Asked by: Jeff Smith (Labour - Manchester, Withington)
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 the level of provision of diamorphine assisted treatment.
Answered by Neil O'Brien
Heroin assisted treatment (HAT) or diamorphine assisted treatment (DAT) is a clinical intervention supported by the 2017 United Kingdom-wide drug treatment guidelines. Local authorities in England are responsible for commissioning drug treatment services, including whether to commission HAT services. Local authorities’ individual financial allocations and assessments of local need will determine if HAT is a viable intervention. The Government supports areas which pursue HAT where the relevant licences are obtained from the Home Office. In 2021, the former Public Health England provided additional guidance on commissioning and developing a HAT service if local authorities choose this approach.
The 10-year drug strategy is supported by a new investment of £780 million, including £532 million for local authorities to invest in treatment and recovery services in addition to the Public Health Grant. This allows local authorities to determine which interventions could augment current treatment systems. The Office for Health Improvement and Disparities provides oversight of local delivery and continues to monitor implementation against the aims of the drug strategy.
Asked by: Jeff Smith (Labour - Manchester, Withington)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what progress the Government has made on investing in innovative research and treatment as part of a holistic approach to the treatment of drug addiction since the publication of Dame Carol Black's Review of Drugs.
Answered by Neil O'Brien
On 6 December 2021, the Government published a long-term drugs strategy, ‘From harm to hope’, in response to Dame Carol Black’s review. The strategy accepts all of the review’s recommendations, including improving research. The Office for Health Improvement and Disparities has identified a number of research projects which are being commissioned through the National Institute of Health Research (NIHR). The first project began in August 2022, which will examine drug use within minority ethnic groups.
Additionally, the Office for Life Sciences are implementing an 'addiction healthcare mission', with an investment of £30 million over three years. The mission aims to enhance the United Kingdom’s research environment, encourage innovative treatments and technologies to support recovery and reduce the harm and deaths these addictions cause. The Department and the Joint Combating Drugs Unit have also launched a new £5 million innovation fund with the NIHR. This will develop and evaluate innovative pilot projects which aim to reduce recreational drug use and phase 1 projects are expected to commence in March 2023.
Asked by: Jeff Smith (Labour - Manchester, Withington)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether the forthcoming NHS workforce strategy will include specific projections of workforce needs with respect to (a) consultant hepatologists, (b) liver nurse specialists and (c) alcohol care teams.
Answered by Will Quince
The Department has commissioned NHS England to develop a long-term workforce plan. The plan will consider the number of staff and the roles required and will set out the actions and reforms needed to improve workforce supply and retention. The plan will review all National Health Service professions, including medicine, nursing and multi-disciplinary teams. The conclusions of the plan will be available in due course.
Asked by: Jeff Smith (Labour - Manchester, Withington)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many GP practices were open in Manchester Withington constituency (a) on 20 October 2022 and (b) in 2013.
Answered by Neil O'Brien
In September 2013, there were 20 practices registered in Manchester, Withington, with 13 practices registered in October 2022.
Practices close for a variety of reasons, including practice mergers or retirement. A reduction in practice numbers does not indicate a reduction in the quality of care. When a practice closes, patients are informed and advised to register at another local practice of their choice. Practices and commissioners must put in place appropriate measures to ensure that affected patients have access to general practitioner services.
Asked by: Jeff Smith (Labour - Manchester, Withington)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many cancelled operations there were in Manchester Withington constituency in the last 12 months.
Answered by Will Quince
This information is not collected in the format requested.
Asked by: Jeff Smith (Labour - Manchester, Withington)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many GP appointments there were in Manchester Withington constituency in (a) the last 12 months and (b) in 2013.
Answered by Will Quince
This information is not collected in the format requested. In the 12 months to August 2022, there were 15.07 million general practice appointments in the NHS Greater Manchester Integrated Care System area, excluding COVID-19 vaccinations. Of these, 59.6% were conducted face-to-face.
Asked by: Jeff Smith (Labour - Manchester, Withington)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many and what proportion of GP appointments in Manchester Withington constituency were conducted face-to-face in (a) the last 12 months and (b) in 2013.
Answered by Will Quince
This information is not collected in the format requested. In the 12 months to August 2022, there were 15.07 million general practice appointments in the NHS Greater Manchester Integrated Care System area, excluding COVID-19 vaccinations. Of these, 59.6% were conducted face-to-face.
Asked by: Jeff Smith (Labour - Manchester, Withington)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if she will make an estimate of the number of full-time equivalent and fully qualified GPs, excluding GPs in a training grade, that were practising in Manchester Withington constituency (a) on 20 October 2022 and (b) in 2013.
Answered by Will Quince
This information is not collected in the format requested.
Asked by: Jeff Smith (Labour - Manchester, Withington)
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 engage with people who have Huntington's disease as part of the consultation for the 10 Year Mental Health Plan.
Answered by Gillian Keegan - Secretary of State for Education
We have launched a public call for evidence to support the development of a new, 10-year, cross-Government plan for mental health and wellbeing in England. We encourage those with lived experience to respond to the call for evidence, including those with Huntington’s disease. The call for evidence is open until 7 July 2022.