Asked by: Martin Vickers (Conservative - Cleethorpes)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many neurology appointments for people with Parkinson’s disease have been delayed or cancelled since January 2020 as a result of the covid-19 outbreak.
Answered by Helen Whately - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
Figures on the number of neurology appointments delayed or cancelled and the number of Parkinson’s patients who have experienced a deterioration on their condition are not available, and no specific assessment of the adequacy of access to specialised neurology services during the COVID-19 outbreak for advanced Parkinson’s patients has been made.
Early in the pandemic NHS England and NHS Improvement advised in-person consultations “should only take place when absolutely necessary”. Providers have been rolling out remote consultations using video, telephone, email and text message services as a priority, including for those with neurological conditions.
To support the delivery of high-quality services for patients with neurological conditions during the pandemic, the Association of British Neurologists (ABN) published a range of guidance in this important area. NHS England and NHS Improvement have also provided advice on prioritisation for community services during the pandemic which set out how to meet the needs of people with neurological conditions like Parkinson’s safely and effectively. The guidance can be found at the following links:
www.theabn.org/page/covid19_response
Furthermore, the ABN has now published specific guidance on recommencing neurology services in the recovery phase of the COVID-19 pandemic, including those for people suffering with Parkinson’s disease. This guidance contains assessments on which services and patients require urgent prioritisation, taking into account the severity and onset of symptoms. This is available at the following link:
Asked by: Martin Vickers (Conservative - Cleethorpes)
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 adequacy of access to specialised neurology services during the covid-19 outbreak for advanced Parkinson’s patients; and what steps he is taking to resume those services.
Answered by Helen Whately - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
Figures on the number of neurology appointments delayed or cancelled and the number of Parkinson’s patients who have experienced a deterioration on their condition are not available, and no specific assessment of the adequacy of access to specialised neurology services during the COVID-19 outbreak for advanced Parkinson’s patients has been made.
Early in the pandemic NHS England and NHS Improvement advised in-person consultations “should only take place when absolutely necessary”. Providers have been rolling out remote consultations using video, telephone, email and text message services as a priority, including for those with neurological conditions.
To support the delivery of high-quality services for patients with neurological conditions during the pandemic, the Association of British Neurologists (ABN) published a range of guidance in this important area. NHS England and NHS Improvement have also provided advice on prioritisation for community services during the pandemic which set out how to meet the needs of people with neurological conditions like Parkinson’s safely and effectively. The guidance can be found at the following links:
www.theabn.org/page/covid19_response
Furthermore, the ABN has now published specific guidance on recommencing neurology services in the recovery phase of the COVID-19 pandemic, including those for people suffering with Parkinson’s disease. This guidance contains assessments on which services and patients require urgent prioritisation, taking into account the severity and onset of symptoms. This is available at the following link:
Asked by: Martin Vickers (Conservative - Cleethorpes)
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 Parkinson’s patients who may have experienced a deterioration in their condition during the covid-19 outbreak; and what guidance he is providing to help identify patients in urgent need.
Answered by Helen Whately - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
Figures on the number of neurology appointments delayed or cancelled and the number of Parkinson’s patients who have experienced a deterioration on their condition are not available, and no specific assessment of the adequacy of access to specialised neurology services during the COVID-19 outbreak for advanced Parkinson’s patients has been made.
Early in the pandemic NHS England and NHS Improvement advised in-person consultations “should only take place when absolutely necessary”. Providers have been rolling out remote consultations using video, telephone, email and text message services as a priority, including for those with neurological conditions.
To support the delivery of high-quality services for patients with neurological conditions during the pandemic, the Association of British Neurologists (ABN) published a range of guidance in this important area. NHS England and NHS Improvement have also provided advice on prioritisation for community services during the pandemic which set out how to meet the needs of people with neurological conditions like Parkinson’s safely and effectively. The guidance can be found at the following links:
www.theabn.org/page/covid19_response
Furthermore, the ABN has now published specific guidance on recommencing neurology services in the recovery phase of the COVID-19 pandemic, including those for people suffering with Parkinson’s disease. This guidance contains assessments on which services and patients require urgent prioritisation, taking into account the severity and onset of symptoms. This is available at the following link:
Asked by: Martin Vickers (Conservative - Cleethorpes)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make it his policy to support the (a) granting of observer status to Taiwan at the 89th INTERPOL General Assembly and (b) attendance of Taiwan in that organisation's (i) meetings, (ii) mechanisms and (iii) activities.
Answered by Nigel Adams
The UK's longstanding policy on Taiwan and international organisations has not changed. The British Government continues to hold the view that the people of Taiwan have a meaningful contribution to make towards global issues such as combatting organised crime. We therefore support Taiwan's meaningful participation in international organisations, such as INTERPOL, where there is precedent for their involvement, where they can contribute to the global good and where there is no pre-requisite of nationhood for participation. The UK has not made any representations on Taiwan's observer status at INTERPOL this year but will work with international partners on this issue.
Asked by: Martin Vickers (Conservative - Cleethorpes)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has made to member states of INTERPOL to (a) grant observer status to Taiwan at the 89th General Assembly of INTERPOL, and (b) enable Taiwan to have access to that organisation's I-24/7 Global Police Communications System and key training programmes.
Answered by Nigel Adams
The UK's longstanding policy on Taiwan and international organisations has not changed. The British Government continues to hold the view that the people of Taiwan have a meaningful contribution to make towards global issues such as combatting organised crime. We therefore support Taiwan's meaningful participation in international organisations, such as INTERPOL, where there is precedent for their involvement, where they can contribute to the global good and where there is no pre-requisite of nationhood for participation. The UK has not made any representations on Taiwan's observer status at INTERPOL this year but will work with international partners on this issue.
Asked by: Martin Vickers (Conservative - Cleethorpes)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps he is taking to retain the Falkland Islands’ tariff free access to EU markets in relation to meat and fish products following the UK’s withdrawal from the European Union, in the event that a free trade deal is not secured.
Answered by Wendy Morton
The Government liaises closely with the Overseas Territories on all aspects of our future relationship with the EU and so understands fully the interests of the Falkland Islands in this regard.
As the Government starts negotiations on a Free Trade Agreement with the EU, the Government will negotiate on behalf of all the territories for whose international relations it is responsible, including the Falkland Islands, and seek outcomes that support their security and their economies.
Asked by: Martin Vickers (Conservative - Cleethorpes)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether he has received any reports on recent court appearances by Hamed bin Haydara in Yemen.
Answered by James Cleverly - Home Secretary
We are monitoring the case of Hamed bin Haydara, and we understand the appeal against his death sentence is ongoing. We strongly condemn the death sentence and the continued persecution of the Baha'i in Yemen for their religious beliefs. We meet often with the Baha'i representatives in London who keep us updated on the situation. We call on the parties to the conflict to respect the human rights of all Yemenis.
Asked by: Martin Vickers (Conservative - Cleethorpes)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
What plans he has to move public sector jobs out of London and the South East.
Answered by Jeremy Quin
We are clear that the Government needs to be less London-centric and should reflect the nation it serves. The Cabinet Office’s Places for Growth programme has been established to drive the relocation of roles out of London into the regions and nations of the United Kingdom.
So far the Programme has identified over 3,000 roles in arms length bodies for relocation, over a phased timetable and we will continue to push ahead with these plans as part of the next Spending Review.
Asked by: Martin Vickers (Conservative - Cleethorpes)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
What discussions she has had with Cabinet colleagues on reducing business rates for firms.
Answered by Kelly Tolhurst
My Retail Sector Council industry co-chair and I have already met the Financial Secretary to the Treasury to discuss the Council’s review of the costs retailers face, including business rates.
I will continue to engage with Treasury colleagues as we deliver this important manifesto commitment.
Asked by: Martin Vickers (Conservative - Cleethorpes)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many people are employed on a full-time equivalent basis in the (a) cancer, (b) cardiovascular disease, (c) stroke care, (d) diabetes, (e) respiratory disease, (f) adult mental health services and (g) alzheimer’s and dementia care teams.
Answered by Stephen Hammond
NHS Digital publishes hospital and community health services workforce statistics for NHS trusts and clinical commissioning groups in England. However, the information held by NHS Digital does not capture sufficient level of detail to identify those working in specific care teams.