Asked by: Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of declining immunity to COVID-19 in the population; and what steps they are taking to continue vaccination against COVID-19 in response to any such assessment.
Answered by Lord Kamall
The UK Health Security Agency regularly reviews data on vaccine effectiveness, including declining immunity to COVID-19. Recent data suggests that vaccine effectiveness against symptomatic disease with the Omicron variant is substantially lower than against the Delta variant, with rapid waning of immunity over time. However, protection against hospitalisation remains high, particularly after three doses. The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) continues to review the data and will advise the Government if they observe indications in the data of changes that could be addressed by adjustments to the COVID-19 vaccination programme.
The COVID-19 vaccination programme has agreed three key priorities: continued access to first, second and booster or third doses; delivery of an autumn COVID-19 vaccination campaign if advised by the JCVI; and development of detailed contingency plans to rapidly increase capacity, if required. The National Health Service continues to campaign to encourage people to come forward for COVID-19 vaccinations, particularly targeting those sections of community where we know there has been low take up for example in pregnant women and some ethnic groups.
Asked by: Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the prevalence of eating disorders; and what plans they have to increase resources to treat them.
Answered by Lord Kamall
The number of children and young people entering urgent treatment for an eating disorder increased by 73% in 2020/21, compared to 2019/20. The Health Survey England 2019 showed that 16% of adults aged over 16 years old screened positive for a possible eating disorder.
We are investing approximately £1 billion in community mental health care for adults with severe mental illness by 2023/24. This will allow 370,000 adults with severe mental illnesses, including eating disorders, greater choice and control over their care and support them to live well in their communities.
Since 2016, investment in children and young people's community eating disorder services has increased each year, with an additional £53 million per year from 2021/22. This will enhance the capacity of the 70 new or improved community eating disorder teams. Additional funding has been provided this year for adult and children and young people’s eating disorder services through the £500 million Mental Health Recovery Action Plan.
Asked by: Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the adequacy of medical training for the treatment of eating disorders.
Answered by Lord Kamall
No specific assessment has been made.
However, the Department and NHS England and NHS Improvement are working with Health Education England to improve training for general practitioners and with the General Medical Council to ensure eating disorders are included amongst outcome measures for newly qualified clinicians.
NHS England and NHS Improvement and Health Education England are also working with partners to procure training courses to increase the capacity of the existing workforce to provide evidence-based treatment.
Asked by: Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what asssessment they have made of the levels of the availability of lateral flow tests from 1 April either (1) through the NHS, or (2) commercially.
Answered by Lord Kamall
We are confident there will continue to be sufficient tests available through the National Health Service from 1 April 2022. We will provide further details on eligible groups in due course. The Government is engaging with retailers to support the development of a strong private market for testing to ensure that tests are widely available for the public to buy.
Asked by: Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the importance of vaccinating children aged three and above against COVID-19; and what steps they have taken as a result of that assessment.
Answered by Lord Kamall
No specific assessment has been made, as there is currently no COVID-19 vaccine authorised in the United Kingdom for usage in children in this age group.
Should the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency authorise a COVID-19 vaccine for use in the UK in children aged under five years old, the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation may be asked for its clinical and scientific advice on prioritisation and deployment at a population level.
Asked by: Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have along with the private sector to ensure that lateral flow tests will be available throughout the country at a reasonable price from 1 April.
Answered by Lord Kamall
Manufacturers and retailers should have autonomy to set pricing for the sale of lateral flow device (LFD) tests, as well as pack sizes. However, the Government will ensure that private testing is a properly regulated market, as with any other healthcare product, including ensuring that the price of tests is not inappropriately high for consumers.
Asked by: Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the need for further COVID-19 boosters beyond the third vaccination; and what steps they plan to take as a result of this assessment.
Answered by Lord Kamall
On 7 January 2022 the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) advised that the priority for the COVID-19 booster programme remains to increase coverage of the first booster dose across the adult population, particularly in older adults and those in clinical risk groups. A second booster dose was not advised at this time as there is evidence of continued high vaccine effectiveness against hospitalisation due to the Omicron variant following a first booster dose.
The JCVI continues to consider the latest available data and will review the booster programme, particularly in relation to the timing and value of any second booster doses for the most vulnerable.
Asked by: Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of alcoholism during the COVID-19 pandemic; and what steps they are taking as a result of any findings made.
Answered by Lord Kamall
No specific assessment has been made. However, the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities found that there was a rise in consumption of alcohol for increasing and higher risk drinkers (individuals that consume more than 14 units a week) during periods of lockdown, compared to when no restrictions were in place. The Adult substance misuse treatment statistics 2020 to 2021: report showed a 2.8% increase in those in treatment for alcohol only compared to 2019/20. A copy of the report is attached.
As part of the NHS Long Term Plan, we are investing in a programme to establish specialist alcohol care teams in hospitals with the highest rates of alcohol-dependence-related admissions. In late 2021, a second wave of hospital sites across England were selected to receive funding. We are also spending £533 million over three years in local authority commissioned substance misuse treatment services in England.
Asked by: Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to communicate the need for public take-up of the COVID-19 booster vaccination via (1) national, and (2) local, media.
Answered by Lord Kamall
The national ‘Get Boosted Now’ campaign was launched on 12 December 2021 in both national and local media, highlighting the importance of those eligible receiving a booster dose. Ministers, scientists, clinicians and celebrities have shared messaging, supported by a large-scale marketing campaign, including TV, radio, press partnerships, and digital and social media.
There is also ongoing local engagement with stakeholders, community groups and faith leaders to reinforce the booster vaccination campaign with ethnic minority communities, patient groups and disproportionately impacted communities. We are also sponsoring information articles in more than 600 newspaper titles, including multicultural newspapers in multiple languages. The COVID-19 vaccination leaflets produced by the UK Health Security Agency have been translated into 28 languages including Bengali, Chinese, Gujarati, Hindi, Panjabi and Urdu.
Asked by: Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the benefits of providing defibrillators in public places; and what steps they are taking to encourage this provision.
Answered by Lord Kamall
Improving bystander use of automated external defibrillators (AEDs) was assessed as part of the NHS Long Term Plan. The Plan sets out that a national network of community first responders and AEDs could save up to 4,000 lives each year by 2028. With growing public awareness and acceptance of AEDs, many community defibrillators have since been provided in public locations such as shopping centres, through national lottery funding, community fundraising schemes, workplace funding or by charities.