Asked by: Baroness Merron (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government what consideration has been given to making it simpler to switch off access to patient health records through the NHS app, particularly for vulnerable groups.
Answered by Lord Markham - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Government wants people to be able to have access to their own records if they choose to do so. There is widespread international consensus about the benefits to patients and the effectiveness of the health system in providing digital on-demand access to personal health information.
For most, online record access is beneficial, but for a minority, having access could cause harm or distress. NHS England is taking an active approach to ensuring safe and secure patient record access, seeking to identify and provide additional protections to vulnerable people if they request access to their medical records online.
NHS England has engaged extensively with at-risk groups, professional bodies, patient groups, charities and safeguarding leads to support general practice and patients in preparing for this change safely and effectively. Communication packs have been provided to over 50 charities that support at-risk individuals. NHS Digital has published guidance in an online-only format for organisations, Supporting victims and survivors of domestic or sexual abuse, to support people when accessing their personal health information online.
Before viewing their record in the NHS App, users are advised what to do if they are being pressured to share their information. Patients can prevent access by disabling their National Health Service login with a simple online process or can ask their general practitioner (GP) for the details of specific consultations or treatment decisions to be redacted. When an individual first requests access, they cannot see information already recorded; they will only be able to access information recorded from that point onwards.
The expert safeguarding group has identified theoretical risks, which have fed into NHS England’s patient and GP communications packs and advice, messaging on the NHS App and NHS.uk and improvements made by GP IT system suppliers.
More than 23 million patients have viewed their records over nine million times, with no significant incidents relating to personal safety or security reported. Lower-level incidents, such as people finding out their diagnosis before being told by a clinician, have been reported, and some issues have been investigated and classed as low-risk and/or resolved.
NHS England continues to monitor this and would take action if an issue was identified or raised.
Asked by: Baroness Merron (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government what advice is being provided to domestic abuse survivors and other at-risk groups about medical apps they have downloaded on their devices.
Answered by Lord Markham - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Government wants people to be able to have access to their own records if they choose to do so. There is widespread international consensus about the benefits to patients and the effectiveness of the health system in providing digital on-demand access to personal health information.
For most, online record access is beneficial, but for a minority, having access could cause harm or distress. NHS England is taking an active approach to ensuring safe and secure patient record access, seeking to identify and provide additional protections to vulnerable people if they request access to their medical records online.
NHS England has engaged extensively with at-risk groups, professional bodies, patient groups, charities and safeguarding leads to support general practice and patients in preparing for this change safely and effectively. Communication packs have been provided to over 50 charities that support at-risk individuals. NHS Digital has published guidance in an online-only format for organisations, Supporting victims and survivors of domestic or sexual abuse, to support people when accessing their personal health information online.
Before viewing their record in the NHS App, users are advised what to do if they are being pressured to share their information. Patients can prevent access by disabling their National Health Service login with a simple online process or can ask their general practitioner (GP) for the details of specific consultations or treatment decisions to be redacted. When an individual first requests access, they cannot see information already recorded; they will only be able to access information recorded from that point onwards.
The expert safeguarding group has identified theoretical risks, which have fed into NHS England’s patient and GP communications packs and advice, messaging on the NHS App and NHS.uk and improvements made by GP IT system suppliers.
More than 23 million patients have viewed their records over nine million times, with no significant incidents relating to personal safety or security reported. Lower-level incidents, such as people finding out their diagnosis before being told by a clinician, have been reported, and some issues have been investigated and classed as low-risk and/or resolved.
NHS England continues to monitor this and would take action if an issue was identified or raised.
Asked by: Baroness Merron (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether any concerns about risk to personal safety and security have been identified by the expert safeguarding group reviewing the implementation of NHS App.
Answered by Lord Markham - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Government wants people to be able to have access to their own records if they choose to do so. There is widespread international consensus about the benefits to patients and the effectiveness of the health system in providing digital on-demand access to personal health information.
For most, online record access is beneficial, but for a minority, having access could cause harm or distress. NHS England is taking an active approach to ensuring safe and secure patient record access, seeking to identify and provide additional protections to vulnerable people if they request access to their medical records online.
NHS England has engaged extensively with at-risk groups, professional bodies, patient groups, charities and safeguarding leads to support general practice and patients in preparing for this change safely and effectively. Communication packs have been provided to over 50 charities that support at-risk individuals. NHS Digital has published guidance in an online-only format for organisations, Supporting victims and survivors of domestic or sexual abuse, to support people when accessing their personal health information online.
Before viewing their record in the NHS App, users are advised what to do if they are being pressured to share their information. Patients can prevent access by disabling their National Health Service login with a simple online process or can ask their general practitioner (GP) for the details of specific consultations or treatment decisions to be redacted. When an individual first requests access, they cannot see information already recorded; they will only be able to access information recorded from that point onwards.
The expert safeguarding group has identified theoretical risks, which have fed into NHS England’s patient and GP communications packs and advice, messaging on the NHS App and NHS.uk and improvements made by GP IT system suppliers.
More than 23 million patients have viewed their records over nine million times, with no significant incidents relating to personal safety or security reported. Lower-level incidents, such as people finding out their diagnosis before being told by a clinician, have been reported, and some issues have been investigated and classed as low-risk and/or resolved.
NHS England continues to monitor this and would take action if an issue was identified or raised.
Asked by: Baroness Merron (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government how agreements at the recent COP 28 and previously are expected to affect the conditions in which vector-borne diseases proliferate.
Answered by Lord Markham - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The COP28 UAE Declaration on Climate and Health includes a commitment by governments to tackle the health threats of climate change. Commitments made at COP28 under the ‘UAE Consensus’ also include an agreement to reduce global emissions and accelerate climate change adaptation.
The extent to which the COP28 agreements will result in a real reduction in vector-borne disease risk in the United Kingdom is dependent upon the voluntary implementation of emissions reductions and adaptation measures taken by global nations as indicated within the UAE Consensus. If these emissions reductions and targeted adaptations are realised, this will reduce the likelihood of a worst-case scenario in the UK, specifically the likelihood of invasive mosquitoes that thrive in high temperatures establishing in the UK and the likelihood of mosquito-borne viruses being transmitted as warmer temperatures favour transmission.
Asked by: Baroness Merron (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government what measures they have put in place to deal with the predicted unequal impact of climate change and associated health conditions on those who are vulnerable, including children, older people, and those with medical conditions or living in deprived areas.
Answered by Lord Markham - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) is conducting a review of the available evidence to better understand the unequal health impacts of climate change and the solutions taken to address climate change in populations included in the CORE20PLUS framework which informs action to reduce healthcare inequalities in the United Kingdom. The findings of this evidence review will inform future work by UKHSA.
In April 2023, UKHSA published the Adverse Weather and Health Plan (AWHP) to protect individuals and communities from the health effects of adverse weather and developed new guidance to address the needs of specific population groups and settings. A copy of the plan is attached.
Further development of the guidance will be informed by an AWHP equity review which will outline available evidence pertaining to populations included in the CORE20PLUS framework. This review will be followed by a series of research and public health recommendations.
Asked by: Baroness Merron (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the UK’s preparedness and resilience for increased risk from vector-borne diseases, and how that will be tested.
Answered by Lord Markham - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) conducts horizon scanning to detect, assess and communicate potential infectious threats to UK public health. Working across Government, UKHSA has developed guidance, and contingency plans are in preparation to support the prevention, management, and control of infectious diseases.
The cross-Government One Health - Human Animal Infections Risk Assessment group assesses these threats, including vector-borne diseases posed to the four nations. Surveillance systems and diagnostic pathways are in place to detect, monitor, report and rapidly diagnose infectious diseases. UKHSA specialist laboratories work with partners to ensure readiness of testing capacity for vector-borne diseases, and to develop testing approaches to detect emerging pathogens. UKHSA will continue to work with partners on preparatory activities for vector-borne disease emergence and review and amend these plans as the risk changes.
Asked by: Baroness Merron (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government what measures they have put in place to ensure the right research, data and information are in place to tackle the increasing health risks from climate change.
Answered by Lord Markham - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) works extensively with academic groups through joint research projects, and with European and international colleagues on sharing intelligence and experience on emerging disease risks. UKHSA has prioritised intervention evaluation for climate risks to health within its research partnerships and business planning. UKHSA’s Centre for Climate and Health Security is developing and expanding capacity to assess the effectiveness of measures to mitigate climate change threats to health, supported by UKHSA’s Evaluation and Epidemiological Science Unit.
Asked by: Baroness Merron (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government what (1) estimates, or (2) management information, they have available regarding the number of patients waiting for a spirometry test within each integrated care board.
Answered by Lord Markham - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Department does not currently hold validated data on the number of patients waiting for a spirometry test in England or within each integrated care board. NHS England plans to expand the national diagnostics data collection in 2024. This will provide regular data on spirometry services for the first time.
Asked by: Baroness Merron (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government what (1) data, (2) estimates, or (3) management information, they have available regarding the number of patients waiting for a spirometry test in England.
Answered by Lord Markham - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Department does not currently hold validated data on the number of patients waiting for a spirometry test in England or within each integrated care board. NHS England plans to expand the national diagnostics data collection in 2024. This will provide regular data on spirometry services for the first time.
Asked by: Baroness Merron (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government when the Commission on Human Medicines is expected to make recommendations about whether anaesthesia associates will be given prescribing rights.
Answered by Lord Markham - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
On 13 December 2023, the Department laid draft legislation in both Houses and in the Scottish Parliament that will empower the General Medical Council (GMC) to regulate anaesthesia associates and physician associates.
Subject to parliamentary scrutiny, this legislation will instruct the GMC to commence regulation. The GMC will have 12 months to consult on their own rules, policies and guidance and begin regulating these roles.
Extending prescribing responsibilities to a profession involves a separate legislative process to the introduction of statutory professional regulation as amendments are needed to the Human Medicines Regulations.
The process to extend prescribing responsibilities to a role is jointly led by NHS England and the Department. This work is exploratory at this stage, in advance of regulation.