughout the pandemic. Local health systems are asked to ensure that access to community-based mental health services is retained to ensure that those at risk and are most vulnerable can access treatment and care, with face-to-face care provided as far as possible.

On 24 December, NHS England and NHS Improvement published ‘2022-23 priorities and operational planning guidance’, setting out the services that systems have been asked to deliver during the current high levels of COVID-19 cases.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will review the Government's plan for mandatory vaccinations of NHS and care staff in light of evidence that transmission of covid-19 can still occur 10 weeks post-vaccination.

Answered by Edward Argar - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)

We continue to consider the latest evidence and clinical advice to inform policy. We remain committed to the vaccination requirements coming into force on 1 April 2022.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent estimate he has made of the number of people who stop working in (a) the NHS and (b) social care following the implementation of mandatory covid-19 vaccinations for those staff.

Answered by Edward Argar - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)

The Department’s impact assessment estimated the number of workers who may remain unvaccinated against COVID-19 at the end of the 12-week grace period and are not medically exempt. For National Health Service staff, this is estimated to be 4.9% or 73,000 and 7.6% or 38,000 for social care staff. We continue to encourage unvaccinated staff to make the positive choice to be vaccinated.

The latest data as of 13 January 2022 shows that since the Government’s consultation on the policy in September 2021, there has been a net increase of NHS trust healthcare workers vaccinated with a first dose of over 81,000. For social care, the data shows there has been a net increase of over 20,000 social care workers vaccinated with a first dose.

Found: 2018, there were over 3 ,000 direct awards for “ cancer and neoplasms ” research, 12 PQ 114231, Health

Found: first dose. 18 Jan 2022 | Written questions | Answered | House of Commons | 100610 Care Workers and Health