Show Search Form

Search Results

registered interest	true false
date	exactly: or between: and
answering body
answering dept id
answering dept short name
answering dept sort name
hansard heading
house id
legislature	pref label
question text
tabling member constituency
tabling member printed
uin
answer	is ministerial correction true false date of answer exactly: or between: and answer text answering member constituency answering member printed grouped question UIN question first answered answering member label
tabling member	label

Search

447751

registered interest
date	26/01/2016
answering body	Department of Health
answering dept id	17
answering dept short name	Health
answering dept sort name	Health
hansard heading	Zika Virus: Disease Control
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he is taking to prevent the spread of the Zika virus to the UK.
tabling member constituency	Huddersfield
tabling member printed	Mr Barry Sheerman
uin	24167
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/02/2016 answer text <p>Public Health England (PHE) and the National Travel Health Network and Centre (NaTHNaC) have been carefully monitoring the Zika virus outbreak in the Americas since it was first reported in Brazil during May 2015. PHE has reviewed evidence on the transmission of Zika virus and PHE mosquito experts have provided advice to Government and the public that neither the main vector of Zika virus <em>Aedes aegypti</em>, nor other species of <em>Aedes</em> mosquitoes, including <em>Aedes albopictus</em>, that may have the potential to transmit this virus, are established in the United Kingdom.</p><p> </p><p>The risk to the UK population is related to travel to countries where Zika virus outbreaks are currently ongoing, and NaTHNaC and PHE have published updated advice for travellers to South and Central America and the Caribbean, including specific advice for pregnant women. The risk of onward spread within the UK is very low and PHE has again provided this advice to government, and the public.</p><p> </p><p>PHE has also been working with appropriate professional groups to develop information and guidance on Zika for clinicians. This advice can be accessed through the PHE website and has been cascaded by organisations such as the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists.</p><p> </p><p>Together with the Royal College of General Practitioners PHE has developed guidance specifically targeted at primary care which will be available shortly. PHE has also produced regular briefing notes for local health protection teams who have been asked to share this with the local National Health Service.</p> answering member constituency Battersea answering member printed Jane Ellison grouped question UIN 24166 question first answered 03/02/2016 17:18:10 answering member 3918 label Biography information for Jane Ellison
tabling member	411 label Biography information for Mr Barry Sheerman

447763

registered interest
date	26/01/2016
answering body	Department of Health
answering dept id	17
answering dept short name	Health
answering dept sort name	Health
hansard heading	Zika Virus
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what recent discussions he has had with the UN, the EU and authorities in affected countries on (a) the spread of the Zika virus and (b) strategies to prevent the spread of the virus.
tabling member constituency	Huddersfield
tabling member printed	Mr Barry Sheerman
uin	24163
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/02/2016 answer text <p>The Chief Medical Officer, Chief Scientific Adviser and Public Health England (PHE) have had a number of discussions over recent weeks with a wider range of international authorities. The Secretary of State has been briefed about all such discussions.</p><p>PHE and the National Travel Health Network and Centre have been carefully monitoring the Zika virus outbreak in the Americas since it was first reported in Brazil during May 2015. PHE and the Department attended a European Union Health Security Committee teleconference and PHE has shared a recent European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) risk assessment on Zika virus with colleagues in England, the Devolved Administrations and Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies. PHE has been in discussion with infectious disease authorities in Brazil with respect to understanding the epidemiological and clinical picture associated with Zika virus and microcephaly and other congenital malformations.</p><p>Through the International Health Regulations National Focal Point, PHE has shared information with the European Union, ECDC and other European Member States on the number of cases of Zika virus infection in returning travellers.</p> answering member constituency Battersea answering member printed Jane Ellison question first answered 03/02/2016 17:13:43 answering member 3918 label Biography information for Jane Ellison
tabling member	411 label Biography information for Mr Barry Sheerman

447765

registered interest
date	26/01/2016
answering body	Department of Health
answering dept id	17
answering dept short name	Health
answering dept sort name	Health
hansard heading	Mental Health Services: Ethnic Groups
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he is taking to ensure mental health services are accessible to BAME communities.
tabling member constituency	Liverpool, Wavertree
tabling member printed	Luciana Berger
uin	24131
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/02/2016 answer text <p>Everyone should be able to access mental health services according to need. However, we know that there are inequalities in the access to mental health services. For example, older adults, men, Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) communities and those who are deaf are not accessing services in the numbers predicted by prevalence studies.</p><p> </p><p>The Department continues to work with a range of stakeholders through the Mental Health Equalities Working Group. This includes listening to people with experience of mental health within BAME communities and continuing to make the changes needed to ensure equality throughout mental health services.</p><p> </p><p>In July 2014, the Joint Commissioning Panel for Mental Health published guidance for commissioners of mental health services for those from black and minority ethnic communities which is available at:</p><p> </p><p><a href="http://www.jcpmh.info/wp-content/uploads/jcpmh-bme-guide.pdf" target="_blank">http://www.jcpmh.info/wp-content/uploads/jcpmh-bme-guide.pdf</a></p><p> </p><p>The Department has been working with NHS England and commissioners to disseminate this guidance which describes what ‘good’ mental health services for people from BAME communities look like.</p><p> </p><p>The Department commissioned the Mental Health Providers’ Forum and the Race Equality Foundation to gather and review evidence of effective mental health services for BAME groups, which was published last year. Better practice in mental health for black and minority ethnic communities found that organisations that were successful in providing mental health services that meet the needs of BAME groups had developed local community-based approaches to service delivery which addressed cultural and linguistic differences and sought to actively engage hard to reach groups.</p><p> </p><p>One of the key priorities of the work in updating the Mental Health Act 1983 Code of Practice, which was published in January 2015, was to eliminate discrimination, including for people from BAME communities. The Department’s published Equality Analysis <em>Equality for all: Mental Health Act 1983: Code of Practice</em> sets out a range of additional guidance that has been included aiming to address concerns raised by BAME stakeholders and others.</p><p> </p><p>I will be speaking with a range of stakeholders this spring to look at further ways in which we can address inequalities in mental health outcomes and access to services for people from BAME groups.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p><strong> </strong></p> answering member constituency North East Bedfordshire answering member printed Alistair Burt question first answered 03/02/2016 16:30:39 answering member 1201 label Biography information for Alistair Burt
tabling member	4036 label Biography information for Luciana Berger

447769

registered interest
date	26/01/2016
answering body	Department of Health
answering dept id	17
answering dept short name	Health
answering dept sort name	Health
hansard heading	Zika Virus: Disease Control
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he is taking to prevent the spread of the Zika virus in the UK.
tabling member constituency	Huddersfield
tabling member printed	Mr Barry Sheerman
uin	24166
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/02/2016 answer text <p>Public Health England (PHE) and the National Travel Health Network and Centre (NaTHNaC) have been carefully monitoring the Zika virus outbreak in the Americas since it was first reported in Brazil during May 2015. PHE has reviewed evidence on the transmission of Zika virus and PHE mosquito experts have provided advice to Government and the public that neither the main vector of Zika virus <em>Aedes aegypti</em>, nor other species of <em>Aedes</em> mosquitoes, including <em>Aedes albopictus</em>, that may have the potential to transmit this virus, are established in the United Kingdom.</p><p> </p><p>The risk to the UK population is related to travel to countries where Zika virus outbreaks are currently ongoing, and NaTHNaC and PHE have published updated advice for travellers to South and Central America and the Caribbean, including specific advice for pregnant women. The risk of onward spread within the UK is very low and PHE has again provided this advice to government, and the public.</p><p> </p><p>PHE has also been working with appropriate professional groups to develop information and guidance on Zika for clinicians. This advice can be accessed through the PHE website and has been cascaded by organisations such as the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists.</p><p> </p><p>Together with the Royal College of General Practitioners PHE has developed guidance specifically targeted at primary care which will be available shortly. PHE has also produced regular briefing notes for local health protection teams who have been asked to share this with the local National Health Service.</p> answering member constituency Battersea answering member printed Jane Ellison grouped question UIN 24167 question first answered 03/02/2016 17:18:10 answering member 3918 label Biography information for Jane Ellison
tabling member	411 label Biography information for Mr Barry Sheerman

447770

registered interest
date	26/01/2016
answering body	Department of Health
answering dept id	17
answering dept short name	Health
answering dept sort name	Health
hansard heading	Hospitals
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the criteria are for making a ministerial directive against the closure or downsizing of a hospital.
tabling member constituency	Huddersfield
tabling member printed	Mr Barry Sheerman
uin	24155
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/02/2016 answer text <p>The Government is clear the reconfiguration of front line health services is a matter for the local National Health Service. Services should be tailored to meet the needs of the local population and proposals for substantial service change must meet the four tests of reconfiguration which are (i) support from general practitioner commissioners (ii) strengthened public and patient engagement (iii) clarity on the clinical evidence base and (iv) support for patient choice.</p><p> </p><p>A local authority has the power to refer NHS substantial reconfiguration proposals to the Secretary of State if they consider:</p><p>― the consultation has been inadequate in relation to the content or the amount of time allowed;</p><p>― the NHS body has given inadequate reasons where it has not consulted for reasons of urgency relating to the safety or welfare of patients or staff; or</p><p>― a proposal would not be in the interests of the health service in its area.</p><p> </p><p>Upon receipt of a local authority referral, the Secretary of State can refer the matter to the Independent Reconfiguration Panel (IRP) for its advice. The Panel will consider whether the proposals will provide safe, sustainable and accessible services for the local population, taking account of factors including: clinical and service quality, patient and public involvement, the surrounding local services and national policies.</p><p> </p><p>On receipt of IRP advice, the Secretary of State would then decide whether or not to accept it. Since its inception in 2003, all Secretaries of State have used the IRP advice to inform their decisions.</p> answering member constituency Ipswich answering member printed Ben Gummer question first answered 02/02/2016 16:08:51 answering member 3988 label Biography information for Ben Gummer
tabling member	411 label Biography information for Mr Barry Sheerman

447772

registered interest
date	26/01/2016
answering body	Department of Health
answering dept id	17
answering dept short name	Health
answering dept sort name	Health
hansard heading	NHS: Research
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what proportion of the NHS' budget is spent on research and campaigns on (a) gender-specific cancers and (b) fertility treatment.
tabling member constituency	Carshalton and Wallington
tabling member printed	Tom Brake
uin	24172
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/02/2016 answer text <p>National Health Service revenue expenditure was £110.6 million in 2014/15.</p><p> </p><p>The Department funds the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) to provide a health research system in which the NHS supports outstanding individuals working in world-class facilities, conducting leading-edge research focused on the needs of patients and the public. Information on total NIHR spend on research on gender-specific cancers and on fertility treatment is not available. Spend on research funded directly by the NIHR is categorised by Health Research Classification System (HRCS) health categories including ‘cancer’ and ‘reproductive health and childbirth’. There are no HRCS health sub-categories, such as for gender-specific cancers or fertility treatment.</p><p> </p><p>NHS England has advised that information on campaigns spending by NHS organisations is not collected centrally.</p><p> </p><p>Public Health England (PHE) has run gender-specific campaigns on breast cancer in women over 70, ovarian cancer and prostate cancer in black men as part of Be Clear on Cancer. Information on media spending for these campaigns in each of the last three complete financial years is shown in the table.</p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p>2012/13 £ million</p></td><td><p>2013/14 £ million</p></td><td><p>2014/15 £ million</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Breast 70+</p></td><td><p>0.50</p></td><td><p>1.48</p></td><td><p>-</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Ovarian</p></td><td><p>0.44</p></td><td><p>0.57</p></td><td><p>-</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Prostate</p></td><td><p>-</p></td><td><p>-</p></td><td><p>0.07</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p><em>Source:</em> PHE</p><p><em> </em></p><p><em>Notes:</em></p><p> </p><p>Figures are net plus agency fees and commissions (rounded to nearest £10,000). Figures exclude VAT and Central Office of Information fees.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>Media spend includes expenditure for advertising on Television, Radio, National Press, Regional Press, Out of Home (Outdoor), Cinema and Digital.</p> answering member constituency Mid Norfolk answering member printed George Freeman question first answered 03/02/2016 11:19:45 answering member 4020 label Biography information for George Freeman
tabling member	151 label Biography information for Tom Brake

447773

registered interest
date	26/01/2016
answering body	Department of Health
answering dept id	17
answering dept short name	Health
answering dept sort name	Health
hansard heading	Kidneys: Transplant Surgery
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what estimate he has made of additional dialysis beds and staff costs to the NHS in the event of NICE's review of TA 85 [ID456] of immunosuppressant agents for kidney transplant is upheld.
tabling member constituency	Foyle
tabling member printed	Mark Durkan
uin	24191
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/02/2016 answer text <p>We have made no such estimate.</p><p> </p><p>The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) is currently updating its technology appraisal guidance on immunosuppressive therapy for kidney transplant in adults. NICE consulted on its draft recommendations in August 2015 and published its final draft recommendations in December. NICE currently expects to publish its final guidance later this year.</p><p> </p><p>It will be for local National Health Service organisations to consider the impact of the NICE recommendations following guidance publication. NICE will publish a resource impact assessment alongside its guidance to support local implementation of its recommendations.</p> answering member constituency Mid Norfolk answering member printed George Freeman question first answered 03/02/2016 11:14:41 answering member 4020 label Biography information for George Freeman
tabling member	1594 label Biography information for Mark Durkan

447908

registered interest
date	26/01/2016
answering body	Department of Health
answering dept id	17
answering dept short name	Health
answering dept sort name	Health
hansard heading	Nurses: Training
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what estimate he has made of the number of nurse training places in each of the next five years.
tabling member constituency	Ellesmere Port and Neston
tabling member printed	Justin Madders
uin	24269
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/02/2016 answer text <p>Health Education England (HEE) was established and has been mandated by the Government to provide national leadership on education, training and workforce development in the National Health Service. As one of the arm’s length bodies to help improve the quality of care delivered to patients, it ensures that the future workforce is available in the right numbers with the right skills, values and competencies to meet patient needs today and tomorrow.</p><p> </p><p>HEE operate an annual comprehensive planning process to ensure their investments meet the future needs of the population. This process determines the number of training places that will be commissioned by HEE in the following financial year. The planned commissions are published annually in both the HEE commissioning and investment plan and the HEE Workforce Plan for England.</p><p> </p><p>The 2016-17 commissioning and investment plan was published in December 2015 and includes the planned number of nurse training commissions for 2016-17. The plan can be found at the following link:</p><p> </p><p><a href="https://hee.nhs.uk/sites/default/files/documents/HEE%20commissioning%20and%20investment%20plan.pdf" target="_blank">https://hee.nhs.uk/sites/default/files/documents/HEE%20commissioning%20and%20investment%20plan.pdf</a></p><p> </p><p>The HEE annual Workforce Plan for England 2016/17 is planned for publication by the end of February 2016.</p> answering member constituency Ipswich answering member printed Ben Gummer question first answered 02/02/2016 15:55:34 answering member 3988 label Biography information for Ben Gummer
tabling member	4418 label Biography information for Justin Madders

447915

registered interest
date	26/01/2016
answering body	Department of Health
answering dept id	17
answering dept short name	Health
answering dept sort name	Health
hansard heading	Social Services: Veterans
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether he plans to amend current charging rules for veterans injured in service before 5 April 2015 on compensation awarded under the War Pensions Scheme being taken into account in assessing the cost of their social care support.
tabling member constituency	Birmingham, Selly Oak
tabling member printed	Steve McCabe
uin	24342
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/02/2016 answer text <p>Armed forces veterans injured in service receive payments either through the War Disablement Pension (WDP) or the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme (AFCS). The AFCS applies to veterans injured from 6 April 2005. These payments are divided into a personal injury compensation element and other payments. Traditionally, only the personal injury compensation payment has been fully disregarded.</p><p> </p><p>Since October 2012 Guaranteed Income Payments made to veterans under the AFCS have been disregarded. The Department has been in discussion with the Royal British Legion about how WDP payments are treated. Currently the first £10 per week of WDP payments is disregarded. The Government is considering how WDP payments to veterans should be treated in the financial assessment for social care charging in future.</p> answering member constituency North East Bedfordshire answering member printed Alistair Burt question first answered 01/02/2016 11:56:09 answering member 1201 label Biography information for Alistair Burt
tabling member	298 label Biography information for Steve McCabe

447916

registered interest
date	26/01/2016
answering body	Department of Health
answering dept id	17
answering dept short name	Health
answering dept sort name	Health
hansard heading	Mental Health Services
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if his Department will change local authority public health team regulations to ensure that (a) public mental health no longer falls under the heading of miscellaneous and (b) there is parity of esteem between physical and mental health in the activity of such teams.
tabling member constituency	Colne Valley
tabling member printed	Jason McCartney
uin	24286
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/02/2016 answer text <p>We accept entirely the centrality of mental health and wellbeing to public health and the need for parity of esteem across health services. While it is right for local authorities (LAs) to determine their own local priorities and account to their own electorates, the Department’s Public Health Outcomes Framework – which defines areas for improvement across the public health system, and to which LAs must have regard – includes a number of indicators that relate directly to mental health. Public Health England collects and publishes LA-level data for all these indicators and will continue to support and advise LAs on the evidence base for effective mental health interventions.</p><p> </p><p>We have no plans to require LAs to report spending on public mental health. LAs’ public health functions cover a wide range of activity, and it is important for central government to limit its demands for information from local government to a minimum. LAs would also be unable to disaggregate their spending on, for example, a drug or alcohol misuse service in order to isolate a sum that could be attributed purely to the mental health aspect of the service.</p> answering member constituency Battersea answering member printed Jane Ellison question first answered 03/02/2016 16:10:14 answering member 3918 label Biography information for Jane Ellison
tabling member	3953 label Biography information for Jason McCartney