Asked by: Lisa Nandy (Labour - Wigan)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when he plans to announce the removal of all covid-19 social distancing restrictions on weddings, civil partnership ceremonies and receptions.
Answered by Jo Churchill - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
At Step 4 of the Roadmap or no earlier than 21 June, the Government aims to remove all restrictions on weddings, civil partnership ceremonies and receptions, subject to the outcome of the social distancing review and also the events research programme.
Asked by: Lisa Nandy (Labour - Wigan)
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 awareness among (a) healthcare professionals and (b) the general public of the symptoms of infantile spasms.
Answered by Edward Argar - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)
In February 2020, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) updated the clinical guideline Epilepsies: diagnosis and management, originally published January 2012, which covers diagnosing, treating and managing epilepsy and seizures in children, young people and adults. It offers best practice advice on identifying and managing epilepsy to improve heath outcomes so that people with epilepsy can fully participate in daily life, and is designed to support children, young people and adults with epilepsy; as well as healthcare professionals. The guideline can be found at the following link:
https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/cg137
Asked by: Lisa Nandy (Labour - Wigan)
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 clinical research into infantile spasms.
Answered by Edward Argar - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)
The National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) welcomes funding applications for research into any aspect of human health, including infantile spasms. It is not usual practice to ring-fence funds for particular topics or conditions. Applications are subject to peer review and judged in open competition, with awards being made on the basis of the importance of the topic to patients and health and care services, value for money and scientific quality.
Since November 2016, the NIHR has supported seven studies on infantile spasms.
Asked by: Lisa Nandy (Labour - Wigan)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 10 June 2020 to Question 53422 on Aviation: Coronavirus, to which NHS hospitals were sick passengers identified by cabin crew transferred or further assessment and covid-19 testing between 22 January 2020 and 12 March 2020; and how many passengers were transferred to each of those NHS hospitals.
Answered by Nadine Dorries
From the records held in the central airport monitoring hub a total of 62 sick passengers were identified by cabin crew. Data on which National Health Service hospitals passengers were transferred to after possible COVID-19 identification by cabin crew are not available.
Asked by: Lisa Nandy (Labour - Wigan)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the answer of the 1 June 2020 to Question 45163 on Aviation: Coronavirus, what was the total number of passengers screened during the period in which a form of enhanced covid-19 monitoring was in place from 22 January to 12 March 2020.
Answered by Nadine Dorries
Symptom screening occurred through an enhanced monitoring process or approximately 250,000 passengers. Inbound passengers were not screened for COVID-19 using laboratory tests.
The enhanced monitoring process encompassed approximately 250,000 passengers. Over the monitoring period, between 22 January and 12 March, 129 ill passengers were identified and 59 of this group were taken for further assessment and COVID-19 testing by the National Health Service. Of the 59, none tested positive for COVID-19.
Enhanced monitoring and enhanced monitoring (by exception) included providing information to passengers through a variety of leaflets and posters at airports, and messaging and announcements in flight. Materials were made available in English and other languages. Enhanced public health protection measures including early warning of any symptomatic passenger in flight and the submission of a General Aircraft Declaration from the flight’s Captain.
Sick passengers who were identified by cabin crew were isolated and then transferred to either NHS hospitals or a specially commissioned facility (such as The London Isolation Centre) and if deemed clinically necessary tested for COVID-19.
Asked by: Lisa Nandy (Labour - Wigan)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 1 June 2020 to Question 45163 on Aviation: Coronavirus, if she will publish details of the system for enhanced monitoring of passenger illness that was in place from 22 January to 12 March 2020 during the containment phase of the covid-19 pandemic.
Answered by Nadine Dorries
Symptom screening occurred through an enhanced monitoring process or approximately 250,000 passengers. Inbound passengers were not screened for COVID-19 using laboratory tests.
The enhanced monitoring process encompassed approximately 250,000 passengers. Over the monitoring period, between 22 January and 12 March, 129 ill passengers were identified and 59 of this group were taken for further assessment and COVID-19 testing by the National Health Service. Of the 59, none tested positive for COVID-19.
Enhanced monitoring and enhanced monitoring (by exception) included providing information to passengers through a variety of leaflets and posters at airports, and messaging and announcements in flight. Materials were made available in English and other languages. Enhanced public health protection measures including early warning of any symptomatic passenger in flight and the submission of a General Aircraft Declaration from the flight’s Captain.
Sick passengers who were identified by cabin crew were isolated and then transferred to either NHS hospitals or a specially commissioned facility (such as The London Isolation Centre) and if deemed clinically necessary tested for COVID-19.
Asked by: Lisa Nandy (Labour - Wigan)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 27 April 220 to Question 35010 on Aviation: Coronavirus, if he will publish the scientific advice on which the decision to end targeted screening measures being carried out at UK airports for inbound passengers during the containment phase of the covid-19 pandemic was based.
Answered by Nadine Dorries
The Government has published online statements and accompanying evidence which demonstrate how our understanding of COVID-19 has evolved as new data has emerged. This has included decisions on travel and screening. These statements are available online at the following link:
The Government considers advice from the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE) before adopting new policies and interventions in relation to COVID-19. SAGE relies on external science advice, including advice from expert groups and their papers. In the case of COVID-19, this includes the New and Emerging Respiratory Virus Threats Advisory Group (NERVTAG). The agendas and minutes of meetings of NERVTAG are available online at the following link:
https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/new-and-emerging-respiratory-virus-threats-advisory-group
Asked by: Lisa Nandy (Labour - Wigan)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 27 April to Question 35010 on Aviation: Coronavirus, how many inbound passengers were screened for covid-19 during the containment phase of the pandemic; and what steps were taken when passengers screened positively.
Answered by Nadine Dorries
A form of enhanced monitoring was in place between 22 January – 12 March 2020 during the containment phase of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Over the entire monitoring period 129 ill passengers were identified and 59 of this group were taken for further assessment by the National Health Service. Of the 59, none tested positive for COVID-19.
Asked by: Lisa Nandy (Labour - Wigan)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if the Government will (a) provide a briefing to hon. Members on its public health communications strategy for covid-19 and (b) deploy its behavioural insights team to help reduce the (i) risk of infection and (ii) transmission of that virus society through (A) self-isolation, (B) reduced travel activity and (C) encouraging the support of the public for behavioural changes to reduce the risk of infection.
Answered by Jo Churchill - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
Officials will be happy to provide a briefing on the communications strategy and the public health campaign to hon. Members. Both the strategy and the campaign have been guided by behavioural science and we have been working closely with behavioural scientists to reduce the risk of infection and slow the transmission. We are not yet advising people to reduce travel activity or self-isolate unless they have returned from an affected country. If we do, we will be guided by behavioural science.
Asked by: Lisa Nandy (Labour - Wigan)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether the remit of Care Quality Commission inspections of (a) General Practitioners, (b) hospitals, (c) care homes and (d) dentists will be amended to include covid-19 preparedness.
Answered by Jo Churchill - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) already assesses an organisation’s preparedness for fluctuations in demand or disruption to staffing or facilities due to seasonal or other expected or unexpected events, and whether they have in place processes for the prevention and control of infection. The CQC is also placing additional focus on preparedness for COVID-19 as part of their assessments both in health and social care services.