Asked by: Julian Sturdy (Conservative - York Outer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to support local pharmacies.
Answered by Neil O'Brien
The Community Pharmacy Contractual Framework 2019-24 five-year deal commits £2.592 billion each year to the sector. In September 2022, we announced an additional one-off £100 million investment across this and last financial year. In May 2023, as part of the Delivery plan for recovering access to primary care, we announced a further investment of up to £645 million over two years to expand the services offered by community pharmacies.
In addition to providing funding, we are working with the sector to implement regulatory changes that reduce pressure on pharmacies without compromising the quality and safety of services.
Asked by: Julian Sturdy (Conservative - York Outer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to improve access to treatment for people who have had a stroke.
Answered by Will Quince
The National Stroke Service Model, published by NHS England in May 2021, articulates optimal evidenced-based stroke care. Patients are expected to be seen by a stroke specialist clinician within 60 minutes of arrival and have their treatment plan determined.
From 1 April 2021, 20 Integrated Stroke Delivery Networks (ISDNs) were established giving full coverage across England. ISDNs include all key stakeholders across the system including providers, commissioners, clinicians and patient representative across the whole stroke pathway.
ISDNs are responsible for delivering optimal stroke pathways, based on best evidence, which ensures that more people who experience a stroke receive high-quality specialist care, from pre-hospital, through to rehabilitation and life after stroke.
Asked by: Julian Sturdy (Conservative - York Outer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on the effect on productivity of NHS waiting times in A&E.
Answered by Will Quince
My Rt hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, holds regular discussions with Cabinet colleagues on the work to improve accident and emergency (A&E) waiting times, including at health stocktakes.
The Government’s aim is to make it easier for people to access a range of urgent care services and avoid needing to make unnecessary visits to A&E departments. When people do need to attend A&E, our aim is that this care is provide more quickly, with 76% of patients admitted, transferred or discharged within four hours by March 2024.
Asked by: Julian Sturdy (Conservative - York Outer)
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 help increase the number of dental school places.
Answered by Will Quince
The Government continues to keep the number of dental school places that it funds under review.
NHS England has been commissioned to produce a long-term National Health Service workforce plan. The Government has committed to publishing the plan shortly and this will include projections for the number of doctors, nurses and other professionals that will be needed in five, 10- and 15-years’ time, taking full account of improvements in retention and productivity. The workforce plan is for the whole of the NHS workforce, including dentists.
Asked by: Julian Sturdy (Conservative - York Outer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the Government's policy is on supporting the registration of overseas (a) dentists and (b) other dental care professionals to help tackle potential NHS skills shortages in those areas.
Answered by Neil O'Brien
To deliver National Health Service primary care services, a dental practitioner must be registered with the General Dental Council (GDC) and listed on the Dental Performers List (DPL) of the country in which they wish to practise. The England DPL is held by NHS England, each of the Devolved Governments has its own Performers List, held by an equivalent organisation.
In March 2023, we introduced legislation that allows the GDC greater flexibility to expand the registration routes for international applicants and improve its international registration processes. The GDC, as an independent regulator, has identified the ways it considers these processes can best be improved and is working to implement those changes over the next 12 months.
We have also introduced changes to support overseas dentists to start working in the NHS in England. In May 2023, we introduced changes to the England Performers List Regulations to accelerate the process for overseas dentists to join the England DPL, and as of 1 April 2023, no dentist needs to pay an application fee to NHS England to join the DPL.
Asked by: Julian Sturdy (Conservative - York Outer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department plans to take to help tackle regional shortfalls in the provision of NHS dental care.
Answered by Neil O'Brien
In July 2022, we announced a package of improvements to the National Health Service dental system, detailed in ‘Our plan for patients’, which outlined the steps we are taking to meet oral health need and increase access to dental care across all regions in England. These changes came into effect towards the end of 2022.
However, we know that we need to do more and continue to build on these reforms. We will announce our plan for further reform of the NHS dental system later this year, and it will include several areas requiring further action to support and recover activity in NHS dentistry, such as how to incentivise NHS dentists to deliver more NHS care.
From 1 April 2023, responsibility for commissioning primary care dentistry to meet the needs of the local population has been delegated to integrated care boards (ICBs) across England. NHS England has published an Assurance Framework which sets out its approach to providing assurance that commissioning functions are carried out safely and effectively by ICBs.
Asked by: Julian Sturdy (Conservative - York Outer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what his expected timescale is to provide additional reforms of dental contracts.
Answered by Neil O'Brien
In July 2022, we announced a package of improvements to the National Health Service dental system, detailed in ‘Our plan for patients’, which outlined the steps we are taking to meet oral health need and increase access to dental care across all regions in England. These changes came into effect towards the end of 2022.
However, we know that we need to do more and continue to build on these reforms. We will announce our plan for further reform of the NHS dental system later this year, and it will include several areas requiring further action to support and recover activity in NHS dentistry, such as how to incentivise NHS dentists to deliver more NHS care.
From 1 April 2023, responsibility for commissioning primary care dentistry to meet the needs of the local population has been delegated to integrated care boards (ICBs) across England. NHS England has published an Assurance Framework which sets out its approach to providing assurance that commissioning functions are carried out safely and effectively by ICBs.
Asked by: Julian Sturdy (Conservative - York Outer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to help increase public understanding of multiple sclerosis .
Answered by Helen Whately - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has published specific guidance to improve awareness and understanding about multiple sclerosis, as well as guidance on suspected neurological conditions more broadly.
NICE promotes its guidance via its website, newsletters and other media.
Asked by: Julian Sturdy (Conservative - York Outer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he has had recent discussions with Bupa on the future provision of care for NHS patients registered with Bupa Dental Care York.
Answered by Neil O'Brien
I met with representatives from BUPA on 29 March to discuss the announcement and its impact on services in the affected areas.
Following BUPA’s notice to NHS England of closures, regional teams and integrated care boards across England are working together to ensure that patients continue to have access to National Health Service dental care. This includes an assessment to identify potential gaps in NHS dental service provision and to consider what actions may be required.
NHS dentists are required to keep their NHS.UK profiles up to date so that patients can find a dentist more easily. This includes information on whether they are accepting new patients.
State-funded healthcare within the United Kingdom but outside of England is a devolved matter and the responsibility of the devolved Governments.
Patients struggling to find a local dentist can contact NHS England’s Customer Contact Centre for assistance or contact NHS 111 if seeking urgent care.
Asked by: Julian Sturdy (Conservative - York Outer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make an assessment of the potential effects of the closure of Bupa dental practices on the availability of NHS dentistry.
Answered by Neil O'Brien
Following BUPA’s notice to NHS England of closures, regional teams and integrated care boards across England are working together to ensure that patients continue to have access to National Health Service dental care. This includes an assessment to identify potential gaps in NHS dental service provision and to consider what actions may be required.
NHS dentists are required to keep their NHS.UK profiles up to date so that patients can find a dentist more easily. This includes information on whether they are accepting new patients.
State-funded healthcare within the United Kingdom but outside of England is a devolved matter and the responsibility of the devolved Governments.
Patients struggling to find a local dentist can contact NHS England’s Customer Contact Centre for assistance or contact NHS 111 if seeking urgent care.