Asked by: Dan Jarvis (Labour - Barnsley Central)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to ensure that the school milk subsidy scheme includes milk alternatives in the event that children have dairy allergies.
Answered by Mark Spencer - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The school milk subsidy is limited to milk and specific eligible dairy products and there are no plans to change this. The School Food Standards regulate the food and drink provided at both lunchtime and at other times of the school day. While these require milk to be available, we also expect schools to make reasonable adjustments for pupils with particular requirements, to reflect for example dietary or cultural needs. Schools are enabled by the guidance to provide a variety of other drinks including plain soya, rice or oat drinks enriched with calcium and combination and flavoured variations of these drinks. Further information is available on gov.uk at the following link.
A joint Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN)/Committee on Toxicity (COT) Working Group was established in Autumn 2021 to conduct a benefit/risk assessment considering both nutritional and toxicological aspects associated with consumption of plant-based drinks by the UK population. The work of the Working Group is ongoing. The outcome of this assessment will provide integrated advice to the Department of Health and Social Care and other government departments on policy in this area. More information is available at the following link.
Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN) - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Asked by: Baroness Masham of Ilton (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking (1) to improve access to specialist care, and (2) to reduce regional health inequalities, among patients with rare diseases, including those with hereditary angioedema.
Answered by Lord Kamall
In February 2022, the England Rare Diseases Action Plan 2022 was published, which aims to improve access to specialist care, treatment and drugs for patients with rare diseases, including hereditary angioedema (HAE). The Plan commits to support access to new treatments through programmes such as the Innovative Medicines Fund, while continuing to work with National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) on new treatments being assessed. Following the updates made to NICE’s methods and processes, the Plan aims to ensure that NICE continues to support the rapid adoption of effective new treatments for National Health Service patients with rare diseases.
The Action Plan also contains actions aimed at addressing health inequalities, including monitoring the uptake of drugs for patients with rare diseases, through measuring the number of people accessing a drug and comparing with the number expected to access it, to ensure equal access to treatment. It also commits to reduce health inequalities in NHS highly specialised services. A copy of the England Rare Diseases Action Plan 2022 is attached.
The NHS Commercial Medicines Unit is developing a procurement framework for medicines to treat HAE. It is anticipated the framework will be operational in summer 2022. The NHS Immunology and Allergy Clinical Reference Group will also revise current commissioning policies for HAE treatments to reduce health inequalities in England for these patients.
Asked by: Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to improve allergy awareness in (1) educational, and (2) health care, settings.
Answered by Lord Kamall
In 2020, health education became statutory in schools. As part of the health and prevention topic, pupils are taught the facts and science relating to allergies, immunisation and vaccination.
For 95% of allergy patients, their condition can be managed by primary or other non-specialist allergy services, such as with routine therapies and advice. The Royal College of General Practitioners have developed an online resource to support continuing professional development and revalidation, which aims to educate and improve awareness amongst general practitioners about the various presentations of allergic disease.
To raise awareness among patients, carers and healthcare professionals on the use of Adrenaline Auto-injectors (AAIs), the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency conducted a communications campaign to improve the safe and effective use of AAIs. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence promotes guidance on a range of allergies, including food allergy in those aged under 19 years old, anaphylaxis and drug allergy online and through newsletters and other media. While this guidance is not mandatory, health and care commissioners are expected to take them fully into account.
Asked by: Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the adequacy of allergy services by (1) region, and (2) integrated care system.
Answered by Lord Kamall
No specific assessment has been made. Allergy services in England are currently commissioned through clinical commissioning groups (CCGs), considering the needs of the local population. A small number of specialist allergy services for patients with rare and complex conditions are commissioned by NHS England’s specialised commissioning. Its service specification states that centres should provide equity of access to best practice standards for diagnosis and management, based on current national and international guidelines.
Integrated care boards will be established on 1 July 2022 and will assume the commissioning functions of CCGs as well as some of NHS England’s commissioning functions.
Asked by: Viscount Stansgate (Labour - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of Allergy's UK's Patient Charter, published on 5 May; and what steps they will take to support it.
Answered by Lord Kamall
Whilst no formal assessment has been made, we have noted the Charter’s focus on quality standards of care, access to accurate information and equality.
Allergy services in England are commissioned through clinical commissioning groups to meet the needs of the local population. A small number of specialist allergy services for patients with rare and complex conditions are commissioned through NHS England and NHS Improvement’s specialised commissioning. The service specification specifies that centres provide equity of access to best practice standards for diagnosis and management, based on current national and international guidelines.
The Department and NHS England and NHS Improvement continue to engage with stakeholders to understand the needs of people with allergies and how services could be improved. This includes patient and public voice membership in NHS England and NHS Improvement’s clinical reference group which provides clinical advice and leadership on specialised immunology and allergy services.
Asked by: Christopher Chope (Conservative - Christchurch)
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 18 March 2022 to Question 142428, what national awareness campaigns are being conducted to alert the public to the MHRA statement that in a minority of cases the risks of the vaccines outweigh the benefits; and what public information is available to enable individual patients to assess whether their own circumstances and those of their children are such that the risk of having the vaccine outweighs the benefit.
Answered by Maggie Throup
Vaccines are the best way to protect people from COVID-19. The expected benefits of the vaccines in preventing infection and serious complications associated with COVID-19 outweigh any currently known side effects in the majority of patients. Those with particular risks, such as an allergy to particular vaccine components, should seek specific advice from their doctor or from the local immunisation or health protection team.
If an individual has more general concerns about COVID-19 vaccination, there is a variety of materials available on NHS.UK and GOV.UK. A relevant health professional can also provide additional advice regarding the vaccine. The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) continues to communicate its assessment of the risks and benefits of the vaccines. The MHRA publishes information on COVID-19 vaccine safety which is available at the following link:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-vaccine-adverse-reactions
Asked by: Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they will take to establish a National Clinical (1) Lead, or (2) Director, to work alongside the Clinical Immunologist advising on allergy pathways.
Answered by Lord Kamall
Whilst there are currently no plans to appoint a National Clinical Lead or Director for allergies, NHS England and NHS Improvement keep the position under review and new National Clinical Directors or Specialty Advisers are appointed as necessary.
Clinical advice and leadership is currently provided by the clinical reference group for specialised allergy and immunology services, which leads on the development of clinical commissioning policies, service specifications and quality standards.
Asked by: Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the devolved administrations regarding a UK-wide National Strategy for Allergy.
Answered by Lord Kamall
There are no plans to develop a National Strategy for Allergy in England and we have had no specific discussions with the devolved administrations. We continue to engage with stakeholders to understand the needs of people with allergies and how services could be improved.
Asked by: Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they will take to establish a National Strategy for Allergy.
Answered by Lord Kamall
There are no plans to develop a National Strategy for Allergy in England and we have had no specific discussions with the devolved administrations. We continue to engage with stakeholders to understand the needs of people with allergies and how services could be improved.
Asked by: Catherine West (Labour - Hornsey and Wood Green)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will appoint an allergy tsar to act as a champion within Government for people living with allergic disease.
Answered by Gillian Keegan - Secretary of State for Education
We have no current plans to do so. Clinical advice and leadership is provided by the clinical reference group for specialised allergy and immunology services. While there is currently no specific National Clinical Director or Specialty Adviser for routine allergy services, NHS England and NHS Improvement keep this position under review and new National Clinical Directors or Specialty Advisers are appointed as necessary. We are currently working with delivery partners and stakeholders to ensure there is the appropriate workforce, clinical leadership and expert guidance in place to support those living with allergies.