Asked by: Alex McIntyre (Labour - Gloucester)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what funding has been allocated to support digital transformation as set out in the 10-Year Health Plan.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
In advance of the 10-Year Health Plan’s publication, the Government confirmed an allocation of up to £10 billion for National Health Service digital, data, and technology through the Spending Review. This is a nearly 50% uplift on current investment, with a 3% real terms uplift overall.
That investment will support delivery of the 10-Year Health Plan, while yielding substantial improvements in the public experience of using the NHS, and in the experience of staff working for it. It will also make a material contribution to achieving the 2% productivity target and wider efficiency targets.
Asked by: Alex McIntyre (Labour - Gloucester)
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 ensure that people with (a) chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and (b) other long-term lung conditions have access to integrated (i) psychological and (ii) mental health support as part of their care pathway.
Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
People with long-term physical health conditions such as cardiovascular disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, diabetes, and musculoskeletal disorders can refer into NHS Talking Therapies for treatment if they have a common mental health disorder, for instance anxiety and/or depression. NHS Talking Therapies also offers integrated pathways of care for people with long-term conditions which are integrated with physical care services, usually through co-location. The NHS Talking Therapies Long Term Conditions (LTC) service does not treat the underlying physical health condition but treats the anxiety and/or depression that is either caused or exacerbated by having the LTC.
NHS England has put together a best practice directory for LTC pathways across NHS Talking Therapies services to provide a national picture of what pathways are in place and how they work. Information collected as part of the work to develop the national LTC directory will help to frame a review of the NHS Talking Therapies LTC Implementation Guidance.
Asked by: Alex McIntyre (Labour - Gloucester)
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 ensure that funding for the implementation of the recommendations in the National Cancer Plan is shared across (a) prevention, (b) diagnosis and (c) treatment.
Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The forthcoming National Cancer Plan for England will cover the entirety of the cancer pathway, including prevention, diagnosis, and treatment, to ultimately drive up this country’s cancer survival rates. It will seek to improve every aspect of cancer care to better the experiences and outcomes for people with cancer.
The Department settlement means that annual National Health Service day-to-day spending will increase by £29 billion in real terms, a £53 billion cash increase, by 2028/29 compared to 2023/24.
Asked by: Alex McIntyre (Labour - Gloucester)
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 support people with Li-Fraumeni syndrome in Gloucester.
Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
Working under the UK Rare Diseases Framework, the Government is committed to improving the lives of those living with rare diseases, such as Li-Fraumeni syndrome.
The England Rare Diseases Action Plan committed to developing a funding mechanism that incentivises centres to undertake whole body scans for individuals with rare conditions resulting in a predisposition to cancer. NHS England has now agreed to proceed with the process for identifying providers of whole-body magnetic resonance imaging scanning services for adults and children with Li-Fraumeni syndrome.
Anyone identified with Li-Fraumeni syndrome in Gloucestershire will receive counselling and support from the specialist clinical genetics service hosted at the University Hospitals Bristol and the Weston NHS Foundation Trust, with satellite clinics held in Gloucestershire. Testing and support for their families will also be offered by the Bristol service. Children identified with Li-Fraumeni are cared for by specialist paediatric teams at Bristol Children’s Hospital. Ongoing surveillance and screening for cancer, as well as opportunities to take part in research trials, are offered as appropriate.
Asked by: Alex McIntyre (Labour - Gloucester)
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 ensure that the NHS 10-Year health plan (a) prioritises areas of economic deprivation and (b) effectively meets the needs of working people.
Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The focus of the 10-Year Health Plan is to ensure the National Health Service is there for anyone who needs it whenever they need it. We cannot do this without tackling health inequalities, including for working class people and those living in areas of economic deprivation. Addressing healthcare inequalities is a fundamental part of the Health Mission and the 10-Year Health Plan.
Our reimagined NHS will be designed to tackle inequalities in both access and outcomes, as well as giving everyone, no matter who they are or where they come from, the means to engage with the NHS on their own terms.
Furthermore, patients will be able to leave feedback easily and confidently, which will amplify patient voices, particularly for those who face worse healthcare access, experiences, and outcomes.
Asked by: Alex McIntyre (Labour - Gloucester)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what progress her Department has made on establishing Young Futures Hubs in Gloucester.
Answered by Janet Daby - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
Officials from across a range of departments are working jointly to make progress, using evidence of what works to start to shape the Young Futures Hubs model. As part of this we are engaging with local areas, communities, statutory partners, charities, and other key stakeholders to support the design of the Young Futures Hubs and explore options for their delivery, including considering how best to engage with those young people who would benefit most from support.
To roll-out Young Futures Hubs, building on the success of existing infrastructure and provision, the government will establish a number of early adopter hubs, the locations of which will be determined by where they will have the most impact. These early adopters and work in local areas and will inform the longer-term development of the programme, including how quickly we move to a greater number of hubs and where they may be located.
The government will set out more details in due course.
Asked by: Alex McIntyre (Labour - Gloucester)
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 support NHS staff with endometriosis.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Government recognises the challenges faced by women with endometriosis and the impact it has on their lives, their relationships, and their participation in education and within the National Health Service workforce.
We are improving workplace support for women with endometriosis through a number of measures in the Employment Rights Bill. Strengthening statutory sick pay arrangements, making flexible working available to more people, and opening up conversations about women’s health through employer action plans will benefit all employees managing the condition.
In terms of supporting NHS staff with endometriosis, NHS trusts are expected to have local policies and procedures in place to support staff who have long-term health conditions and should be taking a proactive approach to supporting them. NHS England has made available tools and resources to support line managers to hold meaningful conversations with staff to discuss their emotional and psychological health and wellbeing.
Staff in need of additional support can also access their employer's occupational health service or employee support programme.
Asked by: Alex McIntyre (Labour - Gloucester)
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 support NHS staff with Postural tachycardia syndrome.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
Improving health outcomes for everyone living with a long-term condition, including postural tachycardia syndrome (PoTS), is a key part of the Government's mission to build a National Health Service fit for the future.
People with PoTS can access a variety of NHS services, which are locally commissioned by integrated care boards (ICBs). ICBs are responsible for ensuring that their local area has appropriate services in place to meet the needs of their population.
Many patients can be diagnosed and managed effectively within primary care. In complex cases, or where patients do not respond to initial treatment, patients may be referred to specialised cardiology or neurology services.
The health and wellbeing of NHS staff is a top priority, and it is important that employers across the NHS take a preventative and proactive approach to supporting their staff, keeping them healthy, and to improving workplace culture.
NHS employers have their own arrangements in place for supporting their staff, including occupational health provision, employee support programmes, and board level scrutiny through health and wellbeing guardians.
At a national level, NHS England has made available additional support. This includes a focus on healthy working environments, tools and resources to support line managers to hold meaningful conversations with staff to discuss their wellbeing, and emotional and psychological health and wellbeing support.
Asked by: Alex McIntyre (Labour - Gloucester)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps she is taking to provide support to theatres in Gloucester.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
The government primarily supports theatres predominantly through Arts Council England (ACE). Through their main funding programme, the 2023-2027 National Portfolio Investment Programme, ACE is providing over £100 million in grants per year to around 195 theatres across the country. Across all their funding programmes, including lottery schemes, for the financial year 2024-25, ACE awarded around £300 million to theatres/theatre based organisations.
From 1 April 2022 to 31 March 2025, ACE will have invested a combined total of £455,613 across two 'Theatre' awards in the constituency of Gloucester - to Complicite, an internationally renowned touring theatre company who have recently relocated to Gloucester, and Strike a Light, a theatre organisation homegrown in Gloucester.
Theatres also benefit from the support that the government provides the sector through Theatre Tax Relief, and has also recently announced over £270 million investment for our arts venues, museums, libraries and our heritage sector.
Asked by: Alex McIntyre (Labour - Gloucester)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps she is taking to support the (a) implementation and (b) effectiveness of high street rental auctions in Gloucester.
Answered by Alex Norris - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The Government is fully committed to revitalising our high streets and supporting businesses to make our towns and cities, including Gloucester, successful. High Street Rental Auctions (HSRAs) are supported by a fund of over £1 million, a new burdens payment and a suite of detailed guidance and practical templates to support implementation. My department are working closely with 11 local authority early adopters, who will be amongst the first to deliver, and will help shape future guidance and champion these powers.