Asked by: Jane Hunt (Conservative - Loughborough)
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 impact of the NHS inhaler switchover policy on the UK inhaler industry.
Answered by Edward Argar
We have made no specific assessment. We will continue to engage closely with industry and monitor the impact on businesses and supply chains.
The National Health Service remains committed to reducing the carbon impact of inhalers used in the treatment of respiratory conditions. All inhaler prescriptions, structured medication reviews or planned asthma reviews taking place in primary care should consider moving or facilitating patients to lower carbon options where it is clinically appropriate to do so.
Asked by: Jane Hunt (Conservative - Loughborough)
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 further integration between all areas of primary care.
Answered by Edward Argar
The NHS Long Term Plan described the role of Primary Care Networks, which establish a basis for more collaborative working, expanded capability and the ability to proactively co-ordinate care for neighbourhood-based populations. Primary care is an important part of integrated care systems and will continue to deliver care to local communities, in partnership with health and care services in the area. The Health and Care Bill will enable the direct commissioning functions of NHS England to be jointly commissioned, delegated or transferred at an appropriate time to integrated care boards.
Asked by: Jane Hunt (Conservative - Loughborough)
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 increasing engagement of GPs in the Community Pharmacy Consultation Service.
Answered by Maria Caulfield
The Community Pharmacist Consultation Service (CPCS) can alleviate pressures on general practitioner (GP) practices by providing health advice to support self-care and minor illnesses. As part of the 2021/2022 GP Contract Investment and Impact Fund, Primary Care Networks are being incentivised to increase referrals to the CPCS by 31 March 2022. In October 2021, NHS England launched a £250 million winter access fund for general practice. Participation in the CPCS is a condition of a practice benefitting from the fund.
Asked by: Jane Hunt (Conservative - Loughborough)
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 including community pharmacies in IT systems that fully integrate local health and care records, where appropriate permissions are given.
Answered by Maria Caulfield
The Community Pharmacy Contractual Framework sets out the shared vision for community pharmacy to play an increased role in the delivery of primary care. There is consensus that community pharmacists should have the ability to view and contribute to the medical records of patients, where appropriate permissions are given.
NHSX is developing interoperable IT systems to fully integrate local health and care records, while considering issues such as patient consent and data security. This will allow clinicians across the National Health Service to access patients’ records, make informed clinical decisions and populate those records, ensuring transfers of care are safe and effective and improve health outcomes.