Asked by: Claudia Webbe (Independent - Leicester East)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many people have received both the first and second dose of a covid-19 vaccine in (a) Leicester and (b) the UK to date.
Answered by Nadhim Zahawi
NHS England and NHS Improvement are working with voluntary community and social enterprise partners, inclusion health providers and others to develop an accessible model for delivery of the vaccine to people from inclusion health populations. We are considering a number of options and will co-design these with partners.
In the immediate period we are asking partners to support their clients and service users to register with a general practice, where they are not already and if they have health conditions that would make them clinically vulnerable/clinically extremely vulnerable, that this is recorded to ensure they receive the vaccine in line with the Joint Committee on Vaccinations and Immunisation’s advice on prioritisation.
Asked by: Claudia Webbe (Independent - Leicester East)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if the Government will be provide further funding, in addition to the £450 million announced in January 2020, to support the reorganisation local hospital services in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland in response to the covid-19 outbreak.
Answered by Edward Argar - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)
University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust recently received £2 million to upgrade the accident and emergency department at Leicester Royal Infirmary as part of our recent investment to improve infection control and increase capacity.
On 2 October 2020, the Prime Minister also confirmed the five hospitals in the Midlands which are part of the 40 new hospitals to be built by 2030. This will include University Hospitals of Leicester, rebuild at Leicester Royal Infirmary and Glenfield as well as new facilities at Leicester General. Individual allocations for trusts will be determined once the respective final business cases have been reviewed and agreed.
Asked by: Claudia Webbe (Independent - Leicester East)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if the Government will provide additional capital funding for development of a GP hub and observation beds at the site of the Leicester General Hospital.
Answered by Edward Argar - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)
Following the outcome of Spending Review 2020, capital spending plans for 2021/22 will be subject to a detailed financial planning exercise and finalised in due course. Any opportunities to bid for funding will be communicated when available.
Asked by: Claudia Webbe (Independent - Leicester East)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many people tested for covid-19 were found to be asymptomatic in (a) Leicester East constituency and (b) the UK.
Answered by Helen Whately - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
We do not publish data in the format requested.
Asked by: Claudia Webbe (Independent - Leicester East)
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 ensure that all health and social care workers have access to FFP3 respirators.
Answered by Jo Churchill - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
The Government has established a four-month stockpile of all key personal protective equipment (PPE), including FFP3 respirator masks, which means we have a secure supply for workers in both the National Health Service and social care settings.
For workers in the NHS, Infection Prevention and Control guidance, which is published on GOV.UK, sets out the occasions when an FFP3 mask should be used. The equivalent guidance for workers in social care settings is available at the following link:
https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/coronavirus-covid-19-social-care-guidance
Asked by: Claudia Webbe (Independent - Leicester East)
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 ensure that detailed guidance on visiting relatives in care homes will be published before Christmas.
Answered by Helen Whately - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Department published detailed guidance covering both visits into care homes, and outward visits by care residents, on 2 December. This guidance, along with the rollout of rapid (lateral flow) testing will enable families to spend time with their loved ones, while helping to reduce the risks of COVID transmission to vulnerable care home residents. The guidance is available here at the following links:
Asked by: Claudia Webbe (Independent - Leicester East)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what proportion of (a) NHS staff and (b) staff in the social care sector have access to FFP3 respirators.
Answered by Jo Churchill - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
The Government has established a four-month stockpile of all key personal protective equipment (PPE), including FFP3 respirator masks, which means we have a secure supply for workers in both the National Health Service and social care settings.
For workers in the NHS, Infection Prevention and Control guidance, which is published on GOV.UK, sets out the occasions when an FFP3 mask should be used. The equivalent guidance for workers in social care settings is available at the following link:
https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/coronavirus-covid-19-social-care-guidance
Asked by: Claudia Webbe (Independent - Leicester East)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will commission a public inquiry into the disproportionate impact of covid-19 cases and fatalities amongst BAME, migrant and low-income workers.
Answered by Jo Churchill - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
The Government has no plans to commission a public inquiry into the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 and fatalities amongst black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME), migrant and low-income workers.
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Equalities (Kemi Badenoch MP) is leading cross-Government work on the findings from Public Health England’s reports to better understand the drivers behind the disparities in the risk and outcomes from COVID-19 and the relationships between the different risk factors. Her work will help us to improve understanding of the virus and who it affects so we can build on and protect our most vulnerable communities.
In addition, the Commission on Race and Ethnic Disparities has been set up to explore issues faced by minorities in this country and to champion the success of BAME groups. The aim is to set out a new, positive agenda for change – balancing the needs of individuals, communities and society, maximising opportunities and ensuring fairness. Challenges identified in COVID-19 response will be part of the Commission’s work and we anticipate a report on their findings and recommendations by the end of this year.
Asked by: Claudia Webbe (Independent - Leicester East)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps the Government has taken to consult people resident in Leicester on the proposed changes to Leicester General Hospital.
Answered by Nadine Dorries
The pre-consultation business case on the proposed reconfiguration of three hospitals in Leicester, including Leicester General Hospital, requires approval at a local, regional and national level prior to the commencement of formal public consultation. It is anticipated that this process will soon be completed. Subject to this, a consultation will follow.
In January 2020 the three Clinical Commissioning Groups set out a plan to consult the public. Regular discussions have taken place with the local authorities, councillors and the Health Overview and Scrutiny Committees throughout the development of the proposals. Engagement with the public has also been ongoing. This work has enabled the proposals to be refined and developed taking on board the feedback from the local population.
Leicester’s Hospitals are currently undertaking a transformation of Intensive Care Services, which includes moving the Level 3 Intensive Care Unit and associated services from the Leicester General Hospital to the Leicester Royal Infirmary and Glenfield Hospitals. As part of the complex service moves between sites, there will be a temporary split of nephrology and transplant services between the Leicester General Hospital and Glenfield Hospital. It is not anticipated that there will be any resulting effect on, or risk for hepatobiliary patients, who are cared for under a different clinical service.
Asked by: Claudia Webbe (Independent - Leicester East)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the proposed sale of land on the Leicester General Hospital site, what assessment he has made of that hospital's future demand for additional capacity.
Answered by Nadine Dorries
The proposals for reconfiguring Leicester’s hospitals are subject to public consultation.
The plans involve the disposal of land that will no longer be needed under the proposal.
The Trust have undertaken a full review of their estate and clinical services over a number of years to ensure that they have an appropriate service delivery strategy supported by the most appropriate estate.