Asked by: Lord Smith of Finsbury (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask Her Majesty's Government why the North Central London Clinical Commissioning Group approved the control of eight GP Services contracts to be passed to Operose Health; and what consultation involving (1) local authorities, and (2) patient representatives, was undertaken before that decision was approved.
Answered by Lord Bethell
After forming a partnership with Operose Health Ltd, the contract owner AT Medics Ltd asked permission of the the North Central London Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) as the commissioner of the relevant services, for the transfer of the holdings to Operose Health Ltd. Such a transfer is allowed under the terms of the GP contract. In this case, there was no legal or contractual basis for the CCG to reject the transfer as it will not lead to any significant change in service provision. The contract owner remains AT Medics Ltd and the change of control of the holding company to Operose Health Ltd does not affect service provision in any way.
No consultation involving local authorities and patient representatives was undertaken as this is only required when there is a significant change in service provision.
Asked by: Lord Smith of Finsbury (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what scientific analysis has been undertaken of the potential travel distance of aerosol or droplets during singing; and on what evidence they will base any decisions on social distancing restrictions for members of a choir.
Answered by Lord Bethell
A review of the existing literature on this topic was considered by the New and Emerging Respiratory Virus Threats Advisory Group on 17 June 2020. The committee’s deliberations and any recommendations will be considered imminently by the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE). Decisions on special social distancing guidance for choir members will depend on the conclusions arrived at by SAGE.
Asked by: Lord Smith of Finsbury (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask Her Majesty's Government why a ban on accepting blood plasma for the COVID-19 convalescent plasma trial from gay and bisexual men has been put in place; and whether they will consider the use of individual risk assessments for this purpose instead of blanket exclusion.
Answered by Lord Bethell
No individual is excluded from giving blood, platelets or plasma based on sexual orientation. However, all men must wait three months after having sexual contact with another man before donating. This is based on expert advice from the Advisory Committee on the Safety of Blood, Tissues and Organs.
The three-month deferral period is to reduce the risk of any very recently acquired infections not being detected on screening and further tests. For that reason, the current donor selection guidelines remain in place for the convalescent plasma donation programme.
The Equality Act 2010 states that blood services do not contravene anti-discrimination legislation by excluding people from donating blood as long as this exclusion or deferral is based on a reasonable and reliable assessment of risk to the public.
We recognise that people want to be considered as individuals as much as possible. Separately to the convalescent plasma trial, NHS Blood and Transplant is already working collaboratively with LGBT+ groups on blood donation, through the FAIR (For Assessment of Individualised Risk) steering group. The FAIR group is using an evidence-based approach to explore if a more individualised blood donation risk assessment can be safely and practically introduced, while ensuring the safe supply of blood to patients.
Asked by: Lord Smith of Finsbury (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what arrangements they are seeking to put in place following Brexit to ensure the timely availability of medicines manufactured in EU countries to patients in the UK.
Answered by Lord O'Shaughnessy
The Government is fully aware of the importance of medicines to patients in the United Kingdom and is considering the implications of exit from the European Union on the supply of pharmaceuticals as a high priority. The Department is working closely with others across Government to assess the impact of leaving the EU on the supply chain for all medicines and medical radioisotopes used in the National Health Service and to minimise any risk of disruption.
Asked by: Lord Smith of Finsbury (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what were the reasons for their decision to reduce funding for the national HIV prevention programme in England by half for the year commencing in April 2015; and what plans they have for the programme from 2016 onwards.
Answered by Earl Howe - Deputy Leader of the House of Lords
We have no plans to reduce funding for the national HIV prevention programme for 2015-16.
Plans for the national HIV prevention programme beyond 2016 will be subject to decisions arising from the next comprehensive spending review.