Asked by: Bill Esterson (Labour - Sefton Central)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, which businesses have been (a) accredited to supply lateral flow tests to the NHS and (b) accredited to supply those tests for use in the UK.
Answered by Maggie Throup
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) does not accredit businesses to supply lateral flow tests. The UK Health Security Agency evaluates lateral flow tests. Only lateral flow tests that pass evaluation are supplied to the National Health Service and are available to be sold in the United Kingdom.
Asked by: Bill Esterson (Labour - Sefton Central)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the prevalence of foetal alcohol spectrum disorder among care experienced people; and what steps he is taking in response to that matter.
Answered by Gillian Keegan
We have regular discussions with the Department for Education on a range of issues. The Office of Health Improvement and Disparities, NHS England and local commissioners continue to raise awareness and education on the dangers of drinking alcohol while pregnant.
No specific assessment has been made on the prevalence of foetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) among care experienced people. However, we have asked National Institute for Health and Care Excellence to produce a Quality Standard in England for FASD to improve the diagnosis and care of those affected.
In 2020/21, the Government funded five voluntary organisations to support grassroots initiatives to prevent cases of FASD, raise awareness among professionals and help improve support for those living with its consequences. The Adoption Support Fund (ASF) provides families whose children have left care through adoption or special guardianship with access to funding for a specialist assessment and therapeutic support. An ASF specialist assessment may assess FASD as part of a wider assessment of a child’s needs. The ASF does not fund standalone FASD assessments.
Asked by: Bill Esterson (Labour - Sefton Central)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what discussions his Department has had with the Department for Education regarding the need for a national strategy to tackle foetal alcohol spectrum disorder.
Answered by Gillian Keegan
We have regular discussions with the Department for Education on a range of issues. The Office of Health Improvement and Disparities, NHS England and local commissioners continue to raise awareness and education on the dangers of drinking alcohol while pregnant.
No specific assessment has been made on the prevalence of foetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) among care experienced people. However, we have asked National Institute for Health and Care Excellence to produce a Quality Standard in England for FASD to improve the diagnosis and care of those affected.
In 2020/21, the Government funded five voluntary organisations to support grassroots initiatives to prevent cases of FASD, raise awareness among professionals and help improve support for those living with its consequences. The Adoption Support Fund (ASF) provides families whose children have left care through adoption or special guardianship with access to funding for a specialist assessment and therapeutic support. An ASF specialist assessment may assess FASD as part of a wider assessment of a child’s needs. The ASF does not fund standalone FASD assessments.
Asked by: Bill Esterson (Labour - Sefton Central)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, which businesses are awaiting approval from the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency to (a) supply lateral flow tests to the NHS and (b) for the use of those tests in the UK.
Answered by Maggie Throup
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) does not approve COVID-19 testing devices. Tests for professional use are subject to self-assessment by the manufacturer before they may be placed on the market. Self-test devices are required to be assessed for conformity to the regulations by an Approved or Notified Body. In addition, tests must also meet the COVID Testing Devices Authorisation requirements.
In exceptional circumstances, the MHRA can issue an Exceptional Use Authorisation (EUA). The MHRA publishes the names of tests and other medical devices which have been granted an EUA online. The MHRA does not currently have any outstanding decisions for EUAs.
Asked by: Bill Esterson (Labour - Sefton Central)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the average length of delay in updating covid-19 vaccination records in cases where vaccinations have not been properly documented as a result of computer error.
Answered by Maggie Throup
No formal assessment has been made. Where an issue may occur with vaccination data recorded in England, this does not prevent people from getting their COVID-19 vaccine. Individuals can attend a walk-in site and receive their booster dose or primary course of vaccination. In addition, individuals can contact 119 for the Vaccine Data Resolution Service.
Asked by: Bill Esterson (Labour - Sefton Central)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what representations he has received on the requirement for people who have been vaccinated against covid-19 outside the UK with a MHRA approved vaccine to quarantine for ten days in the event that they are contacted by NHS Test and Trace following contact with a positive covid-19 case in the UK.
Answered by Maggie Throup
We have received eight Written Questions and one Oral Question on this topic from Parliamentarians. Information on the specific number of representations received by the Department’s central correspondence team could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.