Asked by: Mike Penning (Conservative - Hemel Hempstead)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when he plans to reply to correspondence from the hon. Member for Hemel Hempstead dated 12 August 2021, case number MP 71131 on NHS Staffing Levels.
Answered by Edward Argar - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)
We replied to the Rt Hon. Member on 5 January 2022.
Asked by: Mike Penning (Conservative - Hemel Hempstead)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he plans to introduce primary legislation to reform the Mental Health Act 1983 during the current session of Parliament; and if he will ensure that the needs of children and young people are central to any such legislation.
Answered by Gillian Keegan - Secretary of State for Education
Legislation to reform the Mental Health Act 1983 will be brought forward when parliamentary time allows. The reforms will ensure that people of all ages, including children and young people, are put at the centre of decisions about their own care and that everyone is treated equally.
Asked by: Mike Penning (Conservative - Hemel Hempstead)
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 help ensure that prophylactic use of synthetic monoclonal antibody treatments are available where immunosuppressed patients are not able to suspend their immunosuppressant medication or have not responded to a third primary covid-19 vaccine dose.
Answered by Maggie Throup
Ronapreve (casirivimab and imdevimab) is the first neutralising monoclonal antibody to receive marketing authorisation from the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency to treat and prevent COVID-19. The interim clinical policy was updated on 4 November to expand treatment access to a wider group of hospitalised patients, which may include immunocompromised patients. The current supply of Ronapreve is limited globally and the clinical policy prioritises the most vulnerable patients for whom this treatment will have the largest beneficial impact.
The RAPID C-19 collaboration has enabled active multi-agency oversight of national and international trial evidence as it emerges for COVID-19 therapies, both in potential treatment and prophylactic indications. Where material evidence is identified, this has enabled the rapid formation and implementation of United Kingdom wide clinical access policies. To date, the evidence has most strongly supported treatment indications, but the evidence around prophylactic use will continue to be actively reviewed.
Asked by: Mike Penning (Conservative - Hemel Hempstead)
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 ensure immunosuppressed patients are aware that they may be able to suspend their immunosuppressant medication in order to obtain a third primary covid-19 vaccine dose.
Answered by Maggie Throup
The Government regularly provides resources and additional information to charities and patient organisations representing those living with severely compromised immune systems. NHS England and NHS Improvement are developing tailored communications for specialists caring for each group of eligible patients within the immunosuppressed cohort. This will include template referral letters for clinicians to signpost people to receive their vaccination.
Any decision to defer immunosuppressive therapy or to delay the possible benefit from vaccination until after therapy should be taken by the specialist. These decisions should not be taken without due consideration to the risks from COVID-19 and from their underlying condition.