Asked by: Wera Hobhouse (Liberal Democrat - Bath)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment she has made (a) podiatry vacancy rates in the NHS in Bath constituency and (b) the impact these vacancies will have on patient treatment for diabetic foot complications.
Answered by Robert Jenrick
The information requested is not held centrally.
Asked by: Wera Hobhouse (Liberal Democrat - Bath)
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 durability of the covid-19 (a) vaccine and (b) booster vaccine in holding immunity.
Answered by Caroline Johnson
Several studies of vaccine effectiveness have been conducted in the United Kingdom which indicated that, against the Delta variant, two doses had an initial 90% effectiveness against symptomatic infection, waning over six months to 65% to 80% depending on the vaccine. Booster doses were found to restore vaccine effectiveness to over 90%. Protection against severe disease remained high in the first six months after at least two doses. For the Omicron variant, effectiveness against symptomatic infection was lower at an initial 70% after a booster, waning to 10 to 20% after five months. For the Omicron variant, effectiveness against hospitalisation following a booster dose is initially over 90%, waning to 70% after six months.
The UK Health Security Agency continues to assess data on vaccine effectiveness, including immunity to COVID-19. The most recent COVID-19 vaccine surveillance report was published on 1 September. This contains updates on effectiveness of the spring booster programme and against Omicron BA.5 and BA.5 sub-lineages, vaccination in pregnancy and vaccine impact on proportion of the population with antibodies to COVID-19. The report is available at the following link:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-vaccine-weekly-surveillance-reports
Asked by: Wera Hobhouse (Liberal Democrat - Bath)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential role IVF in preventing an ageing population.
Answered by James Morris
No specific assessment has been made.
Asked by: Wera Hobhouse (Liberal Democrat - Bath)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make a comparative assessment of provision of IVF services provided in England compared to the services available in France.
Answered by James Morris
We have no plans to make a specific assessment.
Asked by: Wera Hobhouse (Liberal Democrat - Bath)
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 number of individuals under 40 who meet the criteria for IVF in the NICE guidelines but have not been provided with (a) three full cycles of IVF and (b) any IVF treatment in each of the past five years.
Answered by James Morris
We have no plans to make a specific assessment as the information requested is not collected centrally.
Asked by: Wera Hobhouse (Liberal Democrat - Bath)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department has taken to prepare for potential increased pressure on the health service in the context of forecasted heatwaves in July 2022.
Answered by Maggie Throup
The UK Health Security Agency’s (UKHSA) ‘Heatwave Plan for England’ provides guidance for the National Health Service and other professional bodies to reduce the risks to health from prolonged exposure to severe heat. The UKHSA and the Met Office issue heat alerts to relevant health and social care professionals, providing advance warning of high temperatures to ensure that the impact of heat on people's health is minimised.
All NHS organisations have contingency plans for extreme heat, which are tailored for local needs. Regional NHS bodies can provide additional support during periods of higher demand for services, where this is required.
Asked by: Wera Hobhouse (Liberal Democrat - Bath)
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 prevent rising levels of covid-19 cases in the UK.
Answered by Maggie Throup
The COVID-19 vaccination and booster programme and the availability of antiviral treatments has ensured there is a reduced risk of severe illness or hospitalisation. The Government’s guidance encourages responsible behaviours, while targeting protection for those most at risk from infection. While self-isolation is no longer required and testing is no longer recommended for those not at high risk, those with symptoms of COVID-19 or their household contacts should avoid contact with others where possible, in the same way as other infectious diseases.
The Government will continue to keep this response under review to ensure it remains effective and proportionate.
Asked by: Wera Hobhouse (Liberal Democrat - Bath)
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 potential impact on patients of the suspension of phalloplasty on the NHS.
Answered by Maria Caulfield - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade) (Minister for Women)
A contract with the New Victoria Hospital in London is now in place to provide phalloplasty for the National Health Service. In addition, the NHS aims to establish additional capacity through other providers and we are working with the NHS expand these services.
Asked by: Wera Hobhouse (Liberal Democrat - Bath)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the Royal College of Emergency Medicine report entitled Tip of the Iceberg: 12-Hour Stays in the Emergency Department, published June 2022, what assessment he has made of the findings that on average 1047 patients spent longer than 12 hours in A&E departments every day in 2021.
Answered by Edward Argar - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)
No formal assessment has been made. However, NHS Digital estimates that in 2020/21, 302,784 patients spent 12 hours or more in accident and emergency.
Asked by: Wera Hobhouse (Liberal Democrat - Bath)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when NHS England plans to publish data on the number of patients waiting in Emergency Departments for 12 hours or more from their time of arrival in line with their responsibilities under the NHS Standard Contract 2022-23.
Answered by Edward Argar - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)
The NHS Standard Contract for 2022/23 includes a 12-hour standard from time of arrival as a national quality indicator. While NHS England is currently considering arrangements for reporting against this standard, we are unable to confirm a publication date.