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, with reference to the report by the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman entitled End-of-life care: improving 'do not attempt CPR' conversations for everyone, published on 14 March 2024, what assessment she has made of the implications for her policies of the recommendation that CPR training for all doctors and nurses should include scenario-based training on Do Not Attempt Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation conversations.
Answered by Helen Whately - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Department will respond to the report by the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman entitled End-of-life care: improving 'do not attempt CPR' conversations for everyone, in due course.
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, with reference to the report by the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman entitled End-of-life care: improving 'do not attempt CPR' conversations for everyone, what assessment she has made of the implications for her policies of the recommendation that for advance care planning conversations the primary care electronic patient record needs to be (a) the single place for holding (i) end-of-life care plans and (ii) Do Not Attempt Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation records and (b) accessible across all health settings.
Answered by Helen Whately - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Department will respond to the report by the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman entitled End-of-life care: improving 'do not attempt CPR' conversations for everyone, in due course.
Asked by: George Howarth (Labour - Knowsley)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment her Department has made of the potential implications for its policies of the cost-benefit analysis of the T1DE pilot schemes carried out by NHS England.
Answered by Andrew Stephenson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
Evaluation by the National Health Service of the initial Type 1 Diabetes with Disordered Eating service (T1DE) pilot sites, in London and Wessex, demonstrated a mean reduction in HbA1c of between 2.3% to 2.5%. Assuming that this level of reduction is maintained, the lifetime quality-adjusted life year gain of these services was estimated at 1.49, which would be cost effective up to a net lifetime cost of £29,800-£44,800.
In response to these initial evaluation findings, NHS England expanded the T1DE programme, supporting provision of new services in an additional five sites from September 2022, expanding coverage to more areas of the country. It is expected that these services will generate further evaluation data to consolidate these early findings, which can be used to inform national and local policy decisions.
NHS England is drawing on learning from existing T1DE services, other emerging evidence and the findings of the recent parliamentary inquiry, to ensure all areas of the country are supported to improve care for those identified as having T1DE. The emergence of these future plans are subject to future spending review settlements for the NHS and level of funding from the NHS England budget allocated to T1DE.
NHS England are also working closely with the first wave of pilot sites including London to ensure that the newer services can benefit from their learning and experience when considering local funding options in advance of March 2025, when the national funding for the five new sites will come to an end.
NHS England is assisting integrated care boards to develop local funding arrangements through the provision of evaluation data, a national programme of support workshops, and an online platform to share learning and good practice.
Asked by: Neale Hanvey (Alba Party - Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether she has made an assessment of the potential implications for her policies of the article in the British Medical Journal entitled Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine is “likely” responsible for deaths of some elderly patients, Norwegian review finds, published on 27 May 2021; and if she will have discussions with the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency on the contents of the report.
Answered by Maria Caulfield - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade) (Minister for Women)
Following the initial roll out of the COVID-19 vaccination programme in December 2020, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) had a comprehensive surveillance strategy in place, enabling continual close monitoring of emerging safety evidence including studies, published literature, and data arising from the widespread use in the United Kingdom and globally. This included the article and Norwegian reports highlighted. The MHRA communicates safety advice based upon consideration of the totality of evidence from all relevant information sources, rather than the strengths and limitations of individual data sources.
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, whether she has made an assessment of the potential impact of her policies on social care on (a) staff recruitment and retention and (b) service user outcomes.
Answered by Helen Whately - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
Preliminary findings for the Department's workforce reform programme have indicated that workers with multiple positive employment factors, including increasing access to training and qualifications, were more likely to stay in employment. Planned evaluation of the reforms will aim to measure the impact on intention to leave, and actual turnover, along with other outcomes.
We anticipate benefits from the workforce reform programme will include a reduction in staff turnover, improved quality of care from a better trained and more stable workforce, increased workforce productivity, and an increase in efficiency savings for social care providers as they reduce the amount of retraining and recruitment needed. These all contribute to our wider goals of improvements in the quality-of-care provision and improved access to care.
Asked by: Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (Labour - Slough)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to his Department's press release entitled More synthetic opioids banned to protect communities, published on 20 March 2023, what assessment he has made of the impact of the change in legal status on the (a) spread and (b) use of these substances.
Answered by Chris Philp - Minister of State (Home Office)
Tackling Class A drugs, including synthetic opioids, is a priority for the Government due to the harm caused to users, society and the economy.
The HMG Synthetic Opioids Taskforce is working with partner agencies such as the National Crime Agency (NCA), the Department for Health and Social Care and the National Police Chiefs Council to deliver an evidence-based response to the level of risk posed by synthetic opioids, and implement policies to stem the demand and supply of these dangerous substances.
As of 20 March, 15 dangerous synthetic opioids have come under the tightest controls as Class A drugs. An impact assessment has been published which outlines the potential impacts of the legislation, and which includes a qualitative assessment of the potential use and spread of these substances.. By controlling these substances, we anticipate an increase in public awareness of their harms and that law enforcement are able to respond to the supply and production of these drugs.
To stem the supply of illicit synthetic opioids to and within the UK, the NCA, Police and Border Force are working together in a zero-tolerance approach, ensuring all lines of enquiry are prioritised and vigorously pursued. This involves mapping and targeting key offenders, including dark net markets. Dedicated teams use a range of tools and techniques generally unavailable to most investigators and we make sure they have the resources and powers they need to keep our country safe.
Border Force are leading on a series of intensifications at the border to strengthen our intelligence on how these substances reach the UK. Furthermore, Home Office supports the NCA’s International Liaison Officer network and Border Force’s international work through funding posts in key transit and source countries to stop drugs from coming to the UK in the first place.
Asked by: Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (Labour - Slough)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps he is taking to tackle the importation of nitazenes into the UK.
Answered by Chris Philp - Minister of State (Home Office)
Tackling Class A drugs, including synthetic opioids, is a priority for the Government due to the harm caused to users, society and the economy.
The HMG Synthetic Opioids Taskforce is working with partner agencies such as the National Crime Agency (NCA), the Department for Health and Social Care and the National Police Chiefs Council to deliver an evidence-based response to the level of risk posed by synthetic opioids, and implement policies to stem the demand and supply of these dangerous substances.
As of 20 March, 15 dangerous synthetic opioids have come under the tightest controls as Class A drugs. An impact assessment has been published which outlines the potential impacts of the legislation, and which includes a qualitative assessment of the potential use and spread of these substances.. By controlling these substances, we anticipate an increase in public awareness of their harms and that law enforcement are able to respond to the supply and production of these drugs.
To stem the supply of illicit synthetic opioids to and within the UK, the NCA, Police and Border Force are working together in a zero-tolerance approach, ensuring all lines of enquiry are prioritised and vigorously pursued. This involves mapping and targeting key offenders, including dark net markets. Dedicated teams use a range of tools and techniques generally unavailable to most investigators and we make sure they have the resources and powers they need to keep our country safe.
Border Force are leading on a series of intensifications at the border to strengthen our intelligence on how these substances reach the UK. Furthermore, Home Office supports the NCA’s International Liaison Officer network and Border Force’s international work through funding posts in key transit and source countries to stop drugs from coming to the UK in the first place.
Asked by: Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (Labour - Slough)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what discussions he has had with (a) the National Crime Agency and (b) local police forces on collaboration on tackling dark net markets involved in the distribution of synthetic opioids.
Answered by Chris Philp - Minister of State (Home Office)
Tackling Class A drugs, including synthetic opioids, is a priority for the Government due to the harm caused to users, society and the economy.
The HMG Synthetic Opioids Taskforce is working with partner agencies such as the National Crime Agency (NCA), the Department for Health and Social Care and the National Police Chiefs Council to deliver an evidence-based response to the level of risk posed by synthetic opioids, and implement policies to stem the demand and supply of these dangerous substances.
As of 20 March, 15 dangerous synthetic opioids have come under the tightest controls as Class A drugs. An impact assessment has been published which outlines the potential impacts of the legislation, and which includes a qualitative assessment of the potential use and spread of these substances.. By controlling these substances, we anticipate an increase in public awareness of their harms and that law enforcement are able to respond to the supply and production of these drugs.
To stem the supply of illicit synthetic opioids to and within the UK, the NCA, Police and Border Force are working together in a zero-tolerance approach, ensuring all lines of enquiry are prioritised and vigorously pursued. This involves mapping and targeting key offenders, including dark net markets. Dedicated teams use a range of tools and techniques generally unavailable to most investigators and we make sure they have the resources and powers they need to keep our country safe.
Border Force are leading on a series of intensifications at the border to strengthen our intelligence on how these substances reach the UK. Furthermore, Home Office supports the NCA’s International Liaison Officer network and Border Force’s international work through funding posts in key transit and source countries to stop drugs from coming to the UK in the first place.
Asked by: Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (Labour - Slough)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how his Department plans to assess the impact of the Synthetic Opioid Taskforce on the (a) supply and (b) demand for these drugs.
Answered by Chris Philp - Minister of State (Home Office)
Tackling Class A drugs, including synthetic opioids, is a priority for the Government due to the harm caused to users, society and the economy.
The HMG Synthetic Opioids Taskforce is working with partner agencies such as the National Crime Agency (NCA), the Department for Health and Social Care and the National Police Chiefs Council to deliver an evidence-based response to the level of risk posed by synthetic opioids, and implement policies to stem the demand and supply of these dangerous substances.
As of 20 March, 15 dangerous synthetic opioids have come under the tightest controls as Class A drugs. An impact assessment has been published which outlines the potential impacts of the legislation, and which includes a qualitative assessment of the potential use and spread of these substances.. By controlling these substances, we anticipate an increase in public awareness of their harms and that law enforcement are able to respond to the supply and production of these drugs.
To stem the supply of illicit synthetic opioids to and within the UK, the NCA, Police and Border Force are working together in a zero-tolerance approach, ensuring all lines of enquiry are prioritised and vigorously pursued. This involves mapping and targeting key offenders, including dark net markets. Dedicated teams use a range of tools and techniques generally unavailable to most investigators and we make sure they have the resources and powers they need to keep our country safe.
Border Force are leading on a series of intensifications at the border to strengthen our intelligence on how these substances reach the UK. Furthermore, Home Office supports the NCA’s International Liaison Officer network and Border Force’s international work through funding posts in key transit and source countries to stop drugs from coming to the UK in the first place.
Asked by: Mary Glindon (Labour - North Tyneside)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps her Department is taking to tackle childhood obesity; and if she will take steps to work with (a) other Departments and (b) community organisations to provide access to safe recreational spaces for children.
Answered by Andrea Leadsom - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
Addressing obesity remains a priority for the Government and we are taking strong action to support people, including children and their families, in achieving and maintaining a healthier weight. This action includes: the introduction of restrictions on the promotion by location of less healthy products in key selling locations in store and online; working with the food industry to make further progress on reformulation and making healthier choices easier; the introduction of out of home calorie labelling regulations for food sold in large businesses, including restaurants, cafes, and takeaways; and supporting three million children through the Healthy Food Schemes.
The Government has taken steps towards providing access to open spaces for communities including children, this includes putting policies in place to require local authorities to provide access to open spaces for sport and physical activity, which is important for the health and well-being of communities. This includes a duty for all local councils to produce a design code for their local area. Design codes will be prepared locally, reflect the local context, and be based on effective community involvement. Officials in the Department are engaging with stakeholders, including those across Government, on a wide range of issues, to promote healthier places.