Asked by: Alan Campbell (Labour - Tynemouth)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the September 2020 report by the Commission on Alcohol Harm, whether she plans to publish a new alcohol strategy.
Answered by Jo Churchill - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
The Government is committed to tackling health harms from alcohol and supporting the most vulnerable at risk from alcohol misuse. Action on alcohol abuse continues through commitments in the Prevention Green Paper, the NHS Long Term Plan, funding to support children of alcohol dependent parents, and action to reduce alcohol-related crime. This wide-ranging approach negates the need for a separate stand-alone alcohol strategy.
Asked by: Alan Campbell (Labour - Tynemouth)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what proportion of covid-19 test results from PCR tests in Pillar 2 settings are false positive.
Answered by Helen Whately - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
All tests have been assessed as performing to manufacturers’ specifications before being used. The established Lighthouse laboratories that undertake the majority of test processing have been reviewed by experts, each has a clinical virology lead and we are satisfied the test is reliable and effective. Like any diagnostic test however, there is always the small possibility of a false negative or a false positive result. In the Lighthouse laboratories the specificity of testing is monitored by participation in External Quality Assurance and by sending all positive specimens to the Welcome Sanger laboratory at Cambridge and data suggests that more than 99.9% of results are confirmed as COVID-19.
Asked by: Alan Campbell (Labour - Tynemouth)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to ensure everyone in the at risk groups receives a flu vaccine in 2020.
Answered by Jo Churchill - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
The flu vaccination programme 2020/21 will be supported with a new marketing campaign to encourage take up amongst groups eligible for the free flu vaccine, due to launch in early October. Resources for the campaign will be available to download and order from the Public Health England (PHE) Campaign Resource Centre at the following link:
https://campaignresources.phe.gov.uk/resources/
Joint communications from PHE, the Department and NHS England and NHS Improvement will include targeted messages to help drive uptake in those eligible, including at-risk groups, while addressing the potential challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Department, PHE and NHS England and NHS Improvement have published the Annual Flu letter 2020/21 to ensure that local areas have plans to deliver activities to encourage those in at risk groups to have the vaccine. The latest letter is available at the following link:
Asked by: Alan Campbell (Labour - Tynemouth)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether the Government plans to provide free face masks to people in receipt of benefits.
Answered by Jo Churchill - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
A face covering is not the same as a face mask such as the surgical masks or respirators used as part of personal protective equipment by healthcare and other workers.
Everyone can make their own face covering at home, using readily available textiles that can be washed, and reused after every use.
We have published guidance online which provides a step-by-step breakdown of how to make these face coverings and what materials can be used.
Asked by: Alan Campbell (Labour - Tynemouth)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans the Government has to adopt the independent SAGE Group's proposed zero covid-UK strategy.
Answered by Helen Whately - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
We are already undertaking a range of measures to tackle COVID-19, protect the National Health Service and help ensure that the country can return to normality as soon as possible.
To prepare the National Health Service for winter, the Government is providing an additional £3 billion of funding. This includes money to allow the NHS to maintain the Nightingale surge capacity and continue to use the extra hospital capacity available within the independent sector.
Effective local management of any outbreaks is the first line of protection against a second wave. To support local authorities, we have made £300 million available and they already have robust plans in place to respond to outbreaks.
NHS winter preparations include delivering a very significantly expanded seasonal flu vaccination programme for priority groups.
Asked by: Alan Campbell (Labour - Tynemouth)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans he has to increase disclosure to families involved in complaints on disciplinary procedures within the NHS.
Answered by Helen Whately - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Department does not have plans to increase disclosure to families involved in complaints on disciplinary procedures within the National Health Service. Disciplinary procedures including disciplinary investigations are internal matters between an employee and employer. This information is of a confidential and sensitive nature and disclosure of any details to a third party would be in breach of the Data Protection Act 2018. Any exceptions where disclosure may need to be considered would have to be in line with the Data Protection Act and would normally require the consent of the individual involved.
The Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service has produced guidance on the handling of information obtained as part of an investigation and can be found at the following link:
Asked by: Alan Campbell (Labour - Tynemouth)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if the Government will make it its policy to implement the findings of the Cumberlege Review in full.
Answered by Nadine Dorries
The Independent Medicines and Medical Devices Safety Review published its report on 8 July. All the report’s recommendations will be considered carefully.
The Government will provide an update in due course.
Asked by: Alan Campbell (Labour - Tynemouth)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what is his policy on those in (a) care homes or (b) residential care units to require a (i) quarantine period or (ii) covid-19 test to be undertaken if they do return home for (A) a short period or (B) overnight.
Answered by Helen Whately - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
We are aware that limiting visits has been difficult for many families and care home residents who want to see their loved ones. Guidance for visits out of a care homes is under development and will be published shortly.
Asked by: Alan Campbell (Labour - Tynemouth)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will clarify guidance on the permitted social interactions for those in care home settings with their immediate family members.
Answered by Helen Whately - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
On 22 July 2020 the Government published updated guidance on visiting arrangements for care homes during the COVID-19 pandemic. This guidance is applicable to all nursing and care homes and is available at the following link:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/visiting-care-homes-during-coronavirus
We appreciate the challenges which care homes face in safeguarding their residents, and we are aware that limiting visits in care homes has been difficult for many families and residents. Care homes can now develop their visiting policies based on a local dynamic risk assessment. This approach is based on the circumstances and needs of the individual care setting, including both residents and staff and the external COVID-19 environment.
Asked by: Alan Campbell (Labour - Tynemouth)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will clarify guidance on permitted social interactions for those currently in residential care units with their immediate family members.
Answered by Helen Whately - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
On 22 July 2020 the Government published updated guidance on visiting arrangements for care homes during the COVID-19 pandemic. This guidance is available at the following link:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/visiting-care-homes-during-coronavirus
Our priority has been to enable residents to be reunited safely with their loved ones. This guidance will be updated as the risk posed by COVID-19 continues to change.