Asked by: Mark Menzies (Conservative - Fylde)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to improve access to dementia diagnosis services in rural areas.
Answered by Gillian Keegan - Secretary of State for Education
NHS England has commissioned the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities’ Dementia Intelligence Network to investigate the underlying variation in dementia diagnosis rates in targeted areas in England. This will include on social and economic deprivation; rurality; demographic characteristics including age, ethnicity and educational attainment; and general health and life expectancy.
In 2021, factsheets were published to encourage local conversations on understanding local patterns and potential reasons for trends in dementia diagnosis rates and identifying specific areas for support. In 2021/22, £17 million was made available to clinical commissioning groups to address dementia waiting lists and increase the number of diagnoses.
Asked by: Mark Menzies (Conservative - Fylde)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department has taken steps to ensure that local general practitioners are consulted ahead of the transition from clinical commissioning groups to integrated care systems.
Answered by Edward Argar - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)
Under the Health and Care Act 2022, 42 integrated care boards (ICBs) will be established on 1 July 2022. ICBs will take on the commissioning functions of existing clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) and delegated responsibility for primary medical services.
As required by the Act, CCGs have worked with designate ICB leaders in developing the constitutions for each ICB and shared these proposals with NHS England. As a minimum, CCGs were required to consult with the relevant National Health Service trusts and foundation trusts, primary care representatives, local Healthwatch and relevant local authorities. In addition, there has been consultation where general practitioners jointly nominate one or more members of the ICB board.
Asked by: Mark Menzies (Conservative - Fylde)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of establishing a National Dementia Observatory as recommended by the Alzheimer's Society in its report From diagnosis to end of life: The lived experiences of dementia care, published in October 2020; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Gillian Keegan - Secretary of State for Education
No formal assessment has been made. However, the National Dementia Intelligence Network has developed the Dementia Profile as a local data illustration tool which maps the dementia pathway. We will set out plans for dementia in England in the next 10 years later this year, which will focus on the specific health and care needs of people living with dementia and their carers.
Asked by: Mark Menzies (Conservative - Fylde)
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 potential merits of introducing a National Patient and Carer Experience Survey for dementia on the same lines as the National Cancer Patient Experience Survey.
Answered by Gillian Keegan - Secretary of State for Education
We will set out plans for dementia in England for the next 10 years later this year. We are considering how to engage with and gather evidence from people affected by dementia. The strategy will be informed by a range of experts, including people living with dementia and their carers.
Asked by: Mark Menzies (Conservative - Fylde)
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 reduce waiting times for cancer diagnostic tests at (a) Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and (b) Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust.
Answered by Jo Churchill - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
The Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust are part of the £160 million elective accelerator program, supporting them to increase activity levels to reduce waiting times.
Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust is working to establish rapid diagnostic centres, to improve pathways and ensure more patients are seen sooner. The Trust has established a working group with local cancer alliances to improve waiting times for endoscopy. The Trust is also introducing new roles such as advanced clinical practitioners in upper gastrointestinal and colorectal services to triage and assess patients early on to reduce waiting times.
Asked by: Mark Menzies (Conservative - Fylde)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate his Department has made of the number of people awaiting a routine invitation for (a) bowel screening, (b) breast screening and (c) cervical screening in England.
Answered by Jo Churchill - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
NHS England and NHS Improvement have advised that all National Health Service cancer screening programmes are operational and sending out screening invitations at, or above, pre-pandemic levels. There is no backlog for the cervical screening programme and NHS England and NHS Improvement continue to address backlogs in the breast and bowel screening programmes.
Asked by: Mark Menzies (Conservative - Fylde)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether the 14-day isolation period remains mandatory for people discharged to care homes from (a) hospital and (b) other care settings; when he plans to replace the isolation period with regular PCR testing; and whether in the event of a negative test result relatives are able to visit care settings during that period to assist with essential tasks, such as eating, dressing, washing or other actions that may be difficult for residents with dementia or other health conditions.
Answered by Helen Whately - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
Our guidance on admissions in to care homes states that those admitted to a care home should isolate for 14 days following admission. The 14-day isolation requirement was agreed by senior clinicians and reflects current understanding of clinical vulnerability and the potential for longer incubation periods in care home residents. All residents should be tested before admission into a care home and within 72 hours of arrival, whether admitted from hospital, other care settings or the community. Regardless of the test results, the 14-day isolation period should still be observed.
Whilst visitors are not permitted during isolation periods, an ‘essential care giver’ can visit in order to provide essential care and support, provided they comply with the same testing and personal protective equipment arrangements as care home staff. We continue to keep our guidance to care homes under review and any changes will be based on the latest data and clinical advice.
Asked by: Mark Menzies (Conservative - Fylde)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to ensure that people from priority cohorts who have missed vaccine appointments for reasons beyond their control receive a first dose at the earliest opportunity.
Answered by Nadhim Zahawi
The top four priority groups have now all been offered the opportunity to be vaccinated. Cohorts one to nine can use the National Booking Service online or by calling 119 to book a vaccination appointment.
The system allows people to arrange an appointment at a vaccination centre or pharmacy service. Further follow-up contact is also being made to those individuals who have been invited to make an appointment but have not yet responded or received their vaccination.
Asked by: Mark Menzies (Conservative - Fylde)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate he has made of the number of people receiving mental health support for online gambling related issues in the latest period for which data is available.
Answered by Jo Churchill - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
The information is not held in the format requested as we do not hold data on the number of people receiving mental health support specifically for online gambling related issues.
Asked by: Mark Menzies (Conservative - Fylde)
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 (a) support local health services and (b) ensure that GP appointments are available and accessible for non-covid patients.
Answered by Jo Churchill - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
The Government is committed to supporting National Health Service capacity to protect it during surges in COVID-19 cases alongside the increased pressures on the system during winter. We have committed an additional £1 billion to address backlogs and tackle long waiting lists. This is separate from the £3 billion previously announced which has enabled the NHS to have ongoing access to independent sector capacity. As of 18 January, the NHS Nightingale Hospital Exeter is providing inpatient services to COVID-19 patients and the NHS Nightingale Hospital North West and the NHS Nightingale Hospital London are providing ‘step-down’ care to non-COVID-19 patients. Other Nightingale sites at Harrogate and Bristol are supporting NHS elective and diagnostic services but are not providing inpatient services.
General practice services remain accessible to non-COVID-19 patients. General practice is open and the NHS continues to urge the public to come forward with any health concerns they have. NHS England and NHS Improvement have issued guidance on the importance of continuing to offer face to face appointments, utilising remote triage and making use of online and telephone consultations where appropriate – whilst considering the needs of those unable to access or engage with digital services. On 7 January 2021 NHS England and NHS Improvement set out further details on the actions to release capacity in general practice as well as priorities for the next quarter. This includes maintaining routine appointments and supporting the clinically extremely vulnerable and those with ‘long’ COVID-19. In November 2020, the Government has committed an additional £150 million to support general practice through a General Practice Covid Capacity Expansion Fund, in addition to the previously announced COVID-19 support fund.