Asked by: Craig Whittaker (Conservative - Calder Valley)
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 effect on (a) patients and (b) wider society of delayed or cancelled elective procedures in hospitals in England as a result of the covid-19 outbreak; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Edward Argar - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)
Latest statistics show that, since the start of the pandemic, the elective waiting list increased from 4,235,970 in March 2020 to 4,442,107 in October 2020. This compares with a waiting list of 4,446,299 in October 2019. The number of patients waiting over 52 weeks for treatment has risen from 3,097 in March 2020 to 162,888 in October 2020.
NHS England has worked with patient groups and clinicians to ensure that patients who may be subject to delayed or cancelled procedures are provided with support. A national clinical stratification programme has been established to ensure that every patient waiting for surgery by the end of December has a shared decision-making discussion about their treatment.
Asked by: Craig Whittaker (Conservative - Calder Valley)
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 elective surgery capacity and delivery is maintained through future waves of covid-19.
Answered by Edward Argar - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)
The Department has been clear that non-COVID-19 services such as elective surgery will be maintained as far as possible. This is the approach currently being taken, whilst also managing winter demand and COVID-19 pressures. We continue to work closely with the National Health Service and partners and are carefully monitoring progress to ensure normal levels of elective treatments are restored as soon as possible
The recent Spending Review provided £3 billion for 2021/22 to support the NHS in tackling the impact of COVID-19. This included £1 billion to tackle long waiting lists and address backlogs which would include elective surgery.
Asked by: Craig Whittaker (Conservative - Calder Valley)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what progress NHS Trusts made towards the target of delivering 90 per cent of their last year’s activity for (a) overnight electives and (b) outpatient procedures by October 2020; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Edward Argar - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)
On 31 July 2020, guidance was issued to local National Health Service providers and commissioners outlining the next phase of the NHS response to COVID-19 and concurrent non-COVID-19 activity. The guidance is available at the following link:
The guidance set the ambition for recovery of elective services in October to 90% of 2019 levels for admissions, and 100% for outpatients taking into account the need to continue to operate in a COVID-19 environment, with all the necessary infection control measures to keep staff and patients safe. In October 80% of outpatient and 76% of elective activity was delivered.
Asked by: Craig Whittaker (Conservative - Calder Valley)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what guidance his Department provided to NHS Trusts on delivering 90 per cent of their last year’s capacity for (a) overnight electives and (b) outpatient procedures by October 2020.
Answered by Edward Argar - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)
On 31 July 2020, guidance was issued to local National Health Service providers and commissioners outlining the next phase of the NHS response to COVID-19 and concurrent non-COVID-19 activity. The guidance is available at the following link:
The guidance set the ambition for recovery of elective services in October to 90% of 2019 levels for admissions, and 100% for outpatients taking into account the need to continue to operate in a COVID-19 environment, with all the necessary infection control measures to keep staff and patients safe. In October 80% of outpatient and 76% of elective activity was delivered.
Asked by: Craig Whittaker (Conservative - Calder Valley)
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 compliance of the proposed restrictions to communication and marketing activities of foods high in fat, sugar and salt on brands’ and companies’ own websites and social media channels with intellectual property laws.
Answered by Jo Churchill - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
We published an evidence note alongside the consultation on the proposal to introduce a total restriction of online advertising for products high in fat, salt and sugar. The note references non-monetised benefits as result of reformulation of products. This is available at the following link:
This builds on the impact assessment that accompanied the 2019 consultation on further advertising restrictions on TV and online. This is available at the following link:
As with all Government policies, legal advice is provided by the Government Legal Department to inform Ministerial policy decisions.
Asked by: Craig Whittaker (Conservative - Calder Valley)
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 NHS Trusts make use of independent sector facilities to provide elective procedures
Answered by Edward Argar - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)
A national agreement is in place between NHS England and NHS Improvement in collaboration with the Independent Healthcare Providers Network and independent sector providers to ensure National Health Service patients benefit from an unprecedented partnership with private hospitals as we battle the COVID-19 outbreak.
The Department and NHS England and NHS Improvement have worked with the independent sector to secure all appropriate inpatient capacity and other resource across England.
Asked by: Craig Whittaker (Conservative - Calder Valley)
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 potential effect of the proposed online advertising restrictions on foods high in fat, salt or sugar on reformulation work being undertaken by food and drink manufacturers.
Answered by Jo Churchill - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
We published an evidence note alongside the consultation on the proposal to introduce a total restriction of online advertising for products high in fat, salt and sugar. The note references non-monetised benefits as result of reformulation of products. This is available at the following link:
This builds on the impact assessment that accompanied the 2019 consultation on further advertising restrictions on TV and online. This is available at the following link: