theodi/ndl-core-corpus huggingface dataset:
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Alison Griffiths:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether his Department offers protection to staff from unfair dismissal from their first working day. \p Dame Diana Johnson: In line with the current requirements of employment legislation regarding fair dismissal processes, new Home Office employees who have not previously completed a probationary period in the Civil Service are required to serve a period of at least six months’ probation.

During this time they can be dismissed, following a fair process, if their conduct, performance or attendance does not meet the expected standards.
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Charlotte Cane:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking with the police to help tackle burglaries. \p Dame Diana Johnson: We recognise the profound impact burglary can have on individuals and the wider community. For too long a culture has been allowed to develop whereby victims of burglary believe if they report what has happened, no one will come and nothing will be done. We will tackle this perception through our Safer Streets Mission and our commitment to strengthen neighbourhood policing and restore confidence in policing.

This is why we have been clear that, when someone calls the police, they should come; and when a person reports a crime it should be properly investigated no matter who they are, or where they live.

We welcome the police's commitment across England and Wales to attending the scene of every home burglary, and the specific College of Policing good practice guidance on conducting residential burglary investigations; setting the standard for the entire investigation, not just initial attendance, including victim care. More information is available at: https://www.college.police.uk/guidance/residential-burglary.
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Liz Jarvis:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many police officers have been recruited by Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary since 2020. \p Dame Diana Johnson: The Home Office collects and publishes data annually on the number of police officers joining the police service in the ‘Police Workforce, England and Wales’ statistical bulletin which can be accessed here: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/police-workforce-england-and-wales.

Information on the number of police officers joining the police service between the years ending 31 March 2007 to 2024 can be found in the ‘Joiners Open Data Table’ here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/669a9161fc8e12ac3edb0081/open-data-table-police-workforce-joiners-240724.ods.
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Nick Timothy:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will publish (a) terms and (b) guidance for pilots for asylum accommodation administered by (i) city mayors and (ii) local authorities. \p Dame Angela Eagle: Any announcements on this and other related issues concerning asylum accommodation will be announced in the normal way in due course but the Government is determined to restore order to the asylum systems and cut the overall costs of the asylum system.
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Charlie Dewhirst:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether the Foreign Influence Registration Scheme will apply to the 48 Group. \p Dan Jarvis: As I said to Parliament on the 16th December, the government plans to lay the regulations that underpin the scheme in early 2025, ahead of the scheme going live in the summer. I also reaffirmed the government’s commitment to provide three months’ notice of the scheme’s go-live date to give all those affected by it adequate time to prepare.

Once the scheme is in force those carrying out political influencing activities at the direction of a foreign power will need to register under the political influencing tier. Work is underway to identify which foreign entities will be placed on the enhanced tier. It would not be appropriate to comment on the scope of any specifications under the enhanced tier at this stage.
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Alison Griffiths:To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether her Department offers protection to staff from unfair dismissal from their first working day. \p Stephanie Peacock: All dismissals are handled in line with current legislation and appropriate Codes of Practice. Where an employee feels they may have been unfairly dismissed, appropriate internal appeal routes may be instigated.

Where an employee is unable to solve a problem internally they may be able to go to an employment tribunal to claim unfair dismissal, as set out in legislation. This position will be reviewed when unfair dismissal rights are updated in line with proposals in the Employment Rights Bill 2024-25.
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Dame Harriett Baldwin:To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether their Department offers its staff shared parental leave from their first working day. \p Stephanie Peacock: DCMS offers shared parental leave in line with legislation: to access statutory shared parental leave and pay, both parents must have worked for their employer for at least 26 weeks up to the 15th week before their baby is due. However, some staff could qualify for statutory shared parental leave on their first day of service with a particular department, because they already have service with another department.

To access our occupational shared parental leave pay, employees must have at least one year’s continuous service in the Civil Service.

As with any changes to employment legislation, internal policies and processes will be updated as appropriate in preparation for when the Employment Rights Bill 2024-25 comes into effect.
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Andrew Griffith:To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether her Department offers paternity leave to its staff from their first working day. \p Stephanie Peacock: DCMS offers paternity leave in line with legislation: to access statutory paternity leave and pay, an employee must have worked for their employer for at least 26 weeks up to the 15th week before their baby is due. However, some staff could qualify for statutory shared parental leave on their first day of service with a particular department, because they already have service with another department.

To access DCMS’s occupational paternity leave and pay offer, an employee must have at least one year's continuous service in the Civil Service.

As with any changes to employment legislation, internal policies and processes will be updated as appropriate in preparation for when the Employment Rights Bill 2024-25 comes into effect.
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Sir John Hayes:To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of the availability of public libraries in rural areas. \p Chris Bryant: Public libraries play a vital role in sustaining community networks in rural areas, offering a range of activities and support services to meet local needs and bring people together.

Local authorities in England have a statutory duty under the Public Libraries and Museums Act 1964 to provide a comprehensive and efficient library service. They are responsible for assessing the needs of their local communities and designing a library service to meet those needs within available resources.

There is a network of over 2,500 static libraries in the statutory network across England, supported by a number of mobile and home library services. Public library services are found in all types of communities, urban and rural; and are used by all demographics of people.
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Alex McIntyre:To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps she is taking to support public libraries in Gloucester. \p Chris Bryant: Public libraries are funded by local authorities and each local authority is responsible for assessing the needs of their local communities and designing a library service to meet those needs within available resources.

I understand that Gloucestershire had 32 local authority-run static libraries as of December 2023, with five of those libraries located in Gloucester itself.

The government is committed to getting local government back on its feet. The provisional Local Government Finance Settlement for 2025-26 makes available £69 billion for local government, which is a 3.5% real terms increase in councils’ Core Spending Power on 2024-25.
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Luke Myer:To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if she will hold discussions with (a) broadcasters and (b) social media companies on making more sporting events freely available to watch live. \p Stephanie Peacock: I routinely hold discussions with a range of stakeholders in the sector where we cover matters relevant to sports and television, including free-to-air access to sporting events.

The Government wants major sporting events to be made available on free-to-air television so that they can be enjoyed by a wide audience. However, this must also be balanced with the ability of sporting organisations to generate revenues to invest in their sports, at all levels.
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Blake Stephenson:To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment she has made of the potential contribution of Scheduled Monuments to the tourism industry. \p Chris Bryant: We have made no such formal assessment, but many of the nearly 20,000 Scheduled Monuments in England, including Stonehenge, Appleby Castle and Barnard Castle, as well as those in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland are important visitor attractions. We remain committed to promoting heritage to drive sustainable growth, foster cultural engagement, and ensure it remains accessible for future generations.
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Max Wilkinson:To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of a customs union between the UK and the European Union on (a) the creative industries and (b) the sports and recreation industry. \p Chris Bryant: This Government has been clear that there will be no return to the EU’s Customs Union so we have made no such assessment.

As agreed between the Prime Minister and President of the European Commission in October 2024, we are committed to strengthening the relationship between the UK and EU to find constructive ways to work together and deliver for the British people.

I am proud of the international reputation of our sports and creative industries. Notably, this Government has committed to address issues facing our brilliant musicians, artists and their support staff. We are already working hard with our sectors and engaging with the EU and EU Member States to this end.
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Charlotte Cane:To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps she is taking with Cabinet colleagues to improve local government support for arts and culture. \p Chris Bryant: Local authorities play a vital role in supporting the arts and cultural institutions, but they operate independently of central government. Ministers have no remit to intervene in the day to day affairs and decisions of local authorities, except where specific provision has been made in legislation.

The government is already taking action via the provisional 2025/26 Local Government Finance Settlement to begin addressing the significant challenges facing local government. Over £4 billion in additional funding for local government services was announced at the Autumn Budget 2024, including £1.3 billion which will go through the Settlement.

The government has also provided funding to local authorities to strengthen their arts, cultural, heritage, and visitor economy provision through programmes such as the Cultural Development Fund, the Museum and Estate Development Fund, and High Streets Heritage Action Zones.
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James Wild:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to his Department's policy paper entitled New Hospitals Programme: plan for implementation, published on 20 January 2025, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the delay in opening the Queen Elizabeth Hospital to 2032-33 on (a) patients and (b) staff. \p Karin Smyth: An equality impact assessment was carried out for the review which included assessing the extent to which service users might be impacted by these delivery proposals, with specific reference to the impact that these might have on relevant protected characteristics. This was laid in the House Library and published on 20 January 2025, and is available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/new-hospital-programme-review-outcome/new-hospital-programme-equality-impact-assessment
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James Wild:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the commissioning of an updated site-by-site report of the RAAC hospitals as set out in the policy paper entitled New Hospital Programme: plan for implementation, published on 20 January 2025, who is conducting the report of the Queen Elizabeth hospital in King's Lynn; and if he will publish the terms of reference of that review. \p Karin Smyth: The Department is in final stages of contract award with third party contractors to provide an updated report on the condition of the seven critical reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete hospitals, including Queen Elizabeth Hospital in King’s Lynn. Once the contract is finalised it will be available publicly, including the information on who is conducting the work, at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/contracts-finder
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Derek Twigg:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 21 January 2025 to Question 24413 on Cardiovascular System: Health Services, for what reason his Department does not hold a breakdown of the data on vascular services for Warrington and Halton Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust. \p Karin Smyth: There are no patients coded as waiting on the Referral to Treatment waiting list at the Warrington and Halton Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust for Vascular Surgery Service. This may be because the vascular service is being coded under a different treatment function, such as under general surgery service which would likely contain data for other services, as well as vascular. As such, the Department does not hold centrally any further breakdown of the data for the waiting time for a first appointment with vascular services at this trust.
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Joe Robertson:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of means-testing the winter fuel payment on elective care waiting lists. \p Karin Smyth: No assessment has been made on the potential impact of means-testing the winter fuel payment on elective care waiting lists. The Government is committed to putting patients first. This means making sure that patients are seen on time and ensuring that people have the best possible experience during their care.

The Elective Reform Plan, published in January 2025, sets out an expectation that performance will increase from the current 58%, as of December 2024, to 65% by March 2026, with every trust expected to deliver a minimum 5% improvement by March 2026.
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Cat Smith:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make an assessment of the impact of the restriction of puberty blockers for the treatment of gender incongruence on the (a) physical and (b) mental health of young trans people. \p Karin Smyth: On 11 December 2024 the Government introduced The Medicines (Gonadotrophin-Releasing Hormone Analogues) (Restrictions on Private Sales and Supplies) Order 2024, which came into effect on 1 January 2025. Alongside this legislation the Government published a full impact assessment, which is available at the following link:

https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2024/1319/impacts
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Dr Rosena Allin-Khan:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to support people diagnosed with osteoporosis. \p Andrew Gwynne: On 6 January 2025, NHS England published the new Elective Reform Plan, which sets out a whole system approach to hitting the 18-week Referral to Treatment target by the end of this Parliament. Further information on the Elective Reform Plan is available at the following link:

https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/reforming-elective-care-for-patients/

Part of the plan sets out funding to boost bone density scanning capacity, to support improvements in early diagnosis and bone health for conditions such as osteoporosis. This will provide an estimated 29,000 extra scans per year.

As announced in the Get Britain Working white paper, we are delivering the joint Department for Work and Pensions, Department of Health and Social Care, and NHS England Getting It Right First-Time (GIRFT) Musculoskeletal (MSK) Community Delivery Programme. With a £3.5 million funding boost, GIRFT teams will deploy their proven Further Faster model to work with integrated care board leaders to further reduce MSK community waiting times, including for those with osteoporosis, and improve data, metrics, and referral pathways to wider support services.
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Freddie van Mierlo:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps the Government if taking to reach an agreement to end collective action by GPs. \p Stephen Kinnock: The Government has accepted and implemented the independent pay review body recommendation of a 6% uplift in general practitioner (GP) pay, and has committed to hiring an extra 1,000 GPs.

We have announced a proposed £889 million uplift for GPs in 2025/26 and set out the proposed areas of reform. This is the largest uplift to GP funding since the beginning of the five-year framework and means that we are reversing the recent trend with a rising share of total National Health Service resources going to GPs.

The Department and NHS England started consultation with the General Practitioners Committee in England, of the British Medical Association, on the 2025/26 GP Contract on 19 December 2024, and will consider all proposed policy changes. An announcement will be made before April 2025.
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John McDonnell:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he has made an assessment with Cabinet colleagues of the potential impact of (a) debt collection practices and (b) the use of bailiffs by (i) private companies, (ii) local authorities and (iii) other public bodies on the mental health of people in financial difficulties. \p Stephen Kinnock: We recognise the effect that debt collection practices and the use of bailiffs can have on some people’s mental health. That is why we have worked with colleagues at HM Treasury and the Money and Pensions Service to promote the mental health Breathing Space scheme, which gives those with mental ill health facing financial difficulties space to receive debt advice, without pressure from creditors or mounting debts.
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Sir John Hayes:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of lack of access to NHS dental services on health outcomes in Lincolnshire. \p Stephen Kinnock: The dental statistics publication Dental Statistics - England 2023/24, published by the NHS Business Services Authority on 22 August 2024, is available from the following link:

https://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/statistical-collections/dental-england/dental-statistics-england-202324

The data for the Lincolnshire Integrated Care Board shows that 37% of adults were seen by a National Health Service dentist in the previous 24 months up to June 2024, compared to 40% in England, and 51% of children were seen by an NHS dentist in the previous 12 months up to June 2024, compared to 56% in England.

The Government plans to tackle the challenges for patients trying to access NHS dental care with a rescue plan to provide 700,000 more urgent dental appointments and recruit new dentists to the areas that need them most. To rebuild dentistry in the long term and increase access to NHS dental care, we will reform the dental contract, with a shift to focus on prevention and the retention of NHS dentists.
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Wendy Morton:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the (a) financial and (b) social impact of hospices on the (i) health and (ii) social care sectors. \p Stephen Kinnock: Whilst the majority of palliative and end of life care is provided by National Health Service staff and services, we recognise the vital part that voluntary sector organisations, including hospices, also play in providing support to people at the end of life, and their loved ones.

Palliative and end of life care are broad, holistic approaches, provided through a range of professionals and providers, and generalists and specialists across the NHS, social care, and voluntary sector organisations, including hospices. Therefore, the financial and social impacts of hospices on the broader health and care sectors are difficult to measure because the relevant consultations and tasks are not always coded as palliative or end of life care.

We are supporting the hospice sector with a £100 million capital funding boost for adult and children’s hospices, to ensure they have the best physical environment for care, and £26 million of revenue funding to support children and young people’s hospices. We will set out the details of the funding allocation and dissemination in the coming weeks.

I am meeting with the major hospice and palliative and end of life care stakeholders early in February 2025 to discuss potential solutions on longer-term sector sustainability.
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Satvir Kaur:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the roll-out of Oxevision in mental health hospitals on patient wellbeing. \p Stephen Kinnock: NHS England has commissioned a rapid evidence review of vision based monitoring systems, which is available at the following link:

https://bmcmedicine.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12916-024-03673-9

These insights have been used to work in partnership with people with lived experience, clinicians, and stakeholders to develop national guidance, which will be published imminently.
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Blake Stephenson:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make an estimate of what the GP-to-patient ratio will be in Bedfordshire in July 2029. \p Stephen Kinnock: There is no NHS England recommendation for how many patients a general practitioner (GP) should have assigned, or the ratio of GPs or other practice staff to patients.

The demands that each patient places on their GP are different and can be affected by many different factors, including rurality and patient demographics. It is necessary to consider the workforce for each practice as a whole, not only GPs but also the range of health professionals available who are able to respond to the needs of their patients.
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Shockat Adam:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many eye care professionals are delivering NHS Special School Eye Care Service under Primary Ophthalmic Service contracts; and how many special schools are in receipt of that service. \p Stephen Kinnock: As of March 2024, 38 optometrists and 29 dispensing opticians had been recorded as delivering sight testing services within the 83 special educational settings, participating in the proof-of-concept programme. Regulations were laid on 28 November 2024 to support the roll out of this service across England.
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Martin Wrigley:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department to tackle shortages of NHS dentists in Devon. \p Stephen Kinnock: We are aware of the challenges people face in accessing a dentist, particularly in more rural and coastal areas. The Government plans to tackle the challenges for patients trying to access National Health Service dental care with a rescue plan to provide 700,000 more urgent dental appointments and recruit new dentists to areas that need them most. To rebuild dentistry in the long term and increase access to NHS dental care, we will reform the dental contract, with a shift to focus on prevention and the retention of NHS dentists.

Integrated care boards have started to advertise posts through the Golden Hello scheme. This recruitment incentive will see up to 240 dentists receiving payments of £20,000 to work in those areas that need them most for three years.
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Josh Newbury:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department will take steps to work with the Lead Ministers for Disability to help ensure disabled children receive specialist equipment in a timely manner. \p Stephen Kinnock: On the International Day of Persons with Disabilities 2024, the Minister for Social Security and Disability announced new Lead Ministers for Disability in every Government department. I am the Lead Minister for Disability for the Department of Health and Social Care.

The Lead Ministers for Disability will break down barriers to opportunity across the Government’s long-term missions. They will meet regularly to make sure that the Government is delivering on the commitment to put the views and voices of disabled people at the heart of everything we do, right across every department.

The Government is committed to ensuring that all children, including children with special educational needs and disability, receive the support they need to live healthy, fulfilling lives. The Department of Health and Social Care continues to work closely with NHS England and the Department for Education to achieve this.
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Mr Will Forster:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will review the earnings and capital thresholds for disabled adults in receipt of social care support to ensure they are not disadvantaged when saving for (a) a house deposit and (b) other major life expenses. \p Stephen Kinnock: The current capital thresholds, namely the lower limit of £14,250 and the upper limit of £23,250, ensure that individuals have a minimum amount of capital protected.

Where an individual is receiving care in their own home, charging should not reduce an individual’s income below the Minimum Income Guarantee. For those receiving care in a residential setting, residents must retain an allowance for personal expenses. Additionally, people must retain enough of their disability related benefits for any disability-related expenditure they incur.

The capital limits and the social care allowance rates are communicated annually, and the rates for the financial year 2025/26 will be published in the Local Authority Circular in February 2025.

We have announced an independent commission into adult social care to build consensus on what adult social care should achieve, address systemic challenges comprehensively, and chart a clear path toward practical and impactful reform.
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Mike Martin:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what grants are available for (a) district and (b) borough councils to support mental health initiatives. \p Stephen Kinnock: There are no grants available specifically to support mental health initiatives at this time; however, local authorities may decide to fund such initiatives from their Public Health Grant allocations.
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Josh Babarinde:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what guidance has been issued on the use of inclusive language by NHS staff with respect to the LGBTQ+ community. \p Karin Smyth: No guidance has been issued to National Health Service staff about the use of inclusive language. The Government expects the NHS to deliver services in line with the Equality Act 2010, having appropriate regard to protected characteristics as defined in the act.

NHS England has the document, A national framework for NHS – action on inclusion health, which defines inclusion health as an umbrella term used to describe people who are socially excluded, who typically experience multiple interacting risk factors for poor health, such as stigma, discrimination, poverty, violence, and complex trauma, which includes ensuring the needs of LGBT+ people are considered. The framework is available at the following link:

https://www.england.nhs.uk/long-read/a-national-framework-for-nhs-action-on-inclusion-health/
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Graeme Downie:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what training is provided to NHS staff to highlight the differences in symptoms of a heart attack between men and women. \p Karin Smyth: Guidance for National Health Service staff is available through the British Heart Foundation, and specific learning sessions are available to support training, with further information on both available, respectively, at the following two links:

https://www.bhf.org.uk/informationsupport/conditions/heart-attack/signs-and-symptoms-of-heart-attacks-in-women

https://www.chsselearning.org.uk/hearte/15-womens-health/

NHS England has been cognisant of gender differences when running public campaigns, and as such has ensured clear messaging on atypical symptoms in women. This has been represented through sharing patient stories within campaign material, highlighting the differences in gender symptoms. Further information on NHS England’s public campaign is available at the following link:

https://www.england.nhs.uk/2023/08/nhs-launches-lifesaving-campaign-to-help-people-spot-a-heart-attack/
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Ian Roome:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to increase (a) planned and (b) preventative maintenance at NHS hospitals impacted by delays to the New Hospital Programme. \p Karin Smyth: Repairing and rebuilding our hospital estate is a key part of our ambition to create a National Health Service that is fit for the future through our 10-Year Health Plan.

Integrated care boards will continue to receive annual capital allocations. These allocations are managed at a local level, with funds allocated according to local priorities, including for estate maintenance works. In addition, my Rt. Hon. Friend, the Chancellor of the Exchequer also announced over £1 billion to make inroads into the backlog of critical maintenance and to tackle dangerous reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete. Further details on funding will follow at the earliest opportunity, including local capital allocations and national capital programmes for 2025 to 2026, as part of NHS planning guidance. Capital funding levels for future years will be determined through the current Spending Review, which concludes in June 2025.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-29)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-29 conversation_185

Clive Jones:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to fund the ongoing maintenance of the Royal Berkshire Hospital until it is rebuilt. \p Karin Smyth: The safety of National Health Service staff and patients is of vital importance to the Government. That is why repairing and rebuilding our hospitals is a key part of our ambition to create an NHS that is fit for the future through our 10-Year Health Plan.

The Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust and the Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire West Integrated Care Board will continue to receive annual capital allocations. These allocations are managed at a local level, with funds allocated according to local priorities, including estate maintenance works. In addition, my Rt. Hon. Friend, the Chancellor of the Exchequer also committed over £1 billion to make inroads into the backlog of critical maintenance and tackle dangerous reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete. Further details on funding will follow at the earliest opportunity, including local capital allocations and national capital programmes for 2025 to 2026, as part of NHS planning guidance. Capital funding levels for future years will be determined through the current Spending Review, which concludes in June 2025.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-29)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-29 conversation_186

Clive Jones:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to his Department's New Hospitals Programme: plan for implementation, published on 20 January 2025, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the delay in the Royal Berkshire Hospital's construction start date to 2037-2039 on (a) patients and (b) staff. \p Karin Smyth: I refer the Hon. Member to the answer I gave on 27 January 2025 to Question 25505.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-29)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-29 conversation_187

Sadik Al-Hassan:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to his Department's reforming elective care for patients plan, published on 6 January 2025, what steps he is taking to improve asthma follow-up treatment. \p Karin Smyth: The Elective Reform Plan, published in January 2025, sets out the reform efforts needed to return to the 18-week constitutional standard, including the need to put the patient front and centre and reform elective pathways. In recognition of the unacceptably long waits experienced at present, the plan commits a particular focus on respiratory health, as one of five initial specialties where a clinically led process will agree on the reforms needed to improve waiting times and re-design pathways in order to improve patient experience and outcomes, and make best use of clinical time.

The Elective Reform Plan commits to giving patients more choice and control over their follow up care. This includes through increasing the use of Patient Initiated Follow-Ups (PIFU), which empowers patients to book their own follow up appointments when they need them, preventing appointments that are low value to patients and to clinicians. Many respiratory patients will be appropriate for a PIFU pathway, including patients with asthma, depending upon their circumstances.

We are also committed to helping support the self-management of conditions so that patients are better equipped to recognise changes in their condition and take control of their own care. NHS England has developed a national bundle of care for children and young people with asthma, including accredited asthma training courses, alongside education and self-management resources for schools, families, and carers.

NHS England has also introduced the adult asthma best practice tariff to improve the proportion of patients who receive a specialist review of their care within 24 hours of emergency admission for an asthma attack and receive a discharge bundle before leaving hospital.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-29)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-29 conversation_188

Freddie van Mierlo:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when he plans to respond to the letter of 6 November 2024 from the Hon. Member for Henley and Thame on a constituent's concern over confectionary VAT added to his product designed to be a healthier option. \p Andrew Gwynne: We have received the Hon. Member’s correspondence of 6 November 2024, and responded on 23 January 2025, with the reference PO-1545237.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-29)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-29 conversation_189

Mrs Emma Lewell-Buck:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the average time period is for issuing payments via the Vaccine Damage Payment Scheme. \p Andrew Gwynne: Between November 2021 and January 2025, the average time period for issuing payments following confirmation of a successful claim was 46 calendar days.

A payment can only be made once bank details and identification verification has been received from the claimant. Once received, the NHS Business Services Authority operates a 10-working day service level agreement for the payment to be processed.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-29)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-29 conversation_190

Mrs Emma Lewell-Buck:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many and what proportion of applications to the Vaccine Damage Payment Scheme (a) are pending, (b) have been paid and (c) have been refused. \p Andrew Gwynne: Between 1 November 2021 and 17 January 2025, the Vaccine Damage Payment Scheme has received 19,115 claims. Of these, 7,159, or 37% of claims, are awaiting resolution, 208, or 1% of claims, have been awarded, and 11,748, or 61% of claims, have not been awarded a payment.
wrans/answers2025-01-29 conversation_191
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-29)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-29 conversation_191

Lisa Smart:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to increase the supply of semaglutide in Hazel Grove constituency. \p Karin Smyth: The Department monitors and manages medicine supply at a national level so that stocks remain available to meet regional and local demand. Information on stock levels within individual constituencies is not held centrally.

The Department is not aware of any current supply issues for semaglutide. Ozempic and Wegovy, injectable forms of semaglutide, are currently available, and Rybelsus, an oral tablet containing semaglutide, is also available. The Department continues to monitor the situation, ensuring that medicines remain available for new patients with type 2 diabetes, as well as those unable to obtain their existing treatment.

The General Pharmaceutical Council, General Medical Council, Health and Care Professions Council, Nursing and Midwifery Council, and Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland have also issued a joint statement stressing the importance of health and care professionals meeting regulatory standards in relation to these medicines. The guidance is clear, that medications licensed to treat type 2 diabetes should not be prescribed for weight loss, except where specifically licenced for this use. Any patient who is worried about their condition, or access to these medications, should speak to their clinician in the first instance.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-29)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-29 conversation_192

Lisa Smart:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to (a) support and (b) encourage Integrated Care Boards to prescribe semaglutide for weight management. \p Andrew Gwynne: Obesity medicines can be effective for some patients living with obesity when prescribed alongside diet, physical activity, and behavioural support. Exactly what is most appropriate for an individual is down to health care professionals to advise, in discussion with patients, and considering relevant clinical guidance.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence recommended semaglutide as an option for weight management, alongside a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity, for adults that meet the eligibility criteria, and only if it is used within a specialist weight management service providing multidisciplinary management of overweight or obesity.

Integrated care boards (ICBs) are responsible for arranging the provision of health services within their area in line with local priorities, considering population need and relevant guidance. This includes the commissioning of NHS specialist weight management services.

National Health Service organisations, including ICBs, are continuing to look at the best way to manage access to treatments for obesity.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-29)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-29 conversation_193

Nick Timothy:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate he has made of the staff time taken in ambulance trusts to meet the target for the NHS to reach net zero by 2040, broken down by (a) FTE positions and (b) salary. \p Karin Smyth: The information requested is not held centrally. No estimate has been made.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-29)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-29 conversation_194

Luke Myer:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make it his policy that doctors (a) should have a mandatory duty to report suspected cases abuse and neglect and (b) should be given immunity from suit after reporting such cases. \p Karin Smyth: Doctors have a professional duty, in accordance with the General Medical Council’s Good medical practice, to act promptly if they think that patient safety is or may be seriously compromised. This includes ensuring a patient is receiving basic care to meet their needs and ensuring there are adequate premises, equipment, resources, and policies. Doctors must also consider the needs and welfare of people who may be vulnerable and offer help if they have concerns that a patient, or someone close to them, may be at risk of abuse or neglect. If doctors have concerns that a colleague may not be fit to practise, or that patient safety may be put at risk, they must also take action, including reporting cases if necessary.

Failure to uphold and adhere to the principles within Good medical practice and the related guidance will put a professionals’ registration with the General Medical Council at risk. Doctors in leadership roles must create an environment where people can talk about concerns safely. The Government supports the right of staff working in the National Health Service to speak up, and has put in place measures to support staff to raise a concern, including legal protections for whistle-blowers. My Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care has no current plans to introduce additional measures to protect doctors from being sued after reporting suspected cases of abuse and neglect.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-29)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-29 conversation_195

Mike Martin:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent progress he has made with NHS England on rolling out the Fracture Liaison Service. \p Andrew Gwynne: Fracture Liaison Services (FLS) are a globally recognised care model, and can reduce the risk of refracture for people at risk of osteoporosis by up to 40%.

The Government and NHS England support the clinical case for services which help to prevent fragility fractures, and support the patients who sustain them. The Government is committed to ending the postcode lottery for access to FLS.

FLS are commissioned by integrated care boards, which make decisions according to local need. Officials are continuing to work closely with NHS England to consider how best to support systems to ensure better quality and access to these important preventative services.