theodi/ndl-core-corpus huggingface dataset:
wrans/answers2025-01-27 conversation_152
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-27)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-27 conversation_152

Wendy Morton:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions he has had with his international counterparts on the humanitarian situation in Bangladesh since 2 December 2024. \p Catherine West: The UK has been actively engaged in addressing the humanitarian situation in Bangladesh. The UK has provided £405 million to support the Rohingya and host communities since 2017, including food provision, clean water, healthcare and protection services. I announced £10.3 million of humanitarian funding for Rohingya refugees and for disaster response during my visit to Bangladesh in November 2024. During my visit, I discussed the Rohingya refugee response with the Interim Government of Bangladesh, the United Nations and other international development partners. The UK regularly coordinates with international counterparts on Rohingya issues.
wrans/answers2025-01-27 conversation_153
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-27)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-27 conversation_153

Wendy Morton:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions he has had with the Bangladeshi community in the United Kingdom on the situation in Bangladesh. \p Catherine West: The UK supports the Bangladesh Interim Government's work to build a more prosperous and democratic future, following student-led protests in July and August 2024. With more than 650,000 people of Bangladeshi heritage across the UK, the situation in Bangladesh impacts communities in the UK. In my responses to letters from the Bangladeshi community in the UK, I have been clear that the UK is supporting the Interim Government's agenda to restore law and order, ensure accountability and promote national reconciliation. The UK remains a steadfast friend of Bangladesh, with a strong focus on building economic, development, trade and climate partnerships.
wrans/answers2025-01-27 conversation_154
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-27)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-27 conversation_154

Wendy Morton:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the humanitarian situation in Cox's Bazar. \p Catherine West: The UK has been actively engaged in addressing the humanitarian situation in Cox's Bazar, and closely monitoring levels of need and insecurity. We are a leading donor to the Rohingya response and have provided £405 million to support the Rohingya and host communities since 2017, including food provision, clean water, healthcare and protection services. During my visit to Bangladesh in November 2024, I announced that £10.3 million of humanitarian funding will go to Rohingya refugees and for disaster response. The UK regularly discusses the Rohingya refugee response with the Interim Government of Bangladesh. This includes ensuring new Rohingya arrivals are registered and can access humanitarian assistance.
wrans/answers2025-01-27 conversation_155
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-27)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-27 conversation_155

Dame Harriett Baldwin:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether their Department offers its staff shared parental leave from their first working day. \p Catherine West: The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) is committed to supporting its employees in balancing their work and family responsibilities. The FCDO offers Shared Parental Leave (SPL) to all eligible staff, providing them with the flexibility to share parental responsibilities from the very beginning of their employment.

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 comes into effect.
wrans/answers2025-01-27 conversation_156
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-27)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-27 conversation_156

Martin Wrigley:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on preventing interventions by hostile actors on new (a) AI and (b) data centres. \p Catherine West: The National Security & Investment Act 2021 gives the government powers to scrutinise and intervene in business transactions, to protect national security. AI and data infrastructure, which includes data centres, are considered sensitive sectors of the economy where this Act applies in certain circumstances. The Act is administered by the Investment Security Unit in Cabinet Office and the decision maker is the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster. It would not be appropriate for me to comment on individual cases.

The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) works with allies to mitigate the risks from AI and maximise its benefits, working with international partners, they have published guidelines for secure AI system development. In September 2024, the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) confirmed its intention to introduce the Cyber Security and Resilience Bill that will strengthen the country's cyber defences.
wrans/answers2025-01-27 conversation_157
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-27)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-27 conversation_157

Wendy Morton:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has had discussions with his Bangladeshi counterpart on the recent reports of violence against Hindus in Bangladesh. \p Catherine West: The UK has a long-standing commitment to the promotion and protection of human rights, including Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB). Following the student-led protests in July and August 2024, we have been closely monitoring the situation for minorities in Bangladesh. In November 2024, I visited Bangladesh and discussed the importance of the protection of religious minorities with Chief Adviser Yunus. We are providing up to £27 million under the Bangladesh Collaborative, Accountable and Peaceful Politics programme for protecting civic and political space, fostering collaboration, reducing corruption, and mitigating tensions that lead to violence. We will continue to engage with the Interim Government of Bangladesh on the importance of FoRB.
wrans/answers2025-01-27 conversation_158
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-27)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-27 conversation_158

Sir John Hayes:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, for what purposes (a) Ministers and (b) officials in his Department have used AI in the last 12 months. \p Catherine West: Artificial Intelligence (AI) will transform diplomatic practice and the FCDO's delivery, enhancing our diplomatic impact and increasing individual productivity and corporate efficiency.

AI is already integrated into many commodity products and devices. Ministers do not currently use specific FCDO provided AI augmented tools in their work. Officials already use a range of FCDO provided AI augmented tools in their work to support information analysis and national security activities. The FCDO participated in the cross-HMG pilot of Microsoft Copilot and is trialling an AI agent to intelligently sign-post written Consular enquiries on GOV.UK. The secure and responsible adoption of AI is a key component of the FCDO's multi-year Digital, Data and Cyber Security Strategy.
wrans/answers2025-01-27 conversation_159
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-27)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-27 conversation_159

Ben Lake:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will take legislative steps to ratify the Global Ocean Treaty. \p Anneliese Dodds: The Government is completely committed to ratification of the Agreement under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ Agreement, also known as the "High Seas Treaty" or "Global Ocean Treaty"), which is in line with our determination to reinvigorate the UK's wider international leadership on climate and nature. Work is in hand on the measures needed to implement the detailed and complex provisions of the Agreement before the UK can ratify.
wrans/answers2025-01-27 conversation_160
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-27)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-27 conversation_160

Wendy Morton:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking to continue the Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict Initiative. \p Anneliese Dodds: This Government's commitment to tackling conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV) is resolute. That is why Lord Collins has been named as the Prime Minister's Special Representative on Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict (PSVI) and has committed to driving international action to support survivors and bring the perpetrators of these horrific crimes to justice. Ministers remain committed to delivering the PSVI strategy. Through PSVI we are supporting thousands of survivors around the world and have contributed to three recent landmark cases on CRSV as a Crime Against Humanity in Guinea, Kenya and Uganda.
wrans/answers2025-01-27 conversation_161
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-27)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-27 conversation_161

Ruth Jones:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to provide funding to help tackle antisemitism in other countries. \p Anneliese Dodds: Antisemitism has no place in our, or any, society and the UK has a long-standing track record of fighting it.

The UK currently holds the presidency of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA), through which we have worked with IHRA's 35 member states and permanent international partners to promote Holocaust education and research and combat antisemitism across the globe.

Under our presidency we also funded IHRA's annual €50,000 Yehuda Bauer Grant, which finances a project aiming to undertake new and significant research on the Holocaust and antisemitism.

The FCDO additionally administers the John Bunyan Fund, a designated programme for overseas projects focused on Freedom of Religion or Belief.
wrans/answers2025-01-27 conversation_162
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-27)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-27 conversation_162

Wendy Morton:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions the Special Envoy for Freedom of Religion or Belief has had with international partners. \p Anneliese Dodds: David Smith MP was announced as UK Special Envoy for Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB) in December 2024. Since taking up the role in January, he has engaged a range of UK and international partners, individually and collectively through the Article 18 Alliance, to promote FoRB for all.
wrans/answers2025-01-27 conversation_163
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-27)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-27 conversation_163

John McDonnell:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of recruitment freezes in the NHS diagnostics workforce on plans to ensure same day scan results in Community Diagnostic Centres. \p Karin Smyth: We are aware of cases where trusts have put recruitment restrictions in place for diagnostic services. How systems and trusts resource plan internally within their budgets is a matter for local discretion, and as such we will not be taking action at a national level.

The National Health Service is committed to maintaining timely and high-quality diagnostic services, including delivering same-day scan results in Community Diagnostic Centres wherever possible.

As set in the Elective Reform Plan, published in January 2025, we will introduce more straight-to-test pathways, deliver the optimal standards of tests per hour, and make better use of technology, including by upgrading the NHS app. These initiatives intend to drive efficiencies within diagnostic pathways and support patients to be tested more quickly, using existing capacity.

Investment in recent years has also enabled the NHS to grow the diagnostics workforce. This includes an increase in the number of specialty training places for key roles, such as radiologists, radiographers, and other diagnostic professionals, alongside initiatives to improve retention and reduce reliance on outsourcing.

This summer we will publish a refreshed Long Term Workforce Plan, to deliver the transformed health service we will build over the next decade and treat patients on time again. We will ensure the NHS has the right people, in the right places, with the right skills to deliver the care patients need when they need it.
wrans/answers2025-01-27 conversation_164
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-27)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-27 conversation_164

Liz Jarvis:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he plans to extend access to Pancreatic Enzyme Replacement Therapy. \p Karin Smyth: Clinicians are responsible for making prescribing decisions for their patients, taking into account best prescribing practice and the local commissioning decisions of their respective integrated care boards. They are also expected to take account of appropriate national guidance on clinical and cost effectiveness.

Pancreatic Enzyme Replacement Therapy (PERT) is used by patients with conditions such as chronic pancreatitis, type 2 diabetes, and cystic fibrosis, in addition to being recommended by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) for people with both operable and inoperable pancreatic cancer. The NICE has acknowledged that this is a priority area for quality improvement, and has included PERT in its quality standard for pancreatic cancer.
wrans/answers2025-01-27 conversation_165
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-27)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-27 conversation_165

Charlie Dewhirst:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the Register Of Interests Of Members' Secretaries And Research Assistants, published on 22 November 2024, whether Matthew Goodin (a) attends meetings in his Department and (b) sits in the special adviser's office. \p Karin Smyth: Matthew Goddin does not attend Departmental meetings. As a member of Parliamentary staff, he meets with my Rt. Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, to discuss Parliamentary business.
wrans/answers2025-01-27 conversation_166
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-27)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-27 conversation_166

Martin Wrigley:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to improve access to a legal prescription for pharmaceutical cannabis-based epilepsy treatments. \p Karin Smyth: Licensed cannabis-based medicines are routinely available on the National Health Service. Epidyolex is used for the treatment of seizures associated with two rare forms of epilepsy, specifically Dravet syndrome and Lennox-Gastaut syndrome, and tuberous sclerosis complex. However, clinical guidelines from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence demonstrate a clear need for more evidence on the safety and effectiveness of unlicensed cannabis-based medicines, to support routine prescribing and funding decision on the NHS.

NHS England and The National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) have agreed funding for two trials relating to the use of cannabis-based medicines for the treatment of difficult-to-treat epilepsies. These will be world-first trials and will be crucial in informing future NHS funding decisions.

Manufacturers are responsible for generating evidence to support the use of these products and for seeking regulatory approval. The Government encourages manufacturers to do so, and offers scientific and research advice from the Medicines Healthcare products Regulatory Agency and the NIHR.
wrans/answers2025-01-27 conversation_167
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-27)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-27 conversation_167

Derek Twigg:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many agency nurses were employed in each acute hospital trust in the NHS Cheshire and Merseyside Integrated Care Board area in each year since 2019; and what proportion of all nurses they were. \p Karin Smyth: The information requested is not available.
wrans/answers2025-01-27 conversation_168
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-27)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-27 conversation_168

Samantha Niblett:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 17 January 2025 to Question 23992 on Primary Health Care: Standards, what steps his Department is taking to help support (a) elderly and (b) digitally-challenged people to use technology to access healthcare. \p Karin Smyth: Digital health tools should be part of a wider offering that includes face-to-face support, with appropriate help for people who struggle to access digital services. NHS England has successfully run a number of programmes to support patients, carers, and health service staff with their digital skills. These include:

- the NHS App Spoken Word Pilot project, designed to test the efficacy of promoting National Health Service digital health products and services in languages other than English;

- the Digital Health Champions programme, a proof of concept to support citizens who have no or low digital skills with understanding how to access health services online; and

- the Widening Digital Participation programme, aimed to ensure that more people have the digital skills, motivation, and means to access health information and services online.

NHS England has also published a framework for NHS action on digital inclusion and is developing further resources to support practical actions. All digital programmes are actively considering how they can contribute to improvements in healthcare inequalities and digital inclusion.
wrans/answers2025-01-27 conversation_169
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-27)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-27 conversation_169

Steve Darling:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of increasing access to givinostat. \p Karin Smyth: We have made no such assessment. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) makes recommendations for the National Health Service on whether new licensed medicines should be routinely funded by the NHS independently based on an assessment of their costs and benefits. The NHS in England is legally required to fund medicines recommended by NICE, normally within three months of the publication of final guidance. NICE is currently evaluating givinostat, and its Appraisal Committee will meet to consider its recommendations in May 2025.
wrans/answers2025-01-27 conversation_170
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-27)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-27 conversation_170

Dame Harriett Baldwin:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether their Department offers its staff shared parental leave from their first working day. \p Karin Smyth: Shared parental leave is not offered as standard from the first working day for the Department’s employees. The Civil Service Management Code states that shared parental leave may only be granted in accordance with statutory requirements governing eligibility for this category of leave. 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.

The Department complies with the United Kingdom’s law, which dictates that employees and their partners, with whom they share primary responsibility for the child, must have been employed by their respective employer for at least 26 weeks continuously by the end of the 15th week before the expected week of childbirth or adoption.

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 comes into place.
wrans/answers2025-01-27 conversation_171
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-27)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-27 conversation_171

Ian Roome:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what his Department's definition of pre-construction works is in the context of Wave 3 of the New Hospital Programme Review. \p Karin Smyth: Pre-construction works are carried out prior to main construction commencing and include a wide range of activity including business case development, enabling works, site surveys, and design and planning work for the new hospital.
wrans/answers2025-01-27 conversation_172
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-27)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-27 conversation_172

Andrew Griffith:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department offers paternity leave to its staff from their first working day. \p Karin Smyth: Paternity leave is offered from the first working day for employees. Those who have been employed for less than 26 weeks are entitled to one week, and those employed for more than 26 weeks continuously are entitled to two weeks. Those who have worked for another Government Department prior to their arrival at the Department may be eligible for two weeks paternity leave from their first working day.

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 comes into effect.
wrans/answers2025-01-27 conversation_173
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-27)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-27 conversation_173

Derek Twigg:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many NHS clinical staff were armed forces reservists in each year since 2010. \p Karin Smyth: This information is not collected nationally. NHS Employers is working with National Health Service organisations to support them in being flexible and supportive employers, so that they can enable their staff to participate in the Armed Forces reserve, and train and deploy when required.
wrans/answers2025-01-27 conversation_174
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-27)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-27 conversation_174

Alison Griffiths:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department offers protection to staff from unfair dismissal from their first working day. \p Karin Smyth: The Department has defined unfair dismissal to occur where no fair reason has been provided to justify the dismissal, resulting in a breach of contract.

All dismissals are handled in line with current legislation and the Department’s policies and procedures. Employees who are new to the Civil Service are subject to a probationary period of between one and six months, depending on the type of appointment. During this time, employees are made aware that they are being assessed for their suitability for the role. Employees may only be terminated before the end of their probation in exceptional cases of poor performance, or for gross misconduct.

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. This position will be reviewed when unfair dismissal rights are updated in line with proposals in the Employment Rights Bill.
wrans/answers2025-01-27 conversation_175
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-27)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-27 conversation_175

Joe Robertson:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department plans to make an estimate of the number of pensioners admitted to hospital in winter 2024-25. \p Karin Smyth: Information on the number of accident and emergency attendances and hospital admissions of pensioners is not available, although NHS England does publish information on accident and emergency attendances and admitted hospital attendances by age group. The following table shows the number of accident and emergency attendances in England for those aged 65 years old or over, in November and December 2024:

Month

Accident and emergency attendances

November 2024

365,265

December 2024

376,466

In addition, the following table shows the number of admitted hospital attendances in England for those aged 65 years old or over, in November and December 2024:

Month

Admitted hospital attendances

November 2024

160,630

December 2024

154,995

Source: data is published by NHS England, and is available at the following link: https://www.england.nhs.uk/statistics/statistical-work-areas/ae-waiting-times-and-activity/ae-attendances-and-emergency-admissions-2024-25/

Notes:
wrans/answers2025-01-27 conversation_176
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-27)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-27 conversation_176

Dr Neil Shastri-Hurst:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, on how many occasions he has met representatives of each medical Royal College since 5 July 2024. \p Karin Smyth: Meetings with external organisations are routinely disclosed in the Department’s transparency publications. Two returns have been published since 5 July 2024, one in September, and one in December. Further information is available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/ministerial-gifts-hospitality-overseas-travel-and-meetings#2024
wrans/answers2025-01-27 conversation_177
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-27)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-27 conversation_177

Jim Shannon:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what safeguards are in place to manage the use of AI in the NHS. \p Karin Smyth: There are strict safeguards in place throughout the National Health Service to protect data. All providers of services which handle patient data must protect that data in line with UK General Data Protection Regulations, and the Data Protection Act 2018, and every health organisation is required to appoint a Caldicott Guardian to advise on the protection of people’s health and care data, and ensure it is used properly. This includes where artificial intelligence (AI) is used in relation to patient records.

The NHS AI Lab and Sciencewise, which is funded by UK Research and Innovation, held a public dialogue on how the public feels decisions should be made about access to their personal health data for AI purposes. The NHS AI Lab conducted a discovery exercise to design approaches based on insights from the public, which is now informing broader data stewardship initiatives, for example as part of the Secure Data Environments.

To mitigate the likelihood and severity of any potential harm to individuals arising from use of data in AI, the Information Commissioners Office has developed detailed AI guidance which provides an overarching view of data protection, including Data Protection Impact Assessments and UK General Data Protection Regulations. They have also produced an AI toolkit to support organisations auditing compliance of their AI-based technologies.
wrans/answers2025-01-27 conversation_178
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-27)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-27 conversation_178

Sadik Al-Hassan:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many and what proportion of dry powder inhalers were prescribed by the NHS in the last year for which data is available. \p Karin Smyth: The data below is based on figures published in the Prescription Cost Analysis. It includes all community dispensing in England, regardless of where they were prescribed, where the prescriptions have been submitted to the NHS Business Service Authority (NHSBSA) for payment. The list of inhaler products is derived from products in the NHSBSA’s dictionary of medicines and devices database with a pharmaceutical formulation of inhalation powder.

In the 12 months from December 2023 to November 2024, 14.4 million such prescription items were dispensed. The term items refers to the number of times an inhalation product appears on a prescription form, not the quantity prescribed. Some prescriptions may be for multiple inhalers, whilst other may be for refills of a previously supplied inhalation device. These made up 27.9% of the total 51.6 million items of the three commonly prescribed inhaler formulations, namely: pressurised inhalation; inhalation powder: and inhalation solution.
wrans/answers2025-01-27 conversation_179
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-27)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-27 conversation_179

Sir Oliver Dowden:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department plans to review the NHS Car Parking guidance. \p Karin Smyth: NHS Car Parking guidance was last updated in October 2022 under the previous government. The Department has no plans to review the guidance. Free hospital car parking is available to groups most in-need, including National Health Service staff working overnight. All trusts that charge for hospital car parking have implemented this policy.
wrans/answers2025-01-27 conversation_180
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-27)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-27 conversation_180

Jim Shannon:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of trends in the uptake of IVF in the last five years. \p Karin Smyth: The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority published its Fertility Trends analysis in July 2024, based on the previous four years’ worth of data. The analysis is available at the following link:

https://www.hfea.gov.uk/about-us/publications/research-and-data/fertility-treatment-2022-preliminary-trends-and-figures/

This document has helped inform the Department’s work with NHS England to consider future policy options to support integrated care boards to provide more equitable in-vitro fertilisation services.
wrans/answers2025-01-27 conversation_181
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-27)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-27 conversation_181

Graeme Downie:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of differences in approved medicines on (a) men and (b) women. \p Karin Smyth: The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency is responsible for approving medicines in the United Kingdom before they are made available to the wider public. This involves a rigorous assessment using data from clinical trials to assess safety and efficacy.

If data suggests that a medicine may have a different effect on men and women, this is considered within the assessment process. Every medicine is assessed on a case-by-case basis, as several factors may impact the performance of a specific product.

Post authorisation, where there is identified or potential differences between men and women in safety or effectiveness, this can be monitored in the risk management plan. The agency keeps the safety and effectiveness of all medicines under continual monitoring in all populations. Should any differences in outcomes between men and women be identified, the agency will take appropriate regulatory action.
wrans/answers2025-01-27 conversation_182
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-27)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-27 conversation_182

Freddie van Mierlo:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 24 October to Question 9576 on Methylphenidate: Shortages, if he will make an assessment of the adequacy of the supply of methylphenidate for ADHD since October 2024. \p Karin Smyth: The Department continues to work hard with industry and NHS England to help resolve the supply issues with some attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) medicines, which are affecting the United Kingdom and other countries around the world. As a result of intensive work, some issues have been resolved. All strengths of lisdexamfetamine, atomoxetine capsules, atomoxetine oral solution, and guanfacine prolonged-release tablets are now available.

However, whilst the supply of methylphenidate prolonged-release tablets has improved since October 2024, issues persist. We are continuing to work to resolve these remaining issues by engaging with all suppliers of methylphenidate prolonged-release tablets to assess the challenges faced and their actions to address them. We are also directing suppliers to secure additional stocks, expedite deliveries where possible, and review plans to further build capacity to support continued growth in demand for the short and long-term. The Department is also working with new suppliers of methylphenidate prolonged-release tablets to improve supply and resiliency for the UK market.

We are supporting an ADHD taskforce that NHS England has established to examine ADHD service provision. The taskforce will bring together expertise from across a broad range of sectors, including the National Health Service, education, and justice, to help provide a joined-up approach in response to concerns around rising demand. In collaboration with NHS England’s national ADHD data improvement plan, we plan to combine modelling for future growth forecasts, which will be shared with industry to improve demand forecasting for ADHD medicines.
wrans/answers2025-01-27 conversation_183
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-27)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-27 conversation_183

Jim Shannon:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what his planned timetable is for the rollout of Durvalumab for the treatment of bladded cancer. \p Karin Smyth: The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) makes recommendations on whether new medicines should be funded by the National Health Service based on their costs and benefits. Wherever possible, NICE aims to align its processes with the regulatory process so that final guidance is published at, or around, the time that the treatment is granted a licence. The NHS in England is required to fund treatments recommended by NICE, normally within three months of guidance, and cancer medicines are eligible for funding from the Cancer Drugs Fund from the point of a positive draft recommendation.

NICE has four relevant technology appraisals in development or awaiting development currently: Durvalumab for neoadjuvant and adjuvant treatment of muscle-invasive bladder cancer, with development expected to start in April 2025 and earliest publication date February 2026; Durvalumab with enfortumab vedotin for neoadjuvant and adjuvant treatment of muscle-invasive bladder cancer when cisplatin is unsuitable, with development expected to start in October 2026 and earliest publication date August 2027; Durvalumab with Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) for treating high-risk non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer after resection of papillary tumours in people previously untreated with BCG, with timelines for this appraisal still to be confirmed as NICE is awaiting an update from the company regarding its preferred submission date; and Durvalumab with tremelimumab and chemotherapy for treating unresectable or advanced urothelial cancer, with development expected to start in January 2026 and earliest publication date October 2026.
wrans/answers2025-01-27 conversation_184
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-27)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-27 conversation_184

Dr Roz Savage:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he has made an assessment of the potential impact of the increase in National Insurance contributions on the affordability of social care in rural villages. \p Stephen Kinnock: The Government considered the cost pressures facing adult social care overall in England as part of the wider consideration of local government spending within the Spending Review process.

To enable local authorities to deliver key services such as adult social care, the Government is making available up to £3.7 billion of additional funding for social care authorities in 2025/26. Overall, core local government spending power is increasing by 6% in cash terms.
wrans/answers2025-01-27 conversation_185
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-27)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-27 conversation_185

Dr Roz Savage:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to (a) increase the number of NHS appointments in rural areas and (b) improve access to (i) emergency and (ii) routine dental care for those in urgent need. \p Stephen Kinnock: 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 the areas that need them most. To rebuild dentistry in the long term, we will reform the dental contract with the sector, with a shift to focus on prevention and the retention of NHS dentists.

The responsibility for commissioning primary care services, including NHS dentistry, to meet the needs of the local population has been delegated to the integrated care boards (ICBs) across England. For the South Cotswolds constituency, this is the NHS Gloucestershire ICB.

ICBs 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, including rural areas.
wrans/answers2025-01-27 conversation_186
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-27)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-27 conversation_186

Mohammad Yasin:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 28 October 2024 to Question 10592, whether he has received any further advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation on the potential merits of extending eligibility for the Respiratory Syncytial Virus vaccination to people who turned 80 before 1 September 2024. \p Andrew Gwynne: The Department has not received any further advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) on the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccination programme for older adults since the Committee’s advice of 3 June 2023.

The latest discussion of RSV by the JCVI was during their October 2024 main committee meeting. The Committee agreed that it would need to formally review, in detail, the evidence for a potential extension to the programme for the very elderly and for those in risk groups which would be undertaken by the RSV sub-committee.

The JCVI will review the necessary scientific evidence once it is available and will continue to keep evidence under review, including data from clinical trials and real-world evidence emerging from immunisation programmes in different countries. The next JCVI committee meeting is scheduled to take place in February 2025. The minutes from this meeting will be made publicly available in spring 2025 at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/joint-committee-on-vaccination-and-immunisation

The Department will consider any further JCVI advice on who should be offered an RSV immunisation in due course.
wrans/answers2025-01-27 conversation_187
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-27)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-27 conversation_187

Bell Ribeiro-Addy:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the potential implications for his policies of trends in the level of alcohol harm; and if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of implementing a national alcohol strategy. \p Andrew Gwynne: The Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID) has an action plan to reduce drug and alcohol-related deaths. In light of the recent data, this plan is being revised to ensure that it is grounded in the latest understanding of the drivers of drug and alcohol related deaths and responding to these. Last year, the Department of Health and Social Care published guidance for local authorities and their partnerships on how to review adult drug and alcohol-related deaths to prevent future deaths. Additionally, OHID has published the guidance, Commissioning Quality Standard: alcohol and drug services, for local authorities to support them in commissioning effective alcohol and drug treatment and recovery services.

In addition to the Public Health Grant, the Department allocated local authorities £267 million in 2024/25 to improve the quality and capacity of drug and alcohol treatment and recovery. An additional £105 million from Department of Health and Social Care, the Department for Work and Pensions, and the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government is improving treatment pathways and recovery, housing and employment outcomes for people affected by drug and alcohol use. Future targeted funding for drug and alcohol treatment services beyond 2025 will be announced very shortly.

Under the health mission, the Government is committed to prioritising preventative public health measures to enable people to live longer, healthier lives.

The Department of Health and Social Care will continue to work across Government to better understand how we can best reduce alcohol-related harms.
wrans/answers2025-01-27 conversation_188
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-27)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-27 conversation_188

Manuela Perteghella:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to improve preparedness for first-time anaphylaxis incidents in rural communities. \p Andrew Gwynne: In November 2021, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and the Commission on Human Medicine’s Adrenaline Auto-injector Expert Working Group, with wide-ranging input from patient groups, leading allergy experts and healthcare professionals, published a report which outlined recommendations for the safe and effective use of adrenaline auto-injectors (AAIs), including quicker treatment, to help save lives. MHRA has worked alongside the Department and the wider health system to take forward these recommendations, some of which are already in place.

In June 2023, MHRA, with the support of allergy awareness advocates, launched a safety campaign to raise awareness of anaphylaxis and provide advice on the use of AAIs. MHRA produced a toolkit of resources for health and social care professionals to support the safe and effective use of AAIs. Alongside this, MHRA produced guidance, which states that prescribers should prescribe two AAIs to make sure patients always have the second dose and that those who are prescribed AAIs should carry two AAIs at all times.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence has also produced guidance on assessment and referral for anaphylaxis. It aims to improve the quality of care for people with suspected anaphylaxis by detailing the assessments that are needed and recommending referral to specialist allergy services after emergency treatment.

Most community pharmacies offer vaccinations. As part of offering this service, pharmacy contractors are expected to recognise and treat anaphylaxis. They must have immediate access to an anaphylaxis pack, including adrenaline. They are required to undertake training to administer adrenaline from an ampoule using a needle and AAIs in case of anaphylactic reactions.

Data regarding all anaphylaxis-related deaths in England and Wales are documented by the Office for National Statistics, and the British Society for Allergy and Clinical Immunology also holds a register to capture and learn fatal cases of anaphylaxis which has been operational since 1992, the UK Fatal Anaphylaxis Register (UKFAR).

Regarding the reporting of anaphylaxis in hospitals, NHS England’s National Patient Safety Team is working with the UKFAR to develop a mechanism for sharing relevant patient safety anaphylaxis incidents. The aim will be for the UKFAR to extract and share patient safety incidents reported to the national databases, the National Reporting and Learning System and Learn from Patient Safety Events, relating to severe allergic reactions.
wrans/answers2025-01-27 conversation_189
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-27)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-27 conversation_189

Manuela Perteghella:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether adrenaline auto-injectors are routinely carried by first responders. \p Andrew Gwynne: Regulation 238 of the Human Medicines Regulations 2012 provides an exemption from certain requirements related to the administration of medicines and allows administration of adrenaline for the purpose of saving a life in an emergency. The provision under Regulation 238 should be reserved only for exceptional circumstances that could not have been foreseen.

In November 2021, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and the Commission on Human Medicine’s Adrenaline Auto-injector Expert Working Group, with wide-ranging input from patient groups, leading allergy experts and healthcare professionals, published a report which outlined recommendations for the safe and effective use of adrenaline auto-injectors (AAIs), including quicker treatment, to help save lives. MHRA has worked alongside the Department and wider health system to take forward these recommendations, some of which are already in place.

In June 2023, MHRA, with the support of allergy awareness advocates, launched a safety campaign to raise awareness of anaphylaxis and provide advice on the use of AAIs. MHRA produced a toolkit of resources for health and social care professionals to support the safe and effective use of AAIs. Alongside this, MHRA produced guidance, which states that prescribers should prescribe two AAIs to make sure patients always have the second dose and that those who are prescribed AAIs should carry two AAIs at all times.

Ambulance staff are trained in how to treat a range of conditions, including anaphylaxis. Treatment options may include a dose of adrenalin via a syringe or use of AAIs.

A public consultation would be needed before a decision can be made on the wider availability of AAIs in public places, including with first aid organisations, together with legislative change.

The Community First Responder (CFR) programme enables volunteers trained by the ambulance service to attend certain types of emergency calls in the area where they live or work. CFRs have had first aid training but are not medically trained. CFRs are trained in the administration of a patient’s own AAI, which would ensure the correct medication and dose for that patient. In general, CFRs do not carry medication.