Asked by: Baroness Hodgson of Abinger (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of reports of cerebral haemorrhage in UK women (1) below 60, and (2) 60 and above, and their link to the (a) Astra Zeneca COVID-19 vaccination, and (b) Pfizer COVID-19 vaccination.
Answered by Lord Kamall
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency has monitored suspected reports of cerebral haemorrhage and thrombosis following COVID-19 vaccination. No direct association between reports of cerebral haemorrhage and the AstraZeneca or Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines has been identified in women or men aged either above or below 60 years old. However, a review of reports of specific types of blood clot in cerebral veins, occurring with low platelets concluded that a link with AstraZeneca vaccine is likely. Cerebral hemorrhage may occur because of these events. No link has been identified with the Pfizer vaccine.
There is some evidence that the reported incidence rate of these blood clots is slightly higher in females compared to men, although this is not seen across all age groups. A higher reported incidence rate is seen in younger adult age groups following the first dose compared to the older groups at 21.1 per million doses in those aged 18 to 49 years old and 11.0 per million doses in those aged 50 years old and over. There does not appear to be an increased risk following the second dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine. The advice remains that the benefits of the COVID-19 vaccines outweigh the risks for the majority of people.
Asked by: Baroness Hodgson of Abinger (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the availability of hernia operations varies in different regions of England; and if so, how.
Answered by Lord Kamall
Hernia operations are available from National Health Service providers across England. Demand varies in different areas as not all regions are of the same size or population.
The following table shows the number of finished consultant episodes (FCE) for primary or secondary hernia operations in each region of England in 2020/21 and average waiting times.
Government Office region of residence | FCE | Average waiting time in days |
North East | 3,470 | 164 |
North West | 8,120 | 197 |
Yorkshire and Humber | 6,095 | 184 |
East Midlands | 4,805 | 183 |
West Midlands | 4,915 | 222 |
East of England | 6,525 | 221 |
London | 8,990 | 178 |
South East | 10,445 | 187 |
South West | 8,020 | 183 |
Source: NHS Digital Hospital Episode Statistics
Notes:
Asked by: Baroness Hodgson of Abinger (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many hernia operations were carried out in the NHS in (1) 2018, (2) 2019, and (3) 2020.
Answered by Lord Kamall
The following table shows the number of finished consultant episodes (FCE) for primary or secondary hernia operations in England in 2018/19, 2019/20 and 2020/21.
2018/19 | 2019/20 | 2020/21 |
132,145 | 121,555 | 61,385 |
Source: NHS Digital Hospital Episode Statistics
Notes:
Asked by: Baroness Hodgson of Abinger (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what the average waiting time is for a hernia operation on the NHS.
Answered by Lord Kamall
The average waiting time for a hernia operation in England is 191 days.
Asked by: Baroness Hodgson of Abinger (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether a named doctor for a patient over 75 should see that patient, if requested by the patient or their close relatives, if they are very unwell.
Answered by Lord Bethell
Every patient, including those over 75 years old, can request to see a specific general practitioner (GP), including their named accountable GP. Under the terms of the 2015/16 National Health Service General Medical Services Contract practices must endeavour to comply with all reasonable requests made by patients to see a particular practitioner and authorised family members have the same rights.
Asked by: Baroness Hodgson of Abinger (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether patients over 75, or their relatives, should be able to communicate directly with their named doctor if they wish to.
Answered by Lord Bethell
Every patient, including those over 75 years old, can request to see a specific general practitioner (GP), including their named accountable GP. Under the terms of the 2015/16 National Health Service General Medical Services Contract practices must endeavour to comply with all reasonable requests made by patients to see a particular practitioner and authorised family members have the same rights.
Asked by: Baroness Hodgson of Abinger (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether there have been different instructions for Do Not Resuscitate Orders for (1) disabled patients, (2) dementia patients, and (3) elderly patients during the COVID-19 pandemic; and whether these have only been issued in consultation with relatives.
Answered by Lord Bethell
The Care Quality Commission’s report into how Do Not Attempt Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (DNACPR) decisions were made during the COVID 19 pandemic, found 508 instances where a DNACPR had been placed on a patient’s record without their agreement or agreement from their families or carers.
The Department remains clear that it is unacceptable for DNACPR decisions to be applied in a blanket fashion to any group of people and should be fully discussed with the individual and their family where possible and appropriate. Over the last year, clinical leaders have issued a number of statements which emphasise personalised approaches to care and treatment and reiterate that there has never been an instruction or directive issued by the National Health Service to put in place blanket DNACPRs due to medical condition, disability or age.
Asked by: Baroness Hodgson of Abinger (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether Do Not Resuscitate Orders have been issued during COVID-19 pandemic without consulting either the patient or their relatives.
Answered by Lord Bethell
The Care Quality Commission’s report into how Do Not Attempt Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (DNACPR) decisions were made during the COVID 19 pandemic, found 508 instances where a DNACPR had been placed on a patient’s record without their agreement or agreement from their families or carers.
The Department remains clear that it is unacceptable for DNACPR decisions to be applied in a blanket fashion to any group of people and should be fully discussed with the individual and their family where possible and appropriate. Over the last year, clinical leaders have issued a number of statements which emphasise personalised approaches to care and treatment and reiterate that there has never been an instruction or directive issued by the National Health Service to put in place blanket DNACPRs due to medical condition, disability or age.
Asked by: Baroness Hodgson of Abinger (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what progress they have made regarding the consultation on coronial investigations of stillbirths since it closed on 18 June 2019.
Answered by Lord Bethell
Work on analysing the responses to the consultation has been delayed during the COVID-19 pandemic but we hope to publish the response to the consultation as soon as possible.
Asked by: Baroness Hodgson of Abinger (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they conducted a consultation to inform their actions pursuant to section 3 of the Civil Partnerships, Marriages and Deaths (Registration etc.) Act 2019; and if so, what the outcome of the consultation was.
Answered by Lord Bethell
The Government has not conducted a consultation to inform actions pursuant to section 3 of the Civil Partnerships, Marriages and Deaths (Registration etc.) Act 2019. The Pregnancy Loss Review team has been speaking with women and men with lived experience of pregnancy loss, clinicians, nurses, bereavement midwives, registrars, faith leaders, charities and officials in the United Kingdom and other countries, drawing on other methods for gathering evidence.