Asked by: Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to enhance the safety, quality, supply and accessibility of therapies derived from substances of human origin.
Answered by Lord Markham - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
Therapies derived from substances of human origin include those using reproductive and non-reproductive tissues and cells, organs, stem cells, blood, and blood products including plasma. A range of different bodies have responsibility for safety, quality, supply and accessibility.
NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) provides some of the safest products in the world and are regulated by the Care Quality Commission, Human Tissue Authority and Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency. NHSBT also work closely with the safety policy units of the Advisory Committee on the Safety of Blood, Tissues, and Organs and the Joint Professional Advisory Committee to blood services in the United Kingdom.
The Sustainability and Certainty in Organ Retrieval Programme was established in May 2023, following consultation and engagement with stakeholders across the organ donation and transplantation pathway. The key aim is to make improvements to the pathways with the aim of creating a more sustainable, efficient, and predictable service model.
The Department, NHSBT, NHS England and the devolved administrations are working together to create a long-term domestic supply of plasma for lifesaving medicines. Medicines will be available exclusively to National Health Service patients from early 2025. Additionally, the UK Stem Cell Strategic Forum provides advice on how the UK can develop a stronger and more resilient domestic stem cell supply chain.
The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority is the UK regulator for the use of reproductive tissues and cells in fertility treatment and embryo research. This remit includes keeping abreast of all issues relating to quality and safety.
Asked by: Jim Shannon (Democratic Unionist Party - Strangford)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make an assessment of developing a cross-departmental strategy including the (a) Department for Science, Innovation and Technology and (b) NHS to (i) support and (ii) promote expertise in cell and gene therapy innovation.
Answered by Andrea Leadsom - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Department recognises that advanced cell and gene therapies will be an important part of the future of healthcare and the life sciences industry. The Department has been considering the recommendations of the National Cell and Gene Therapy Vision for the UK, a report published by the Cell and Gene Therapy Catapult in March 2022, and the UK Strategic Stem Cell Forum’s latest report, A 10 Year Vision for Stem Cell Transplantation and Advanced Cellular Therapies, published in July 2022. As part of this we have been conducting stakeholder engagement across the cell and gene therapy ecosystem to further understand the challenges raised and whether there is a role for the Department in coordinating activity in this area. We will continue to work with our public sector partners to ensure a whole system approach to advanced therapies, building on existing strengths to ensure a joined-up research, regulatory, and health ecosystem.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Conservative - Romford)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many people have made stem cell donations in each year since 2020.
Answered by Andrea Leadsom - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The British Society for Blood & Marrow Transplantation and Cellular Therapy collects and publishes information on the number and type of stem cell transplants in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland, with the latest published data being from 2021. In 2020, there were 3,566 stem cell transplants and in 2021 there were 4,279 stem cell transplants. These include stem cell transplants from donors related to the patient, donors unrelated to the patient and stem cell donations from cord blood.
Asked by: Jackie Doyle-Price (Conservative - Thurrock)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if she will review the (a) terms of reference and (b) governance of the UK Stem Cell strategic forum.
Answered by Andrew Stephenson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The terms of reference and governance of the UK Stem Cell Strategic Forum are reviewed periodically and on an ad hoc basis as required. The Forum published its latest report A 10 Year Vision for Stem Cell Transplantation and Advanced Cellular Therapies in July 2022 to address weaknesses in stem cell transplantation services. The Forum is working with the Department, NHS England, NHS Blood and Transplant, clinicians, industry, and representatives of patient groups to take the recommendations forward. An oversight committee and five working groups have been established in line with the current terms of reference.
Asked by: Jackie Doyle-Price (Conservative - Thurrock)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of increasing self-sufficiency in UK stem cell donations.
Answered by Andrew Stephenson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The UK Stem Cell Strategic Forum, a Departmental advisory body, has recommended in its report A 10 Year Vision for Stem Cell Transplantation and Advanced Cellular Therapies that donor to patient unrelated donations in the United Kingdom should be increased to 45%. This will improve the sustainability and resilience of UK stem cell supply, maintain the UK’s expertise in stem cell provision and support adoption of advanced cellular therapies. The Department is investing £2.4 million between April 2022 and March 2025 to recruit stem cell donors to improve resilience and help address health inequalities.
Asked by: Lord Mendelsohn (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to support stem cell transplant and CAR-T therapy patients in pursuing a safe return to work while maintaining protections for their health.
Answered by Lord Markham - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
There are no plans to assess the potential benefits and costs of establishing a patient travel fund for stem cell transplant and CAR-T recipients. NHS England does not provide any specific cost of living support for patients receiving stem cell transplantation, however, trusts can exercise discretion to provide accommodation and/or other support depending on local and individual patient circumstances. The Non-Emergency Patient Transport Services (NEPTS) provide funded transport where it is considered essential to ensuring an individual’s safety, safe mobilisation, condition management or recovery.
Depending on a patient’s financial circumstances, they may be eligible for financial support with costs via the NHS Low Income Scheme and Healthcare Travel Costs Scheme. Those who do not qualify for NEPTS and need financial help with travel can access the Healthcare Travel Costs Scheme. This is aimed specifically at those with a low income and allows patients to claim for all or part their travel costs should they meet the eligibility criteria.
We recognise the pressures people are facing with the rising cost of living. Our extensive arrangements to help people afford NHS prescription charges, means that almost 89% of prescription items dispensed in community pharmacies in England are already provided free of charge. For those not exempt from charges, pre-payment certificates can be used to cap costs at just over £2 a week for regular prescriptions.
People with long-term health conditions or disabilities, including those requiring stem cell transplants, may be entitled to financial support to contribute towards their extra costs such as Personal Independence Payment (PIP). Entitlement to PIP is assessed on the basis of the needs arising from a health condition or disability, rather than the health condition or disability itself.
The Government does not any specific support to stem cell transplant and CAR-T therapy patients pursuing a safe return to work. However, the Government has a range of initiatives to support disabled people and people with health conditions, including stem cell transplant and CAR-T therapy patients, to start, stay and succeed in work. These include increasing Work Coach and Disability Employment Advisers’ support in Jobcentres, the Work and Health Programme, Intensive Personalised Employment Support, Access to Work grants, Disability Confident, the Information and Advice Service and support in partnership between Department for Work and Pensions and the health system, including Employment Advice in NHS Talking Therapies.
Asked by: Lord Mendelsohn (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they intend to assess (1) the potential benefit of establishing a patient travel fund for stem cell transplant and CAR-T therapy recipients, and (2) the potential cost to the Treasury.
Answered by Lord Markham - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
There are no plans to assess the potential benefits and costs of establishing a patient travel fund for stem cell transplant and CAR-T recipients. NHS England does not provide any specific cost of living support for patients receiving stem cell transplantation, however, trusts can exercise discretion to provide accommodation and/or other support depending on local and individual patient circumstances. The Non-Emergency Patient Transport Services (NEPTS) provide funded transport where it is considered essential to ensuring an individual’s safety, safe mobilisation, condition management or recovery.
Depending on a patient’s financial circumstances, they may be eligible for financial support with costs via the NHS Low Income Scheme and Healthcare Travel Costs Scheme. Those who do not qualify for NEPTS and need financial help with travel can access the Healthcare Travel Costs Scheme. This is aimed specifically at those with a low income and allows patients to claim for all or part their travel costs should they meet the eligibility criteria.
We recognise the pressures people are facing with the rising cost of living. Our extensive arrangements to help people afford NHS prescription charges, means that almost 89% of prescription items dispensed in community pharmacies in England are already provided free of charge. For those not exempt from charges, pre-payment certificates can be used to cap costs at just over £2 a week for regular prescriptions.
People with long-term health conditions or disabilities, including those requiring stem cell transplants, may be entitled to financial support to contribute towards their extra costs such as Personal Independence Payment (PIP). Entitlement to PIP is assessed on the basis of the needs arising from a health condition or disability, rather than the health condition or disability itself.
The Government does not any specific support to stem cell transplant and CAR-T therapy patients pursuing a safe return to work. However, the Government has a range of initiatives to support disabled people and people with health conditions, including stem cell transplant and CAR-T therapy patients, to start, stay and succeed in work. These include increasing Work Coach and Disability Employment Advisers’ support in Jobcentres, the Work and Health Programme, Intensive Personalised Employment Support, Access to Work grants, Disability Confident, the Information and Advice Service and support in partnership between Department for Work and Pensions and the health system, including Employment Advice in NHS Talking Therapies.
Asked by: Lord Mendelsohn (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to mitigate the impact of the increased cost of living on stem cell transplant and CAR-T therapy recipients.
Answered by Lord Markham - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
There are no plans to assess the potential benefits and costs of establishing a patient travel fund for stem cell transplant and CAR-T recipients. NHS England does not provide any specific cost of living support for patients receiving stem cell transplantation, however, trusts can exercise discretion to provide accommodation and/or other support depending on local and individual patient circumstances. The Non-Emergency Patient Transport Services (NEPTS) provide funded transport where it is considered essential to ensuring an individual’s safety, safe mobilisation, condition management or recovery.
Depending on a patient’s financial circumstances, they may be eligible for financial support with costs via the NHS Low Income Scheme and Healthcare Travel Costs Scheme. Those who do not qualify for NEPTS and need financial help with travel can access the Healthcare Travel Costs Scheme. This is aimed specifically at those with a low income and allows patients to claim for all or part their travel costs should they meet the eligibility criteria.
We recognise the pressures people are facing with the rising cost of living. Our extensive arrangements to help people afford NHS prescription charges, means that almost 89% of prescription items dispensed in community pharmacies in England are already provided free of charge. For those not exempt from charges, pre-payment certificates can be used to cap costs at just over £2 a week for regular prescriptions.
People with long-term health conditions or disabilities, including those requiring stem cell transplants, may be entitled to financial support to contribute towards their extra costs such as Personal Independence Payment (PIP). Entitlement to PIP is assessed on the basis of the needs arising from a health condition or disability, rather than the health condition or disability itself.
The Government does not any specific support to stem cell transplant and CAR-T therapy patients pursuing a safe return to work. However, the Government has a range of initiatives to support disabled people and people with health conditions, including stem cell transplant and CAR-T therapy patients, to start, stay and succeed in work. These include increasing Work Coach and Disability Employment Advisers’ support in Jobcentres, the Work and Health Programme, Intensive Personalised Employment Support, Access to Work grants, Disability Confident, the Information and Advice Service and support in partnership between Department for Work and Pensions and the health system, including Employment Advice in NHS Talking Therapies.
Asked by: Henry Smith (Conservative - Crawley)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential support for UK leadership in the adoption of cell and gene therapies of the recommendations of the Cell and Gene Therapy Catapult’s National Cell and Gene Therapy Vision for the UK, published in March 2022.
Answered by Will Quince
The Department recognises that advanced cell and gene therapies will be an important part of the future of healthcare and the life sciences industry. We have been considering the recommendations of the Cell and Gene Therapy Catapult’s ‘National Cell and Gene Therapy Vision for the UK’, a report published by the Cell and Gene Therapy Catapult in March 2022 and the UK Strategic Stem Cell Forum’s latest report ‘A 10-year vision for stem cell transplantation and cellular therapies’ published in July 2022.
As part of this, we have been conducting stakeholder engagement to further understand the challenges raised and whether there is a role for the Department in coordinating activity in this area.
Asked by: Andrew Gwynne (Labour - Denton and Reddish)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he is taking steps to support patients receiving a stem cell transplant with the cost of living.
Answered by Neil O'Brien
NHS England does not provide any specific cost of living support for patients receiving stem cell transplantation, however, trusts can exercise discretion to provide accommodation and/or other support depending on local and individual patient circumstances. Depending on a patient’s financial circumstances, they may be eligible for financial support with travel costs via the NHS Low Income Scheme and Healthcare Travel Costs Scheme.
With regards to the Healthcare Travel Scheme, the regulations provide that the amount payable should be calculated by reference to the cost of travelling by the cheapest means of transport which is reasonable having regard to the person’s age, medical condition or any other relevant circumstance.
People with long-term health conditions or disabilities, including those requiring stem cell transplants, may be entitled to financial support to contribute towards their extra costs such as Personal Independence Payment (PIP). Entitlement to PIP is assessed on the basis of the needs arising from a health condition or disability, rather than the health condition or disability itself. Recipients of extra costs disability benefits, such as PIP, will receive a £150 Disability Cost of Living Payment in the summer. They may also be entitled to up to £900 of Cost of Living Payments if they are a member of a household receiving a means tested benefit.