Asked by: Chris Ruane (Labour - Vale of Clwyd)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what comparative assessment he has made of the effectiveness of (a) mindfulness-based and (b) other NICE recommended interventions in reducing anxiety.
Answered by Jackie Doyle-Price
We have made no such assessment.
Asked by: Chris Ruane (Labour - Vale of Clwyd)
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 merits of prescribing mindfulness-based pain management in treating chronic pain.
Answered by Seema Kennedy
No specific assessment has been made. However, self-management approaches, such as mindfulness, may be appropriate for helping people manage the day to day symptoms of living with a long-term condition, such as chronic pain.
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence is in the process of developing the ‘Chronic Pain: assessment and management’ guideline, which is expected for publication on 19 August 2020. The guideline is looking at range of approaches relevant to the management of chronic pain, including pain self-management programmes and peer-led programmes. The guideline scope document can be found at the following link:
www.nice.org.uk/guidance/gid-ng10069/documents/final-scope
Asked by: Tom Brake (Liberal Democrat - Carshalton and Wallington)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, how many and what proportion of officials in his Department took sick leave for reasons relating to stress in the last 12 months; what proportion that leave was of total sick leave taken in his Department; and what the cost was to his Department of officials taking sick leave over that period.
Answered by Margot James
During the period 01/04/2018 - 31/03/2019, a total of 16 employees (1.0% of the total employees employed in the department for the same period) took sickness absence for reasons relating to stress. This sickness absence accounted for 10.1% of total sickness absence taken in the Department, and cost the Department approximately £70,130.
The department has implemented a number of policies to provide support for staff suffering from stress, including:
DCMS has sought to promote an environment where individuals feel comfortable to talk openly about stress and mental health.The Department is a signatory to the ‘Time to Change Pledge’ and raises awareness of mental health and coping strategies through national campaigns such as the ‘Time to Talk’ day and the Mental Health Awareness Week. The department also organises ‘Mindfulness’ sessions for employees.
Asked by: Chris Ruane (Labour - Vale of Clwyd)
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 trends in the level of prescription rates of (a) mindfulness-based cognitive therapy and (b) anti-depressants as a means to treat and prevent mental ill health.
Answered by Jackie Doyle-Price
Data on prescribing mindfulness-based cognitive therapy is not collected. However, NHS England reports that the number of people accessing psychological therapies is rising, with 1.01 million people starting treatment in 2017-18.
NHS Digital published data in March 2019 which indicated that the levels of prescriptions for antidepressants has risen in recent years.
It is important that increasing numbers of antidepressant prescriptions are not automatically seen as a bad thing, as research has shown they can be very effective drugs when used appropriately.
It is the responsibility of all prescribers to prescribe responsibly and appropriately, to meet the individual needs of their patients. There is a place for both drugs and psychological therapies in the treatment of mental health conditions.
Asked by: Chris Ruane (Labour - Vale of Clwyd)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 18 March 2019 to Question 231901, whether he has made an assessment of the potential benefits of mindfulness-based interventions in the reduction of work-based stress.
Answered by Oliver Dowden - Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
The Civil Service does not collect data on the practice of mindfulness on the reduction of work-based stress and positive influence on well-being.
We are aware that mindfulness training can have a positive impact on wellbeing. Mindfulness interventions, including face-to-face sessions and digital wellbeing apps, are used across the Civil Service.
Asked by: Justin Madders (Labour - Ellesmere Port and Neston)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what estimate he has made of the number of days of sick leave taken by staff in his Department for mental health reasons in each year since 2010.
Answered by Margot James
The number of working days lost to sickness absence relating to mental health for each of the years for which data has been published is:
2014: 227
2015: 82
2016: 259
The department has implemented a number of policies to ensure that staff feel comfortable in taking, and reporting, mental health-related sickness absence including
early referral to occupational health experts, particularly for mental health and stress,
early referral to Employee Assistance Programmes (EAP) for Cognitive Behavioural Therapy based counselling support for mental health issues,
workplace adjustments that help to prevent conditions from developing or worsening, whilst reducing the barriers to work for those affected by mental or physical impairments,
extensive training for managers and employees - including on disability and mental health awareness, well-being, resilience and stress.
line managers can use the Stress Assessment and Reduction Plan toolkit in identifying and managing stress when required,
a page on the intranet is dedicated to stress management and it contains resources to support line managers and employees identify and manage stress.
Finally, the Department is a signatory to the ‘Time to Change Pledge’ and raises awareness of mental health and coping strategies through national campaigns such as the ‘Time to Talk’ day and the Mental Health Awareness Week. The department also organises ‘Mindfulness’ sessions for employees.
Asked by: Lisa Cameron (Conservative - East Kilbride, Strathaven and Lesmahagow)
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 ensure that information on learning disability is included in the training of healthcare staff.
Answered by Caroline Dinenage
Employers have a statutory responsibility to provide sufficient numbers of suitably qualified, competent, skilled and experienced staff to meet the needs of the people using health services, including those with a learning disability.
The Learning Disability Core Skills Education and Training Framework, published in July 2016 sets out the requisite skills and competencies that staff need to deliver care and support to people with a learning disability. The Framework sets out the necessary skills across three tiers. Tier 1, knowledge for roles that require general awareness of learning disabilities; Tier 2, knowledge and skills for roles that will have some regular contact with people with a learning disability and Tier 3, knowledge and skills for those providing care and support for people with a learning disability. Training should be provided in line with this Framework.
Health Education England (HEE) is currently producing eLearning materials to support Tier 1 learning disability awareness training. This free online training will be available to all staff in 2019. HEE will also be writing to all education providers reminding them of the Learning Disability Core Skills Education and Training Framework and ask them to ensure that all staff groups include Tier 1 awareness training as a minimum.
HEE also uses a workforce development fund to support the ongoing development of staff, with spending focused on priority areas, including staff working with people with learning disabilities and/or autism. Examples of the type of development that is supported includes, Positive Behavioural Support, Total Attachment Theory, Leadership programmes, Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction, Learning Disability Mortality, Building the Right Support, Early Positive Approaches to Support, Restraint Reduction, Positive Behavioural Support Workshops for family carers, Forensic learning disabilities skills, Trauma informed care and Autism.
All nurses receive learning disabilities training as part of their pre-registration education. Curricula are set by individual education providers, to standards set by the professional regulators.
Additionally, since April 2015, newly appointed health care assistants, including those who will provide care and support to people with a learning disability have been undergoing training as part of the national implementation of the Care Certificate. The Care Certificate equips new staff with the knowledge and skills which they need to provide safe, compassionate care across a range of areas, including the care of people with a learning disability.
We have committed that there will be a response to each of the recommendations of the Learning Disabilities Mortality Review Programme annual report, including the recommendation on training. The response will be published soon.
Asked by: Lisa Cameron (Conservative - East Kilbride, Strathaven and Lesmahagow)
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 the provision of continuing professional development in respect of learning disabilities for all front-line health staff.
Answered by Caroline Dinenage
Employers have a statutory responsibility to provide sufficient numbers of suitably qualified, competent, skilled and experienced staff to meet the needs of the people using health services, including those with a learning disability.
The Learning Disability Core Skills Education and Training Framework, published in July 2016 sets out the requisite skills and competencies that staff need to deliver care and support to people with a learning disability. The Framework sets out the necessary skills across three tiers. Tier 1, knowledge for roles that require general awareness of learning disabilities; Tier 2, knowledge and skills for roles that will have some regular contact with people with a learning disability and Tier 3, knowledge and skills for those providing care and support for people with a learning disability. Training should be provided in line with this Framework.
Health Education England (HEE) is currently producing eLearning materials to support Tier 1 learning disability awareness training. This free online training will be available to all staff in 2019. HEE will also be writing to all education providers reminding them of the Learning Disability Core Skills Education and Training Framework and ask them to ensure that all staff groups include Tier 1 awareness training as a minimum.
HEE also uses a workforce development fund to support the ongoing development of staff, with spending focused on priority areas, including staff working with people with learning disabilities and/or autism. Examples of the type of development that is supported includes, Positive Behavioural Support, Total Attachment Theory, Leadership programmes, Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction, Learning Disability Mortality, Building the Right Support, Early Positive Approaches to Support, Restraint Reduction, Positive Behavioural Support Workshops for family carers, Forensic learning disabilities skills, Trauma informed care and Autism.
All nurses receive learning disabilities training as part of their pre-registration education. Curricula are set by individual education providers, to standards set by the professional regulators.
Additionally, since April 2015, newly appointed health care assistants, including those who will provide care and support to people with a learning disability have been undergoing training as part of the national implementation of the Care Certificate. The Care Certificate equips new staff with the knowledge and skills which they need to provide safe, compassionate care across a range of areas, including the care of people with a learning disability.
We have committed that there will be a response to each of the recommendations of the Learning Disabilities Mortality Review Programme annual report, including the recommendation on training. The response will be published soon.
Asked by: Seema Malhotra (Labour (Co-op) - Feltham and Heston)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps he is taking to support mindfulness for pupils in (a) primary schools and (b) secondary schools in England.
Answered by Nadhim Zahawi
We believe that it is for schools to decide what pastoral support to offer their pupils as they know them best. The department carried out a survey of school mental health provision (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/supporting-mental-health-in-schools-and-colleges) which found that 73% of schools offer sessions covering topics such as coping skills, problem-solving or mindfulness.
The survey also indicated that schools need more information about evidence-based approaches to supporting mental wellbeing that work in a school setting. In January 2017, my Rt hon. Friend, the Prime Minister announced a programme of randomised control trials of school-based interventions to support children and young people’s mental health and wellbeing.
One of the trials, which commenced in August 2017, will involve approaches to promoting wellbeing in primary and secondary schools, including exercises, routines, and mindfulness. We will consider how best to provide schools with the outcomes of these projects and a range of other piloting and trial activity.
Asked by: Chris Ruane (Labour - Vale of Clwyd)
Question
To ask the right hon. Member for Carshalton and Wallington, representing the House of Commons Commission, what steps the Commission is taking to improve the (a) physical and (b) mental well-being of all employed staff.
Answered by Tom Brake
The Parliamentary Health and Wellbeing Service (PHWS) support staff to help maintain and improve their physical and mental well-being.
PHWS offer a number of services including:
The House also has a contract with Westminster Gym which provides employees, amongst others, to access to gym facilities and a range of classes and treatments.
Wellbeing support is also provided and includes counselling by Wellbeing Practitioners. Support, advice and guidance is also provided to help with issues such as:
A minor treatment clinic is located in the Palace of Westminster. The Clinical Nurse Adviser can provide advice and information about illness, injuries at work, lifestyle and wellbeing issues. The Clinical nurse is able to refer clients onto specialist agencies or in-house services where necessary. Minor treatments such as dressings, ear syringing, removal of stitches and blood pressure monitoring can take place at this clinic.
The Service also runs Health & Wellbeing events. These are organised regularly during the parliamentary year and include an annual Wellbeing Day. This gives staff the opportunity to have an individual health check and obtain advice and guidance on health & wellbeing related issues.