Asked by: Rosie Duffield (Labour - Canterbury)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of recognising people who have severe learning disabilities as being clinically vulnerable for the purposes of the eligibility criteria for covid-19 booster jabs.
Answered by Maria Caulfield - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade) (Minister for Women)
The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) is the independent body made up of scientific and clinical experts who advise Government on which authorised vaccines the United Kingdom should use and which groups in the population should be offered initial or further doses of a particular vaccine.
The primary aim of the COVID-19 vaccination programme continues to be the prevention of severe disease, such as hospitalisation and mortality, arising from COVID-19. The JCVI identified at the start of the programme a number of groups in the population at high clinical risk of severe outcomes from COVID-19. One of these clinical risk groups covers those with chronic neurological disease. This includes all those with severe learning difficulties. The full list of conditions covered is defined in tables two and four of the UK Health Security Agency guide to vaccinators known as the Green Book.
For each new COVID-19 booster campaign the JCVI considers which groups should be recommended for a further booster. For the current spring campaign, the JCVI has recommended boosters were needed only for those at the very highest risk of serious outcomes. This covered those in care homes for older people, all those aged 75 years old or over and all those aged 5 or over who are immunosuppressed. The JCVI has advised that there should be a further booster programme in autumn 2023 for those at higher risk of severe COVID-19. Advice from the JCVI on which risk groups are recommended for a booster dose in autumn 2023 is expected ahead of autumn.
Asked by: Rosie Duffield (Labour - Canterbury)
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 trends in the size of waiting lists for aortic stenosis among women in the last three years.
Answered by Will Quince
No specific assessment has been made.
Asked by: Rosie Duffield (Labour - Canterbury)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether staff working for social enterprises in the health sector will be included in Agenda for Change.
Answered by Will Quince
As National Health Service social enterprises are independent providers, they remain free to develop and adapt their own terms and conditions for employment that best help them attract and keep the staff they need. This includes the pay scales that they use.
Staff employed at NHS social enterprises who utilise the Agenda for Change terms and conditions may be entitled to the non-consolidated pay award that staff working for eligible NHS organisations will receive, and organisations should consider their contractual obligations.
Asked by: Rosie Duffield (Labour - Canterbury)
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 increase access to dental care for Ukrainian refugees.
Answered by Neil O'Brien
Ukrainians in the United Kingdom are guaranteed free access to National Health Service healthcare, including screening, vaccinations, mental health support, dental and hospital services. In September 2022 the Government announced ‘Our plan for patients’ which aims to improve patient access to NHS dental care. This includes access for Ukrainians. Information on how to access NHS dental care is outlined in the Welcome Pack provided to all Ukrainian arrivals.
Asked by: Rosie Duffield (Labour - Canterbury)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what information his Department holds on the availability of azelaic acid; and whether he plans to take steps to help increase the supply of that product.
Answered by Will Quince
The Department is aware of a current supply issue affecting Skinoren (azelaic acid) 20% cream. However, suitable alternatives are available, and communications will be issued to the National Health Service providing details of the supply issue and advising on alternative treatments.
Asked by: Rosie Duffield (Labour - Canterbury)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many people with dementia used a patient transfer service in 2022 to attend a medical appointment.
Answered by Helen Whately - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The information requested is not held centrally.
Asked by: Rosie Duffield (Labour - Canterbury)
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 cannabis treatment on the NHS for people with Dravet Syndrome.
Answered by Will Quince
The licensed cannabis-based medicine Epidyolex is prescribed and routinely funded by the National Health Service for people with Dravet syndrome, Lennox-Gastaut syndrome and tuberous sclerosis complex. This follows approval by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency and assessment by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence.
Asked by: Rosie Duffield (Labour - Canterbury)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department plans to take to measure the impact of the Women’s Health Strategy for England in its first year.
Answered by Maria Caulfield - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade) (Minister for Women)
On 24 January 2023, I wrote to MPs to update on the year one priorities for implementing the Women’s Health Strategy. We will update Parliament annually on progress, with the first update due in September 2023.
Asked by: Rosie Duffield (Labour - Canterbury)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking with Cabinet colleagues to decrease the time it takes for sponsorship licences to be issued to immigrant care workers.
Answered by Helen Whately - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
Adult social care providers who wish to sponsor international workers under the Health and Care Visa can apply for a sponsorship licence. Individual workers then need to apply for a visa once they have a job offer from a licensed sponsor. The Home Office is currently providing decisions on sponsorship licences in five weeks against an eight week service standard.
The Department is supporting the adult social care sector on international recruitment. This includes providing £15 million to help areas establish local support arrangements, which can include support for the sponsorship licence application process. The Department is also producing new guidance for the sector, including on the sponsorship licence process.
Asked by: Rosie Duffield (Labour - Canterbury)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to increase the availability of Fluoxetine.
Answered by Will Quince
Fluoxetine 10 milligram tablets have been out of stock for some time, however, fluoxetine 10 milligram capsules remain available and a Serious Shortage Protocol has been issued to allow community pharmacists to supply the capsules where the tablets have been prescribed.
We are aware of a recent shortage of fluoxetine 20 milligram orodispersible tablets and fluoxetine 20 milligram, 5 millilitre, oral solution. Comprehensive advice is being drafted and will be issued to the National Health Service.