Asked by: Heidi Alexander (Labour - Lewisham East)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, for what purpose data on the nationality of NHS staff is recorded and published.
Answered by Philip Dunne
The Department does not record or publish data on the nationality of staff working in the National Health Service. Data on nationality is published twice a year by NHS Digital and turnover data is published quarterly and available by nationality.
Nationality is a data item within the National Workforce Data set used with a range of other data items to support workforce planning, analysis of staff movement and equality monitoring. It is not mandatory, but self-declared.
In 2015 and 2016 requests for nationality data on NHS staff in England were published on the supplementary information part of the NHS Digital website, rather than as part of the routine Hospital and Community Health Services statistical publications. In 2016, following NHS Digital’s public consultation, NHS Digital now routinely publish tables showing the self-declared nationality of staff in staff groups and regions, bi-annually, together with quarterly turnover statistics which show the nationality of joiners and leavers to and from the NHS in England.
The latest nationality data was published in March 2016 and the next set will be published in December 2016 showing the position at September 2016.
The latest turnover data published in September 2016 covers the 12 month period to 30 June 2016.
Asked by: Heidi Alexander (Labour - Lewisham East)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what changes have been made in 2016 to the level of data recorded and published on the nationality of NHS staff.
Answered by Philip Dunne
The Department does not record or publish data on the nationality of staff working in the National Health Service. Data on nationality is published twice a year by NHS Digital and turnover data is published quarterly and available by nationality.
Nationality is a data item within the National Workforce Data set used with a range of other data items to support workforce planning, analysis of staff movement and equality monitoring. It is not mandatory, but self-declared.
In 2015 and 2016 requests for nationality data on NHS staff in England were published on the supplementary information part of the NHS Digital website, rather than as part of the routine Hospital and Community Health Services statistical publications. In 2016, following NHS Digital’s public consultation, NHS Digital now routinely publish tables showing the self-declared nationality of staff in staff groups and regions, bi-annually, together with quarterly turnover statistics which show the nationality of joiners and leavers to and from the NHS in England.
The latest nationality data was published in March 2016 and the next set will be published in December 2016 showing the position at September 2016.
The latest turnover data published in September 2016 covers the 12 month period to 30 June 2016.
Asked by: Heidi Alexander (Labour - Lewisham East)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, (a) on how many occasions and (b) in relation to which schools since 2010 an Academy Order has been rescinded due to the inability of the Regional Schools Commissioner to secure a sponsor.
Answered by Edward Timpson
Since the Education and Adoption Act came into force in April 2016, the Secretary of State has been under a duty to make an Academy Order in respect of any maintained school that has been judged by Ofsted to be inadequate. Regional Schools Commissioners, acting on behalf of the Secretary of State, ensure that the maintained school becomes a sponsored academy as swiftly as possible, after considering the circumstances in the school, and then identifying the most suitable sponsor.
No Academy Orders have been revoked to date.
143 Academy Orders have been made since the new duty came into force. It is too soon to give an annual average of how long it has taken to match a school to a sponsor under these new arrangements.
Asked by: Heidi Alexander (Labour - Lewisham East)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what the average period of time was between an Academy Order being issued and a sponsor being named for schools in each year since 2010.
Answered by Edward Timpson
Since the Education and Adoption Act came into force in April 2016, the Secretary of State has been under a duty to make an Academy Order in respect of any maintained school that has been judged by Ofsted to be inadequate. Regional Schools Commissioners, acting on behalf of the Secretary of State, ensure that the maintained school becomes a sponsored academy as swiftly as possible, after considering the circumstances in the school, and then identifying the most suitable sponsor.
No Academy Orders have been revoked to date.
143 Academy Orders have been made since the new duty came into force. It is too soon to give an annual average of how long it has taken to match a school to a sponsor under these new arrangements.
Asked by: Heidi Alexander (Labour - Lewisham East)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what guidelines her Department has issued on the time to be taken by a Regional Schools Commissioner to name a sponsor for a school that has been issued with an Academy Order.
Answered by Edward Timpson
Since the Education and Adoption Act came into force in April 2016, the Secretary of State has been under a duty to make an Academy Order in respect of any maintained school that has been judged by Ofsted to be inadequate. Regional Schools Commissioners, acting on behalf of the Secretary of State, ensure that the maintained school becomes a sponsored academy as swiftly as possible, after considering the circumstances in the school, and then identifying the most suitable sponsor.
No Academy Orders have been revoked to date.
143 Academy Orders have been made since the new duty came into force. It is too soon to give an annual average of how long it has taken to match a school to a sponsor under these new arrangements.
Asked by: Heidi Alexander (Labour - Lewisham East)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the (a) standard and (b) higher rate for NHS-funded nursing care is for 2016-17.
Answered by Alistair Burt
Following a recent review of the rate of NHS-funded Nursing Care (NHS FNC) in England, the Department has not yet announced the standard and higher rates of NHS FNC for 2016-17. We will make an announcement in due course.
Asked by: Heidi Alexander (Labour - Lewisham East)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many recommendations of the report of the public inquiry into Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust have not been implemented.
Answered by Ben Gummer
In 2010, Sir Robert Francis began his inquiry into failings at the Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust, the report of which was published in 2013. “Patients First and Foremost”, the Government’s initial response, was published shortly afterwards; followed later in the year with a more detailed response “Hard Truths: The Journey to Putting Patients First”.
These are available at:
In February 2015, the Government published “Culture Change in the NHS” (link), a consolidated account of the progress to date in implementing the recommendations committed to. These actions fell into a few broad categories – for example, improving professional regulation and oversight; introducing a professional duty of candour; developing a more integrated and collaborative approach to quality regulation; increasing co-operation with regulators across and outside the health and care sector; and addressing the urgent need for a different culture in the National Health Service, one with a greater emphasis on putting the patient at the heart of services, where professionals focus on learning from experience, and where accountability and transparency are valued and become an integral part of clinical practice.
In July 2015, the Government also published “Learning not Blaming” (link), our response to Sir Robert Francis QC’s “Freedom to Speak up” report (link), the report of Dr Bill Kirkup into events at Morecambe Bay (link), and the Public Administration Select Committee’s report into the investigation of clinical incidents (HC886, 27 March 2015), all of which had been published earlier that year. The themes identified in “Learning not Blaming” were similar to those found in Sir Robert Francis’s report into Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust, in particular the repeated failure of professionals to heed the concerns of their patients and of their colleagues.
The Government has supported the health and care system in successfully making the culture changes that Sir Robert called for. Although the journey outlined in these reports is still under way, the system continues to make significant and worthwhile progress, which the Government wholeheartedly support, including:
- consolidating NHS provider regulation into one organisation – NHS Improvement (NHSI) – that will lead the development of a culture that focuses on improving outcomes, efficiency and fairness; and that, in doing so, emphasises learning from experience;
- locating the NHS patient safety function in NHSI, and creating a new Healthcare Safety Investigation Branch, headed by an independent chief investigator;
- setting up the office of the Independent National Officer, to protect whistleblowers;
- reforming the system of midwifery supervision, to bring it into line with other professions;
- establishing a global movement to improve patient safety;
- leading the development of a more open and transparent approach to the handling of all feedback (including complaints) across the NHS;
- starting the process of improving the systematic recording and tracking of perinatal deaths; and
- further developing the use of data and insight to inspire improvement in quality and efficiency, and help hospital leaders at Board level to understand what more needs to be done in their organisation to earn the title of ‘learning organisation’.
The Government remains committed to creating the safest, highest quality care healthcare services. We have taken the actions necessary to support the health and care system in rising to the challenge of making the journey to putting patients first.
Asked by: Heidi Alexander (Labour - Lewisham East)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when his Department last reported on what progress has been made implementing the recommendations of the report of the public inquiry into Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust.
Answered by Ben Gummer
In 2010, Sir Robert Francis began his inquiry into failings at the Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust, the report of which was published in 2013. “Patients First and Foremost”, the Government’s initial response, was published shortly afterwards; followed later in the year with a more detailed response “Hard Truths: The Journey to Putting Patients First”.
These are available at:
In February 2015, the Government published “Culture Change in the NHS” (link), a consolidated account of the progress to date in implementing the recommendations committed to. These actions fell into a few broad categories – for example, improving professional regulation and oversight; introducing a professional duty of candour; developing a more integrated and collaborative approach to quality regulation; increasing co-operation with regulators across and outside the health and care sector; and addressing the urgent need for a different culture in the National Health Service, one with a greater emphasis on putting the patient at the heart of services, where professionals focus on learning from experience, and where accountability and transparency are valued and become an integral part of clinical practice.
In July 2015, the Government also published “Learning not Blaming” (link), our response to Sir Robert Francis QC’s “Freedom to Speak up” report (link), the report of Dr Bill Kirkup into events at Morecambe Bay (link), and the Public Administration Select Committee’s report into the investigation of clinical incidents (HC886, 27 March 2015), all of which had been published earlier that year. The themes identified in “Learning not Blaming” were similar to those found in Sir Robert Francis’s report into Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust, in particular the repeated failure of professionals to heed the concerns of their patients and of their colleagues.
The Government has supported the health and care system in successfully making the culture changes that Sir Robert called for. Although the journey outlined in these reports is still under way, the system continues to make significant and worthwhile progress, which the Government wholeheartedly support, including:
- consolidating NHS provider regulation into one organisation – NHS Improvement (NHSI) – that will lead the development of a culture that focuses on improving outcomes, efficiency and fairness; and that, in doing so, emphasises learning from experience;
- locating the NHS patient safety function in NHSI, and creating a new Healthcare Safety Investigation Branch, headed by an independent chief investigator;
- setting up the office of the Independent National Officer, to protect whistleblowers;
- reforming the system of midwifery supervision, to bring it into line with other professions;
- establishing a global movement to improve patient safety;
- leading the development of a more open and transparent approach to the handling of all feedback (including complaints) across the NHS;
- starting the process of improving the systematic recording and tracking of perinatal deaths; and
- further developing the use of data and insight to inspire improvement in quality and efficiency, and help hospital leaders at Board level to understand what more needs to be done in their organisation to earn the title of ‘learning organisation’.
The Government remains committed to creating the safest, highest quality care healthcare services. We have taken the actions necessary to support the health and care system in rising to the challenge of making the journey to putting patients first.
Asked by: Heidi Alexander (Labour - Lewisham East)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, with reference to the Answer of 28 April 2016 to Question 36036, for what reason the awareness campaign on the symptoms of serious infections in children is not being extended to all adults including those who are not parents.
Answered by Jane Ellison
Infections can be serious in both adults and children. Public Health England has been commissioned to develop a public awareness campaign for parents and families about serious infections in children, including meningitis, septicaemia and sepsis. Health Education England have been asked to work with National Health Service organisations to develop parallel professional awareness materials for healthcare professionals who work with both children and adults who have serious infections, including sepsis. A range of information materials for the public are also available on the UK Sepsis Trust website and NHS Choices.
Asked by: Heidi Alexander (Labour - Lewisham East)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what information is provided to new mothers on spotting the signs and symptoms of sepsis in young children and infants.
Answered by Jane Ellison
Health visitors are able to provide information to parents on the signs and symptoms of sepsis. Public Health England (PHE) is working with health visiting professional organisations to ensure health visitors have easy access to up to date advice to share with parents.
General information about the signs and symptoms of sepsis is available on the NHS Choices website at:
http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/Blood-poisoning/Pages/Introduction.aspx
NHS Choices also includes more specific information on the signs and symptoms of septicaemia caused by meningitis at:
http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Meningitis/Pages/Symptoms.aspx
We have also asked PHE to develop an awareness campaign for parents that focuses on the symptoms of serious infections, including meningitis, septicaemia, and sepsis.