Asked by: Flick Drummond (Conservative - Meon Valley)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what estimate he has made of the potential effect of a new duty band for super-strength cider on health outcomes.
Answered by Baroness Blackwood of North Oxford
Taxation policy is a matter for the Chancellor of the Exchequer; the United Kingdom Government believes alcohol duties should be proportional to alcohol content. A consultation on the introduction of a new band to target, high strength ‘white’ ciders is underway and ends on 12 June.
No estimate has currently been made of the effect of a possible new duty band on health.
Asked by: Flick Drummond (Conservative - Meon Valley)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what measures he plans to include in the Carers Strategy on the availability of breaks for carers.
Answered by David Mowat
In developing the new Carers Strategy we have been consulting widely and working closely with carers to understand the many issues that may impact on them, including the role of breaks for carers. The Strategy will look at the support we provide to carers themselves; to their families and will reach beyond the health and care system to help support carers in employment, education and in the development of ‘carer friendly communities’.
Asked by: Flick Drummond (Conservative - Meon Valley)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans his Department has to improve access to opportunities for people to train to become nurses while working in the NHS.
Answered by Philip Dunne
Developing new work based routes into nursing is a priority for the Department.
That is why we have developed the new Nursing Associate role and Nursing Degree Apprenticeship which will open up routes into the registered nursing profession for thousands of people from all backgrounds and allow employers to grow their own workforce.
The first 1,000 Nursing Associates were recruited to commence their training in January and the second wave of a further 1,000 Nursing Associates are due to commence training next month.
Asked by: Flick Drummond (Conservative - Meon Valley)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps his Department has taken to reduce the number of patients with lung disease admitted to accident and emergency departments.
Answered by David Mowat
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidance on conditions such as Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and asthma emphasise the importance of avoiding emergency admissions for patients with lung diseases. The introduction of an Enhanced Service for general practitioners in 2015-16, continuing in 2016-17, is designed to help reduce avoidable unplanned admissions by improving services for vulnerable patients and those with complex health needs, who are at high risk of admission.