Asked by: Liz Twist (Labour - Blaydon)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the findings of the report from the Cystic Fibrosis Trust on UK Cystic Fibrosis Service Resourcing 2019 to 2021, published on in June 2022, whether the Government is taking steps to ensure cystic fibrosis centres have fully staffed Multi-Disciplinary Teams, including cystic fibrosis specialist social workers and clinical psychologists.
Answered by Will Quince
England’s adult and paediatric cystic fibrosis service specification sets out national standards for cystic fibrosis services, including the importance of multi-disciplinary teams involving clinical psychologists and social workers. There are regular discussions between regional commissioning teams and providers, which include reviewing compliance with service standards and service quality issues in the services commissioned.
Service specifications are contractual documents between commissioners and providers. However, it does not mandate the number of staff in a multi-disciplinary team, as that is determined by the local trust according to the size of the service and the needs of the patient population. There are no plans to review staffing levels in cystic fibrosis multi-disciplinary teams.
Asked by: Liz Twist (Labour - Blaydon)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether she is taking steps to mitigate the potential costs of regulatory reform to the health and care sector.
Answered by Will Quince
Reforms to professional regulation is not expected to add costs to the health and care sector. The current model of regulation for healthcare professionals will be reformed to provide further protection for patients, support health services and allow the workforce meet future challenges.
Asked by: Liz Twist (Labour - Blaydon)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether she has had recent discussions with representatives of the Professional Standards Authority on the adequacy of their funding model.
Answered by Will Quince
There have been no discussions between the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, and representatives of the Professional Standards Authority (PSA) on the organisation’s funding model.
Section 25A of the NHS Reform and Health Care Professions Act 2002 sets out the process for setting the PSA’s fee. PSA funding is reviewed as part of an annual fees consultation process and the Privy Council is responsible for making the regulations requiring the healthcare regulatory bodies to pay fees to the PSA and for determining the amount they should pay.
Asked by: Liz Twist (Labour - Blaydon)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment she has made of the potential impact on staff retention of the 20 per cent rise in registration fees proposed by the Health and Care Professions Council.
Answered by Will Quince
No specific assessment has been made. The Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) is independent of Government and is responsible for setting its registration fees policy. Any changes to its fees are included in rules which must be laid before Parliament.
On 22 September 2022, the HCPC opened a consultation on a proposal to increase the fees it charges registrants and applicants, which is due to close on 15 December 2022. The HCPC published an online equality impact assessment alongside its consultation document.
Asked by: Liz Twist (Labour - Blaydon)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if she will discourage the Health and Care Professions Council from proceeding with proposals to increase their registrants’ fees by 20 per cent.
Answered by Will Quince
No specific assessment has been made. The Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) is independent of Government and is responsible for setting its registration fees policy. Any changes to its fees are included in rules which must be laid before Parliament.
On 22 September 2022, the HCPC opened a consultation on a proposal to increase the fees it charges registrants and applicants, which is due to close on 15 December 2022. The HCPC published an online equality impact assessment alongside its consultation document.
Asked by: Liz Twist (Labour - Blaydon)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the average waiting time for breast reconstruction has been since March 2020.
Answered by Edward Argar - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)
This information is not held in the format requested as Hospital Episode Statistics data is collected by financial year. In 2020/21, the mean average waiting time for breast reconstruction between a decision to admit and admission to hospital was 209 days, with an average median waiting time of 140 days. Provisional data for 2021/22 shows that the mean average waiting time was 256 days, with a median average of 132 days.
Asked by: Liz Twist (Labour - Blaydon)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the average waiting time for free flap or autologous breast reconstruction has been since March 2020.
Answered by Maria Caulfield - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade) (Minister for Women)
Hospital Episode Statistics data is collected by financial year. In 2020/21, the mean average waiting time between a decision to admit and admission to hospital for free flap or autologous breast reconstruction was 319 days, with a median average of 301 days. Provisional data for 2021/22 shows a mean average waiting time of 388 days and a median average of 330 days.
Asked by: Liz Twist (Labour - Blaydon)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he has plans to allow initiation of biologic treatments for severe asthma to take place in secondary care.
Answered by Gillian Keegan - Secretary of State for Education
Asthma biologics were selected for tailored support by the Accelerated Access Collaborative’s (AAC) Rapid Uptake Products programme. This aimed to increase adoption in the National Health Service for the treatment of severe asthma in 2021/22. The AAC has now concluded its support following an additional 2,185 patients initiated on asthma biologics through the programme. The Academic Health Sciences Network continues to support NHS organisations to improve access to these medicines in 2022/23.
All asthma biologics are prescribed following a decision by a specialist severe asthma multi-disciplinary team under specialised commissioning arrangements. Severe asthma networks are configured to meet local needs and in some areas biologics may be prescribed in secondary care through these networks, with the appropriate governance in place.
Asked by: Liz Twist (Labour - Blaydon)
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 extend the NHS Accelerated Access Collaborative's rapid uptake programme for severe asthma.
Answered by Gillian Keegan - Secretary of State for Education
Asthma biologics were selected for tailored support by the Accelerated Access Collaborative’s (AAC) Rapid Uptake Products programme. This aimed to increase adoption in the National Health Service for the treatment of severe asthma in 2021/22. The AAC has now concluded its support following an additional 2,185 patients initiated on asthma biologics through the programme. The Academic Health Sciences Network continues to support NHS organisations to improve access to these medicines in 2022/23.
All asthma biologics are prescribed following a decision by a specialist severe asthma multi-disciplinary team under specialised commissioning arrangements. Severe asthma networks are configured to meet local needs and in some areas biologics may be prescribed in secondary care through these networks, with the appropriate governance in place.
Asked by: Liz Twist (Labour - Blaydon)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the average waiting time is for patients to be first seen at each severe asthma centre.
Answered by Edward Argar - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)
This information is not collected in the format requested.