Asked by: Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle (Green Party - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of (1) the medical efficacy and value to users of commercial Strep A tests, and (2) any extra costs that might result for the NHS as a result of such tests.
Answered by Lord Markham - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
Rapid tests for Group A Streptococcus (Strep A) are not currently recommended by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) for individuals aged five years old and over presenting with a sore throat. However, in response to the ongoing national increased incidence of Strep A infection, UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) are concurrently reviewing the literature on clinical scoring tools and rapid tests for Strep A infection in people presenting with a sore throat.
UKHSA have commissioned a desktop to bedside review of existing antigen-based lateral flow devices for Strep A infection, adopting a tried and tested process that was developed for coronavirus testing device approvals. This process will identify the tests that are most likely to perform well in the diagnosis of sore throats caused by Strep A in community settings.
No specific assessment of the extra costs to the National Health Service associated with commercial tests have been made.
Asked by: Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle (Green Party - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of exposure to engine oil and hydraulic fluid among airline crews; and what plans they have to fund research into the issue of exposure, which can lead to the condition Organophosphorus Ester-Induced Chronic Neurotoxicity.
Answered by Lord Markham - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
In 2013, The UK Committee on Toxicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment (COT) reviewed four research projects on airborne concentrations and surface deposition of chemical pollutants in the cabins of commercial aircraft, which had been commissioned by the Department for Transport. The COT concluded that contamination of cabin air by components and/or combustion products of engine oils, including triaryl phosphates, does occur and peaks of higher exposure have been recorded during episodes that lasted for seconds. No further assessments have been commissioned.
The Department funds research through the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). The NIHR welcomes funding applications for research into any aspect of human health, including research into environmental exposure. However, it is not usual practice to ring-fence funds for particular topics or conditions. Applications for funding are subject to peer review and judged in open competition, with awards made on the basis of the importance of the topic to patients and health and care services, value for money and scientific quality.
Asked by: Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle (Green Party - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of whether exposure to synthetic jet engine oil and hydraulic fluids or their decomposition products poses any risk to unborn children.
Answered by Lord Markham - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Department for Transport has asked the UK Committee on Toxicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment (COT) to update its 2007 and 2013 reviews and statements on the potential human health effects due to fume and contamination events. This review is continuing and a statement will be published in due course. However, effects on an unborn child are not being specifically assessed.
Asked by: Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle (Green Party - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the use of indirect marketing techniques, such as advice provision, by baby formula brands to target expectant new parents.
Answered by Lord Markham - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
No specific assessment has been made. Article 11 of retained Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2016/127 on the composition and information requirements of infant formula and follow-on formula states that all informational and educational materials on the feeding of infants must not discourage breastfeeding.
Asked by: Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle (Green Party - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they have taken, or plan to take, to ensure that those dependent on life-critical support machines are protected in cases of power blackouts.
Answered by Lord Markham - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Department for Health and Social Care is working with the health and social care sector to assess the impact of any potential disruption to energy on services. In addition, we are working with the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy to understand the likelihood of any power outages. Care providers and equipment suppliers support those with long term conditions to use medical equipment at home safely and in cases where the equipment is disrupted. In a power outage scenario, the Priority Services Register is maintained by electricity network operators to target support to the most vulnerable customers.
Asked by: Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle (Green Party - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government what investment strategy they have devised to address the gap in funding for antifungal development, particularly in light of the World Health Organization (WHO) fungal priority pathogen list.
Answered by Lord Markham - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The UK Health Security Agency is collaborating with medicinal chemists at the School of Cancer and Pharmaceutical Sciences at Kings College London, to develop new antimicrobials with novel modes of action for the World Health Organization’s priority pathogens. A series of compounds which evade efflux-mediated resistance are in development. Early-stage pre-clinical development has gained support from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases through its Preclinical Services team, for studies on pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics and efficacy.
While it is not usual practice to ring-fence funds for particular topics or conditions, the National Institute for Health and Care Research has invested more than £6 million in research into fungal infection.
Asked by: Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle (Green Party - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to stimulate (1) awareness of, and (2) research into, dual use of antifungals in (a) medicine, and (b) agriculture, as well as to engage with relevant stakeholders.
Answered by Lord Markham - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
NHS England’s national pharmacy and prescribing clinical lead is supported by seven regional antimicrobial stewardship leads, which collaborate with stakeholders in infection prevention and control and patient safety and with the Care Quality Commission to mitigate the threat of antimicrobial resistance, including from dual use of antifungals.
The Environment Agency is investigating antifungal resistance in the environment to determine whether particular levels of antifungals in surface waters from releases by agriculture or water treatment may lead to resistance. It is engaging with external bodies including leading United Kingdom universities and the research councils. The UK Health Security Agency is releasing regular reports on fungal infection surveillance and antifungal prescribing data for a selection of fungal pathogens.
The Medical Research Council is funding the Centre for Medical Mycology at the University of Exeter to undertake research into the use of antifungals in medicine. The Centre will host a National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Biomedical Research Centre on clinical mycology and therapeutics to prevent and manage potentially deadly fungal infections. While the NIHR has not supported specific research on dual use of antifungals and it is not usual practice to ring-fence funds for particular topics or conditions, the NIHR has invested more than £6 million in research into fungal infection in the last five years.
Asked by: Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle (Green Party - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have, if any, to introduce compulsory nutrition labelling for alcoholic drinks.
Answered by Lord Kamall
We welcome the Alcohol Health Alliance’s report. The Government has announced its intention to consult on whether to introduce mandatory calorie labelling on pre-packed alcohol and alcohol sold in on-trade businesses, such as pubs and restaurants. The consultation will also seek views on whether the provision of the United Kingdom Chief Medical Officers’ low risk drinking guidelines should be mandatory or continue on a voluntary basis. Respondents to the consultation can also suggest additional labelling requirements for consideration, such as ingredient listing. The Department continues to promote the low risk drinking guidelines through public health messaging, including the ‘Better Health’ campaign and the Drink Free Days app.
Asked by: Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle (Green Party - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the report by the Alcohol Health Alliance Contents unknown: How alcohol labelling still fails consumers, published in June; particularly the finding that only 65 per cent of alcohol products sampled contained accurate and up-to-date reporting of the UK Chief Medical Officers' advice on consumption; and what steps, if any, they will take to respond to the report.
Answered by Lord Kamall
We welcome the Alcohol Health Alliance’s report. The Government has announced its intention to consult on whether to introduce mandatory calorie labelling on pre-packed alcohol and alcohol sold in on-trade businesses, such as pubs and restaurants. The consultation will also seek views on whether the provision of the United Kingdom Chief Medical Officers’ low risk drinking guidelines should be mandatory or continue on a voluntary basis. Respondents to the consultation can also suggest additional labelling requirements for consideration, such as ingredient listing. The Department continues to promote the low risk drinking guidelines through public health messaging, including the ‘Better Health’ campaign and the Drink Free Days app.
Asked by: Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle (Green Party - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of (1) the level of advertising to the public of private medical services, such as screening tests, in the past three years, and (2) the impact this may be having (a) in diverting medical staff into the private sector, (b) on public health, and (c) in increased pressure on the NHS for follow-up procedures.
Answered by Lord Kamall
No specific assessment has been made. There are established ways of working between National Health Service employers and consultants wishing to take on private practice which allow flexibility for employees without detriment to NHS patients or services. Where a patient has received the results of a private screening test and presents for NHS treatment, they would receive the appropriate care, according to the relevant clinical guidelines.