Asked by: Peter Bone (Independent - Wellingborough)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the effect of decreasing NHS spending on pharmaceuticals on the attractiveness of the UK as a location for research and development.
Answered by Steve Brine
The most important attraction for companies considering investing in research in the United Kingdom is the availability of world-class scientific expertise, which is the focus of the Government’s effort to ensure the UK remains at the forefront of global research and development. There is no obvious reason why National Health Service spend on pharmaceuticals should significantly affect decisions to invest in research and development in the UK. NHS spending on pharmaceuticals has risen by 41% between 2007/08 and 2016/17.
Asked by: Peter Bone (Independent - Wellingborough)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what his policy is on the UK's relationaship with the European Medicines Agency after the UK leaves the EU.
Answered by Steve Brine
We recognise the important role that the European Medicines Agency plays in the protection of human and animal health.
In the negotiations the Government will discuss with the European Union and Member States how best to continue cooperation in the field of medicines regulation in the best interests of both the United Kingdom and the EU.
The UK is fully committed to continuing the close working relationship with our European partners. Our aim is to ensure that patients in the UK and across the EU continue to be able to access the best and most innovative medicines and be assured that their safety is protected through the strongest regulatory framework and sharing of data. As the Prime Minister has stated, we want deep, broad and dynamic co-operation and in this context, the UK would like to find a way to continue to collaborate with the EU, in the interests of public health and safety.
Asked by: Peter Bone (Independent - Wellingborough)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what new opportunities will be available to the life sciences sector after the UK leaves the EU.
Answered by Jackie Doyle-Price
As shown by the exciting new industry commitments announced in a Life Sciences Sector Deal as part of the Industrial Strategy White Paper published on 27 November, the United Kingdom remains a uniquely globally attractive environment for investment, research and innovation and will continue to thrive after European Union exit.
Asked by: Peter Bone (Independent - Wellingborough)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what his policy is on the future of Urgent Care Centres (a) in Northamptonshire and (b) across England.
Answered by Philip Dunne
The Next Steps on the NHS Five Year Forward View set out our intention for the ‘roll-out of standardised new urgent treatment centres’. Urgent treatment centres are community and primary care facilities providing access to urgent treatment for a local population, and will build upon the current range of services such as Walk-in Centres, Urgent Care Centres and Minor Injury Units.
Decisions on specific centres are made at a local level, in line with the Five Year Forward View.
Asked by: Peter Bone (Independent - Wellingborough)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what progress has been made on improving urgent care centres in North Northamptonshire.
Answered by Philip Dunne
Nene and Corby Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) advise that they continue to work closely with partners and stakeholders to ensure that the urgent care services provided to the people of North Northamptonshire are responsive and fit for purpose.
As part of this work, the local National Health Service is developing an integrated emergency care specification in line with the national policy direction and will continue, through the Northamptonshire Sustainability and Transformation Plan, to ensure quality urgent care services in Northamptonshire.
We understand that Kettering General Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is developing an Outline Business Case for an Urgent Care Hub, and that NHS Improvement is engaging with the Trust on this.
An agreement has been reached between NHS Corby CCG and Lakeside+ Limited to extend the contract to run Corby Urgent Care Centre. The contract will be subject to an extension from 1 October 2017 that will allow it to continue up to but not beyond 31 March 2019.
Asked by: Peter Bone (Independent - Wellingborough)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when he plans to publish the two research studies into ovarian cancer awareness which the previous Government indicated it planned to publish in the summer of 2017.
Answered by Steve Brine
Public Health England (PHE) has published one full evaluation report on the pilot campaign and one interim report on the regional campaign for the Be Clear on Cancer ovarian cancer campaign.
The full evaluation of the local ovarian cancer pilot campaign which ran from 14 January – 17 March 2013 it can be accessed here:
The interim evaluation report on the regional ovarian cancer awareness campaign, which ran from 10 February- 16 March 2014 in the North West of England it can be accessed here:
http://www.ncin.org.uk/cancer_type_and_topic_specific_work/topic_specific_work/be_clear_on_cancer/
PHE is planning to produce a full and final evaluation report for the Be Clear on Cancer ovarian cancer awareness regional campaign by April 2018.
The Department’s Policy Research Unit on Cancer Awareness Screening and Early Diagnosis has undertaken a qualitative research study in which members of the public were given access to available leaflets on ovarian cancer awareness and then participated in six focus groups and interviews on their acceptability and how they would be received and understood if included within the clear screening results letter from the breast or cervical screening programme.
This study is now complete and has been presented at the recent Cancer Research UK Early Diagnosis conference. The work is currently being written up for submission to a peer-reviewed medical journal. The Health Research Authority approval for a further qualitative research study with professionals has now been granted, and the work is in progress.
A second project is a synthesis of published incidence, mortality, stage distribution and stage-specific survival rates for ovarian cancer by age. The aim of this project was to identify which age group would be most likely to benefit from such an intervention, in terms of risk of ovarian cancer, and room for improvement in stage at diagnosis. This study is now also complete, fully written up, and has been submitted to a journal for publication. The journal’s response is awaited.
Asked by: Peter Bone (Independent - Wellingborough)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when he plans to publish the data from the BRC1/2 tests carried out by the UK Genetic Testing Network.
Answered by Jackie Doyle-Price
The data on BRCA1/2 testing rates is now available for 2014/15 and 2015/16 for England and Scotland. The published data can be downloaded from the UK Genetic Testing Network website at:
Asked by: Peter Bone (Independent - Wellingborough)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make it his policy to make continuous glucose monitors available on the NHS.
Answered by Baroness Blackwood of North Oxford
Clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) are primarily responsible for commissioning diabetes services to meet the requirements of their populations. In doing so, CCGs need to ensure that the services they provide are fit for purpose, reflect the needs of the local population, and are based on the available evidence, taking into account national guidelines. This should include consideration of access to continuous glucose monitoring for people with type 1 diabetes who might benefit from it.
Asked by: Peter Bone (Independent - Wellingborough)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the results were of focus groups set up to establish how women respond to information on (a) screening results for and (b) other aspects of ovarian cancer.
Answered by David Mowat
The Department’s Policy Research Unit on Cancer Awareness Screening and Early Diagnosis has undertaken a qualitative research study in which members of the public were given access to available leaflets on ovarian cancer awareness and then participated in six focus groups and interviews on their acceptability and how they would be received and understood if included within the all clear screening results letter from the breast or cervical screening programme. This study is now complete and is being prepared for peer-reviewed publication. A further qualitative research study with professionals will commence when approval is received from the Health Research Authority.
A second project is a synthesis of published incidence, mortality, stage distribution and stage-specific survival rates for ovarian cancer by age. The aim of this project is to identify which age group would be most likely to benefit from such an intervention, in terms of risk of ovarian cancer and room for improvement in stage at diagnosis. This project is also complete and is being prepared for peer-reviewed publication.
Asked by: Peter Bone (Independent - Wellingborough)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what progress has been made on the inclusion of information on ovarian cancer in letters to patients containing the results of recent cervical and breast screening.
Answered by David Mowat
The Department’s Policy Research Unit on Cancer Awareness Screening and Early Diagnosis has undertaken a qualitative research study in which members of the public were given access to available leaflets on ovarian cancer awareness and then participated in six focus groups and interviews on their acceptability and how they would be received and understood if included within the all clear screening results letter from the breast or cervical screening programme. This study is now complete and is being prepared for peer-reviewed publication. A further qualitative research study with professionals will commence when approval is received from the Health Research Authority.
A second project is a synthesis of published incidence, mortality, stage distribution and stage-specific survival rates for ovarian cancer by age. The aim of this project is to identify which age group would be most likely to benefit from such an intervention, in terms of risk of ovarian cancer and room for improvement in stage at diagnosis. This project is also complete and is being prepared for peer-reviewed publication.