Since April 1 2013 NHS England has been responsible for commissioning Alternative and Augmentative Communication (AAC) aids for patients with complex disability whose needs require specialised assessment, including for patients with motor neurone disease (MND). Commissioning of non-specialised AAC aids is the responsibility of local clinical commissioning groups.<\/p>
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NHS England has published a service specification for specialised AAC aids that sets out what should be in place for providers to offer evidence-based, safe and effective services and supports equity of access to a nationally consistent, high quality service for patients across the country including in Surrey and Sussex. The specification can be found at:<\/p>
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www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/d01-com-dis-equ-alt-aug-comm-aids.pdf<\/p>
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NHS England has identified an additional £22.5 million funding for AAC and Environmental Controls in 2014-15. They have been working closely with the Motor Neurone Disease Association (MNDA) to ensure this funding is equitably distributed across England in a fair and consistent manner. The MNDA are representing all patients on the panel which is reviewing this funding allocation.<\/p>
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<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1439", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Norman Lamb"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "North Norfolk"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Norman Lamb"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2014-10-27", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2014-10-27T17:07:49.9958913Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "17"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Health"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Health"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2014-10-20", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Motor Neurone Disease"} , "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 availability of augmentative and alternative communication aids for sufferers of motor neurone disease in (a) Surrey and Sussex and (b) England; and if he will make a statement.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4090", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Mr Jonathan Lord"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Woking"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Jonathan Lord"} ], "uin" : "211112"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/99849", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department of Health"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/99849/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
The vast majority of patients can get appointments and are satisfied with their general practitioner (GP) but we know more needs to be done. This is why we are offering 7.5 million more people extra evening and weekend appointments as well as email and Skype consultations.<\/p>
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We also understand that a recent small survey by Healthwatch highlighted Woking as an area where there was a potential issue with booking and arranging appointments which are convenient to patients. Following this, we are advised that Surrey and Sussex Area Team agreed to meet with the Health and Adult Social Care Committee and Healthwatch to set up a working group to look at areas which could be improved with regard to access to GP services.<\/p>
<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/3932", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Dr Dan Poulter"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Central Suffolk and North Ipswich"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Dr Daniel Poulter"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2014-10-27", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2014-10-27T17:31:21.5221944Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "17"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Health"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Health"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2014-10-20", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "General Practitioners: Woking"} , "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 increase the availability of GP appointments in Woking constituency; and if he will make a statement.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4090", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Mr Jonathan Lord"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Woking"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Jonathan Lord"} ], "uin" : "211111"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/99850", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department of Health"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/99850/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
Since 1 April 2013, NHS England has been responsible for commissioning specialised neurological services, which includes services for patients with neuromuscular disorders, such as muscular dystrophy. NHS England has published a neurosciences specification, which sets out what providers must have in place to offer high quality care and treatment for patients.<\/p>
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The neurosciences service specification describes when patients should be referred to specialist respiratory services and the circumstances in which cough assist devices should be considered. It is available from the NHS England website at this link:<\/p>
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http://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/d04-neurosci-spec-neuro.pdf.<\/p>
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A copy of this document has also been attached.<\/p>
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The equipment and respiratory support of cough assist is the commissioning responsibility of clinical commissioning groups, delivered through local specialist respiratory services, according to any local clinical commissioning policy they may have in place.<\/p>
<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/3918", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Jane Ellison"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Battersea"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Jane Ellison"} , "attachment" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/99850/answer/attachment/1", "fileName" : {"_value" : "NHS England neuroscience service specification.pdf"} , "title" : "Neurosciences service specification"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2014-10-27", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2014-10-27T16:43:52.2085406Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "17"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Health"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Health"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2014-10-20", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Medical Equipment: 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, if he will take steps to ensure the routine commissioning of cough assist machines in the West Midlands.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1211", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Mr Andrew Mitchell"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Sutton Coldfield"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Mr Andrew Mitchell"} ], "uin" : "211129"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/99852", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department of Health"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/99852/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
The principles and processes for assessment of Fast-Track eligibility for NHS Continuing Healthcare are set out in the \u2018National Framework for NHS Continuing Healthcare and NHS-funded Nursing Care<\/em>\u2019.<\/p> <\/p> <\/p> <\/p> Whilst the Department has not undertaken a specific assessment of the effectiveness of the Fast Track Tool for NHS Continuing Healthcare we have recently worked closely with NHS England and other key stakeholders in developing an Assurance Framework. The aim of the Assurance Framework is to ensure compliance with the National Framework and was launched in draft earlier this year. Further work is being undertaken to refine this prior to final publication.<\/p> <\/p> <\/p> <\/p> The Department does not collect data regarding the number of people who have been assessed as eligible for NHS Continuing Healthcare (NHS CHC) via use of the Fast Track tool.<\/p> <\/p> <\/p> <\/p> Since 1 April 2013 data on the number of people who are eligible for NHS CHC has been published quarterly at:<\/p> <\/p> <\/p> <\/p>