Asked by: Baroness Grey-Thompson (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what provision they have made to ensure that vaccination venues are accessible for disabled people; and how that information is made available when booking tests.
Answered by Lord Bethell
Vaccination centres are subject to the same standards to support people with accessibility needs as all health care services. In addition, marshals and staff will help people attending vaccination centres to navigate safely.
When sent an invitation for vaccination by letter, the public are directed to the location's individual details on accessibility. The letter also provides guidance and advice which can be enlarged on a screen, provided in accessible formats as well as provided in hard copy.
Asked by: Baroness Grey-Thompson (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether plans to improve (1) diagnosis, and (2) treatment, of heavy menstrual bleeding will be included in (a) the sexual and reproductive health strategy, or (b) any broader women’s health strategy.
Answered by Lord Bethell
Work on both the sexual and reproductive health strategy and the women’s health strategy was paused due to COVID-19. For both, the work has now restarted. Heavy menstrual bleeding will not be covered in the Sexual and Reproductive Health strategy. However, the Government agrees that it is important for women to have access to support, including on information, diagnosis and treatment, for conditions such as heavy menstrual bleeding.
The women’s health strategy will consider priorities for women’s health and further detail regarding the strategy will be announced in due course.
Asked by: Baroness Grey-Thompson (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to create a comprehensive women’s health strategy which includes provisions for (1) improving sexual and reproductive health, and (2) menstrual wellbeing.
Answered by Lord Bethell
Work on both the sexual and reproductive health strategy and the women’s health strategy was paused due to COVID-19. For both, the work has now restarted. Heavy menstrual bleeding will not be covered in the Sexual and Reproductive Health strategy. However, the Government agrees that it is important for women to have access to support, including on information, diagnosis and treatment, for conditions such as heavy menstrual bleeding.
The women’s health strategy will consider priorities for women’s health and further detail regarding the strategy will be announced in due course.
Asked by: Baroness Grey-Thompson (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask Her Majesty's Government why they are drafting a sexual and reproductive health strategy separately from a broader women’s health strategy.
Answered by Lord Bethell
The Government is committed to developing a Sexual and Reproductive Health Strategy, which we plan to publish in 2021. Development of the Sexual and Reproductive Health Strategy will be separate from the Women’s Health Strategy. However, Departmental officials are working closely together to ensure coherence between the Sexual and Reproductive Health and Women’s Health Strategies.
Whilst details of the scope of the Sexual and Reproductive Health Strategy will be announced in due course, the topics considered for inclusion are broader than those that only affect women and we will be taking a whole population approach.
Asked by: Baroness Grey-Thompson (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the (1) costs, and (2) benefits, of providing women with post-delivery contraception; and what plans they have to include such provision in their sexual and reproductive health strategy.
Answered by Lord Bethell
In 2018, Public Health England (PHE) made an Economic Analysis Estimation of the Return on Investment (ROI) for publicly funded contraception in England. This cost-benefit analysis showed a significant ROI of publicly funded contraception, £9 for every £1 invested over 10 years. PHE is developing an extension of the original ROI tool to estimate the specific ROI of post-delivery contraception provision, which will be published in spring 2021.
The Government plans to publish a sexual and reproductive health strategy in 2021. Whilst details of the scope and objectives will be announced in due course, improving access to contraception will be a key theme of the new strategy.
Asked by: Baroness Grey-Thompson (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to review the current commissioning structure for women’s health services in England.
Answered by Lord Bethell
There are currently no plans to review the current commissioning structure for women’s health services. However, the Government is committed to supporting the National Health Service and local authorities to deliver joined-up care for women across the full range of health and care services.
Asked by: Baroness Grey-Thompson (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to create women’s health hubs to prevent women and girls requiring multiple medical appointments to address different gynaecological and reproductive health needs.
Answered by Lord Bethell
There are currently no plans to create women’s health hubs. The Government is committed to supporting the National Health Service and local authorities to deliver joined-up care for women across the full range of health and care services.
Asked by: Baroness Grey-Thompson (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the uptake of telemedicine as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic; and what assessment they have made of the impact of any such uptake on women’s health services.
Answered by Lord Bethell
Online consultations are available in almost 6,000 practices, covering 90% of the population, an increase from about 40% of general practitioner (GP) practices in December 2019. About half a million online consultations between patients, GPs and general practice staff now happen every week, around 12 million in the last six months. Face-to-face appointments are available and routine screening services for cervical and breast cancer have re-started. Women are encouraged to attend screening appointments when invited to do so and to contact their GP if they have any unusual symptoms or concerns.
Three national evaluations are underway to evaluate the impact of online and video consultations, including assessment of the impact on people’s health.
Asked by: Baroness Grey-Thompson (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to address the stigma associated with menstruation for women and girls in sport.
Answered by Baroness Barran - Shadow Minister (Education)
Periods should never be a taboo subject. Women and girls should feel comfortable discussing their menstrual cycle, and how it affects their attitude to sport and their sporting performance.
We are determined to encourage more women and girls to get active and break down the barriers that prevent them from doing so, something we set out in our sport strategy Sporting Future. Sport England’s This Girl Can campaign was created to get more women active regardless of shape, size and ability, and aims to tackle head on the social barriers that can prevent women from feeling like they can join in. The latest phase of the campaign, launched earlier this year, addressed periods, showing a tampon string towards the end of the advert. The reaction to this in the press and in online discussion was overwhelmingly positive with a recognition that it shows the truth of women’s lives.
Sport England are also supporting the government taskforce to tackle period poverty, primarily around actions to tackle the stigma relating to women in sport, and particularly their impact on teenage participation in physical activity in schools.
In addition, we welcome the work that the English Institute of Sport is doing through their SMARTHer campaign to open up conversations amongst athletes, coaches and staff in high performance sport around athletes’ menstrual cycles in order to improve support.
Asked by: Baroness Grey-Thompson (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that (1) the Access to Work programme, and (2) related programmes, give participants the opportunity to volunteer at major UK sporting events, including (a) the Rugby League World Cup 2021, (b) the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, and (c) the UEFA Women's Euro 2022.
Answered by Baroness Barran - Shadow Minister (Education)
Access to Work support is available for disabled people and those who have a health condition whose disability or health condition affects the way they do their job. To be eligible for Access to Work the customer must be aged 16 years or over and satisfy certain criteria. As volunteering does not satisfy all the eligibility criteria, volunteers are not eligible for Access to Work support. Where individuals are employed into paid roles, the government will assist applications to the Access to Work programme if requested.
The Rugby League World Cup 2021 Board has launched a volunteer programme called The Power Squad. This programme makes a commitment to celebrate the inclusive and diverse population of England as well as the rich history of host towns and cities.
The Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games provides a fantastic opportunity to accelerate employment and skills opportunities for residents of the West Midlands. A comprehensive volunteering programme is due to launch in 2021, with up to 1000 roles ring-fenced for West Midlands residents and with a focus on disadvantaged groups.
UEFA Women’s EURO 2022 will create a number of paid employment opportunities, plus a sizeable volunteer programme of stadium and host city volunteers. These paid and voluntary roles will be open to all and will enable as many people as possible to be part of the tournament.