Asked by: Philippa Whitford (Scottish National Party - Central Ayrshire)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps her Department is taking to raise awareness of the (a) symptoms of inflammatory arthritis and (b) support available for patients and families.
Answered by Andrew Stephenson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Government has produced a guide on musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions, which is available at the following link:
The Department is currently developing a Major Conditions Strategy, in consultation with NHS England and colleagues across the Government. Given their contribution to the burden of disease, MSK conditions such as arthritis will be included in the strategy.
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has produced expert guidance to support healthcare professionals in the early diagnosis and management of rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. The guidance for the early diagnosis and management of rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis is available, respectively, at the following links:
https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng100
https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng226
From 2022/23 to 2024/25, the Government is spending more than £11.3 billion to support elective recovery and tackle long waiting times, which could deliver nine million more checks and procedures to help support patients with conditions like arthritis. In the Spring Budget 2023, the Government also announced £400 million of funding for scaling up MSK Physical Activity Hubs and embedding employment advice within MSK pathways.
General rheumatology services, which support people with a range of conditions, including rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis, are locally commissioned by integrated care boards, which are best placed to make decisions according to local need.
Asked by: Philippa Whitford (Scottish National Party - Central Ayrshire)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what her planned timetable is for the publication of the Major Conditions Strategy; and whether there will be additional funding for that strategy.
Answered by Andrew Stephenson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
We expect to publish the Major Conditions Strategy in spring of this year. The Spring Budget 2024 announced that the Government is protecting NHS England’s day-to-day funding in real terms, by providing an extra £2.45 billion in 2024/25. On productivity, the Government is investing £3.4 billion of capital funding to significantly reduce the 13 million hours of clinical staff time lost to poor IT every year, as well as revolutionising treatment for a range of illnesses such as cancer and strokes.
The Government has not committed any further additional funding specific to the Major Conditions Strategy. However, as part of the strategy, we will be identifying innovative actions to help alleviate pressure on the National Health Service and support improvement within the current settlement.
Asked by: Philippa Whitford (Scottish National Party - Central Ayrshire)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when her Department expects the Food Safety Agency to conclude its assessment of the EU Commission’s decision to lower the legal limits on nitrites in processed meat products; and whether she plans to publish that assessment.
Answered by Andrea Leadsom - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) considers that existing levels of nitrites and nitrates in the United Kingdom are sufficiently protective for consumers, and they remain important preservatives in a range of foods that control a range of harmful micro-organisms. However, as with all additives, this remains under review. Given the European Union’s changes to levels, the FSA wishes to ensure there are no unintended food safety consequences. The FSA is engaging with stakeholders across the United Kingdom to understand the implications of the EU changes on nitrates in processed meat, cheese and fish products and any impacts they may have on industry. It is necessary to understand the ability of industry to reformulate to meet the various transition periods, whilst ensuring foods remain safe. This will support formulation of a UK position on the EU changes.
Asked by: Philippa Whitford (Scottish National Party - Central Ayrshire)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether her Department has made an assessment of the implications for her policies of the EU Commission’s decision to lower the legal limits on nitrites in processed meat products; and whether she plans to bring in such restrictions.
Answered by Andrea Leadsom - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Food Standards Agency (FSA), which holds policy responsibility for the safety of food additives, is assessing the impact of the new European Union decision. Nitrates are important additives that perform a range of technological functions, including control of microorganisms such as the pathogen Clostridium botulinum which is responsible for botulism, an often fatal condition. The FSA would wish to ensure there are no unintended food safety consequences related to lowering nitrate/nitrite levels before considering next steps.
Asked by: Philippa Whitford (Scottish National Party - Central Ayrshire)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential health benefits of lowering the legal limits on nitrites in processed meat products.
Answered by Andrea Leadsom - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Food Standards Agency (FSA), which holds policy responsibility for the safety of food additives, is assessing the impact of the new European Union decision. Nitrates are important additives that perform a range of technological functions, including control of microorganisms such as the pathogen Clostridium botulinum which is responsible for botulism, an often fatal condition. The FSA would wish to ensure there are no unintended food safety consequences related to lowering nitrate/nitrite levels before considering next steps.
Asked by: Philippa Whitford (Scottish National Party - Central Ayrshire)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps her Department is taking to provide covid-19 (a) tests and (b) treatment to immunocompromised patients in winter 2023-24.
Answered by Maria Caulfield - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade) (Minister for Women)
As set out in the Written Ministerial Statement HCWS702 on 30 March 2023, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) will maintain a range of capabilities to protect those at higher risk of severe illness from COVID-19. We have retained appropriate levels of testing to support diagnosis for clinical care and treatment and to protect higher risk individuals. Those who are eligible for COVID-19 treatments can collect free rapid lateral flow test kits from a local pharmacy. Those who are immunocompromised are eligible for COVID-19 treatments and influenza antivirals in the community, enabling them easy access to treatment.
Higher risk individuals, their carers, and household contacts, are also part of the priority cohort in line for booster vaccines. UKHSA continues to encourage people to take vaccines they are eligible for, most recently via the ‘get winter strong’ campaign. More information on the campaign is available at the following link:
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/ukhsa-campaign-get-winter-strong-with-flu-and-covid-19-vaccines
Guidance for people whose immune system means they are at a higher risk of serious illness from COVID-19 is available at the following link:
Asked by: Philippa Whitford (Scottish National Party - Central Ayrshire)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the findings of Asthma and Lung UK's report entitled Saving your breath, published in September 2023, if he will make it his policy to increase funding for respiratory research to £141 million per year by 2030.
Answered by Andrew Stephenson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Department funds respiratory research through the National Institute for Health and care Research (NIHR). It is not usual practice for the NIHR to ring-fence a proportion of its budget for research into particular topics or conditions. The NIHR welcomes funding applications for research into any aspect of human health, including into respiratory conditions. These applications are subject to peer review and judged in open competition, with awards being made on the basis of the importance of the topic to patients and health and care services, value for money and scientific quality. In all disease areas, the amount of NIHR funding depends on the volume and quality of scientific activity.
Asked by: Philippa Whitford (Scottish National Party - Central Ayrshire)
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 implementing the recommendations of the report by the World Health Organisation entitled Leveraging Vaccines to Reduce Antibiotic Use and Prevent Antimicrobial Resistance, published on 27 January 2023.
Answered by Maria Caulfield - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade) (Minister for Women)
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) contributes to the World Health Organization’s efforts to address antimicrobial resistance (AMR).
The AMR National Action Plan (NAP) 2019-24 highlights the importance of developing new vaccines. The forthcoming NAP (2024-29) is under development, and infection prevention and control, including vaccines, will be a central part of the plan.
UKHSA conducts research on the potential for vaccines to tackle antibiotic prescribing and AMR. UKHSA leads work within a European public-private partnership. UKHSA’s AMR network provides innovative technologies and develops interventions to tackle AMR, including vaccines and alternatives to antibiotics.
Asked by: Philippa Whitford (Scottish National Party - Central Ayrshire)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he has plans with Cabinet colleagues to increase research funding into the (a) diagnosis and (b) treatment of blood cancers.
Answered by Will Quince
As with other Government funders of health research, the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) does not allocate funding for specific disease areas. The level of research spend in a particular area is driven by factors, including scientific potential and the number and scale of successful funding applications. The NIHR welcomes funding applications for research into any aspect of human health, including blood cancers.
The following table shows NIHR research spend on diagnosis, treatment, and diagnosis & treatment of blood cancers since 2018:
Number of projects | Total Awards Value | |
Blood Cancer Diagnosis | 11 | £11.9 million |
Blood Cancer Treatment | 14 | £14,7 million |
Blood Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment | 4 | £7,712 |
Asked by: Philippa Whitford (Scottish National Party - Central Ayrshire)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the Answer of 4 April 2019 to Question 238305 on Vaccination, what advice the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation Healthcare Associated Infections Working Group provided on the development of better tools to estimate and quantify the potential impact of vaccines in reducing the long-term burden of antimicrobial resistance; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Maria Caulfield - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade) (Minister for Women)
Advice on the development of better tools to estimate and quantify the potential impact of vaccines in reducing the long-term burden of antimicrobial resistance has not been provided by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation Healthcare Associated Infections Working Group.
The Healthcare Associated Infections Working Group was formed and met in 2018 and 2019. The Working Group, or an equivalent, will be reconvened in due course once relevant vaccines progress through the vaccine pipeline.