Asked by: Robert Halfon (Conservative - Harlow)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the Government's timeframe is for the introduction of mandatory calorie labelling.
Answered by Jo Churchill - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
Regulations were laid in Parliament on 13 May that will require large businesses in England with 250 or more employees, including restaurants, cafes, and takeaways, to display the calorie information of non-prepacked food and soft drink items they sell. The regulations will come into force from 6 April 2022 subject to Parliamentary approval.
Asked by: Robert Halfon (Conservative - Harlow)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the potential effect of his Department's proposals to introduce mandatory calorie labelling on trends in the number of people presenting for treatment of eating disorders.
Answered by Jo Churchill - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
Ministers and officials in the Department have engaged with BEAT, the eating disorder charity, as well as other groups representing the views of people living with eating disorders, on several occasions since the Government published “Tackling obesity: empowering adults and children to live healthier lives” last July. Discussions have included out-of-home calorie labelling. We have also been careful to consider the views of a wide range of experts in response to our public consultation on introducing mandatory out-of-home calorie labelling and we will continue with this engagement going forward.
The final impact assessment for introducing mandatory calorie labelling in the out-of-home sector considered the potential effect on people living with eating disorders. The impact assessment is available at the following link:
Asked by: Robert Halfon (Conservative - Harlow)
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 provide support to people with eating disorders.
Answered by Nadine Dorries
I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 1 June 2021 to Question 5175.
Asked by: Robert Halfon (Conservative - Harlow)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps the Government is taking to reduce waiting times for eating disorder services.
Answered by Nadine Dorries
Under the NHS Long Term Plan, we will invest almost £1 billion extra by 2023/24 in community mental health services for adults with severe mental illness, such as eating disorders. In addition, an extra £58 million will be invested this financial year to accelerate the expansion of integrated primary and secondary care for this patient group
We have also set up the first waiting time standard for children and young people’s eating disorder services with the aim that 95% of children with an eating disorder will receive treatment within one week for urgent cases and within four weeks for routine cases. Under the NHS Long Term Plan, £53 million of extra funding a year is planned to go into children and young people's community eating disorder services from 2021/22. We are also investing an extra £79 million in 2021/22 to significantly expand children’s mental health services, including allowing 2,000 more children and young people to access eating disorder services
We have also announced early intervention services for young people aged 16-25 with eating disorders in an additional 18 sites across the country, which will see people coming forward being contacted within 48 hours and beginning treatment within two weeks.
Asked by: Robert Halfon (Conservative - Harlow)
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 women who are diagnosed with early menopause are (a) referred to specialists and (b) receiving regular checks.
Answered by Nadine Dorries
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines for menopause were updated in December 2019 and include criteria for the diagnosis, investigation and treatment of early menopause. NHS England and NHS Improvement expect all providers to give due regard to NICE’s guidance.
After diagnosis has been confirmed in primary care, women with premature ovarian insufficiency (POI) or early menopause are generally referred to a specialist menopause clinic. The clinic will conduct further tests and, where appropriate, women will be offered treatment and fertility advice. After the initial consultations, women with POI should be reviewed after three months to assess the efficacy of their treatment. Further appointments should then be tailored to the needs of the individual.
Asked by: Robert Halfon (Conservative - Harlow)
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 work with the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy to improve mental health provision.
Answered by Nadine Dorries
We recognise the vital role played by the British Association for Counselling and Psychology (BACP) in improving mental health support. The BACP has responded to our consultation on reforms to the Mental Health Act 1983 and we are now considering these responses.
Asked by: Robert Halfon (Conservative - Harlow)
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 raise awareness of the difficulties that women experience as a result of menopause.
Answered by Nadine Dorries
From September 2020, relationships, sex education and health education became compulsory in all state funded schools. As part of this pupils are taught about menstrual health and the menopause. On 8 March, the Government launched a 14-week call for evidence as part of the Women’s Health Strategy for England. The online survey within the call for evidence seeks information on the menopause. By understanding women’s experiences, we can ensure key parts of the health service are meeting women’s needs.
Asked by: Robert Halfon (Conservative - Harlow)
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 mental health services.
Answered by Nadine Dorries
The NHS Long Term Plan aims to invest at least a further £2.3 billion a year into mental health services by 2023/24. This will allow an additional 345,000 children and young people and 380,000 adults a year accessing National Health Service-funded mental health support 2023/24. We are also trialling two four-week waiting time pilots for children and young people and adults.
In March we published the COVID-19 mental health and wellbeing recovery action plan, with an additional £500 million to address waiting times for mental health services.
Asked by: Robert Halfon (Conservative - Harlow)
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 support women who have been diagnosed with early menopause.
Answered by Nadine Dorries
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines for menopause were updated in December 2019 and include clear criteria for the diagnosis, investigation and treatment of early menopause. NHS England and NHS Improvement expect all providers to give due regard to NICE guidance.
Treatment for early menopause usually involves Hormone Replacement Therapy or a combined hormonal contraceptive pill both for relief of symptoms and to prevent against the long-term consequences of oestrogen deficiency. Women diagnosed with Premature Ovarian Insufficiency are generally managed in a specialised menopause clinic and should have regular reviews to assess the efficacy of treatment and to be offered fertility advice if appropriate. NHS.UK provides signposting to a range of counselling and support groups, such as the Daisy Network and to fertility support groups, where necessary.
Asked by: Robert Halfon (Conservative - Harlow)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to section 2.1 of the 2021-22 priorities and operational planning guidance: Implementation guidance 25 March 2021, what the criteria is for determining exceptions to the proposal that Integrated Care System boundaries are changed to be consistent with upper tier boundaries from April 2022; and whether Herts and West Essex Integrated Care System meets those criteria for exception due to Princess Alexandra Hospital in Harlow being on the Essex and Hertfordshire boundary.
Answered by Edward Argar - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)
Following discussions between the Department and NHS England and NHS Improvement, integrated care system (ICS) boundaries which are not aligned with local authority boundaries are being reviewed to ensure future arrangements can support effective partnership working between the National Health Service and local government. Hertfordshire and West Essex ICS has been identified as one of the areas included in this boundary review. NHS England and NHS Improvement are currently undertaking this boundary review exercise and no final decisions have yet been made.
As this work progresses engagement with local areas will take place including with NHS bodies, local authorities and other stakeholders in the affected areas in order to appropriately assess any potential effects a change of ICS boundaries in an area may have, this will include consideration of any potential impact on service providers.