Asked by: Eddie Hughes (Conservative - Walsall North)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department is taking steps to ensure that members appointed to the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority reflect a diversity of ethical viewpoints on research on human embryos.
Answered by Maria Caulfield
Non-executive members are appointed to the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) in accordance with legislative requirements, and the skills, experiences and personal qualities that have been judged to meet the needs of the HFEA in discharging its responsibilities. The appointment process reflects the requirements of the Cabinet Office Code of Governance for Public Appointments.
Asked by: Eddie Hughes (Conservative - Walsall North)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how much Barts NHS Foundation Trust spent on legal fees in relation to the case of Tafida Raqeeb v Barts NHS Foundation Trust and others in the High Court.
Answered by Caroline Dinenage
The Department does not issue guidance on legal action in best interests cases. Decisions around withdrawal of treatment in such difficult circumstances are never easy. It is important that families and medical experts communicate and, where possible, reach agreement on the best interest of the child. Medical ethics committees and mediation services are often involved in such cases, but each case will be different and must be considered on its own unique circumstances by those who are involved – the National Health Services trust, clinicians and parents/patients. Health care professionals have a duty to act in the best interests of their patients and when doctors and families do not agree about the best interests of a child the Courts can been asked, by either party, to make an independent judgement, as in the case of Tafida Raqeeb.
The Department does not collect information on the cost of best interest cases.
Asked by: Eddie Hughes (Conservative - Walsall North)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the High Court judgment of 3 October 2019 on Tafida Raqeeb v Barts NHS Foundation Trust and others, if his Department will undertake a review of the guidance issued to NHS Trusts on taking legal action in the best interests of patients.
Answered by Caroline Dinenage
The Department does not issue guidance on legal action in best interests cases. Decisions around withdrawal of treatment in such difficult circumstances are never easy. It is important that families and medical experts communicate and, where possible, reach agreement on the best interest of the child. Medical ethics committees and mediation services are often involved in such cases, but each case will be different and must be considered on its own unique circumstances by those who are involved – the National Health Services trust, clinicians and parents/patients. Health care professionals have a duty to act in the best interests of their patients and when doctors and families do not agree about the best interests of a child the Courts can been asked, by either party, to make an independent judgement, as in the case of Tafida Raqeeb.
The Department does not collect information on the cost of best interest cases.
Asked by: Eddie Hughes (Conservative - Walsall North)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what progress (a) his Department and (b) the NHS has made since February 2017 on preventing and reducing neonatal sepsis.
Answered by Nadine Dorries
The NHS England and NHS Improvement Maternity and Neonatal Safety Improvement Programme works with every NHS maternity and neonatal service in England, to support a culture of continuous learning and better multi-professional working.
The programme provides structured support for local teams to develop innovative plans for measurable improvements. This includes improving the early recognition and management of deterioration with suspected sepsis in mothers and babies, during or soon after birth.
Asked by: Eddie Hughes (Conservative - Walsall North)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, which NHS trust was involved in the case on forced abortion heard at the Court of Appeal on 24 June 2019.
Answered by Jackie Doyle-Price
The Department does not hold this information. An order was made by the Court of Protection and upheld by the Court of Appeal which prevents the naming of the National Health Service trust involved in this case.