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, what recent discussions he has had with the (a) Royal College of Nursing and (b) other bodies on stem cell medicine and prevention of meningitis.
Answered by Jackie Doyle-Price
The Department is in regular contact with bodies such as NHS Blood and Transplant and Anthony Nolan with regards to stem cell medicine, particularly with regards to bone marrow and umbilical cord blood transplantation.
Public Health England provides vital information on meningitis and septicaemia to parents through the Start4life Information Service for Parents email programme which reaches over 430,000 parents of 0-5 year olds across England and through our immunisation leaflets.
Asked by: Diana Johnson (Labour - Kingston upon Hull North)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the Answer of 18 October 2017 to Question 106946, how much from the public purse was spent on post-transplant stem cell treatment by (a) NHS England and (b) clinical commissioning groups in each of the last three years.
Answered by Jackie Doyle-Price
NHS England Specialised Commissioning funds blood and marrow transplantation which includes the costs associated with preparations for transplant (30 days before) and post-transplant care (100 days). Spend on these elements is not separately reported.
Depending on patient and clinical factors, there are a number of treatments that patients might require within or after 100 days of transplant, which are also provided to other patient groups. Therefore, more detailed information about spend on post-transplant stem cell treatment is not broken down separately within each organisation’s respective accounts and is not available to report.
Asked by: Steve McCabe (Labour - Birmingham, Selly Oak)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the availability of NHS post-stem cell transplant services for blood cancer patients.
Answered by Jackie Doyle-Price
Blood and marrow transplantation is divided into distinct phases of treatment. NHS England is responsible for funding the transplant related care which takes place 30 days before transplant and continues until 100 days post-transplant and includes critical care related to the transplant episode.
The care needs of patients post-transplant will often continue beyond 100 days, particularly for recipients of allogenic transplants which involve the stem cells of another donor which can increase the chance of complications.
Under most circumstances commissioning responsibility will usually switch from NHS England to the clinical commissioning groups as outlined in the Manual for Prescribed Specialised Services.
The impact of cancer continues beyond the initial treatment. Patients may experience physical, financial, social and psychological issues. NHS England’s work in supporting the roll out of the Recovery Package for cancer patients, including those who received blood and marrow transplants, helps ensure patients have more personal care and support from the point they are diagnosed and once treatment ends.
For patients this means working with their care team to develop a comprehensive plan outlining not only their physical needs, but also other support they may need, such as help at home or financial advice. By 2020 NHS England wants all cancer patients to have access to the Recovery Package and is committed to implementing this in collaboration with charities, professionals and patients themselves.
Asked by: Mike Hill (Labour - Hartlepool)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will discuss with NHS England undertaking an urgent review into the commissioning of post-stem cell transplant services.
Answered by Jackie Doyle-Price
NHS England is responsible for commissioning and funding the transplant related care which takes place 30 days before transplant and continues until 100 days post-transplant. After 100 days post-transplant, commissioning responsibility for the routine follow-up of patients switches from NHS England to clinical commissioning groups (CCGs), as outlined in the Manual. The Manual describes which elements of specialised services are commissioned by NHS England and which are commissioned by CCGs:
https://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/prescribed-specialised-services-manual-2.pdf
In the event that transplant patients experience serious complications post-transplant, elements of their care would likely continue to be planned, organised and funded by NHS England specialised commissioning. For example, if a patient requires Extracorporeal Photophersis which is a treatment for acute and chronic graft versus host disease following transplantation, NHS England commissions this care post-transplant.
There are no current plans to review the responsibilities of services commissioned by NHS England and CCGs for blood and marrow transplants (BMT). NHS England will be assessing BMT in more detail over the next 18 months and will take the opportunity to further support improved pathway planning and commissioning of services that it and CCGs fund.
NHS England’s work in supporting the roll out of the Recovery Package for cancer patients, including those who received BMT, helps ensure patients have more personal care and support from the point they are diagnosed and once treatment ends. For patients this means working with their care team to develop a comprehensive plan outlining not only their physical needs, but also additional support, such as help at home or financial advice. By 2020 NHS England wants all cancer patients to have access to the Recovery Package.
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, what discussions his Department has had with clinical bodies on assistance with stem-cell therapy for people with MS.
Answered by Steve Brine
A form of stem-cell therapy “autologous haematopoietic stem cell therapy” is available on the National Health Service. It is a very aggressive treatment for relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (MS). It is available on the NHS in two centres in the United Kingdom: one in Sheffield and one in London. Further information can be found at the following link:
www.sth.nhs.uk/autologous-haematopoietic-stem-cell-transplantation-for-multiple-sclerosis/
In 2016, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), announced that it has been notified of the procedure “autologous un-manipulated peripheral blood stem cell therapy” for MS and consider it a part of the Institute’s work programme. The procedure is not currently being used outside of a research environment.
The full NICE guidance for the diagnosis and management of MS can be found via the following link:
www.nice.org.uk/guidance/cg186
Asked by: Jared O'Mara (Independent - Sheffield, Hallam)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment his Department has made of the care needs of stem cell transplant patients beyond the first 100 days of recovery.
Answered by Jackie Doyle-Price
NHS England is responsible for commissioning and funding the transplant related care which takes place 30 days before transplant and continues until 100 days post-transplant. After 100 days post-transplant, commissioning responsibility for the routine follow-up of patients switches from NHS England to clinical commissioning groups (CCGs), as outlined in the Manual.
The Manual for Prescribed Specialised Services describes which elements of specialised services are commissioned by NHS England and which are commissioned by CCGs is available at:
https://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/prescribed-specialised-services-manual-2.pdf
In the event that transplant patients experience serious complications post-transplant, elements of their care would likely continue to be planned, organised and funded by NHS England specialised commissioning. For example, if a patient requires Extracorporeal Photophersis which is a treatment for acute and chronic graft versus host disease following transplantation, NHS England commissions this care post-transplant.
NHS England’s work in supporting the roll out of the Recovery Package for cancer patients, including those who received blood and marrow transplants, helps ensure patients have more personal care and support from the point they are diagnosed and once treatment ends. For patients this means working with their care team to develop a comprehensive plan outlining not only their physical needs, but also additional support, such as help at home or financial advice. By 2020 NHS England wants all cancer patients to have access to the Recovery Package.
Asked by: Jared O'Mara (Independent - Sheffield, Hallam)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of care and support that stem cell transplant patients are able to access after leaving hospital.
Answered by Jackie Doyle-Price
NHS England is responsible for commissioning and funding the transplant related care which takes place 30 days before transplant and continues until 100 days post-transplant. After 100 days post-transplant, commissioning responsibility for the routine follow-up of patients switches from NHS England to clinical commissioning groups (CCGs), as outlined in the Manual. The Manual for Prescribed Specialised Services describes which elements of specialised services are commissioned by NHS England and which are commissioned by CCGs:
https://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/prescribed-specialised-services-manual-2.pdf
In the event that transplant patients experience serious complications post-transplant, elements of their care would likely continue to be planned, organised and funded by NHS England specialised commissioning. For example, if a patient requires Extracorporeal Photophersis which is a treatment for acute and chronic graft versus host disease following transplantation, NHS England commissions this care post-transplant.
NHS England’s work in supporting the roll out of the Recovery Package for cancer patients, including those who received blood and marrow transplants, helps ensure patients have more personal care and support from the point they are diagnosed and once treatment ends.
For patients this means working with their care team to develop a comprehensive plan outlining not only their physical needs, but also additional support, such as help at home or financial advice. By 2020 NHS England wants all cancer patients to have access to the Recovery Package.
Asked by: Lisa Nandy (Labour - Wigan)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment his Department has made of the suitability of current commissioning arrangements for services provided to patients after a stem cell transplant.
Answered by Jackie Doyle-Price
The Manual for Prescribed Specialised Services describes which elements of specialised services are commissioned by NHS England and which are commissioned by clinical commissioning groups (CCGs):
https://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/prescribed-specialised-services-manual-2.pdf
NHS England is responsible for commissioning and funding the transplant related care which takes place 30 days before transplant and continues until 100 days post-transplant. After 100 days post-transplant, commissioning responsibility for the routine follow-up of patients switches from NHS England to CCGs, as outlined in the Manual.
In the event that transplant patients experience serious complications post-transplant, elements of their care would likely continue to be planned, organised and funded by NHS England specialised commissioning. For example, if a patient requires Extracorporeal Photophersis, which is a treatment for acute and chronic graft versus host disease following transplantation, NHS England commissions this care post-transplant.
There are no current plans to review the responsibilities of services commissioned by NHS England and CCGs for blood and marrow transplantation (BMT). However, NHS England will be assessing BMT in more detail over the next 18 months and will take the opportunity to further support improved pathway planning and commissioning of services that it and CCGs fund.
Asked by: Lisa Nandy (Labour - Wigan)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he plans to take to ensure that all stem cell transplant patients receive adequate care and support after treatment.
Answered by Jackie Doyle-Price
The Manual for Prescribed Specialised Services describes which elements of specialised services are commissioned by NHS England and which are commissioned by clinical commissioning groups (CCGs):
https://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/prescribed-specialised-services-manual-2.pdf
NHS England is responsible for commissioning and funding the transplant related care which takes place 30 days before transplant and continues until 100 days post-transplant. After 100 days post-transplant, commissioning responsibility for the routine follow-up of patients switches from NHS England to CCGs, as outlined in the Manual.
In the event that transplant patients experience serious complications post-transplant, elements of their care would likely continue to be planned, organised and funded by NHS England specialised commissioning. For example, if a patient requires Extracorporeal Photophersis, which is a treatment for acute and chronic graft versus host disease following transplantation, NHS England commissions this care post-transplant.
NHS England’s work in supporting the roll out of the Recovery Package for cancer patients, including those who received blood and marrow transplants, helps ensure patients have more personal care and support from the point they are diagnosed and once treatment ends. For patients this means working with their care team to develop a comprehensive plan outlining not only their physical needs, but also additional support, such as help at home or financial advice. By 2020 NHS England wants all cancer patients to have access to the Recovery Package.
Asked by: Henry Smith (Conservative - Crawley)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, for what reason responsibility for commissioning services following a stem cell transplant from NHS England to clinical commissioning groups after 100 days.
Answered by Steve Brine
The Manual for Prescribed Specialised Services describes which elements of specialised services are commissioned by NHS England and which are commissioned by clinical commissioning groups (CCGs):
https://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/prescribed-specialised-services-manual-2.pdf
Due to the small number of patients involved, the cost of the transplant episode and the small number of transplant experts, Blood and Bone Marrow Transplantation (BMT) is defined as a prescribed specialised service. NHS England is responsible for commissioning and funding the transplant related care which takes place 30 days before transplant and continues until 100 days post-transplant. After 100 days post-transplant, commissioning responsibility for the routine follow-up of patients switches from NHS England to CCGs, as outlined in the Manual.
In the event that transplant patients experience serious complications post-transplant, elements of their care would likely continue to be planned, organised and funded by NHS England specialised commissioning. For example, if a patient requires Extracorporeal Photopheresis which is a treatment for acute and chronic graft versus host disease following transplantation, NHS England commissions this care post-transplant.