Asked by: Andrew Selous (Conservative - South West Bedfordshire)
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 (a) cost to the NHS of lack of specialist bowel care for patients with neurogenic bowel disorders and (b) additional costs incurred by (i) diagnosis and treatment of pressure sores resulting from inadequate care and (ii) other secondary complications.
Answered by Andrew Stephenson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Department has no plans at present to establish a national policy on neurogenic bowel disorder. To help ensure that patients with neurogenic bowel receive timely and appropriate care, NHS England has developed a range of guidance, including its Excellence in Continence Care guidance. NHS England has also published a service specification for spinal cord injury services, which makes specific reference to bowel care. It outlines that patients with spinal injury should be provided with advice and care by specialist nursing staff in specialist fields, including in the field of bladder and bowel management. In addition, National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidelines on faecal incontinence set out the care that patients with neurogenic bowel should receive, including a neurological bowel management programme.
No estimate has been made of the cost to the National Health Service of a lack of specialist bowel care for patients with neurogenic bowel disorders. Nor has an estimate been made of the costs incurred by the diagnosis and treatment of pressure sores, resulting from inadequate care and other secondary complications.
Asked by: Andrew Selous (Conservative - South West Bedfordshire)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what her policy is on establishing a national policy for neurogenic bowel cancer; and what steps her Department is taking to ensure adequate care is available for people who need it.
Answered by Andrew Stephenson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Department has no plans at present to establish a national policy on neurogenic bowel disorder. To help ensure that patients with neurogenic bowel receive timely and appropriate care, NHS England has developed a range of guidance, including its Excellence in Continence Care guidance. NHS England has also published a service specification for spinal cord injury services, which makes specific reference to bowel care. It outlines that patients with spinal injury should be provided with advice and care by specialist nursing staff in specialist fields, including in the field of bladder and bowel management. In addition, National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidelines on faecal incontinence set out the care that patients with neurogenic bowel should receive, including a neurological bowel management programme.
No estimate has been made of the cost to the National Health Service of a lack of specialist bowel care for patients with neurogenic bowel disorders. Nor has an estimate been made of the costs incurred by the diagnosis and treatment of pressure sores, resulting from inadequate care and other secondary complications.
Asked by: Andrew Selous (Conservative - South West Bedfordshire)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if she will make a comparative assessment of the cost to the NHS of different kinds of absorbent continence products based on the (a) item price and (b) patient experience and outcome including (i) whole system cost, (ii) laundry cost and (iii) environmental impact.
Answered by Andrew Stephenson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Government is working with NHS England and partner organisations across the health system to develop a standardised methodology, to assess the full value of medical technologies. This initiative underlines our commitment in the Medtech Strategy, published in February 2023, ensuring the right product, in the right place, at the right price. The methodology will seek to look beyond upfront cost to consider patient outcomes, whole system costs, supply resilience, and the environmental impact when procurement decisions are being made.
The methodology will provide a consistent approach to assessing value, and will be implemented at both the national and local level. This approach aims to ensure that procurement decisions support both short-term efficiencies and long-term benefits, drawing out the value to patients and the healthcare system. The Government appreciates contributions from the industry and procurement communities, and will invite stakeholders to provide feedback on the initial proposal in due course.
In terms of implementation, we will look to align and integrate this initiative with NHS England’s Central Commercial Function's ongoing work under their strategic framework, which aims to create commercial playbooks for standardising practices and processes across the National Health Service.
Regarding the specific point raised around absorbent continence products, the Disposable Continence tender is due to be issued to the market later this year. To ensure that the NHS’s requirements are considered during the procurement process, NHS Supply Chain is undertaking significant engagement across the health and social care system. This includes customers in the acute and wider community setting, suppliers, trade associations, professional bodies, and end user reference groups, to understand their requirements from a commercial, value, sustainability, and supply resilience perspective.
NHS Supply Chain is currently working with suppliers of disposable continence products to understand the value-based procurement and sustainability offerings on the purchase of continence products. NHS Supply Chain has identified a trust who are committed in supporting us in understanding this value in the form of a pilot study, and potential case study. More information can be provided once these studies have been finalised and confirmed.
Asked by: Andrew Selous (Conservative - South West Bedfordshire)
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 ensure that NHS organisations take into account (a) patient experience and outcomes, (b) whole system costs, (c) laundry costs and (d) the environmental impact when purchasing absorbent continence products.
Answered by Andrew Stephenson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Government is working with NHS England and partner organisations across the health system to develop a standardised methodology, to assess the full value of medical technologies. This initiative underlines our commitment in the Medtech Strategy, published in February 2023, ensuring the right product, in the right place, at the right price. The methodology will seek to look beyond upfront cost to consider patient outcomes, whole system costs, supply resilience, and the environmental impact when procurement decisions are being made.
The methodology will provide a consistent approach to assessing value, and will be implemented at both the national and local level. This approach aims to ensure that procurement decisions support both short-term efficiencies and long-term benefits, drawing out the value to patients and the healthcare system. The Government appreciates contributions from the industry and procurement communities, and will invite stakeholders to provide feedback on the initial proposal in due course.
In terms of implementation, we will look to align and integrate this initiative with NHS England’s Central Commercial Function's ongoing work under their strategic framework, which aims to create commercial playbooks for standardising practices and processes across the National Health Service.
Regarding the specific point raised around absorbent continence products, the Disposable Continence tender is due to be issued to the market later this year. To ensure that the NHS’s requirements are considered during the procurement process, NHS Supply Chain is undertaking significant engagement across the health and social care system. This includes customers in the acute and wider community setting, suppliers, trade associations, professional bodies, and end user reference groups, to understand their requirements from a commercial, value, sustainability, and supply resilience perspective.
NHS Supply Chain is currently working with suppliers of disposable continence products to understand the value-based procurement and sustainability offerings on the purchase of continence products. NHS Supply Chain has identified a trust who are committed in supporting us in understanding this value in the form of a pilot study, and potential case study. More information can be provided once these studies have been finalised and confirmed.
Asked by: Andrew Selous (Conservative - South West Bedfordshire)
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 with NHS England to (a) promote the adoption of the principles of value-based procurement in the purchase and dispensing of absorbent continence products and (b) help ensure that those principles continue to be adopted in the context of short-term savings being pursued by NHS organisations.
Answered by Andrew Stephenson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Government is working with NHS England and partner organisations across the health system to develop a standardised methodology, to assess the full value of medical technologies. This initiative underlines our commitment in the Medtech Strategy, published in February 2023, ensuring the right product, in the right place, at the right price. The methodology will seek to look beyond upfront cost to consider patient outcomes, whole system costs, supply resilience, and the environmental impact when procurement decisions are being made.
The methodology will provide a consistent approach to assessing value, and will be implemented at both the national and local level. This approach aims to ensure that procurement decisions support both short-term efficiencies and long-term benefits, drawing out the value to patients and the healthcare system. The Government appreciates contributions from the industry and procurement communities, and will invite stakeholders to provide feedback on the initial proposal in due course.
In terms of implementation, we will look to align and integrate this initiative with NHS England’s Central Commercial Function's ongoing work under their strategic framework, which aims to create commercial playbooks for standardising practices and processes across the National Health Service.
Regarding the specific point raised around absorbent continence products, the Disposable Continence tender is due to be issued to the market later this year. To ensure that the NHS’s requirements are considered during the procurement process, NHS Supply Chain is undertaking significant engagement across the health and social care system. This includes customers in the acute and wider community setting, suppliers, trade associations, professional bodies, and end user reference groups, to understand their requirements from a commercial, value, sustainability, and supply resilience perspective.
NHS Supply Chain is currently working with suppliers of disposable continence products to understand the value-based procurement and sustainability offerings on the purchase of continence products. NHS Supply Chain has identified a trust who are committed in supporting us in understanding this value in the form of a pilot study, and potential case study. More information can be provided once these studies have been finalised and confirmed.
Asked by: Andrew Selous (Conservative - South West Bedfordshire)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when her Department plans to make a decision on financial redress for those harmed by pelvic mesh or sodium valproate.
Answered by Maria Caulfield - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade) (Minister for Women)
The Government commissioned the Patient Safety Commissioner to produce a report on redress for those affected by sodium valproate and pelvic mesh. We are grateful to the Commissioner and her team for completing this report and our sympathies remain with those affected by sodium valproate and pelvic mesh. The Government is now carefully considering the Commissioner’s recommendations and will respond substantively in due course.
Asked by: Andrew Selous (Conservative - South West Bedfordshire)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many and what proportion of NHS dental practices were in dispute with her Department about reconciling payments for NHS work on 30 January 2024; and what assessment she has made of the (a) clarity and (b) ease of the reconciliation process.
Answered by Andrea Leadsom - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
Year-end reconciliation is a national process carried out, in the most part, by the NHS Business Services Authority (NHS BSA), and commissioned by NHS England.
As of 31 January 2024, there were 38 unresolved queries from contract holders about their year-end outcome for 2022/23. This equates to 0.6% of the 6673 contracts within the NHS BSA responsibility to reconcile. There are a further proportion of contracts, 1,946, that remain within the remit of integrated care boards to reconcile, where data is not held centrally.
The process of year end reconciliation is a vital part of ensuring contract holders are held accountable for the activity they have been contracted to deliver, and to ensure taxpayers get value for money from the £3 billion National Health Service dentistry budget.
Asked by: Andrew Selous (Conservative - South West Bedfordshire)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he plans to take steps to prioritise type 2 diabetic patients for Ozempic prescriptions; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Will Quince
There are global supply issues with glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs), which are licensed for treating patients with type 2 diabetes, including the branded medicine Ozempic. This appears to be largely driven by off-label prescribing for weight loss, which has led to shortages of these medicines for patients with type 2 diabetes.
We have issued guidance in the form of a Medicine Supply Notification (MSN), addressing all GLP-1 RAs, advising healthcare professionals on how to manage patients requiring these medicines. We are considering whether further communications are required.
The Government expects all providers of healthcare services, whether National Health Service or private, and all those with responsibility for prescribing to take appropriate account of national guidance such as MSNs. The guidance is clear that these medicines should only be prescribed for the treatment of type 2 diabetes, in order to protect supply for diabetes patients. Medicines which are solely licensed to treat type 2 diabetes should not be routinely prescribed for weight loss.
We are working closely with national diabetes specialists, the NHS, wholesalers, all manufacturers of these medicines and the relevant regulatory bodies and agencies to address this problem and to understand how we can help ensure type 2 diabetic patients continue to get access to treatment.
Asked by: Andrew Selous (Conservative - South West Bedfordshire)
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) an assessment of the adequacy of the NHS (i) capacity and (ii) capability to diagnose Lyme disease and (b) a comparative assessment of best practice in the diagnosis and treatment of Lyme disease in (A) the UK, (B) the US and (C) Germany.
Answered by Maria Caulfield - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade) (Minister for Women)
The Government has not conducted an assessment of the adequacy of National Health Service capability and capacity to diagnose Lyme disease or a comparative assessment of best practice in the diagnosis and treatment of this disease in the United Kingdom, the United States, and Germany.
Diagnosis of Lyme disease in England and Wales is conducted by the Rare and Imported Pathogens Laboratory (RIPL). RIPL provides Lyme polymerase chain reaction PCR testing and a comprehensive serological panel which has been fully validated to UK Accreditation Service standards.
Services for the treatment of Lyme disease are commissioned locally. These services are the responsibility of integrated care board and general practitioners use their professional judgement in diagnosing and treating this condition.
Asked by: Andrew Selous (Conservative - South West Bedfordshire)
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 best practice for the (a) diagnosis and (b) treatment of Lyme disease in the (i) United States and (ii) Germany.
Answered by Maria Caulfield - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade) (Minister for Women)
The Government has not conducted an assessment of the adequacy of National Health Service capability and capacity to diagnose Lyme disease or a comparative assessment of best practice in the diagnosis and treatment of this disease in the United Kingdom, the United States and Germany. Diagnosis of Lyme disease in England and Wales is conducted by the Rare and Imported Pathogens Laboratory (RIPL). RIPL provides Lyme polymerase chain reaction PCR testing and a comprehensive serological panel which has been fully validated to UK Accreditation Service standards.
Published research, for example the VICTORY study in Lancet ID, indicates that cellular tests for Lyme borreliosis used by many private laboratories in Europe have a high false positive rate. A copy of the VICTORY study in Lancet ID, is available at the following link: https://doi.org/10.1016/S1473-3099(22)00205-5.)
UK Health Security Agency published accompanying guidance documents on Lyme disease in July 2018, which describe the clinical signs and symptoms and are consistent with the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidance. The guidance is available at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/lyme-disease-management-and-prevention
Services for the treatment of Lyme disease are commissioned locally. These services are the responsibility of integrated care board and general practitioners use their professional judgement in diagnosing and treating this condition.