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1717576
registered interest false more like this
date less than 2024-05-13more like thismore than 2024-05-13
answering body
Department of Health and Social Care more like this
answering dept id 17 more like this
answering dept short name Health and Social Care remove filter
answering dept sort name Health and Social Care more like this
hansard heading Processed Food more like this
house id 1 more like this
legislature
25259
pref label House of Commons more like this
question text To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether she has made a recent assessment of the potential impact of consumption of ultra-processed foods on health. more like this
tabling member constituency Slough more like this
tabling member printed
Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi remove filter
uin 25903 more like this
answer
answer
is ministerial correction false more like this
date of answer less than 2024-05-20more like thismore than 2024-05-20
answer text <p>United Kingdom dietary recommendations are based on independent advice from the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN). In July 2023, the SACN published a position statement on processed foods and health, summarising a scoping review of the evidence on food processing and health. The statement can be accessed via the following link:</p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/sacn-statement-on-processed-foods-and-health/sacn-statement-on-processed-foods-and-health-summary-report#:~:text=Consumption%20of%20(ultra-)%20processed,fruit%20and%20vegetables%20and%20fibre." target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/sacn-statement-on-processed-foods-and-health/sacn-statement-on-processed-foods-and-health-summary-report#:~:text=Consumption%20of%20(ultra-)%20processed,fruit%20and%20vegetables%20and%20fibre.</a></p><p>The statement included an evaluation of the methods of applying the ultra-processed food (UPF) definition in the UK, the suitability of such methods, and consideration of the availability and quality of evidence on food processing and health.</p><p>It made reference to international policy and recommendations with respect to food processing and estimates of processed food consumption in the United States and France. The statement notes that estimated average UPF consumption in the United States was comparable to estimates conducted for the UK. Estimated average UPF consumption in France was somewhat lower than the UK. However, it is unclear if this is due to differences in dietary patterns, data collection methods, the methods used to estimate UPF consumption, or a combination of some, or all, of these issues.</p><p>The SACN concluded that observed associations between UPF and health are concerning, but it is unclear whether these foods are inherently unhealthy due to processing or due to their nutritional content. Given the SACN’s concerns, the committee has added the topic of processed foods to its watching brief and will consider it at its next horizon scan meeting in June 2024.<em> </em>No specific assessment has been made of the impact of the UK exiting the European Union on levels of UPF consumption.</p>
answering member constituency South Northamptonshire more like this
answering member printed Andrea Leadsom more like this
grouped question UIN 25904 more like this
question first answered
less than 2024-05-20T11:33:07.47Zmore like thismore than 2024-05-20T11:33:07.47Z
answering member
4117
label Biography information for Andrea Leadsom more like this
tabling member
4638
label Biography information for Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi remove filter
1717577
registered interest false more like this
date less than 2024-05-13more like thismore than 2024-05-13
answering body
Department of Health and Social Care more like this
answering dept id 17 more like this
answering dept short name Health and Social Care remove filter
answering dept sort name Health and Social Care more like this
hansard heading Processed Food more like this
house id 1 more like this
legislature
25259
pref label House of Commons more like this
question text To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether she has made a comparative assessment of the impact of ultra-processed foods on public health in (a) the UK and (b) other countries; and whether she has made an assessment of the impact of the UK exiting the EU on levels of consumption of ultra-processed food. more like this
tabling member constituency Slough more like this
tabling member printed
Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi remove filter
uin 25904 more like this
answer
answer
is ministerial correction false more like this
date of answer less than 2024-05-20more like thismore than 2024-05-20
answer text <p>United Kingdom dietary recommendations are based on independent advice from the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN). In July 2023, the SACN published a position statement on processed foods and health, summarising a scoping review of the evidence on food processing and health. The statement can be accessed via the following link:</p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/sacn-statement-on-processed-foods-and-health/sacn-statement-on-processed-foods-and-health-summary-report#:~:text=Consumption%20of%20(ultra-)%20processed,fruit%20and%20vegetables%20and%20fibre." target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/sacn-statement-on-processed-foods-and-health/sacn-statement-on-processed-foods-and-health-summary-report#:~:text=Consumption%20of%20(ultra-)%20processed,fruit%20and%20vegetables%20and%20fibre.</a></p><p>The statement included an evaluation of the methods of applying the ultra-processed food (UPF) definition in the UK, the suitability of such methods, and consideration of the availability and quality of evidence on food processing and health.</p><p>It made reference to international policy and recommendations with respect to food processing and estimates of processed food consumption in the United States and France. The statement notes that estimated average UPF consumption in the United States was comparable to estimates conducted for the UK. Estimated average UPF consumption in France was somewhat lower than the UK. However, it is unclear if this is due to differences in dietary patterns, data collection methods, the methods used to estimate UPF consumption, or a combination of some, or all, of these issues.</p><p>The SACN concluded that observed associations between UPF and health are concerning, but it is unclear whether these foods are inherently unhealthy due to processing or due to their nutritional content. Given the SACN’s concerns, the committee has added the topic of processed foods to its watching brief and will consider it at its next horizon scan meeting in June 2024.<em> </em>No specific assessment has been made of the impact of the UK exiting the European Union on levels of UPF consumption.</p>
answering member constituency South Northamptonshire more like this
answering member printed Andrea Leadsom more like this
grouped question UIN 25903 more like this
question first answered
less than 2024-05-20T11:33:07.53Zmore like thismore than 2024-05-20T11:33:07.53Z
answering member
4117
label Biography information for Andrea Leadsom more like this
tabling member
4638
label Biography information for Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi remove filter
1715830
registered interest false more like this
date less than 2024-05-03more like thismore than 2024-05-03
answering body
Department of Health and Social Care more like this
answering dept id 17 more like this
answering dept short name Health and Social Care remove filter
answering dept sort name Health and Social Care more like this
hansard heading Hormones: Sales more like this
house id 1 more like this
legislature
25259
pref label House of Commons more like this
question text To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what discussions he has had with the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency on steps to (a) tackle the illegal sale of cross-sex hormones online and (b) protect public health. more like this
tabling member constituency Slough more like this
tabling member printed
Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi remove filter
uin 24802 more like this
answer
answer
is ministerial correction false more like this
date of answer less than 2024-05-09more like thismore than 2024-05-09
answer text <p>Strict regulatory controls govern medicinal products for human use, including their manufacture, distribution, retail sale and supply, and advertisement. The medicines referred to cannot be advertised directly to the public, and any online offer to sell or supply them to a patient would likely contravene the Human Medicines Regulations 2012.</p><p>Instances of United Kingdom-based non-compliant activity relating to the online advertising, sale, or supply of medicines are reviewed by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) on a case-by-case basis, and appropriate action taken. Enforcement options include removal of the offending weblink, remedial intervention to bring the owner into compliance, or a criminal investigation and possible prosecution.</p><p>The MHRA also works closely with partners to prevent medicines from entering or being traded in the UK illegally. The MHRA’s Fake Meds campaign encourages people in the UK to use safe and legitimate sources when buying medication online. The MHRA also promotes the reporting of suspicious medicinal products and adverse side effects via its Yellow Card scheme. Further information on the Fake Meds campaign and the Yellow Card scheme is available, respectively, at the following links:</p><p><a href="https://fakemeds.campaign.gov.uk/" target="_blank">https://fakemeds.campaign.gov.uk/</a></p><p><a href="https://yellowcard.mhra.gov.uk/" target="_blank">https://yellowcard.mhra.gov.uk/</a></p>
answering member constituency Pendle more like this
answering member printed Andrew Stephenson more like this
question first answered
less than 2024-05-09T13:10:41.723Zmore like thismore than 2024-05-09T13:10:41.723Z
answering member
4044
label Biography information for Andrew Stephenson more like this
tabling member
4638
label Biography information for Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi remove filter
1715833
registered interest false more like this
date less than 2024-05-03more like thismore than 2024-05-03
answering body
Department of Health and Social Care more like this
answering dept id 17 more like this
answering dept short name Health and Social Care remove filter
answering dept sort name Health and Social Care more like this
hansard heading Prescription Drugs: Sales more like this
house id 1 more like this
legislature
25259
pref label House of Commons more like this
question text To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he plans to bring forward legislative proposals to tackle the online sale of prescription-only medications without a prescription. more like this
tabling member constituency Slough more like this
tabling member printed
Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi remove filter
uin 24803 more like this
answer
answer
is ministerial correction false more like this
date of answer less than 2024-05-14more like thismore than 2024-05-14
answer text <p>The sale and supply of prescription-only medicines is regulated by the Human Medicines Regulations 2012 (HMR). The HMR provides inspection and enforcement powers for the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, and creates criminal offences in respect of non-compliance with those regulations. At this time, the Department has no plans to legislate the online sale of prescription-only medicines without a prescription.</p> more like this
answering member constituency Pendle more like this
answering member printed Andrew Stephenson more like this
question first answered
less than 2024-05-14T16:37:59.003Zmore like thismore than 2024-05-14T16:37:59.003Z
answering member
4044
label Biography information for Andrew Stephenson more like this
tabling member
4638
label Biography information for Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi remove filter
1713568
registered interest false more like this
date less than 2024-04-24more like thismore than 2024-04-24
answering body
Department of Health and Social Care more like this
answering dept id 17 more like this
answering dept short name Health and Social Care remove filter
answering dept sort name Health and Social Care more like this
hansard heading Health Services: Standards more like this
house id 1 more like this
legislature
25259
pref label House of Commons more like this
question text To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps she is taking to help improve patient access to primary care services. more like this
tabling member constituency Slough more like this
tabling member printed
Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi remove filter
uin 23549 more like this
answer
answer
is ministerial correction false more like this
date of answer less than 2024-04-29more like thismore than 2024-04-29
answer text <p>Our Delivery plan for recovering access to primary care has two central ambitions to improve access to general practice (GP): tackling the 8:00am rush and reducing the number of people struggling to contact their practice; and for patients to know on the day they contact their practice, how their request will be managed.</p><p>We are doing this by modernising telephone systems, backed by £240 million in retargeted funding, and by building the capacity to deliver more appointments. As a result, we have now delivered on our manifesto commitment for 50 million more GP appointments per year, with 370.7 million booked across the last 12 months.</p><p>There is an increasing number of clinical services that are being delivered in community pharmacy, including the New Medicines Service, Contraception Service, Blood Pressure Check Service, Stop Smoking Service, and most recently the new Pharmacy First service. These services help take the pressure off GPs, and make it quicker and easier for patients to access care.</p><p>Furthermore, our plan to recover and reform NHS dentistry will fund approximately 2.5 million additional appointments. The plan sets out our actions to address the challenges facing National Health Service dentistry, and to improve dental access for patients across the country. A new patient premium is supporting dentists to take on new patients, and a new marketing campaign will help everyone who needs an NHS dentist in finding one. We have further supported dentists by raising the minimum Units of Dental Activity rate to £28 this year, making NHS work more attractive and sustainable.</p>
answering member constituency South Northamptonshire more like this
answering member printed Andrea Leadsom more like this
question first answered
less than 2024-04-29T15:40:25.613Zmore like thismore than 2024-04-29T15:40:25.613Z
answering member
4117
label Biography information for Andrea Leadsom more like this
tabling member
4638
label Biography information for Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi remove filter
1712749
registered interest false more like this
date less than 2024-04-22more like thismore than 2024-04-22
answering body
Department of Health and Social Care more like this
answering dept id 17 more like this
answering dept short name Health and Social Care remove filter
answering dept sort name Health and Social Care more like this
hansard heading HIV Infection: Screening more like this
house id 1 more like this
legislature
25259
pref label House of Commons more like this
question text To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps she is taking to reduce the stigma of HIV testing. more like this
tabling member constituency Slough more like this
tabling member printed
Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi remove filter
uin 23012 more like this
answer
answer
is ministerial correction false more like this
date of answer less than 2024-04-29more like thismore than 2024-04-29
answer text <p>HIV testing is essential, as it allows those with HIV to be offered lifesaving treatment, and prevents its onward transmission. This is why we have committed to scaling up HIV testing in our HIV Action Plan. As part of the HIV Action Plan, NHS England made an initial £20 million available over three years to 2025, for HIV opt-out testing in 34 emergency departments (EDs) in areas with extremely high HIV prevalence, areas with five or more HIV cases per 1,000 residents aged 15 to 59 years old. The plan also included Blackpool in 2019, at 4.9 HIV cases per 1,000 residents aged 15 to 59 years old, and the whole of London, including some local areas with high HIV prevalence supported with additional funding from NHS London.</p><p> </p><p>In November 2024, the Government announced new research, commissioned through the National Institute for Health and Care Research, to evaluate an expansion of blood-borne virus opt-out testing, including HIV, in 47 additional EDs in local areas of England with high HIV prevalence. These would be areas with two to five HIV cases per 1,000 residents aged 15 to 59 years old, and would include the Wexham Park Hospital and Frimley Park Hospital in Slough. The research project is currently in the set-up phase, and funding will support 12 months of testing for each ED, although it is at the discretion of individual sites when the testing will commence. It is the responsibility of individual EDs to make service users aware of the availability of HIV and other blood-borne virus opt-out testing, as appropriate.</p><p> </p><p>HIV opt-out testing in EDs in areas with extremely high HIV prevalence has shown very encouraging outcomes so far, and at 21 months has delivered 2.6 million HIV tests, and found more than 1,000 people with undiagnosed or untreated HIV, including those who would not have been found via other testing routes. Making HIV testing routine in a front-line health care setting such as an ED, raises the awareness of HIV and helps remove the stigma associated with HIV testing.</p><p> </p><p>We are also working to improve workforce training in the National Health Service to increase HIV awareness, and in collaboration with the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), to continue to monitor the levels of stigma and discrimination experienced by people living with HIV within the health and social care system, as well as within community settings. The UKHSA published the positive voices survey report in early 2024, which presents key indicators for HIV stigma, and is available at the following link:</p><p> </p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/hiv-positive-voices-survey/positive-voices-2022-survey-report" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/hiv-positive-voices-survey/positive-voices-2022-survey-report</a></p><p> </p><p>Further work is underway to develop key indicators for monitoring quality of life and stigma for people living with HIV.</p>
answering member constituency South Northamptonshire more like this
answering member printed Andrea Leadsom more like this
grouped question UIN
23013 more like this
23016 more like this
question first answered
less than 2024-04-29T09:53:47.443Zmore like thismore than 2024-04-29T09:53:47.443Z
answering member
4117
label Biography information for Andrea Leadsom more like this
tabling member
4638
label Biography information for Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi remove filter
1712750
registered interest false more like this
date less than 2024-04-22more like thismore than 2024-04-22
answering body
Department of Health and Social Care more like this
answering dept id 17 more like this
answering dept short name Health and Social Care remove filter
answering dept sort name Health and Social Care more like this
hansard heading HIV Infection: Screening more like this
house id 1 more like this
legislature
25259
pref label House of Commons more like this
question text To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when opt-out testing for HIV will be expanded to (a) Slough and (b) and other areas with a high prevalence of HIV. more like this
tabling member constituency Slough more like this
tabling member printed
Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi remove filter
uin 23013 more like this
answer
answer
is ministerial correction false more like this
date of answer less than 2024-04-29more like thismore than 2024-04-29
answer text <p>HIV testing is essential, as it allows those with HIV to be offered lifesaving treatment, and prevents its onward transmission. This is why we have committed to scaling up HIV testing in our HIV Action Plan. As part of the HIV Action Plan, NHS England made an initial £20 million available over three years to 2025, for HIV opt-out testing in 34 emergency departments (EDs) in areas with extremely high HIV prevalence, areas with five or more HIV cases per 1,000 residents aged 15 to 59 years old. The plan also included Blackpool in 2019, at 4.9 HIV cases per 1,000 residents aged 15 to 59 years old, and the whole of London, including some local areas with high HIV prevalence supported with additional funding from NHS London.</p><p> </p><p>In November 2024, the Government announced new research, commissioned through the National Institute for Health and Care Research, to evaluate an expansion of blood-borne virus opt-out testing, including HIV, in 47 additional EDs in local areas of England with high HIV prevalence. These would be areas with two to five HIV cases per 1,000 residents aged 15 to 59 years old, and would include the Wexham Park Hospital and Frimley Park Hospital in Slough. The research project is currently in the set-up phase, and funding will support 12 months of testing for each ED, although it is at the discretion of individual sites when the testing will commence. It is the responsibility of individual EDs to make service users aware of the availability of HIV and other blood-borne virus opt-out testing, as appropriate.</p><p> </p><p>HIV opt-out testing in EDs in areas with extremely high HIV prevalence has shown very encouraging outcomes so far, and at 21 months has delivered 2.6 million HIV tests, and found more than 1,000 people with undiagnosed or untreated HIV, including those who would not have been found via other testing routes. Making HIV testing routine in a front-line health care setting such as an ED, raises the awareness of HIV and helps remove the stigma associated with HIV testing.</p><p> </p><p>We are also working to improve workforce training in the National Health Service to increase HIV awareness, and in collaboration with the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), to continue to monitor the levels of stigma and discrimination experienced by people living with HIV within the health and social care system, as well as within community settings. The UKHSA published the positive voices survey report in early 2024, which presents key indicators for HIV stigma, and is available at the following link:</p><p> </p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/hiv-positive-voices-survey/positive-voices-2022-survey-report" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/hiv-positive-voices-survey/positive-voices-2022-survey-report</a></p><p> </p><p>Further work is underway to develop key indicators for monitoring quality of life and stigma for people living with HIV.</p>
answering member constituency South Northamptonshire more like this
answering member printed Andrea Leadsom more like this
grouped question UIN
23012 more like this
23016 more like this
question first answered
less than 2024-04-29T09:53:47.49Zmore like thismore than 2024-04-29T09:53:47.49Z
answering member
4117
label Biography information for Andrea Leadsom more like this
tabling member
4638
label Biography information for Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi remove filter
1712751
registered interest false more like this
date less than 2024-04-22more like thismore than 2024-04-22
answering body
Department of Health and Social Care more like this
answering dept id 17 more like this
answering dept short name Health and Social Care remove filter
answering dept sort name Health and Social Care more like this
hansard heading HIV Infection: Health Services more like this
house id 1 more like this
legislature
25259
pref label House of Commons more like this
question text To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps her Department is taking to fund HIV treatment. more like this
tabling member constituency Slough more like this
tabling member printed
Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi remove filter
uin 23014 more like this
answer
answer
is ministerial correction false more like this
date of answer less than 2024-04-29more like thismore than 2024-04-29
answer text <p>The HIV Action Plan is the cornerstone of our approach to driving progress and achieving our goal of ending new HIV transmissions, AIDS, and HIV-related deaths within England by 2030. Rapid access to, and retention in, HIV treatment and care can support those diagnosed with HIV in living healthy lives and maintaining an undetectable viral load, meaning they cannot transmit HIV to their sexual partners.</p><p> </p><p>As demonstrated by our success in meeting the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS’s 95-95-95 targets, England does very well on viral suppression and retention in care, with 98% of those diagnosed being on treatment, and 98% of those on treatment having an undetectable viral load. HIV treatment and care remain world class in England, and most beneficial outcomes remain high across all population groups. HIV treatment is available free of charge from open access HIV clinics in the National Health Service, and funded by the Department though our budget allocation to NHS England.</p><p> </p><p>The HIV Action Plan identifies that regional directors of public health will provide system leadership on HIV at a regional level, and local governance arrangements take various forms. It is for regional and local systems to oversee relevant care provision. The Department has not assessed the adequacy of health care provision for those diagnosed with HIV in local or regional areas, including Slough and the South East.</p><p> </p><p>Local authorities in England are responsible for commissioning open access sexual health services, including HIV prevention and testing services, through the public health grant, funded at £3.6 billion in 2024/25. It is for individual local authorities to decide their spending priorities based on an assessment of local need, and to commission the service lines that best suit their population. The UK Health Security Agency provides support to regions and local government, including helping areas to understand the local situation in depth and identify where to focus efforts.</p>
answering member constituency South Northamptonshire more like this
answering member printed Andrea Leadsom more like this
grouped question UIN
23017 more like this
23018 more like this
23019 more like this
question first answered
less than 2024-04-29T10:34:42.887Zmore like thismore than 2024-04-29T10:34:42.887Z
answering member
4117
label Biography information for Andrea Leadsom more like this
tabling member
4638
label Biography information for Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi remove filter
1712752
registered interest false more like this
date less than 2024-04-22more like thismore than 2024-04-22
answering body
Department of Health and Social Care more like this
answering dept id 17 more like this
answering dept short name Health and Social Care remove filter
answering dept sort name Health and Social Care more like this
hansard heading HIV Infection: Health Services more like this
house id 1 more like this
legislature
25259
pref label House of Commons more like this
question text To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment she made of the adequacy of the HIV Action Plan deadline of 2030. more like this
tabling member constituency Slough more like this
tabling member printed
Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi remove filter
uin 23015 more like this
answer
answer
is ministerial correction false more like this
date of answer less than 2024-04-29more like thismore than 2024-04-29
answer text <p>The Government is committed to ending new HIV transmissions, AIDS, and HIV-related deaths within England by 2030, and our HIV Action Plan from 2021 sets out how we will achieve our interim ambitions by 2025. The HIV Action Plan Implementation Steering Group, chaired by the Government's chief adviser for HIV, is supporting and driving forward the implementation of the HIV Action Plan, to ensure progress is in line with the plan's ambitions.</p><p> </p><p>The UK Health Security Agency publishes an annual monitoring and evaluation report of the HIV Action Plan, which tracks progress towards achieving our long-term commitment to end new HIV transmissions, AIDS, and HIV-related deaths within England by 2030. The 2023 report demonstrates progress made to date, with under 4,500 people living with undiagnosed HIV, and extremely high levels of antiretroviral therapy coverage and viral suppression. The report also highlights areas which needs further work, such as strengthening HIV prevention and testing, retainment in care, and tackling HIV related stigma. The report is available at the following link:</p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/hiv-monitoring-and-evaluation-framework" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/hiv-monitoring-and-evaluation-framework</a>.</p>
answering member constituency South Northamptonshire more like this
answering member printed Andrea Leadsom more like this
question first answered
less than 2024-04-29T15:07:45.923Zmore like thismore than 2024-04-29T15:07:45.923Z
answering member
4117
label Biography information for Andrea Leadsom more like this
tabling member
4638
label Biography information for Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi remove filter
1712753
registered interest false more like this
date less than 2024-04-22more like thismore than 2024-04-22
answering body
Department of Health and Social Care more like this
answering dept id 17 more like this
answering dept short name Health and Social Care remove filter
answering dept sort name Health and Social Care more like this
hansard heading HIV Infection: Accident and Emergency Departments more like this
house id 1 more like this
legislature
25259
pref label House of Commons more like this
question text To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps her Department is taking to publicise opt-out testing for HIV to those attending emergency departments. more like this
tabling member constituency Slough more like this
tabling member printed
Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi remove filter
uin 23016 more like this
answer
answer
is ministerial correction false more like this
date of answer less than 2024-04-29more like thismore than 2024-04-29
answer text <p>HIV testing is essential, as it allows those with HIV to be offered lifesaving treatment, and prevents its onward transmission. This is why we have committed to scaling up HIV testing in our HIV Action Plan. As part of the HIV Action Plan, NHS England made an initial £20 million available over three years to 2025, for HIV opt-out testing in 34 emergency departments (EDs) in areas with extremely high HIV prevalence, areas with five or more HIV cases per 1,000 residents aged 15 to 59 years old. The plan also included Blackpool in 2019, at 4.9 HIV cases per 1,000 residents aged 15 to 59 years old, and the whole of London, including some local areas with high HIV prevalence supported with additional funding from NHS London.</p><p> </p><p>In November 2024, the Government announced new research, commissioned through the National Institute for Health and Care Research, to evaluate an expansion of blood-borne virus opt-out testing, including HIV, in 47 additional EDs in local areas of England with high HIV prevalence. These would be areas with two to five HIV cases per 1,000 residents aged 15 to 59 years old, and would include the Wexham Park Hospital and Frimley Park Hospital in Slough. The research project is currently in the set-up phase, and funding will support 12 months of testing for each ED, although it is at the discretion of individual sites when the testing will commence. It is the responsibility of individual EDs to make service users aware of the availability of HIV and other blood-borne virus opt-out testing, as appropriate.</p><p> </p><p>HIV opt-out testing in EDs in areas with extremely high HIV prevalence has shown very encouraging outcomes so far, and at 21 months has delivered 2.6 million HIV tests, and found more than 1,000 people with undiagnosed or untreated HIV, including those who would not have been found via other testing routes. Making HIV testing routine in a front-line health care setting such as an ED, raises the awareness of HIV and helps remove the stigma associated with HIV testing.</p><p> </p><p>We are also working to improve workforce training in the National Health Service to increase HIV awareness, and in collaboration with the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), to continue to monitor the levels of stigma and discrimination experienced by people living with HIV within the health and social care system, as well as within community settings. The UKHSA published the positive voices survey report in early 2024, which presents key indicators for HIV stigma, and is available at the following link:</p><p> </p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/hiv-positive-voices-survey/positive-voices-2022-survey-report" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/hiv-positive-voices-survey/positive-voices-2022-survey-report</a></p><p> </p><p>Further work is underway to develop key indicators for monitoring quality of life and stigma for people living with HIV.</p>
answering member constituency South Northamptonshire more like this
answering member printed Andrea Leadsom more like this
grouped question UIN
23012 more like this
23013 more like this
question first answered
less than 2024-04-29T09:53:47.52Zmore like thismore than 2024-04-29T09:53:47.52Z
answering member
4117
label Biography information for Andrea Leadsom more like this
tabling member
4638
label Biography information for Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi remove filter