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1690588

registered interest
date	20/02/2024
answering body	Department of Health and Social Care
answering dept id	17
answering dept short name	Health and Social Care
answering dept sort name	Health and Social Care
hansard heading	Long Covid
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of (1) the overall burden of Long Covid, (2) the number of new cases being identified each month, (3) the percentage of sufferers who are able to receive specialist treatment, and (4) the provisions available for long-term support and assistance.
tabling member printed	Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle
uin	HL2607
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/02/2024 answer text <p>The Government does not currently routinely record the total amount of people with long COVID or new cases identified. However, the most recent data from the Office of National Statistics shows that for the 4-week period ending 5 March 2023, 1.9 million people, or 2.9% of the population, in private households in the United Kingdom reported experiencing long COVID symptoms; 83,000 people first had, or suspected they had, COVID-19 less than 12 weeks previously, 1.73 million people had symptoms for 12 or more weeks, 1.3 million people for at least a year and 762,000 for at least two years; and 1.5 million people reported day-to-day activities adversely affected. Of these, 381,000 reported that their ability to undertake day-to-day activities had been limited a lot.</p><p>Whilst no specific assessment has been made of the percentage of long COVID sufferers who are able to receive specialist treatment, activity data released by NHS England shows that, for the month of December 2023, there was a total of 1,104 initial specialist assessments completed during the month and an additional 8,696 follow-up appointments were carried out. In total, since the data was first published in July 2021, 101,998 patients have received an initial specialist assessment. A further 347,837 follow-up appointments have taken place.</p><p>NHS England has invested £314 million to expand long COVID treatment in the National Health Service and rehabilitation services, establishing 100 long COVID services for adults and 13 specialist paediatric hubs for children and young people. These assess people with long COVID and direct them into appropriate care pathways which provide appropriate support and treatment. Commissioning of post-COVID services will transition from the long COVID national programme to integrated care boards by the end of March 2024. Funding for long COVID services in 2024/25 is expected to be allocated based on the 2023/24 distribution.</p><p>The NHS and wider scientific community are working at unprecedented pace to better understand long COVID, supported by £50 million in research funding.</p> answering member printed Lord Markham question first answered 28/02/2024 13:58:06 answering member 4948 label Biography information for Lord Markham
tabling member	4719 label Biography information for Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle

1685674

registered interest
date	29/01/2024
answering body	Department of Health and Social Care
answering dept id	17
answering dept short name	Health and Social Care
answering dept sort name	Health and Social Care
hansard heading	Menopause: Employment
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to inform and educate employers and occupational health professionals of the specific workplace adaptations that women experiencing menopause symptoms may require, and what assessment they have made of working conditions for frontline health workers experiencing menopause symptoms.
tabling member printed	Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle
uin	HL1977
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/02/2024 answer text <p>As set out in the Government’s Women’s Health Strategy, improving care and support for women experiencing menopause symptoms is a priority for the Government. Helen Tomlinson has been appointed as the Government’s first Menopause Employment Champion and is working with employers to increase understanding of menopause in the workplace and support for women. In October 2023 Helen published a report, No Time to Step Back, which provides guidance to help recruit, support and retain women experiencing the menopause and stop women considering giving up their employment.</p><p>The Government has also launched a new online only space for guidance on the Help to Grow website, providing businesses, large and small, with the resources they need to help educate their organisation and workers about the menopause.</p><p>In the 2023 Autumn Statement, the Government published the response to the Occupational Health: Working Better consultation and set out plans to imminently set up an expert group to support the development of a voluntary minimum framework for quality occupational health provision. The voluntary framework will take account of existing initiatives that support those with health conditions and disabilities in the workplace and aims to set out the minimum level of quality occupational health provision that employers can adopt to help employees return to work from sickness absence, and prevent health-related job loss.</p><p>The Government also announced that it will identify longer-term options to build multidisciplinary workforce capability in work and health, building on existing work with the sector and exploring opportunities for businesses and providers to improve support for their employees. The Occupational Health Workforce Expansion Funding Scheme launched in July 2023 funds doctors and nurses to undertake occupational health training courses and qualifications with 99 Doctors and Nurses funded as part of the first round of applications.</p><p>In terms of frontline health workers, a key focus of the NHS England National Menopause Care Improvement Programme is the development of a retention programme for the National Health Service workforce, which is looking at how best to support menopausal staff and line managers in NHS settings. In November 2022, NHS England launched Supporting our NHS people through menopause, a guidance document developed for NHS line managers and colleagues. They have launched two e-learning packages, for general guidance and occupational health colleagues, and are developing one for human resources and line managers. A health and wellbeing app, Shiny Mind, is available to the nursing workforce, and launched a menopause specific section in November 2023.</p> answering member printed Lord Markham question first answered 02/02/2024 13:31:53 answering member 4948 label Biography information for Lord Markham
tabling member	4719 label Biography information for Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle

1682273

registered interest
date	15/01/2024
answering body	Department of Health and Social Care
answering dept id	17
answering dept short name	Health and Social Care
answering dept sort name	Health and Social Care
hansard heading	NHS Low Income Scheme: Chronic Illnesses
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to promote (1) the NHS Low Income Scheme to chronically ill patients, including Hidradenitis suppurativa patients, and (2) the use of pre-payment prescription certificates to chronically ill patients, including Hidradenitis suppurativa patients.
tabling member printed	Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle
uin	HL1556
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/01/2024 answer text <p><em>The </em>NHS Business Services Authority and the National Health Service promote the NHS Low Income Scheme and prescription pre-payment certificates (PPCs) to professionals and patients. It does this through social media, online resources, media releases and healthcare bulletins.</p><p>Our extensive arrangements to help people afford NHS prescription charges, means that almost 89% of prescription items in England are already provided free of charge. For those not exempt from charges, PPCs can be used to cap costs at approximately £2 a week for regular prescriptions.</p> answering member printed Lord Markham question first answered 22/01/2024 16:02:27 answering member 4948 label Biography information for Lord Markham
tabling member	4719 label Biography information for Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle

1682274

registered interest
date	15/01/2024
answering body	Department of Health and Social Care
answering dept id	17
answering dept short name	Health and Social Care
answering dept sort name	Health and Social Care
hansard heading	Hidradenitis Suppurativa: Prescriptions
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government what consideration they have given to including Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) to the list of specified medical conditions qualifying for free prescriptions, given the high out-of-pocket costs for HS patients.
tabling member printed	Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle
uin	HL1557
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/01/2024 answer text <p>While we are not considering adding this or other conditions to the list of exemptions for free prescriptions, there are extensive arrangements currently in place to ensure that prescriptions are affordable for patients with hidradentis suppurativa.</p><p>Around 89% of prescriptions are dispensed free of charge and extensive arrangements are already in place to help those with the greatest need. Eligibility depends on the patient’s age, whether they are in qualifying full-time education, whether they are pregnant or have recently given birth, or whether they are in receipt of certain benefits or a war pension.</p> answering member printed Lord Markham question first answered 22/01/2024 16:01:21 answering member 4948 label Biography information for Lord Markham
tabling member	4719 label Biography information for Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle

1682275

registered interest
date	15/01/2024
answering body	Department of Health and Social Care
answering dept id	17
answering dept short name	Health and Social Care
answering dept sort name	Health and Social Care
hansard heading	Hidradenitis Suppurativa: Employment
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to inform and educate employers and occupational health professionals about the specific workplace adaptations that people with Hidradenitis suppurativa may require.
tabling member printed	Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle
uin	HL1558
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/01/2024 answer text <p>As set out in the Government response to the <em>Occupational Health: Working Better</em> consultation published last year, the Government will develop a voluntary minimum framework for quality occupational health, aiming to set out the minimum level of provision that employers can adopt to support those with health conditions and disabilities in the workplace. This builds on the development of a digital information and advice service for employers, offering tailored guidance on health and disability, to equip employers to have work and health conversations and signpost to sources of expert support. A copy of the Government response to the consultation is attached.</p><p> </p><p>The Government also announced that it will identify longer-term options to build multidisciplinary workforce capability in work and health, building on existing work with the sector and exploring opportunities for businesses and providers to improve support for their employees. The Occupational Health Workforce Expansion Funding Scheme launched in July 2023 funds doctors and nurses to undertake occupational health training courses and qualifications with 99 doctors and nurses trained to date.</p> answering member printed Lord Markham question first answered 23/01/2024 15:35:13 answering member 4948 label Biography information for Lord Markham attachment 1 file name occupational-health-working-better-responses.pdf title Occupational Health - Working Better
tabling member	4719 label Biography information for Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle

1682277

registered interest
date	15/01/2024
answering body	Department of Health and Social Care
answering dept id	17
answering dept short name	Health and Social Care
answering dept sort name	Health and Social Care
hansard heading	Health Professions: Crimes of Violence
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to reduce rates of violence experienced by front line healthcare workers; and what assessment they have made of the effect of such violence on staffing levels.
tabling member printed	Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle
uin	HL1560
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/01/2024 answer text <p>In January 2021, and in conjunction with the Social Partnership Forum, NHS England developed and published a national Violence Prevention and Reduction Standard. This supports employers in their efforts to provide a safe and secure working environment for National Health Service staff, with a focus on risk management, training and support for those impacted by incidences of violence or aggression.</p><p>£8.4 million has been invested into the ambulance service sector to explore the efficacy of body worn cameras in reducing violence and abuse. All ambulance trusts are now trialling cameras and an independent evaluation is underway with a final report expected towards the end of 2024.</p><p>In 2022, the Government legislated through the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act to double the sentence for assaults on emergency workers to a maximum of two years.</p><p>We do not currently have a national mechanism to assess the levels of violence and aggression in the NHS on staffing levels. NHS employing organisations have a duty of care to support the health and safety of their staff and they do collect data on incidents. This is used to inform local strategies for reducing and dealing with violence and aggression.</p><p>The NHS Staff Survey does ask questions relating to incidences of violence, harassment, and abuse. The 2022 NHS Staff Survey indicated that 14.7% of NHS staff have self-reported that they had experienced at least one incident of physical violence from patients, service users, relatives, or other members of the public in the last 12 months.</p> answering member printed Lord Markham question first answered 22/01/2024 17:25:06 answering member 4948 label Biography information for Lord Markham
tabling member	4719 label Biography information for Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle

1672758

registered interest
date	23/11/2023
answering body	Department of Health and Social Care
answering dept id	17
answering dept short name	Health and Social Care
answering dept sort name	Health and Social Care
hansard heading	NHS: Private Sector
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government how integrated care boards assess the initial and continuing financial stability of private companies from which NHS services are commissioned, and what assessment they have made of the overall financial stability of private companies providing NHS services.
tabling member printed	Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle
uin	HL544
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/11/2023 answer text <p>Integrated care boards (ICBs) assess the financial stability of companies subject to the current rules on procurement, including the Public Contract Regulations 2015. ICBs are responsible for their own due diligence and governance surrounding procurement, the award of contracts, and the assessment of suppliers for those purposes.</p><p>The Department has not made a central assessment of the overall financial stability of private companies providing services to the National Health Service.</p> answering member printed Lord Markham question first answered 30/11/2023 17:34:50 answering member 4948 label Biography information for Lord Markham
tabling member	4719 label Biography information for Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle

1672759

registered interest
date	23/11/2023
answering body	Department of Health and Social Care
answering dept id	17
answering dept short name	Health and Social Care
answering dept sort name	Health and Social Care
hansard heading	NHS: Private Sector
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government, following the decision by One Norwich Practices to stop providing services to the NHS, including a walk-in centre, because of financial problems, whether they will conduct an investigation into the board of that company and its management of services.
tabling member printed	Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle
uin	HL545
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/11/2023 answer text <p>Norfolk and Waveney Integrated Care Board (ICB) and One Norwich Practices have been working constructively to identify appropriate alternative providers and develop plans to transfer services and staff. The ICB’s immediate priorities are to ensure that disruption to patient care is minimised and to protect the wellbeing of staff at One Norwich Practices. Once these immediate priorities are addressed, the ICB will be in a position to undertake its own internal review of the circumstances that may have contributed to One Norwich Practices’ insolvency.</p><p>As a commissioner, the ICB is not in receipt of the financial information of its contractors, and the ICB is not responsible for the financial viability of any organisation, nor any subsequent arrangements, financial or otherwise, within a wider group of companies or partners with whom the ICB does not directly commission services.</p> answering member printed Lord Markham question first answered 30/11/2023 17:23:50 answering member 4948 label Biography information for Lord Markham
tabling member	4719 label Biography information for Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle

1668656

registered interest
date	08/11/2023
answering body	Department of Health and Social Care
answering dept id	17
answering dept short name	Health and Social Care
answering dept sort name	Health and Social Care
hansard heading	NHS: Drugs
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government what action they plan to take to resolve the shortages of more than 100 medicines, as reported by the British Generic Manufacturers Association.
tabling member printed	Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle
uin	HL92
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/11/2023 answer text <p>Medicine supply problems can occur for several reasons. For example, they can be due to manufacturing difficulties, regulatory problems, problems with the supply of raw materials, sudden demand spikes or from issues which are related to the distribution of the product. The production of medicines is complex and highly regulated, and materials and processes must meet rigorous safety and quality standards. Occasionally, the National Health Service experiences temporary shortages of specific medicines.</p><p> </p><p>We know how frustrating and distressing the possibility of shortages can be and we acknowledge that there have been challenges recently with access to a limited number of medicines. We want to assure patients that the Department has well-established processes to prevent, manage and mitigate medicine shortages and works with the pharmaceutical industry, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, NHS England, the devolved governments and others operating in the supply chain to help ensure patients have access to the treatments they need.</p><p> </p><p>The Department routinely shares information about medicine supply issues directly with the NHS so they can put management plans in place to mitigate the risk of the shortage impacting patients and inform their patients about what it might mean for them. If any patient is concerned about their treatment, they should discuss this with their pharmacist or general practitioner.</p> answering member printed Lord Markham question first answered 20/11/2023 14:08:02 answering member 4948 label Biography information for Lord Markham
tabling member	4719 label Biography information for Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle

1666274

registered interest
date	19/10/2023
answering body	Department of Health and Social Care
answering dept id	17
answering dept short name	Health and Social Care
answering dept sort name	Health and Social Care
hansard heading	Genetics: Screening
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of Nolan and Ormondroyd’s systematic review published on 30 March in Clinical Genetics, setting out the consequences for consumers and health services of direct-to-consumer genetic testing and how it relates to equitable healthcare; and what assessment they have made of the regulation of direct-to-consumer genetic testing.
tabling member printed	Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle
uin	HL10676
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/10/2023 answer text <p>Whilst no specific assessment has been made of Nolan and Ormondroyd’s systematic review published in March 2023 or Emma Wilkinson’s article published in October 2022, the Government recognises both the opportunities and risks raised by direct-to-consumer genomic tests and is committed to ensuring effective and proportionate regulation.</p><p>In consideration of the regulation of direct-to-consumer genetic and health testing, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency is working to develop a robust, world-leading regulatory regime for such medical devices that prioritises patient safety.</p> answering member printed Lord Markham grouped question UIN HL10677 question first answered 25/10/2023 11:20:51 answering member 4948 label Biography information for Lord Markham
tabling member	4719 label Biography information for Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle