Asked by: Margaret Ferrier (Independent - Rutherglen and Hamilton West)
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 tackle unwarranted variation in (a) treatment of, (b) care and (c) support for people with neurological conditions.
Answered by Gillian Keegan - Secretary of State for Education
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) develops evidence-based guidance for healthcare professionals on best practice in the health and care system, supporting improved patient outcomes and reducing variation. NICE has produced a range of guidance on neurological conditions which clinicians and commissioners are expected to take into account.
The National Neurosciences Advisory Group (NNAG) is developing optimum clinical pathways for people with neurological conditions. The pathways will support the improvement of treatment, care and support services, setting out aspirations for good care and commissioning of neurological services locally and nationally.
The NNAG has worked with NHS RightCare to publish two toolkits, specifically on progressive neurological conditions and epilepsy. The toolkits prioritise faster and more accurate diagnoses, collaborative working between different disciplines and an increase in the availability of neuro-rehabilitation, reablement and psychosocial support. New triage processes have been introduced to ensure patients receive the care they need, with more patients now seen in outpatient settings closer to home. In addition, the Department has announced the development of a cross-Government strategy on acquired brain injury. The strategy will be informed by a call for evidence which will invite views on whether other related neurological conditions should also be included.
Asked by: Margaret Ferrier (Independent - Rutherglen and Hamilton West)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans his Department has to work with neurological charities and patients to restore and improve neurology services.
Answered by Gillian Keegan - Secretary of State for Education
The Department and NHS England and NHS Improvement work with the National Neurosciences Advisory Group (NNAG), a neurological collaborative group of professional bodies, patient groups and national and local policy and commissioning leads, to design and deliver plans to improve neurological care. This includes the Neurological Alliance which is comprised of 70 charity partners.
The NNAG has engaged with patients, patient groups and charities, clinicians, expert bodies, and commissioners in order to address the challenges faced by neurology services. The NNAG has published ‘Lessons learnt from the COVID-19 pandemic’, which sets out the pandemic’s impact on neurological care and how the healthcare system can begin to recover services.
Asked by: Margaret Ferrier (Independent - Rutherglen and Hamilton West)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what discussions his Department has had with the Treasury on a multi-year funding envelope for training for neurology professionals.
Answered by Edward Argar - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)
Following the conclusion of the Spending Review, plans for individual National Health Service workforce budgets in England, including for training neurology professionals, will be subject to a detailed financial planning exercise and finalised in due course. Through this exercise, the Department has held discussions with HM Treasury and will continue to do so until a settlement has been achieved.
Asked by: Margaret Ferrier (Independent - Rutherglen and Hamilton West)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department is taking steps to increase access to new medicines for people with progressive forms of MS.
Answered by Edward Argar - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) is the independent body responsible for developing evidence-based recommendations for the National Health Service on whether licenced medicines represent a clinically and cost-effective use of resources. NICE appraises all new medicines, including for multiple sclerosis and is committed, wherever possible, to publishing draft guidance at the time of licensing with final guidance published within three months of licensing.
NICE has published guidance recommending a number of medicines for multiple sclerosis for routine use on the NHS. The NHS in England is legally required to fund medicines recommended by NICE.
Asked by: Margaret Ferrier (Independent - Rutherglen and Hamilton West)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how much and what proportion of the £1 billion a year granted by the National Institute for Health Research for research is spent solely on non-animal methodologies.
Answered by Maria Caulfield - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade) (Minister for Women)
The Department funds research on health and social care through the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR). The NIHR’s funding is focused on translational, clinical and applied health and care research and work involving animals or animal testing is not within the NIHR’s remit.
Asked by: Margaret Ferrier (Independent - Rutherglen and Hamilton West)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans his Department has to support Scotland to become a leader in eye health research.
Answered by Maria Caulfield - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade) (Minister for Women)
Health research is a devolved responsibility. However, through the National Institute for Health Research, England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland work together on a range of research topics and the devolved administrations co-fund several research programmes.
Asked by: Margaret Ferrier (Independent - Rutherglen and Hamilton West)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans his Department has to invest in equipment for diagnosing dementia to prepare the NHS for the availability of disease-modifying treatments for Alzheimer's disease.
Answered by Gillian Keegan - Secretary of State for Education
NHS England and NHS Improvement are currently exploring which pathways, processes and equipment might best support future disease modifying treatments, including for Alzheimer’s disease.
Asked by: Margaret Ferrier (Independent - Rutherglen and Hamilton West)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to his Answer of 10 February 2021 to Question 147873 and with reference to his responsibility in addressing gambling related harms, what role his Department will have in the Review of the 2005 Gambling Act; and whether he has met with non-industry funded gambling treatment services.
Answered by Jo Churchill - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
The Department for Health and Social Care will work closely with the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport on the review of the Gambling Act 2005, ensuring gambling-related harms remains a consideration throughout. The Department recognises the unique opportunity offered through the review to strengthen and enhance existing protections for those most vulnerable to gambling-related harms.
The Secretary of State for Health and Social Care has had no official discussions with non-industry funded gambling treatment services about the Gambling Act review.
Asked by: Margaret Ferrier (Independent - Rutherglen and Hamilton West)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent discussions he has had with (a) gambling industry organisations and (b) gambling industry-funded treatment services on the review of the Gambling Act 2005.
Answered by Jo Churchill - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport is the lead Government department for the regulation of the industry as well as the Gambling Act 2005. On 8 December 2020, the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport launched its review of the Gambling Act 2005 with the publication of a call for evidence which is open until 31 March 2021.
The Department of Health and Social Care is responsible for addressing gambling-related harms. We have had no direct contact with gambling industry organisations or gambling-funded treatment services regarding the review of the Gambling Act 2005.
Asked by: Margaret Ferrier (Independent - Rutherglen and Hamilton West)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the barriers to treatment for women suffering from gambling disorder.
Answered by Jo Churchill - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
The Government is committed to tackling gambling-related harm.
The NHS Long Term Plan announced the creation of up to 15 specialist gambling clinics by 2023/24. Work continues on phased expansion of these services, enabling the National Health Service to explore how best to use existing treatment models to reach those most in need of support.
The Department commissioned Public Health England to undertake the first ever comprehensive evidence review focussed on gambling-related harm. The review will look at prevalence, determinants and harms associated with gambling, alongside the social and economic burden of gambling-related harms. This includes reviewing the evidence on young people, men and women. The review will be published later this year.