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518250

registered interest
date	09/05/2016
answering body	Department of Health
answering dept id	17
answering dept short name	Health
answering dept sort name	Health
hansard heading	Pregnancy: Screening
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the potential effect of introducing cell-free DNA testing on the NHS on the number of women choosing to terminate their pregnancies.
tabling member constituency	Birkenhead
tabling member printed	Frank Field
uin	36742
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/05/2016 answer text <p>There is a long established Fetal Anomaly Screening Programme (NHS FASP) that prospective parents can choose whether to participate in.</p><p> </p><p>The UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC) has recommended that non-invasive prenatal testing for Down’s syndrome should be introduced as an additional test into the NHS FASP as part of an evaluation. Ministers are currently considering this important recommendation from the UK NSC which would give pregnant women and their partners more accurate information and should reduce the number of women having to undergo unnecessary invasive testing which carries a risk of miscarriage.</p><p> </p><p>The UK NSC recommendation does not change the offer to prospective parents of participating in the programme, nor the options and choices available when testing identifies a fetus with Down’s, Edwards’ or Patau’s syndrome.</p><p> </p><p>Existing guidance from the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists already makes it clear that women and their partners should receive appropriate information and support from a properly trained multidisciplinary team, who must adopt a supportive and non-judgemental approach regardless of whether the decision is to terminate or continue the pregnancy. This should include referral to other professional experts (including palliative care) and referral for counselling when this can help, as part of a co-ordinated package of care.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Battersea answering member printed Jane Ellison question first answered 11/05/2016 15:26:58 answering member 3918 label Biography information for Jane Ellison
tabling member	478 label Biography information for Lord Field of Birkenhead

513519

registered interest
date	18/04/2016
answering body	Department of Health
answering dept id	17
answering dept short name	Health
answering dept sort name	Health
hansard heading	Healthy Start Scheme
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 maximise the take-up of Healthy Start vouchers.
tabling member constituency	Birkenhead
tabling member printed	Frank Field
uin	34321
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/04/2016 answer text <p>The Healthy Start Issuing Unit contacts families who are newly eligible for the scheme with an invitation to apply and an application leaflet. A reminder letter with another copy of the application form is issued if an application has not been received after six weeks. We publicise the scheme via the Healthy Start website and Start 4 Life provide a texting service reminding potential beneficiaries to take up the vouchers. Midwives and health visitors play a key role at a local level in promoting awareness of the scheme and we continue to look for other opportunities to promote the scheme.</p><p>The Department is also planning to explore how digital technology could make it easier to receive Healthy Start benefits in the future as part of the Government’s wider digital strategy.</p> answering member constituency Battersea answering member printed Jane Ellison question first answered 21/04/2016 15:23:36 answering member 3918 label Biography information for Jane Ellison
tabling member	478 label Biography information for Lord Field of Birkenhead

455338

registered interest
date	25/02/2016
answering body	Department of Health
answering dept id	17
answering dept short name	Health
answering dept sort name	Health
hansard heading	Rickets: Children and Young People
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many cases of rickets there were among children and young people in each of the last 10 years.
tabling member constituency	Birkenhead
tabling member printed	Frank Field
uin	28581
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/03/2016 answer text <p>The Health and Social Care Information Centre has provided a link to their annual publication for admitted patient care which contains data on hospital admissions where there is a diagnosis of rickets:</p><p> </p><p><a href="http://www.hscic.gov.uk/catalogue/PUB19124/hosp-epis-stat-admi-diag-2014-15-tab.xlsx" target="_blank">http://www.hscic.gov.uk/catalogue/PUB19124/hosp-epis-stat-admi-diag-2014-15-tab.xlsx</a></p><p> </p><p>Data on earlier years can be found at:</p><p> </p><p><a href="http://www.hscic.gov.uk/searchcatalogue?q=title%3a%22Hospital+Episode+Statistics%2c+Admitted+patient+care+-+England%22&amp;sort=Most+recent&amp;size=10&amp;page=1#top" target="_blank">http://www.hscic.gov.uk/searchcatalogue?q=title%3a%22Hospital+Episode+Statistics%2c+Admitted+patient+care+-+England%22&amp;sort=Most+recent&amp;size=10&amp;page=1#top</a></p><p> </p><p>The annual publication provides the total number of finished admission episodes and an age breakdown of finished consultant episodes.</p><p> </p><p>This data only reflects cases that have resulted in a hospital admission. Cases of rickets may also be diagnosed in a primary care setting which do not result in a hospital admission. This data should not be described as a count of people as the same person may have been admitted on one or more occasion.</p> answering member constituency Battersea answering member printed Jane Ellison question first answered 01/03/2016 16:58:44 answering member 3918 label Biography information for Jane Ellison
tabling member	478 label Biography information for Lord Field of Birkenhead

453287

registered interest
date	19/02/2016
answering body	Department of Health
answering dept id	17
answering dept short name	Health
answering dept sort name	Health
hansard heading	Meningitis: Vaccination
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what proportion of children in England received the meningitis B vaccine in 2015-16; and what steps he is taking to maximise take-up rates.
tabling member constituency	Birkenhead
tabling member printed	Frank Field
uin	27288
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/02/2016 answer text <p>Meningitis B (MenB) immunisation for infants was introduced on 1 September 2015 on the basis of expert advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation, the independent body which advises Government on all immunisation matters. The vaccine is offered alongside other routine immunisations at two and four months of age, with a booster dose at 12-13 months. A limited one-off catch-up programme was also offered, targeting infants born in May and June 2015.</p><p>Preliminary vaccine coverage for children born in July 2015 was 94.0% for one dose and 84.8% for two doses when measured at six months of age.</p><p>The introduction of MenB immunisation has been supported by a comprehensive media and communications campaign in partnership with health partners and meningitis charities. This resulted in significant coverage across national, local, parenting and social media. New patient information leaflets and posters have also supported the campaign, and comprehensive guidance has been added to the NHS Choices website. Existing children’s immunisation information booklets and leaflets have been amended to reflect the new immunisation schedule. A training factsheet and video for health professionals have also been produced.</p> answering member constituency Battersea answering member printed Jane Ellison question first answered 29/02/2016 14:16:51 answering member 3918 label Biography information for Jane Ellison
tabling member	478 label Biography information for Lord Field of Birkenhead

442975

registered interest
date	06/01/2016
answering body	Department of Health
answering dept id	17
answering dept short name	Health
answering dept sort name	Health
hansard heading	Anaemia: Children
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many children in England were diagnosed as anaemic or iron deficient in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available.
tabling member constituency	Birkenhead
tabling member printed	Frank Field
uin	21373
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/01/2016 answer text <p>There are no figures available centrally for how many children in England were diagnosed as anaemic or iron deficient in each of the last 10 years.</p><br /><p>However, the National Diet and Nutrition Survey (NDNS) UK report has figures for the proportion of children in the United Kingdom with haemoglobin concentrations below a certain level that indicate anaemia, but are not necessarily diagnosed.</p><br /><p>Lower limits for haemoglobin have been set by the World Health Organization and are endorsed by the Scientific Advisory Committee for Nutrition.</p><br /><p>The figures below for the UK cover years 1, 2, 3 and 4 (combined) of the NDNS Rolling Programme (2008/09 to 2011/12).</p><br /><p>The estimated proportion of children in the UK with a haemoglobin concentration below the lower limits was:</p><br /><table><tbody><tr><td><p>Age Group</p></td><td><p>% below the lower limits</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>1.5 to three years</p></td><td><p>12.9</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>four to ten years (boys)</p></td><td><p>3.1</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>11 to 18 years (boys)</p></td><td><p>1.8</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>four to ten years (girls)</p></td><td><p>5.7</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>11 to 18 years (girls)</p></td><td><p>7.4</p></td></tr></tbody></table> answering member constituency Battersea answering member printed Jane Ellison question first answered 11/01/2016 17:02:19 answering member 3918 label Biography information for Jane Ellison
tabling member	478 label Biography information for Lord Field of Birkenhead

442980

registered interest
date	06/01/2016
answering body	Department of Health
answering dept id	17
answering dept short name	Health
answering dept sort name	Health
hansard heading	School Fruit and Vegetable Scheme
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what recent estimate he has made of the take-up of the School Fruit and Vegetable Scheme by children from low-income families.
tabling member constituency	Birkenhead
tabling member printed	Frank Field
uin	21372
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/01/2016 answer text <p>This information is not available. Take-up for the School Fruit and Vegetable Scheme is assessed as a percentage of eligible schools registered to receive fruit and vegetable boxes from the scheme. The prime contractor for the Scheme, NHS Supply Chain, estimates that 99% of eligible schools are registered with the scheme.</p> answering member constituency Battersea answering member printed Jane Ellison question first answered 11/01/2016 18:02:26 answering member 3918 label Biography information for Jane Ellison
tabling member	478 label Biography information for Lord Field of Birkenhead

420155

registered interest
date	09/10/2015
answering body	Department of Health
answering dept id	17
answering dept short name	Health
answering dept sort name	Health
hansard heading	Healthy Start Scheme
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what proportion of eligible people took up Healthy Start vouchers in (a) Birkenhead, (b) the Liverpool, city region and (c) the UK in the last period for which figures are available.
tabling member constituency	Birkenhead
tabling member printed	Frank Field
uin	10933
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/10/2015 answer text <p>The following table outlines the proportion of eligible people who applied for and received Healthy Start vouchers in Wirral (including Birkenhead), Liverpool, Liverpool City Region areas and the United Kingdom using the latest data covering a four week period. The take up rate is therefore a snapshot rather than an average of all four week cycles during an annual period.</p><br /><p>Cycle No. 161 Covering Period: 24 August - 20 September 2015</p><br /><table><tbody><tr><td><p>Area</p></td><td><p>Recipients</p></td><td><p>Eligible</p></td><td><p>Take Up</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Liverpool</p></td><td><p>5,250</p></td><td><p>6,557</p></td><td><p>80%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Halton</p></td><td><p>1,141</p></td><td><p>1,544</p></td><td><p>72%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Knowsley</p></td><td><p>1,859</p></td><td><p>2,287</p></td><td><p>80%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Sefton</p></td><td><p>1,755</p></td><td><p>2,344</p></td><td><p>75%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>St Helens</p></td><td><p>1,585</p></td><td><p>2,003</p></td><td><p>79%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Wirral (Birkenhead included)</p></td><td><p>2,834</p></td><td><p>3,509</p></td><td><p>80%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>UK</p></td><td><p>430,620</p></td><td><p>585,990</p></td><td><p>72%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Birkenhead Postcodes</p></td><td><p>Beneficiaries (by Postal Sector)</p></td><td><p>Under One</p></td><td><p>Over One</p></td><td><p>Pregnant</p></td><td><p>Beneficiary Child with Pregnant Mother</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>CH41</p></td><td><p>555</p></td><td><p>127</p></td><td><p>387</p></td><td><p>41</p></td><td><p>67</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>CH42</p></td><td><p>607</p></td><td><p>135</p></td><td><p>432</p></td><td><p>40</p></td><td><p>51</p></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>The numbers of families eligible and the take up rate for Healthy Start are not available below local authority level, so the figures for Birkenhead are included as part of the overall figures for Wirral. Numbers of beneficiaries for Birkenhead using postcode data are provided. All eligible people are contacted by the Healthy Start Issuing Unit and are invited to apply. The Department also publicises the scheme via the Healthy Start website and helpline.</p> answering member constituency Battersea answering member printed Jane Ellison question first answered 19/10/2015 14:53:12 answering member 3918 label Biography information for Jane Ellison
tabling member	478 label Biography information for Lord Field of Birkenhead

387046

registered interest
date	01/07/2015
answering body	Department of Health
answering dept id	17
answering dept short name	Health
answering dept sort name	Health
hansard heading	Health Visitors
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what progress he has made in raising the number of health visitors available to new mothers and improving the universal service offer by 2015.
tabling member constituency	Birkenhead
tabling member printed	Frank Field
uin	5064
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/07/2015 answer text <p>The most recent official figures* for March 2015 show there are 12,077 health visitors in post, this is an increase of 3,985 health visitors since May 2010. In addition, over 1,000 health visitors were in training at the end of March 2015, who, if they complete their training, will be eligible to practise between September 2015 and February 2016. This significant expansion means the workforce is well-placed to deliver the Health Visitor Programme’s four level model, including the universal offer to new parents.</p><p> </p><p><strong> </strong></p><p> </p><p>*Published by the Health and Social Care Information Centre</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Battersea answering member printed Jane Ellison question first answered 06/07/2015 13:09:12 answering member 3918 label Biography information for Jane Ellison
tabling member	478 label Biography information for Lord Field of Birkenhead

387047

registered interest
date	01/07/2015
answering body	Department of Health
answering dept id	17
answering dept short name	Health
answering dept sort name	Health
hansard heading	Health: Children
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 that all families benefit from targeted support under the Healthy Child Programme.
tabling member constituency	Birkenhead
tabling member printed	Frank Field
uin	5065
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/07/2015 answer text <p>The Healthy Child Programme is a progressive universal service which offers every child a schedule of health and development reviews, screening tests, immunisations, health promotion guidance and support for parents tailored to their needs. For children and families with greater needs and risks, a range of additional preventive and early intervention services are offered, including services promoting child development and emotional and psychological support.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>To ensure the programme remains up to date with the latest evidence, a review of the evidence base for the Healthy Child Programme was undertaken by Public Health England and published in March 2015. The findings of the review will ensure that the Healthy Child Programme is underpinned by robust, up-to-date evidence of what works.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The review report is available on the gov.uk website at:</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/healthy-child-programme-rapid-review-to-update-evidence" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/healthy-child-programme-rapid-review-to-update-evidence</a></p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>To support the continued provision of the Healthy Child Programme following transfer of responsibility for planning and commissioning of public health services for children up to age five from NHS England to local authorities on 1 October 2015, we are mandating five universal health visitor reviews:</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>- the antenatal health promoting visit;</p><p> </p><p>- the new baby review;</p><p> </p><p>- the 6-8 week assessment (the health visitor or Family Nurse led check);</p><p> </p><p>- the one year assessment; and</p><p> </p><p>- the 2-2½ year review.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Evidence shows that these are the key times to ensure that parents are supported to give their baby the best start in life, and to identify early those families who need extra help. This will help ensure all children under five and their parents get the support they need, whilst also providing an opportunity to identify those families where extra support may be needed.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Battersea answering member printed Jane Ellison question first answered 06/07/2015 16:20:56 answering member 3918 label Biography information for Jane Ellison
tabling member	478 label Biography information for Lord Field of Birkenhead

384390

registered interest
date	19/06/2015
answering body	Department of Health
answering dept id	17
answering dept short name	Health
answering dept sort name	Health
hansard heading	Department of Health: Living Wage
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many (a) direct employees, (b) agency staff and (c) outsourced staff working for his Department and its subsidiary agencies are paid less than the living wage.
tabling member constituency	Birkenhead
tabling member printed	Frank Field
uin	3316
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/06/2015 answer text <p>No civil servants employed by the ‘core’ Department or its executive agencies: Public Health England and the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency are paid less than the Living Wage.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>In line with Cabinet Office advice, the Department and its executive agencies do not require their contracted companies to pay their employees the local Living Wage.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Currently, for agency staff (agency temps and contractors) working with the ‘core’ Department, six individual agency staff earn under the London Living Wage and one individual (an apprentice) earns under the National Living Wage. These are out of a total of 50 agency staff employed by the ‘core’ Department.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Similarly, the Department and its executive agencies have outsourced service providers on their premises that are also obliged to pay the National Minimum Wage but not obliged to pay the Living Wage.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Currently, staff working for outsourced service provider Compass number 34 individuals working in London on the Department’s catering contract, none of whom are paid below London Living Wage levels.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Currently, the number of staff working for outsourced service provider EMCOR who earn below London Living Wage is 109. EMCOR does not provide services to the Department outside the London area.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Battersea answering member printed Jane Ellison question first answered 29/06/2015 16:01:26 answering member 3918 label Biography information for Jane Ellison
tabling member	478 label Biography information for Lord Field of Birkenhead