Asked by: Eleanor Smith (Labour - Wolverhampton South West)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will list the members of the task group undertaking the Hospital Food Review launched in August 2019.
Answered by Jo Churchill
The review of national standards for healthcare food for patients, staff and visitors is bringing together relevant food requirements and best practice from the National Health Service. The new standards will reflect Government nutrition advice, as outlined in Public Health England’s (PHE) Eatwell Guide.
The review of national standards for healthcare food is being developed alongside the Hospital Food Review and the new standards are expected to be published early next year.
The Hospital Food Review is being undertaken by a Panel chaired by Philip Shelley, Facilities Manager at Taunton and Somerset NHS Foundation Trust. The members of the Panel are:
- Emma Brookes, NHS Improvement;
- Michael Bellas, NHS Improvement;
- Tina Potter, Food Standards Agency;
- Rachel Manners, PHE;
- Martin Steele, NHS Property Services;
- Kerry Trunks, NHS/Ward Sister;
- Craig Smith, Hospital Caterers Association (HCA);
- Gail Walker, HCA/Open Door;
- Balwinder Dhoot, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs;
- Susannah McWilliam, Soil Association;
- Maxine Cartz, British Dietetic Association (BDA);
- Andy Burnham, BDA;
- Jason Yiannikkou, Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC); and
- William Vineall, DHSC.
Prue Leith has been appointed as an advisor to the review.
The review will also consult other key stakeholders, including NHS trusts, professional associations, patient representatives and commercial suppliers. Organisations involved in the provision of food to the NHS that will be consulted include:
- Apetito;
- Anglia Crown;
- Tillery Valley;
- Brakes;
- Bidfood; and
- Healthy Food Company.
This is not an exhaustive list and other organisations may be consulted.
The Hospital Food Review is scheduled for completion in January 2020.
Asked by: Eleanor Smith (Labour - Wolverhampton South West)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will publish the intended timescale for the Hospital Food Review announced on 23 August 2019; and what organisations outside the NHS involved in the provision of food including medical foods will be consulted in the review.
Answered by Jo Churchill
The review of national standards for healthcare food for patients, staff and visitors is bringing together relevant food requirements and best practice from the National Health Service. The new standards will reflect Government nutrition advice, as outlined in Public Health England’s (PHE) Eatwell Guide.
The review of national standards for healthcare food is being developed alongside the Hospital Food Review and the new standards are expected to be published early next year.
The Hospital Food Review is being undertaken by a Panel chaired by Philip Shelley, Facilities Manager at Taunton and Somerset NHS Foundation Trust. The members of the Panel are:
- Emma Brookes, NHS Improvement;
- Michael Bellas, NHS Improvement;
- Tina Potter, Food Standards Agency;
- Rachel Manners, PHE;
- Martin Steele, NHS Property Services;
- Kerry Trunks, NHS/Ward Sister;
- Craig Smith, Hospital Caterers Association (HCA);
- Gail Walker, HCA/Open Door;
- Balwinder Dhoot, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs;
- Susannah McWilliam, Soil Association;
- Maxine Cartz, British Dietetic Association (BDA);
- Andy Burnham, BDA;
- Jason Yiannikkou, Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC); and
- William Vineall, DHSC.
Prue Leith has been appointed as an advisor to the review.
The review will also consult other key stakeholders, including NHS trusts, professional associations, patient representatives and commercial suppliers. Organisations involved in the provision of food to the NHS that will be consulted include:
- Apetito;
- Anglia Crown;
- Tillery Valley;
- Brakes;
- Bidfood; and
- Healthy Food Company.
This is not an exhaustive list and other organisations may be consulted.
The Hospital Food Review is scheduled for completion in January 2020.
Asked by: Eleanor Smith (Labour - Wolverhampton South West)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans he has to increase funding for research into the causes of obesity; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Caroline Dinenage
The Department funds research through the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR). The NIHR has a large programme of work to look at the causes of obesity, in addition to research on prevention and treatment. The NIHR has invested £5 million over five years in an Obesity Policy Research Unit which has a programme of work to provide robust evidence and a deeper understanding of the causes of childhood obesity, including research on marketing, food environment and behaviour change.
The NIHR welcomes funding applications for research into any aspect of human health, including obesity; it is not usual practice to ring-fence funds for particular topics or conditions. Applications are subject to peer review and judged in open competition, with awards being made on the basis of the importance of the topic to patients and health and care services, value for money and scientific quality.
Asked by: Eleanor Smith (Labour - Wolverhampton South West)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to NHS England’s Commissioning Excellent Nutrition and Hydration 2015-2018 guidance, what progress he has made on the commissioning of a workforce to undertake the (a) identification, (b) prevention and (c) intervention to reduce the burden of malnutrition and dehydration.
Answered by Jo Churchill
It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.
Asked by: Eleanor Smith (Labour - Wolverhampton South West)
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 NICE’s ability to offer interim conditional reimbursement decisions to gene therapies that would allow for real-world evidence generation to supplement the evidence base.
Answered by Jo Churchill
It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.
Asked by: Eleanor Smith (Labour - Wolverhampton South West)
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 of the Interim NHS People Plan’s conclusions on the recruitment of dermatologists in the NHS.
Answered by Chris Skidmore
It is the responsibility of National Health Service trusts to have staffing arrangements in place that deliver safe and effective care. This includes recruiting the appropriate professionals needed to support these levels and meet local needs.
Dermatology is a highly competitive specialty training pathway and often oversubscribed. Nationally and locally there has been a 100% fill rate in dermatology training for the past four years. Since 2010, the number of full-time equivalent dermatologists (doctors at the consultant grade) has increased by 26% rising from 464 in May 2010 to 584 in May 2019.
The interim NHS People Plan, published on 3 June 2019, puts the workforce at the heart of the NHS and will ensure we have the staff needed to deliver high quality care. In advance of publishing the final People Plan, the NHS will establish a national programme board to address geographical and specialty shortages in medicine.
Asked by: Eleanor Smith (Labour - Wolverhampton South West)
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 11 June 2019 to Question 259387, what support and guidance his Department is providing to Wolverhampton CCG and Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust on recruiting more dermatologists.
Answered by Chris Skidmore
It is the responsibility of National Health Service trusts to have staffing arrangements in place that deliver safe and effective care. This includes recruiting the appropriate professionals needed to support these levels and meet local needs.
Dermatology is a highly competitive specialty training pathway and often oversubscribed. Nationally and locally there has been a 100% fill rate in dermatology training for the past four years. Since 2010, the number of full-time equivalent dermatologists (doctors at the consultant grade) has increased by 26% rising from 464 in May 2010 to 584 in May 2019.
The interim NHS People Plan, published on 3 June 2019, puts the workforce at the heart of the NHS and will ensure we have the staff needed to deliver high quality care. In advance of publishing the final People Plan, the NHS will establish a national programme board to address geographical and specialty shortages in medicine.
Asked by: Eleanor Smith (Labour - Wolverhampton South West)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of the specialist dermatologist workforce in the NHS.
Answered by Chris Skidmore
It is the responsibility of National Health Service trusts to have staffing arrangements in place that deliver safe and effective care. This includes recruiting the appropriate professionals needed to support these levels and meet local needs.
Dermatology is a highly competitive specialty training pathway and often oversubscribed. Nationally and locally there has been a 100% fill rate in dermatology training for the past four years. Since 2010, the number of full-time equivalent dermatologists (doctors at the consultant grade) has increased by 26% rising from 464 in May 2010 to 584 in May 2019.
The interim NHS People Plan, published on 3 June 2019, puts the workforce at the heart of the NHS and will ensure we have the staff needed to deliver high quality care. In advance of publishing the final People Plan, the NHS will establish a national programme board to address geographical and specialty shortages in medicine.
Asked by: Eleanor Smith (Labour - Wolverhampton South West)
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 increase the number of GPs with a special interest in dermatology.
Answered by Jo Churchill
It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.
Asked by: Eleanor Smith (Labour - Wolverhampton South West)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans NHS England has to implement gene therapy treatments.
Answered by Caroline Dinenage
As set out in the NHS Long Term Plan, the National Health Service is committed to supporting the timely introduction of the most clinically and cost effective treatments for patients. Cell and gene therapies have the potential to provide great benefits for patients, and the NHS is leading the world in creating access to these treatments.
For example, patients in England were among the first in the world to benefit from CAR T cell therapy, which uses their own immune system to fight cancers. The NHS will also now be funding voretigene neparvovec, also known as Luxturna, a revolutionary form of new treatment for blindness in children.
The NHS is working with the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence and other partners in the Accelerated Access Collaborative to take a proactive approach in preparing for cell and gene therapies and other innovative treatments.