Asked by: Gavin Williamson (Conservative - South Staffordshire)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make an assessment of the adequacy of funding allocated by his Department to community defibrillator projects.
Answered by Will Quince
No assessment has been made. The Government’s £1 million Community Automated External Defibrillators (AED) fund will provide an estimated 1,000 new defibrillators across England, with the potential for this to double as successful applicants will be asked to match the funding they receive partially or fully.
As of 22 September 2022, community organisations can now apply for a grant to fund a life-saving defibrillator for their local area. Applications for funding will be submitted to Smarter Society and the London Hearts Charity, who will assess each application against set criteria, ensuring that each AED is placed where they are needed most. They have designed engagement and application processes to appeal to a wide and diverse audience.
Asked by: Gavin Williamson (Conservative - South Staffordshire)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the consultation entitled Original pack dispensing and supply of medicines containing sodium valproate, published in November 2021, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of the (a) proposal to always dispense those medicines in the original manufacturer's packaging and (b) other proposals in that consultation on consumers.
Answered by Will Quince
The amendments to the Human Medicines Regulations 2012 to enable original pack dispensing of medicine and require whole-pack dispensing of medicines containing valproate were signed on 13 September 2023 and come into force on 11 October 2023.
An impact assessment was published on 19 March 2023 and is available at the following link:
https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2023/1015/impacts
This impact assessment was informed by responses to the consultation that we held on the proposals and sets out the Department’s assessment of the impact of the regulation changes for original pack dispensing and whole pack dispensing of medicines containing valproate.
Asked by: Gavin Williamson (Conservative - South Staffordshire)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he plans to take steps to secure financial redress for the victims of Primodos.
Answered by Maria Caulfield - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade) (Minister for Women)
The Government published its response to the Independent Medicines and Medical Devices Safety (IMMDS) review in July 2021, which did not accept the recommendation to establish separate redress schemes for the three interventions covered by the review. This included a redress scheme for those harmed by Primodos.
Our priority is to make medicines and devices safer, and the Government is pursuing a wide range of activity to further this aim. The 2021 response, and the Government’s December 2022 update to the response, explains the changes that have been put in place since the IMMDS Review report’s publication, and the further action the Government will take to implement the recommendations accepted and to improve patient safety.
In the recent House of Commons debate of 7 September 2023 on hormone pregnancy tests, I committed to review the outstanding recommendations in relation to Primodos.
Asked by: Gavin Williamson (Conservative - South Staffordshire)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he has held discussions with Bayer on the potential effects of Primodos.
Answered by Maria Caulfield - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade) (Minister for Women)
Whilst the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has not had discussions with Bayer more broadly on the topic of Primodos and adverse effects in pregnancy, it has held discussions with Bayer on whether Bayer held scientific data for consideration by the Expert Working Group on Hormonal Pregnancy Tests. All data considered by the Group were published, and further discussions between MHRA and Bayer were therefore held to discuss whether the data required redaction of names or personal information prior to publication.
Asked by: Gavin Williamson (Conservative - South Staffordshire)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department has plans to raise awareness among (a) healthcare professionals and (b) patients of the safe (i) prescription and (ii) use of sodium valproate.
Answered by Maria Caulfield - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade) (Minister for Women)
Information to support the safe use of medicines such as valproate is provided in the product information which consists of the summary of product characteristics for healthcare professionals and the patient information leaflet that is supplied with each pack of medicines. The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency has issued many communications in its Drug Safety Update bulletin informing and raising awareness among healthcare professionals about safety concerns associated with valproate, particularly the risks associated with use of valproate during pregnancy.
Preparations are underway to introduce new measures to ensure all healthcare professionals and patients are aware of the reproductive risks associated with valproate which will be supported by a comprehensive information once the details are finalised.
Asked by: Gavin Williamson (Conservative - South Staffordshire)
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 help ensure that full-time carers have access to support to help (a) prevent burnout and (b) maintain their (i) mental and (ii) physical well-being.
Answered by Helen Whately - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Care Act (2014) requires local authorities to deliver a wide range of sustainable, high-quality care and support services, including support for unpaid carers. Local authorities are required to undertake a Carer’s Assessment for any unpaid carer who appears to have a need for support and to meet their eligible needs on request from the carer.
For 2023/24, the Better Care Fund earmarked £327 million to support local authorities with health and care services, including providing carers with advice, support, short breaks, and respite services.
The NHS Long Term Plan has also committed an additional £2.3 billion this year for the expansion and transformation of mental health services in England by March 2024 so that an additional two million people, including full-time carers, can get the National Health Service-funded mental health support that they need.
Asked by: Gavin Williamson (Conservative - South Staffordshire)
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 ensure that Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation is available in all NHS Trusts in England.
Answered by Gillian Keegan - Secretary of State for Education
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence’s (NICE) interventional procedures guidance on repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation for depression, published in December 2015, found the procedure was safe and effective for use in the National Health Service, although the benefits vary among patients. There is no legal requirement for the National Health Service to implement this specific form of NICE’s guidance. While it is considered best clinical practice, NHS commissioners and providers are responsible for commissioning services to meet the needs of the local population.
Asked by: Gavin Williamson (Conservative - South Staffordshire)
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 the potential merits of using the Health and Social Care Levy to provide support for SMEs who provide training and support for the NHS.
Answered by Edward Argar - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)
No specific assessment has been made.
Asked by: Gavin Williamson (Conservative - South Staffordshire)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department has plans to support staff in healthcare focused SMEs to develop IT management skills.
Answered by Edward Argar - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)
We have no specific plans to do so. It is the responsibility of individual employers and service providers to ensure that staff have the appropriate IT management skills for their roles.
Asked by: Gavin Williamson (Conservative - South Staffordshire)
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 support healthcare focused SMEs with apprenticeship programmes.
Answered by Edward Argar - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)
The Government is increasing funding for apprenticeships to £2.7 billion by 2024/5. This will support apprenticeships in non-levy employers, including small and medium enterprises, where the Government will continue to pay 95% of training costs.