The Family Test was announced by the Prime Minister in August 2014 and introduced in October 2014 through the publication of guidance for officials - Family Test Guidance.<\/p>
<\/p>
<\/p>
<\/p>
The objective of the Test is to introduce a family perspective to the policy making process, specifically to make the potential impacts on family functioning and relationships explicit.<\/p>
<\/p>
<\/p>
<\/p>
The Department is working to raise awareness of the Family Test amongst its policy staff, so that the impact of policy on the family is considered as a matter of course. The Family Test is highlighted in policy induction training, which is available to staff who are new to policy roles in the Department. The Family Test is also highlighted through the PolicyKit, an online resource for the Department\u2019s policy officials.<\/p>
<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/3918", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Jane Ellison"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Battersea"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Jane Ellison"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2015-06-11", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2015-06-11T10:26:24.107Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "17"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Health"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Health"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2015-06-04", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Department of Health: Families"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Health, with reference to the Prime Minister's press release of 18 August 2014, what steps he is taking to assess the impact of his Department's policies on the family.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1518", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Mr David Burrowes"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Enfield, Southgate"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Mr David Burrowes"} ], "uin" : "1197"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/348255", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department of Health"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/348255/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
This is a matter for the National Health Service locally. NHS England advises that Coventry and Rugby Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), is working along with South Warwickshire CCG, Warwickshire North CCG, Coventry City Council and Warwickshire County Council, on a joint review of the specifications for children and adolescent mental health services.<\/p>
<\/p>
<\/p>
<\/p>
In the current financial year Coventry and Rugby CCG will put an additional £1.2 million towards the mental health services it commissions.<\/p>
<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1201", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Alistair Burt"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "North East Bedfordshire"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Alistair Burt"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2015-06-08", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "groupedQuestionUIN" : {"_value" : "1027"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2015-06-08T14:24:51.103Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "17"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Health"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Health"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2015-06-03", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Mental Health Services: West Midlands"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans his Department has to review mental health provision in the West Midlands; and if he will make a statement.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/308", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Mr Jim Cunningham"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Coventry South"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Mr Jim Cunningham"} ], "uin" : "1026"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/348259", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department of Health"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/348259/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
The neuronal ceriod lipofuscinoses (Batten disease) are a set of severely disabling degenerative diseases. Care is given in regional paediatric neuroscience centres and by local teams. We are advised by NHS England that it is at an early stage of discussion about the possibility of establishing expert centres for Batten disease. This disease does not feature in the highly specialised work programme for 2015/16 but NHS England will be considering it for inclusion in the 2016/17 work programme.<\/p>
<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/3918", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Jane Ellison"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Battersea"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Jane Ellison"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2015-06-12", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2015-06-12T10:58:52.02Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "17"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Health"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Health"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2015-06-03", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Batten Disease: Health Services"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of provisions to treat people who have Batten Disease.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1540", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Greg Mulholland"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Leeds North West"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Greg Mulholland"} ], "uin" : "994"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/348282", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department of Health"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/348282/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
No meetings have taken place between the Ministers of the Department and their counterparts in the devolved Assemblies to discuss drugs and treatments for Duchenne muscular dystrophy.<\/p>
<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/3918", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Jane Ellison"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Battersea"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Jane Ellison"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2015-06-09", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2015-06-09T14:40:22.85Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "17"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Health"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Health"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2015-06-03", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Muscular Dystrophy: Medical Treatments"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what discussions he has had with his counterparts in the devolved assemblies on (a) future decisions on the availability and (b) consistency of provision by area of drugs and treatment for Duchenne muscular dystrophy.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4131", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Jim Shannon"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Strangford"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Jim Shannon"} ], "uin" : "938"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/348292", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department of Health"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/348292/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
After completion of a United Kingdom-led European review in 2014, the Department worked with the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, healthcare professionals and patient groups to raise awareness and encourage discussion about the risks and benefits of sodium valproate between healthcare professionals and their patients.<\/p>
<\/p>
<\/p>
<\/p>
Several measures were put in place to minimise the prescribing of sodium valproate to women of childbearing potential (except where other drugs are ineffective or not tolerated) and to communicate the warnings around the drug sodium valproate to healthcare professionals and patients (particularly women of child bearing potential).<\/p>
<\/p>
<\/p>
<\/p>
There is now a mandatory requirement for all manufacturers to include the very latest information about the known risks of sodium valproate to the unborn child. The product information for healthcare professionals and patients has been updated to contain strengthened warnings about use in pregnancy and in women of child bearing age. New educational materials have been produced for use by healthcare professionals and patients that further highlight warnings of the risk of sodium valproate to the unborn child. Other actions include:<\/p>
<\/p>
- working with the Health and Social Care Information Centre on introducing red-flag warnings on general practitioner and community pharmacy IT systems;<\/p>
<\/p>
- updating the British National Formulary (BNF) and BNF for children; and<\/p>
<\/p>
- using existing Departmental and National Health Service communication channels to raise awareness and provide information to patients.<\/p>
<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4020", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for George Freeman"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Mid Norfolk"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "George Freeman"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2015-06-12", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2015-06-12T10:40:35.373Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "17"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Health"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Health"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2015-06-03", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Pregnancy: Sodium Valproate"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he is taking to ensure that every pregnant women prescribed the anti-epilepsy drug sodium valproate is warned of the risk to her unborn child.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/33", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Pickles"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Brentwood and Ongar"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Sir Eric Pickles"} ], "uin" : "989"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/348305", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department of Health"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/348305/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) is the independent regulator of nurses and midwives in the United Kingdom and is responsible for nurse registration. We expect the NMC\u2019s registration processes and associated checks to protect patient safety through being appropriate, robust, fit for purpose and effective, and by verifying that a nursing applicant is who they claim to be, is appropriately qualified, is competent and fit-to-practise.<\/p>
<\/p>
<\/p>
<\/p>
On 1 October 2014, the NMC introduced a new overseas registration process, for applicants from countries outside of the European Economic Area with competency testing at its core. Prior to this an overseas nursing programme, including protected learning time and a period of supervised practice, was the route to NMC registration for overseas nurses. Since August 2013, overseas nursing applicants are required to attend a face-to-face interview and produce original versions of all the documents, including their qualifications, used in support of their application.<\/p>
<\/p>
<\/p>
<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/3988", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Ben Gummer"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Ipswich"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Ben Gummer"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2015-06-11", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2015-06-11T15:50:05.267Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "17"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Health"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Health"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2015-06-03", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Nurses: Qualifications"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps were taken to check the professional credentials of foreign trained nurses who started work in the UK in the period before the Nursing and Midwifery Council's monitoring system was reviewed in October 2014.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/3958", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Fiona Bruce"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Congleton"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Fiona Bruce"} ], "uin" : "973"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/348310", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department of Health"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/348310/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) follows the processes and methods set out in its guidelines manual when developing and updating its clinical guidelines. The draft guideline for type 2 diabetes was publicly consulted on between 7 January and 4 March 2015. In exceptional circumstances, NICE may consider the need for a further 4-week stakeholder consultation, if either information or data that would significantly alter the guideline were omitted from the first draft, or evidence was misinterpreted in the first draft and the amended interpretation significantly alters the draft recommendations. However as no new systematic reviews, modelling or analyses have informed the proposed changes, NICE has decided a second consultation is not required. NICE expects to publish its final guidance in August 2015.<\/p>
<\/p>
<\/p>
<\/p>
NICE\u2019s guidelines manual is available at:<\/p>
<\/p>
<\/p>
<\/p>
www.nice.org.uk/article/PMG20/chapter/1%20Introduction%20and%20overview<\/a><\/p> <\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/3918", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Jane Ellison"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Battersea"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Jane Ellison"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2015-06-12", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2015-06-12T10:51:02.307Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "17"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Health"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Health"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2015-06-03", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Diabetes: Health Services"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will ensure that NICE follows guidelines on consultation with diabetes professional bodies and representative groups before adopting the proposed substantive changes to the original draft guideline on Type 2 diabetes for final publication.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4342", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Liz McInnes"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Heywood and Middleton"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Liz McInnes"}
], "uin" : "944"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/348372", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department of Health"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/348372/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " A search by the Department\u2019s Ministerial private offices and of the Ministerial correspondence database shows no discussions have been held, nor representations received in the past six months about Southend University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust's performance on accident and emergency waiting times.<\/p> <\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/3918", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Jane Ellison"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Battersea"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Jane Ellison"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2015-06-09", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2015-06-09T14:26:45.663Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "17"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Health"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Health"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2015-06-03", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Southend University Hospital: Accident and Emergency Departments"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what recent (a) discussions he has held and (b) representations he has received concerning Southend University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust's performance on A&E waiting times; and if he will make a statement.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/44", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Sir David Amess"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Southend West"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Sir David Amess"}
], "uin" : "1096"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/348391", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department of Health"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/348391/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " As I said in the debate on 1 May 2014, Official Report, column 1052, if hon. and Rt. hon. Members indicated that they would want to initiate a Parliamentary event on cervical screening and the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccination, I would be happy to support it. Although, to date, I have received no specific representations from any hon. or Rt. hon. Members, I remain happy to support such an event.<\/p> <\/p> <\/p> <\/p> In April 2012 the UK National Screening Committee (UKNSC) gave its support for a pilot to assess the value of using HPV testing as primary screening (HPV TaPS) for cervical disease, rather than the currently used cytology test. The pilot is establishing the feasibility of using HPV testing as the primary screen for cervical disease in order to achieve better outcomes for women, while minimising over-treatment and anxiety, and whether it is practical to roll out nationally. The UK NSC will open a public consultation shortly on whether HPV TaPS for cervical disease should replace the currently used cytology test.<\/p> <\/p> <\/p> <\/p> Public Health England (PHE) continues to work with NHS England via the Public Health Section 7A agreement to develop a system of performance improvement through the use of performance floors, and strengthened governance for screening. The aims of the performance floors are:<\/p> <\/p> <\/p> - Enabling easy identification of poor performance and the setting of objectives and plans for local action, to reduce variation and improve performance.<\/p> <\/p> <\/p> <\/p> PHE will look at research provided by the STRATEGIC study (Strategies to increase cervical screening uptake at first invitation) to identify methods to help increase uptake among women. The STRATEGIC study will be publishing findings in May 2016, more details of this can be found at:<\/p> <\/p> <\/p> <\/p>
- Improving performance and equity of service over time by reducing the range of variation at a local level.<\/p>