Asked by: Ruth Cadbury (Labour - Brentford and Isleworth)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps she has taken to support NHS staff who act as whistle-blowers on patient safety concerns.
Answered by Maria Caulfield
We have established an independent National Guardian to help drive positive cultural change across the National Health Service so that speaking up becomes business as usual. The National Guardian has issued guidance and training and provides support and leadership to a network of over 1,000 local Freedom to Speak Up Guardians throughout healthcare in England whose role is to help and support staff who want to speak up about their concerns.
Workers who want to speak up about something can also receive support from Speak Up Direct, a service the Government has set up to provide workers with advice and support about speaking up.
In 2018, the Government enhanced legal protections available for whistle blowers to prohibit discrimination against job applicants on the grounds that they have spoken up in the past. This complements longstanding legal provisions that protect workers against detrimental treatment for speaking up.
Asked by: Ruth Cadbury (Labour - Brentford and Isleworth)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps she is taking to help ensure that medical students who study in the UK have access to NHS foundation jobs at the end of their studies.
Answered by Andrew Stephenson
The UK Foundation Programme Office (UKFPO) facilitates the operation and continuing development of the UK Foundation Programme. The UKFPO is jointly funded and governed by NHS England and the four United Kingdom Health Departments.
The UKFPO confirmed on 1 September 2023 that all eligible applicants in the application process will be allocated a place on the UK Foundation Programme in 2024. UKFPO estimates the UK number of eligible applicants to be approximately 9000 for 2024.
The NHS Long Term Workforce Plan, which covers the workforce, education and training in England contained a commitment to ensure there is adequate growth in foundation placement capacity, as students begin to graduate from the expanded number of medical school places in England, and a commensurate increase in specialty training places that meets the demands of the NHS in England in the future. We will work with stakeholders to ensure this growth is sustainable and focused in the service areas where need is greatest.
Future workforce growth in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, including future foundation programme and speciality training places is a matter for each of the Devolved Administrations.
Asked by: Ruth Cadbury (Labour - Brentford and Isleworth)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps she is taking to increase the number of available training places on the Foundation Programme for medical students who studied in the UK.
Answered by Andrew Stephenson
The UK Foundation Programme Office (UKFPO) facilitates the operation and continuing development of the UK Foundation Programme. The UKFPO is jointly funded and governed by NHS England and the four United Kingdom Health Departments.
The UKFPO confirmed on 1 September 2023 that all eligible applicants in the application process will be allocated a place on the UK Foundation Programme in 2024. UKFPO estimates the UK number of eligible applicants to be approximately 9000 for 2024.
The NHS Long Term Workforce Plan, which covers the workforce, education and training in England contained a commitment to ensure there is adequate growth in foundation placement capacity, as students begin to graduate from the expanded number of medical school places in England, and a commensurate increase in specialty training places that meets the demands of the NHS in England in the future. We will work with stakeholders to ensure this growth is sustainable and focused in the service areas where need is greatest.
Future workforce growth in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, including future foundation programme and speciality training places is a matter for each of the Devolved Administrations.
Asked by: Ruth Cadbury (Labour - Brentford and Isleworth)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate she has made of the number of available places on the Foundation Programme for medical students who studied in the UK.
Answered by Andrew Stephenson
The UK Foundation Programme Office (UKFPO) facilitates the operation and continuing development of the UK Foundation Programme. The UKFPO is jointly funded and governed by NHS England and the four United Kingdom Health Departments.
The UKFPO confirmed on 1 September 2023 that all eligible applicants in the application process will be allocated a place on the UK Foundation Programme in 2024. UKFPO estimates the UK number of eligible applicants to be approximately 9000 for 2024.
The NHS Long Term Workforce Plan, which covers the workforce, education and training in England contained a commitment to ensure there is adequate growth in foundation placement capacity, as students begin to graduate from the expanded number of medical school places in England, and a commensurate increase in specialty training places that meets the demands of the NHS in England in the future. We will work with stakeholders to ensure this growth is sustainable and focused in the service areas where need is greatest.
Future workforce growth in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, including future foundation programme and speciality training places is a matter for each of the Devolved Administrations.
Asked by: Ruth Cadbury (Labour - Brentford and Isleworth)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 30 November 2023 to Question 3472 on Cystic Fibrosis: Drugs, when she expects the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence to publish their final guidance on the use of ivacaftor–tezacaftor–elexacaftor.
Answered by Andrew Stephenson
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) published draft guidance on 3 November 2023 which does not recommend Orkambi (lumacaftor-ivacaftor), Symkevi (ivacaftor-tezacaftor) and Kaftrio (ivacaftor–tezacaftor–elexacaftor) for the treatment of cystic fibrosis.
The draft guidance has recently been subject to a public consultation and NICE’s Appraisal Committee met on 14 December 2023 to consider the comments received in response to the consultation.
NICE will be liaising with key stakeholders to determine the most appropriate next steps for its appraisal, which will include exploring potential commercial solutions, and will provide a further update to stakeholders outlining next steps and timelines in the week commencing 22 January 2024.
Asked by: Ruth Cadbury (Labour - Brentford and Isleworth)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if she will make an assessment of the adequacy of support available for patients recovering from a stroke in west London.
Answered by Andrew Stephenson
The national service model for an Integrated Community Stroke Service (ICSS) was published in February 2022. It sets out the transfer of care of stroke survivors from hospital, and provides home-based stroke rehabilitation through a specialist multidisciplinary team structure. It provides an integrated seven days per week service, providing early supported discharge, high-intensive and needs-based community stroke rehabilitation and disability management
NHS England have developed a plan to address gaps in intensity community stroke therapy within the West London boroughs of Ealing and Hounslow and community services, including critical Early Supported Discharge teams within the borough of Harrow. NHS England plan to have common community stroke service offers across North West London for 2024/25.
Asked by: Ruth Cadbury (Labour - Brentford and Isleworth)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether she is taking steps to increase the number of physiotherapy appointments available to patients who have had a stroke.
Answered by Andrew Stephenson
Provision of physiotherapy as part of stroke rehabilitation is a key part of the stroke care pathway as outlined in NHS England’s National Stroke Service Model and the national service model for an integrated community stroke service (ICSS).
Plans are in place to increase access to rehabilitation closer to home. This includes the £200 million Discharge Fund, a commitment to digital rehabilitation for those who would benefit from it, and access to physiotherapy in community settings as part of the ‘Delivery plan for recovering urgent and emergency care services’, which was published earlier this year. This is available at the following link:
https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/delivery-plan-for-recovering-urgent-and-emergency-care-services/
The Sentinel Stroke National Audit Programme (SSNAP) reported that the number of patients accessing community stroke services has risen from 39,655 in 2018/19 to 47,152 in 2022/23.
NHS organisations have been asked to ensure that adequate space is allocated to functions such as physiotherapy, so that such services can operate efficiently.
Asked by: Ruth Cadbury (Labour - Brentford and Isleworth)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the supply of Ozempic pens for patients with type 2 diabetes.
Answered by Andrew Stephenson
We are aware of a supply issue with glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonist (GLP-1 RA) medicines, including Ozempic pens. We have issued guidance in the form of Medicine Supply Notifications and, on 18 July 2023, issued a National Patient Safety Alert with advice for healthcare professionals on how to manage patients requiring this medicine.
Our guidance is clear that GLP-1 RA medicines that are solely licensed to treat Type 2 diabetes should only be used for that purpose and should not be routinely prescribed for weight loss.
The General Pharmaceutical Council, General Medical Council, Health and Care Professions Council, Nursing and Midwifery Council and Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland have also issued a joint statement stressing the importance of health and care professionals meeting regulatory standards in relation to these medicines. We have also added some of these products to the list of medicines that cannot be exported from, or hoarded in, the United Kingdom.
We are continuing to work closely with manufacturers and others working in the supply chain to help ensure the continued supply of these medicines for UK patients, for example by asking suppliers to expedite deliveries. We have provided advice for healthcare professionals on how to manage patients requiring this medicine whilst there are shortages and are keeping this under review as the situation evolves.
Asked by: Ruth Cadbury (Labour - Brentford and Isleworth)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of the availability of prescription medication used to treat ADHD.
Answered by Andrew Stephenson
We are aware of disruptions to the supply of medicines used for the management of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Some issues have now been resolved. However, we know that there are currently disruptions to the supply of some other medicines, primarily driven by issues which have resulted in capacity constraints at key manufacturing sites. These issues are expected to resolve by end December 2023.
We understand how frustrating and distressing medicine shortages can be and we want to assure patients that we are working intensively with the respective manufacturers to resolve the issues as soon as possible and to ensure patients have continuous access to ADHD medicines in the United Kingdom, in the short and long term.
We have issued communications to the National Health Service to advise healthcare professionals on management of patients whilst there continue to be disruptions to supplies. Patients are advised to speak to their clinician regarding any concerns they have and to discuss the suitability of treatment with alternative medicines.
Asked by: Ruth Cadbury (Labour - Brentford and Isleworth)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he is taking steps to increase the availability of Ozempic pens for patients with type 2 diabetes.
Answered by Andrew Stephenson
We are aware of a supply issue with glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonist (GLP-1 RA) medicines, including Ozempic pens. We have issued guidance in the form of Medicine Supply Notifications and, on 18 July 2023, issued a National Patient Safety Alert with advice for healthcare professionals on how to manage patients requiring this medicine.
Our guidance is clear that GLP-1 RA medicines that are solely licensed to treat Type 2 diabetes should only be used for that purpose and should not be routinely prescribed for weight loss.
The General Pharmaceutical Council, General Medical Council, Health and Care Professions Council, Nursing and Midwifery Council and Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland have also issued a joint statement stressing the importance of health and care professionals meeting regulatory standards in relation to these medicines. We have also added some of these products to the list of medicines that cannot be exported from, or hoarded in, the United Kingdom.
We are continuing to work closely with manufacturers and others working in the supply chain to help ensure the continued supply of these medicines for UK patients, for example by asking suppliers to expedite deliveries. We have provided advice for healthcare professionals on how to manage patients requiring this medicine whilst there are shortages and are keeping this under review as the situation evolves.