Asked by: Alberto Costa (Conservative - South Leicestershire)
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 women with the cost of medication relating to the menopause, who are unable to take HRT and are prescribed alternative medication.
Answered by Edward Argar
We have no plans to change the current arrangements for exemptions to prescription charges to support women with the cost of medication relating to the menopause who are unable to take hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and are prescribed alternative medication.
Extensive arrangements are in already place to help people afford NHS prescriptions, including a broad range of exemptions for which women prescribed alternatives to HRT may already qualify. Approximately 89% of prescriptions are already dispensed free of charge. To support those who do not qualify for an exemption, the cost of prescriptions can be capped by purchasing a prescription pre-payment certificate, which can be paid for in instalments. A holder of a 12-month certificate can get all the prescriptions they need for just over £2 per week.
Asked by: Alberto Costa (Conservative - South Leicestershire)
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 retain NHS midwives.
Answered by Edward Argar
The NHS People Plan, published in July 2020, focuses on building resilience with a recruitment, retention and support package. The People Recovery Task Force is developing a framework and set of interventions to ensure that National Health Service staff, including midwives, are safe and supported as we deliver the restoration of services. All staff have access to a psychological support package, including apps, a text service and 40 mental health hubs across the country.
Asked by: Alberto Costa (Conservative - South Leicestershire)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department plans to recognise covid-19 vaccines administered to British citizens residing in Mexico.
Answered by Maggie Throup
Vaccine certification from all countries and territories must meet the minimum criteria taking into account public health and wider considerations. We are taking a phased approach to the inbound vaccination programme to other countries and territories, including Mexico and we will keep this under regular consideration.
Asked by: Alberto Costa (Conservative - South Leicestershire)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans his Department has to introduce a covid-19 travel pass for those aged under 16 years.
Answered by Maggie Throup
The NHS COVID Pass is currently available to those aged 16 years old and over. Few countries require childrens’ vaccination status testing is generally available or entry on the parent/guardians’ status. However, we recognise that a small proportion of children aged over 12 years old have or will receive a full course of vaccination following the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation’s advice and the growing requirement abroad for children to demonstrate their status. The international standards for travel require a full course to be recognised as ‘fully vaccinated’. We are exploring ways for fully vaccinated children aged over 12 years old to demonstrate their vaccination status for travel. Those aged 12 to 15 years old offered one Pfizer dose should continue to follow destination countries’ entry requirements for unvaccinated arrivals.
Asked by: Alberto Costa (Conservative - South Leicestershire)
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 help improve the dispensing of prescriptions when patients are waiting to be discharged to avoid delays.
Answered by Edward Argar
NHS England and NHS Improvement support systems to improve their discharge processes through the Emergency Care Improvement Support Team and provide a number of resources that share best practice.