Asked by: Holly Lynch (Labour - Halifax)
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 ensure that covid-19 safety information is accessible to immunosuppressed people who do not have access to the internet.
Answered by Maggie Throup
It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.
Asked by: Holly Lynch (Labour - Halifax)
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 requiring employers to carry out covid-19 risk assessments for their immunocompromised employees in the health and social care sector.
Answered by Maggie Throup
We have made no such assessment. The Government continues to provide guidance for employers, including in the health and social care sector, to take reasonable steps to manage the risks of COVID-19 and protect staff. ‘Reducing the spread of respiratory infections, including COVID-19, in the workplace’, published on 1 April 2022, is available at the following link:
For workers who are at greater risk of serious illness from COVID-19, such as those with a weakened immune system, employers may wish to consider their specific needs, including any entitlement to a reasonable adjustment under the Equality Act 2010.
The Health and Safety Executive no longer requires every business to consider COVID-19 in its risk assessment or have specific measures in place. However, employers may still choose to continue to include COVID-19 in risk assessments. Employers should also continue to comply with the requirements for cleaning, ventilation and welfare facilities in the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 or the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 to control occupational health and safety risks. Employers have a duty to consult with employees or their representatives on health and safety matters.
Asked by: Holly Lynch (Labour - Halifax)
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 ensure that oestrogen hormone replacement therapy products are accessible to those requiring them.
Answered by Maria Caulfield - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade) (Minister for Women)
The Department has well established procedures to deal with medicine shortages and discontinuations should they arise. We work with pharmaceutical companies and trade bodies to regularly discuss the issue of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) supply. While there are a limited number of oestrogen only and oestrogen containing HRT products currently in shortage, alternative products remain available.
Asked by: Holly Lynch (Labour - Halifax)
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 ensuring NHS England provide guidance to commissioners and providers of mental health, learning disability and autism services, including the provisions of a centralised database, to facilitate patient choice in line with physical health conditions as part of parity of esteem.
Answered by Gillian Keegan - Secretary of State for Education
No specific assessment has been made.
On 8 March 2022, we set out plans for reforming the health system. The plans contain a focus on personalisation and strengthening the role of patient choice, including in mental health, learning disability and autism services. This aims to create a more integrated and collaborative health system, which is highly responsive to patients.
Asked by: Holly Lynch (Labour - Halifax)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when he plans to provide a substantive Answer to Question 108576, tabled on 20 January 2022.
Answered by Edward Argar - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)
I refer the hon. Member to the answer to Question 108576.
Asked by: Holly Lynch (Labour - Halifax)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when he plans to provide a substantive Answer to Question 112622, tabled on 26 January 2022.
Answered by Edward Argar - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)
I refer the hon. Member to the answer to Question 112622.
Asked by: Holly Lynch (Labour - Halifax)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department is providing support to employers to ensure that their clinically extremely vulnerable or severely immunosuppressed employees can work from home if they wish to and are able to.
Answered by Maggie Throup
People previously considered clinically extremely vulnerable are advised to follow general guidance while considering additional precautions to reduce the risk of infection. The latest guidance is available at the following link:
On 24 December 2021 updated public health advice was issued for people whose immune system means they are at higher risk of serious outcomes from COVID-19. This guidance is available at the following link:
Guidance issued by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy and the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport recommends that employers should give additional consideration to people who may consider themselves to be at higher risk and to workers facing mental and physical health difficulties. Employers should also consider other workers who are at higher risk and for whom additional precautions, advised by their doctors, should be considered. The guidance is available at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/working-safely-during-covid-19/offices-factories-and-labs#offices-2-2
Asked by: Holly Lynch (Labour - Halifax)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when he plans that his Department will be able to ensure that a NHS covid pass is available for 12 to 15 year olds, to evidence proof of vaccination and/or proof of recovery from covid-19.
Answered by Maggie Throup
Since 3 February 2022, children aged 12 years old and over can obtain a digital NHS COVID Pass for international travel. The pass is available via NHS.UK for those aged 12 years old and over and via the NHS App for those aged 13 years old and over. The digital NHS COVID Pass provides a record of COVID-19 vaccinations received and evidence of natural immunity for 180 days following a positive National Health Service polymerase chain reaction test.
Asked by: Holly Lynch (Labour - Halifax)
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 stroke patients being automatically eligible for medical exemption certificates in respect of prescription costs.
Answered by Edward Argar - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)
There are no current plans to review or extend the prescription charge medical exemptions list to include long term conditions such as stroke. Approximately 89% of prescriptions are dispensed free of charge and arrangements are already in place to help those with the greatest need. Eligibility depends on the patient’s age, whether they are in qualifying full-time education, whether they are pregnant or have recently given birth or whether they are in receipt of certain benefits or a war pension. Some stroke patients may meet the eligibility criteria for prescription charge exemptions and may therefore be in receipt of free prescriptions.