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Written Question
Respiratory System: Diseases
Friday 17th November 2023

Asked by: Philippa Whitford (Scottish National Party - Central Ayrshire)

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the findings of Asthma and Lung UK's report entitled Saving your breath, published in September 2023, if he will make it his policy to increase funding for respiratory research to £141 million per year by 2030.

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

The Department funds respiratory research through the National Institute for Health and care Research (NIHR). It is not usual practice for the NIHR to ring-fence a proportion of its budget for research into particular topics or conditions. The NIHR welcomes funding applications for research into any aspect of human health, including into respiratory conditions. 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 disease areas, the amount of NIHR funding depends on the volume and quality of scientific activity.


Written Question
Asthma: Health Services
Friday 30th June 2023

Asked by: Laurence Robertson (Conservative - Tewkesbury)

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 guidance on asthma care; and if he will make a statement.

Answered by Helen Whately - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

Action on chronic respiratory diseases is crucial as they are the third biggest contributor to Years of Life Lost in England. The Major Conditions Strategy will cover treatment and prevention for chronic respiratory diseases, including asthma. The Strategy will set out a strong and coherent policy agenda that sets out a shift to integrated, whole-person care, building on measures that we have already taken forward through the NHS Long Term Plan. Interventions set out in the Strategy will aim to alleviate pressure on the health system, as well as support the Government’s objective to increase healthy life expectancy and reduce ill-health related labour market inactivity.


Written Question
Asthma: Health Services
Friday 30th June 2023

Asked by: Laurence Robertson (Conservative - Tewkesbury)

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 improve care for people suffering from asthma; and if he will make a statement.

Answered by Helen Whately - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

Action on chronic respiratory diseases is crucial as they are the third biggest contributor to Years of Life Lost in England. The Major Conditions Strategy will cover treatment and prevention for chronic respiratory diseases, including asthma. The Strategy will set out a strong and coherent policy agenda that sets out a shift to integrated, whole-person care, building on measures that we have already taken forward through the NHS Long Term Plan. Interventions set out in the Strategy will aim to alleviate pressure on the health system, as well as support the Government’s objective to increase healthy life expectancy and reduce ill-health related labour market inactivity.


Written Question
Asthma and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: Medical Equipment
Thursday 22nd June 2023

Asked by: Mike Kane (Labour - Wythenshawe and Sale East)

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 support research into developing low carbon propellant inhalers for asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients.

Answered by Helen Whately - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Department funds research for the health and care system through the National Institute for Health and Social Care (NIHR). The NIHR has no immediate plans to encourage researchers to move into that specific area - though our research funding programmes are open and we would welcome applications in any area, including low carbon inhalers. The NIHR has also previously issued a cross-programme call for research into the evaluation of a range of interventions and services to support the delivery of a more sustainable United Kingdom health and care system and is considering how to support further research in this area in future.


Written Question
Primary Health Care: Pharmacy
Tuesday 30th May 2023

Asked by: Chris Green (Conservative - Bolton West)

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the Delivery plan for recovering access to primary care, published on 9 May 2023, what assessment his Department has made of the potential role of the pharmacy sector in helping patients to monitor (a) high blood pressure and (b) other long-term conditions at home.

Answered by Neil O'Brien

On 9 May, as part of the Delivery plan for recovering access to primary care, we announced a further investment of up to £645 million over two years to expand the role of community pharmacy including the expansion of existing blood pressure services. This service offers a blood pressure cuff check, as well as ambulatory monitoring where appropriate. General practitioners can also refer their patients directly to the community pharmacy for ambulatory blood pressure measurements, supporting care closer to home and self-care. Pharmacists are experts on medicines and any prescription which is dispensed by a community pharmacist requires the pharmacy to provide to the patient information and advice including how to use the medicines safely. This includes products patients require to monitor their long-term conditions, for example blood glucose testing strips for diabetic patients and peak flow monitors for patients with asthma.


Written Question
Medical Records: Children
Friday 12th May 2023

Asked by: Lord Warner (Crossbench - Life peer)

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of any adverse effects on children as a result of not establishing a consistent child identifier, especially those children with (1) complex needs and disabilities, (2) long-term conditions such as asthma, autism and epilepsy and (3) looked after children and those at risk; and whether they will publish such an assessment.

Answered by Lord Markham - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

No specific assessment has been made. Every child is assigned an National Health Service number at birth or the first time they have contact with NHS services. The NHS number acts as is a unique patient identifier and is used to share information within electronic healthcare records. This contributes to improved health outcomes for children, including looked after children and those with complex needs, disabilities and long-term conditions, by ensuring that health professionals identify patients correctly and have access to information to inform the delivery of appropriate care.

Through the Health and Care Act 2022, the Government has committed to report on Government’s policy on information sharing in relation to the safeguarding of children, including looked after children and those at risk, by summer 2023. The report will include an explanation of whether it is the Government’s policy that a consistent child identifier should be used across agencies.


Written Question
Health: Children
Thursday 23rd February 2023

Asked by: Fleur Anderson (Labour - Putney)

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent steps his Department has taken to help tackle child health (a) inequalities and (b) issues linked to child poverty.

Answered by Neil O'Brien

In November 2022, NHS England published Core20PLUS5, an approach to reducing health inequalities for children and young people at a national and system level. The approach defines a target population and identifies five clinical areas requiring accelerated improvement: asthma, diabetes, epilepsy, oral health, and mental health.

The Department leads a range of public health interventions and guidance for ages 0 to 19 years old that provide universal support, but also help identify further needs and safeguarding concerns. We also deliver programmes targeted at particular populations, including the Family Nurse Partnership to support vulnerable young mothers, the Healthy Start scheme for low-income families, and targeted Mental Health Support Teams in schools.

On 9 February 2023, the Government confirmed the 75 eligible local authorities who will deliver approximately £300 million Family Hubs and Start for Life programme, and the 14 local authorities selected as programme trailblazers. The programme’s objective is to join up and enhance services delivered through transformed Family Hubs. This will ensure all parents and carers can access the support they need at the time they need it.

By investing in 75 local authorities with high levels of deprivation, we aim to help reduce inequalities in health and education outcomes for babies, children, and families across England.


Written Question
NHS: Staff
Monday 23rd January 2023

Asked by: Caroline Lucas (Green Party - Brighton, Pavilion)

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 19 December 2022 to Question 108144 on NHS: Staff, with which (a) trades unions, (b) medical royal colleges, (c) NHS system leaders, (d) voluntary organisations his Department consulted on the NHS workforce plan.

Answered by Will Quince

The following table shows the organisations that have been engaged. This list is not exhaustive because NHS England and Health Education England leaders and programme teams are also working with external stakeholders and their contribution is also informing the plan’s development.

Trade unions, royal colleges and representative bodies

Regulators

Members of Cancer Charities Group

Unison

Professional Standards Authority

Alike

Unite

General Medical Council

AMMF – the cholangiocarcinoma charity

GMB

Care Quality Commission

Anthony Nolan

Managers in Partnership

Healthcare and Professions Council

Blood Cancer UK

British Medical Association

Nursing and Midwifery Council

Bloodwise

Academy of Medical Royal Colleges

Think tanks

Bone Cancer Research Trust

Royal College of Nursing

Nuffield Trust

Bowel Cancer UK

Royal College of Midwives

The Health Foundation

Brain Trust – the brain cancer people

Royal College of Physicians

The King’s Fund

The Brain Tumour Charity

Royal College of Surgeons

Regulators

Brain Tumour Research

Royal College of General Practitioners

Professional Standards Authority

British Liver Trust

Royal College of Psychiatrists

General Medical Council

Breast Cancer Now

Royal College of Anaesthetists

Care Quality Commission

Cancer 52

Royal College of Pathologists

Healthcare and Professions Council

Cancer Research UK

Royal College of Ophthalmologists

Nursing and Midwifery Council

CATTS (Cancer Awareness for Teens & Twenties)

Royal College of Occupational Therapists

Think tanks

Chai Cancer Care

Royal Pharmaceutical Society

Nuffield Trust

Children's Cancer and Leukaemia Group

Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists

The Health Foundation

CLIC Sargent

Royal College of Ophthalmologists

The King’s Fund

CoppaFeel!

Royal College of Emergency Medicine

DKMS

Royal College of Podiatry

Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust

The Association for Clinical Biochemistry and Laboratory Medicine

Eve Appeal

The Society of Radiographers

Fight Bladder Cancer

Institute of Osteopathy

GO Girls Support

College of Operating Department Practitioners

Guts UK

British Association of Art Therapists

Haven House

British Association of Drama therapists

Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust

British Association for Music Therapy

Kidney Cancer UK

The Society of Chiropodists and Podiatrists

Less Survivable Cancers Taskforce

British Dietetic Association

Leukaemia Care

British and Irish Orthoptic Society

Leukaemia UK

British Association of Prosthetists and Orthotists

Lymphoma Action

College of Paramedics

Macmillan Cancer Support

The Chartered Society of Physiotherapy

Maggie's – everyone’s home of cancer care

College of General Dentistry

Marie Curie

Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive healthcare

MDS UK Patient Support Group

Queen’s Nursing Institute

Melanoma Focus

Institute of Health Visiting

Melanoma UK

British Society of Rheumatology

Mesothelioma

The Richmond Group of Charities (including Macmillan Cancer Support, Diabetes UK, Asthma UK, Age UK)

Mylenoma UK

Cancer Charities Group (*see separate list for members)

National Cancer Research Institute

Council of Deans of Health

Neuroendocrine Cancer UK

Medical Schools Council

OcuMel UK

Universities UK

Ovacome

University Alliance

Ovarian Cancer Action

Office for Students

Pancreatic Cancer Action

Skills for Care

Pancreatic Cancer UK

Local Government Association

Paul's Cancer Support

Association of Directors of Adult Social Services

Penny Brohn UK

Social Partnership Forum

Prostate Cancer Research

NHS providers

Prostate Cancer UK

NHS Employers

Race Against Blood Cancer

The Shelford Group

Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation

ICS leaders

Salivary Gland Cancer UK

NHS Confederation

Sarcoma UK

Community Providers Network

Shine Cancer Support

Solving Kids Cancer

Target Ovarian Cancer

Teenage Cancer Trust

Trekstock

The Joshua Tree

WMUK – The charity for Waldenstrom's macroglobulinaemia

World Cancer Research Fund

Further discussions will take place before the plan is finalised. This will include engagement with patient representative groups. NHS England can discuss with any organisations interested in the development of the Plan.


Written Question
Asthma: Health Services
Tuesday 20th December 2022

Asked by: Geraint Davies (Independent - Swansea West)

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will take steps to provide funding for the assessment of toxic indoor air exposure by (a) a new environmental assessment clinic at the Royal London Hospital and (b) other hospital services managing (i) children with asthma and (ii) other vulnerable individuals.

Answered by Neil O'Brien

National Health Service commissioners determine funding for specific local health services. In September 2021, NHS England published ‘National Bundle of Care for Children and Young People with Asthma: Phase one’ which sets out standards for the care pathway for children and young people with asthma. This includes assessments for patients on environmental impacts such as indoor and outdoor air quality.


Written Question
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: Medical Treatments
Wednesday 7th December 2022

Asked by: Feryal Clark (Labour - Enfield North)

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department is taking steps to improve the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Answered by Helen Whately - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

NHS England has established 13 respiratory clinical networks with primary care and community services to manage the diagnosis and treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The Quality Outcomes Framework for 2022/23 includes respiratory indicators in relation to the diagnosis of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, which was fully re-instated in April 2022.

Community diagnostic centres (CDCs) are also delivering additional, digitally connected, diagnostic capacity. This includes a pilot pathway for the diagnosis of undifferentiated breathlessness in a number of CDCs, with a view to wider deployment.