Asked by: Claire Hanna (Social Democratic & Labour Party - Belfast South and Mid Down)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department has taken recent steps with suppliers of hormone replacement therapy products to (a) monitor and (b) improve the supply of those products in all regions.
Answered by Maria Caulfield
There are over 70 hormone replacement therapy (HRT) products available in the United Kingdom and while most remain in good supply, a range of factors including an increase in demand has led to supply issues with a limited number of products.
Access to in-demand products has improved since we issued Serious Shortage Protocols (SSPs) on HRT products to limit dispensing to three months’ supply to even out distribution and allow alternative products to be dispensed, as necessary. 19 SSP’s for HRT products have been issued since April 2022, and a much smaller number of SSP’s remain in place as the supply position of several products affected by short term supply issues have been resolved.
We continue to work with suppliers and other stakeholders such as the National Health Service and the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency to maintain overall HRT supply to patients across the UK, including working to expedite resupply dates of the disrupted HRT products to resolve issues as soon as possible and to help fill supply gaps and prevent future shortages. We hold quarterly industry roundtables involving suppliers, wholesalers and community pharmacists to monitor the position and discuss actions being taken.
We regularly share communications about shortages and discontinuations with the NHS and have issued a number of communications about HRT supply issues to date. We have updated supply information about all HRT products, including those currently affected by supply issues, on the Specialist Pharmacy Services Medicine Supply Tool for NHS staff, including GPs, to access.
Asked by: Claire Hanna (Social Democratic & Labour Party - Belfast South and Mid Down)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the current level of supply of HRT products in all UK regions.
Answered by Will Quince
There are over 70 hormone replacement therapy (HRT) products available in the United Kingdom and while most remain in good supply, a range of factors including an increase in demand has led to supply issues with a limited number of products.
We are working with suppliers and other stakeholders such as the National Health Service and the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) to maintain overall HRT supply to patients across the UK, including working to expedite resupply dates of the disrupted HRT products to resolve issues as soon as possible and to help fill supply gaps and prevent future shortages.
Access to in-demand products has improved since we issued Serious Shortage Protocols (SSPs) on HRT products to limit dispensing to three months’ supply to even out distribution and allow alternative products to be dispensed, as necessary. 17 SSP’s for HRT products have been issued since April 2022, and a much smaller number of SSP’s remain in place as the supply position of several products affected by short term supply issues have been resolved.
Asked by: Claire Hanna (Social Democratic & Labour Party - Belfast South and Mid Down)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he is taking steps to negotiate with nursing unions on (a) resolving the strikes and (b) other issues affecting the sector.
Answered by Will Quince
My Rt hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, met representatives from Royal College of Nursing several times towards the end of 2022. He has been clear how important he thinks it is to keep talking about how together we can make the National Health Service a better place to work. He will be continuing to meet health unions, including the Royal College of Nursing, in 2023. The first meeting following the Christmas break took place on 9 January.
Asked by: Claire Hanna (Social Democratic & Labour Party - Belfast South and Mid Down)
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 21 November 2022 to Question 88835 on Food: Advertising, when he plans to publish an assessment of the impact of extending the delay to restrictions banning the advertisement of unhealthy food products before 9pm and online paid advertisements.
Answered by Neil O'Brien - Shadow Minister (Policy Renewal and Development)
There are no plans to make a specific assessment. A full impact assessment was published in June 2021 providing detail on the expected impact of the restrictions.
Asked by: Claire Hanna (Social Democratic & Labour Party - Belfast South and Mid Down)
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 for the implications of his policies of the report, Pathfinder by Target Ovarian Cancer on awareness, diagnosis, access to treatment and support for sufferers of this cancer.
Answered by Helen Whately - Shadow Secretary of State for Work and Pensions
The Department and the NHS Cancer Programme welcomes the report and continues to work with Target Ovarian Cancer and other stakeholders to improve outcomes for people with ovarian cancer.
Asked by: Claire Hanna (Social Democratic & Labour Party - Belfast South and Mid Down)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if she will include proxy measure targets for the early diagnosis of brain tumours in the 10-Year Cancer Plan.
Answered by Helen Whately - Shadow Secretary of State for Work and Pensions
Following a call for evidence held earlier this year to inform a new cancer plan, we received 5,000 responses. Further information will be available in due course.
Asked by: Claire Hanna (Social Democratic & Labour Party - Belfast South and Mid Down)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what engagement her Department has had with counterparts in Northern Ireland regarding the planned Women’s Health Strategy, including on miscarriage and neonatal deaths.
Answered by Maria Caulfield
Officials in the Department engage with counterparts in the devolved administrations on a range of issues, including the Women’s Health Strategy.
Asked by: Claire Hanna (Social Democratic & Labour Party - Belfast South and Mid Down)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what progress her Department has made on its aim to halve maternal deaths, stillbirths and neonatal deaths by 2025.
Answered by Maria Caulfield
The Government’s national maternity safety ambition aims to halve the 2010 rates of stillbirths, neonatal and maternal deaths and brain injuries in babies occurring during or soon after birth, by 2025. Since 2010, the rate of stillbirths has reduced by 19.3%, the rate of neonatal mortality for babies born over 24 weeks gestational age of viability has reduced by 36% and maternal mortality has reduced by 17%.
We have introduced targeted interventions to accelerate progress, such as the Saving Babies Lives Care Bundle and the Brain Injury Reduction Programme. NHS England has also invested £127 million in National Health Service maternity workforce and improving neonatal care. This is in addition to the £95 million investment made in 2021 to fund the establishment of a further 1,200 midwifery and 100 consultant obstetrician posts. NHS England is offering funding and support to trusts to recruit an additional 300 to 500 overseas midwives in the next 12 months.
Asked by: Claire Hanna (Social Democratic & Labour Party - Belfast South and Mid Down)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will hold discussions with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on (a) issues relating to GP pensions and (b) how annual allowances are calculated in relation to those pensions.
Answered by Edward Argar
National Health Service pensions are automatically increased in value at the end of each scheme year. The generosity of the NHS Pension Scheme and well-remunerated careers mean that some senior doctors exceed the allowances for tax-free pension saving. A higher rate of revaluation will increase the size of pensions and may therefore increase annual allowance pension tax liability in a situation where inflation is increasing. However, when inflation reduces in the subsequent tax year, this may increase the scope for more pension growth before exceeding the annual allowance in that year. The vast majority of NHS staff build their pension tax-free. We have regular discussions with HM Treasury on a range of issues related to the delivery of NHS services.