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Written Question
Health Services: Waiting Lists
Tuesday 6th February 2024

Asked by: Desmond Swayne (Conservative - New Forest West)

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many patients are recorded as being on a waiting list for treatment more than once for the same condition.

Answered by Andrew Stephenson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

The information is not available in the format requested. Data is not collected based on the patient’s condition, but rather by what category of treatment they are waiting to receive. This Referral to Treatment data is available at the following link:

https://www.england.nhs.uk/statistics/statistical-work-areas/rtt-waiting-times/


Written Question
Spinal Injuries
Monday 20th November 2023

Asked by: Desmond Swayne (Conservative - New Forest West)

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 increase (a) awareness and (b) training for clinicians on the Getting It Right First Time pathway for (i) Cauda Equina and (ii) other spinal injuries.

Answered by Andrew Stephenson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

Individual employers are responsible for investing in post-registration training, ensuring that staff are trained and competent to carry out their role and are adequately supported throughout their training. All training undertaken by post-registration qualified staff should be in line with national and local guidelines covering the training being undertaken.

NHS England’s Getting it Right First Time (GIRFT) programme has worked collaboratively with a multidisciplinary group of more than 60 health professionals to develop an interactive pathway for those patients with suspected cauda equina syndrome, designed to support clinical teams to diagnose and treat the condition without delay and improve patient outcomes.

The pathway offers best practice along all stages of the patient pathway, from presentation to their GP or in the community, to presentation at hospital and diagnosis, to surgery and on to post-operative care. It is supported by detailed guidance, outlining when and how to carry out stages of the pathway, including best practice for referrals and imaging, surgical techniques, pain control and other post-operative support


Written Question
Adult Social Care Discharge Fund
Monday 14th November 2022

Asked by: Desmond Swayne (Conservative - New Forest West)

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when he plans to announce the allocations from the Adult Social Care Discharge Fund.

Answered by Helen Whately - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Department finalising the details of the Adult Social Care Discharge Fund and further information will be available in due course.


Written Question
Care Homes
Tuesday 1st November 2022

Asked by: Desmond Swayne (Conservative - New Forest West)

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 increase the availability of residential places in social care settings.

Answered by Helen Whately - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

Under the Care Act local authorities are responsible for making sure the care needs of their residents are met but it is clear that they are struggling.

That is why we have set up a £1.4 billion fund for local authorities to use to meet their duties under the care act – and to make sure they are paying the fair cost of care to care homes and agencies.


Written Question
NHS Covid Pass
Tuesday 14th June 2022

Asked by: Desmond Swayne (Conservative - New Forest West)

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans his Department has to further deliver the Covid Pass Programme.

Answered by Maggie Throup

Domestic certification ended on 12 May and the need for the domestic pass was removed.

The NHS COVID travel pass remains an important tool, allowing holiday makers and business travellers to demonstrate COVID-19 vaccination status when they travel outside of the UK.


Written Question
NHS Covid Pass
Monday 13th June 2022

Asked by: Desmond Swayne (Conservative - New Forest West)

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans his Department has for a Covid Pass.

Answered by Maggie Throup

The NHS COVID Pass was launched on 17 May 2021. The COVID Pass allows English, Welsh and Isle of Man residents to demonstrate COVID vaccination status abroad and will continue to be developed in line with international standards. This is expected to remain a common requirement for international travel until the summer of 2023.

The Domestic Pass was removed on 12 May 2022 following the end of domestic certification.


Speech in Commons Chamber - Wed 08 Jun 2022
Health and Social Care Leadership Review

Speech Link

View all Desmond Swayne (Con - New Forest West) contributions to the debate on: Health and Social Care Leadership Review

Written Question
Care Homes: Visits
Thursday 31st March 2022

Asked by: Desmond Swayne (Conservative - New Forest West)

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether visitors to residents in care homes will continue have access to free covid-19 lateral flow tests.

Answered by Gillian Keegan - Secretary of State for Education

Most visitors to care homes will no longer need to test before entering a care setting. Visitors are asked to take necessary precautions to keep themselves and their loved ones safe, in line with general population guidance. There are a small number of residents who need support with personal care from a visitor with whom they have a close relationship. These visitors may be asked to test before entering, up to twice weekly if visiting more than twice, with free lateral flow device tests available for these visitors.


Written Question
Care Homes: Coronavirus
Wednesday 30th March 2022

Asked by: Desmond Swayne (Conservative - New Forest West)

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether care home staff who were dismissed for failure to receive covid-19 vaccinations may now be re-employed in care homes.

Answered by Gillian Keegan - Secretary of State for Education

Regulations making vaccination a condition of deployment in care homes were in force between 11 November 2021 and 14 March 2022. During that period, care homes were legally required to only deploy vaccinated or exempt staff. The matter of re-hiring staff who have been dismissed or resigned as a result of the regulations is a matter for individual employers.


Written Question
Abortion: Drugs
Friday 4th February 2022

Asked by: Desmond Swayne (Conservative - New Forest West)

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he has taken to ensure that abortion pills sent to patients by post without an in-person consultation are taken by the patient for whom they were intended.

Answered by Maggie Throup

Women seeking an abortion should be informed during the consultation process that medical abortion is a two-stage process which requires the administration of Mifepristone followed by Misoprostol to successfully complete the procedure. If a woman is eligible to receive both abortion pills at home under the provisions of the temporary approval currently in place, providers should supply medicines obtained through a regulated supply chain, appropriately labelled for individual patients to be safely used only by those patients.

Abortion providers should provide women with information on what to do with the pills if they choose not to take them after they have been received, such as returning pills to a pharmacy, clinic or general practitioner for safe disposal. Supply of abortion medication outside of the provisions of the temporary approval is unlawful.