Asked by: Peter Grant (Scottish National Party - Glenrothes)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many outstanding (a) driving licence renewals, (b) applications for provisional licences and (c) other driving licence applications are pending processing by the DVLA for those with medical conditions.
Answered by Trudy Harrison
The quickest and easiest way to apply for a driving licence is by using the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA)’s online service. There are no delays in successful online applications and customers should receive their licence within a few days.
However, many people still choose or have to make a paper application and the DVLA receives around 60,000 items of mail every day. To help reduce waiting times for paper applications, the DVLA has introduced additional online services, recruited more staff, increased overtime working and has secured extra office space in Swansea and Birmingham. The latest information on turnaround times for paper driving licence applications can be found here. There will be additional delays in processing applications where medical investigations are needed.
The number of applications awaiting processing fluctuates on a daily basis as licences are issued and new applications received.
In December the Department of Health and Social Care asked the DVLA to temporarily pause referrals to the NHS for driver licensing purposes to allow the NHS to rightly prioritise the vaccination booster rollout. Referrals for lorry and bus drivers were prioritised and continued during this time and all referrals have now restarted. The large majority of drivers renewing a licence will be able to continue driving while their application is being considered, providing they can meet the criteria outlined here
The DVLA recognises the impact on drivers who have to renew their licence more regularly and is working hard to improve the process. Drivers with diabetes, epilepsy, Parkinson’s disease, a visual impairment, a sleep condition or a heart condition can renew their licence online.
The DVLA has also recently introduced a simplified licence renewal process for drivers with epilepsy and multiple sclerosis and is piloting this for some mental health conditions. This renewal process has significantly reduced the need for the DVLA to seek further information from medical professionals and enabled more licensing decisions to be made based on the information provided by the driver. The DVLA is looking at adding more medical conditions to this new process.
These measures are having a positive impact and customers will see an improving picture in terms of turnaround times.
Asked by: Marquess of Lothian (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the risk of a health crisis in Palestinian refugee camps in Lebanon, given the rapid spread of the Omicron variant of COVID-19 there; what steps they are taking to support the relevant authorities in relieving any such crisis in the camps; and what recent discussions they have held with the UN Relief and Works Agency on this matter.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
In support of Lebanon's response to coronavirus, the UK has contributed nearly £4.5 million for medical supplies via World Health Organisation, support through the British Red Cross, training to medical professionals, and funding for 10 isolation centres.
The UK is committed to supporting vulnerable Palestinian refugees in Lebanon through our annual support to the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA). UK aid helps UNRWA provide essential services to vulnerable Palestinian refugees including responding to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Asked by: Alex Norris (Labour (Co-op) - Nottingham North)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the timeframe is for his Department to issue clear guidance on the prioritisation and coordination of covid-19 booster doses for immunocompromised people alongside booster doses for all 18 to 39 year olds and second doses for those aged 12 to 15 years.
Answered by Maggie Throup
On 29 November 2021, the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation updated its COVID-19 vaccination advice in response to the Omicron variant. The advice stated that all those aged 18 years old or over should be eligible for a COVID-19 booster vaccine; 12 to 15 year olds should be eligible for two doses; and that those with severe immunosuppression should be eligible for a fourth dose as a booster.
NHS England and NHS Improvement published guidance to all systems regarding the next steps of vaccine deployment. This guidance stated the need to continue to prioritise the severely immunosuppressed and also asked all systems to create additional capacity for those aged over 18 years old to receive their booster and to ensure that eligible children are able to access vaccination. It was published on 13 December 2021 and is available at the following link:
The National Health Service opened bookings for 12 to 15 year olds to receive a second dose on 20 December 2021.
A letter was sent to NHS systems and vaccination services on 25 January 2022 with further information on COVID-19 vaccination for those who are immunocompromised. This advised how eligible people should be contacted, provided a letter template for the referral for a fourth dose and frequently asked questions regarding vaccination and immunosuppression.
Asked by: Rachael Maskell (Labour (Co-op) - York Central)
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 10 January 2022 to Question 80365 on Coronavirus: Disease Control, for what reason it is commercially sensitive to publish the (a) termination dates on contracts and (b) continuity plans for services.
Answered by Maggie Throup
Decisions on our future contracting requirements for COVID-19 response are subject to an ongoing assessment of the trajectory of the virus. As the decision on the future of these contracts is yet to be taken, information relating to plans for these arrangements is commercially sensitive.
Asked by: Daisy Cooper (Liberal Democrat - St Albans)
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 13 December 2021 to Question 86625 on Travel: Coronavirus, whether TestnGo has received a warning related to inadequate performance of their covid-19 testing services.
Answered by Maggie Throup
We are unable to provide the information requested as it is commercially sensitive.
Asked by: Baroness McIntosh of Pickering (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what was the level of absence amongst (1) NHS staff, and (2) carers, over the last month attributed to COVID-19.
Answered by Lord Kamall
In the month to 5 January 2022, the average daily number of staff absent from work in National Health Service hospital trusts for COVID-19 related reasons was 30,637. This compares to a peak of over 100,000 absences per day in April 2020 and over 50,000 absences per day in January 2021.
The Department does not hold data on the number of carers absent from work due to COVID-19 over the last month. The Department collects data on COVID-19 related absence among staff in care homes and domiciliary care, which is currently being collated and validated for future publication.
Asked by: Kieran Mullan (Conservative - Crewe and Nantwich)
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.
Asked by: Rosena Allin-Khan (Labour - Tooting)
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.
Asked by: Rachael Maskell (Labour (Co-op) - York Central)
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.
Asked by: Desmond Swayne (Conservative - New Forest 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 ensure the availability of multi-disciplinary medical treatment for 16 and 17 year old patients with long covid who cannot access paediatric services and have been refused access to long covid clinics.
Answered by Maria Caulfield - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade) (Minister for Women)
National commissioning guidance published by NHS England and NHS Improvement details services which should be available to support people of all ages with a likely diagnosis of post-COVID syndrome. This is regardless of whether they received a positive COVID-19 test or were managed in hospital or the community. The guidance is available at the following link:
In general, young people aged 16 and 17 years old should access adult post-COVID specialist services. There are a small number of localities where access for this group is through the specialist paediatric hubs, which will accept direct referrals.