The Government is committed to ensuring that everyone has affordable access to public services, whether online or offline.<\/p>
Departments are required by the Government's Service Standard to provide support via alternative channels for all their online services to all users, including disabled people, people with other legally protected characteristics, people who do not have access to the internet and/or lack the skills and/or confidence to use it.<\/p>
<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4613", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Alex Burghart"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Brentwood and Ongar"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Alex Burghart"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2024-05-17", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2024-05-17T13:39:45.68Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "53"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Cabinet Office"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Cabinet Office"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2024-05-09", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Public Sector: Access"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of issuing a statement of principle that all services should be provided in-person where possible.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/3924", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Yasmin Qureshi"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Bolton South East"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Yasmin Qureshi"} ], "uin" : "25465"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1702377", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department of Health and Social Care"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1702377/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
We remain hugely sympathetic to the families who believe that they have suffered as a result of using Hormone Pregnancy Tests. We have no plans to set up an independent review to examine the findings of the Expert Working Group. In the interests of transparency, all evidence collected and papers considered by the Expert Working Group were published in 2018, along with full minutes of its discussions. Details of conflicts of interests, and how these were managed, were also published.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4492", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Maria Caulfield"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Lewes"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Maria Caulfield"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2024-04-25", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2024-04-25T11:23:26.15Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "17"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Health and Social Care"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Health and Social Care"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2024-04-18", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Hormone Pregnancy Tests Expert Working Group"} , "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 and Social Care, if she will make it her policy to commission an independent review of the Commission on Human Medicines\u2019 Expert Working Group\u2019s report on Hormone Pregnancy Tests.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/3924", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Yasmin Qureshi"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Bolton South East"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Yasmin Qureshi"} ], "uin" : "902487"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1698355", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department of Health and Social Care"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1698355/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
The majority of services for people living with allergies are commissioned locally through integrated care boards (ICBs), which are best placed to commission services according to local need. Specialised allergy services are provided for patients with severe and complex allergic conditions, or those who have common allergic conditions for which conventional management has failed and for whom specified specialist treatments are required. In 2023/24, these services are jointly commissioned by NHS England Specialised Commissioning and the ICBs, in line with the published Specialist Allergy Service Specification.<\/p>
There is an established Clinical Reference Group (CRG), which is responsible for providing national clinical advice and leadership for specialised immunology and allergy services. The CRG uses its expertise to advise NHS England on the best ways to provide specialised services. This includes developing national standards in the form of service specifications and policies. The CRG commenced a review of the current service specification in May 2023, which is expected to be complete by summer 2024. The outcome of the service specification review will be an updated specification which references up-to-date guidance and takes into account the latest evidence base, to clearly define the standards of care for commissioned specialised services.<\/p>
To help promote awareness of allergies, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has published guidance on a range of allergy conditions, including food allergy in under 19-year-olds, anaphylaxis, and drug allergy. The NICE promotes its guidance via its website, newsletters, and other media.<\/p>
To support\u202fclinicians\u202fin\u202fthe implementation of\u202fclear\u202fcare pathways, the NICE\u202fwebsite\u202fhas guidance\u202fto support diagnosis and treatment\u202fof\u202fa range of allergy conditions, including\u202fhow to identify allergies and when\u202fto refer to specialist care,\u202fand how to ensure allergies are recorded in their medical records.\u202f\u202fThe NICE website also provides primary care practitioners with access to clinical knowledge summaries outlining the current evidence base and practical guidance on a range of skin conditions.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4044", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Andrew Stephenson"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Pendle"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Andrew Stephenson"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2024-04-15", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "groupedQuestionUIN" : {"_value" : "20255"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2024-04-15T08:15:46.473Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "17"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Health and Social Care"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Health and Social Care"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2024-03-25", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Integrated Care Systems: Allergies and Nutrition"} , "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 and Social Care, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of each Integrated care systems having a (a) specialist allergy nurse and (b) dietitian.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/3924", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Yasmin Qureshi"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Bolton South East"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Yasmin Qureshi"} ], "uin" : "20254"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1698356", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department of Health and Social Care"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1698356/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
The majority of services for people living with allergies are commissioned locally through integrated care boards (ICBs), which are best placed to commission services according to local need. Specialised allergy services are provided for patients with severe and complex allergic conditions, or those who have common allergic conditions for which conventional management has failed and for whom specified specialist treatments are required. In 2023/24, these services are jointly commissioned by NHS England Specialised Commissioning and the ICBs, in line with the published Specialist Allergy Service Specification.<\/p>
There is an established Clinical Reference Group (CRG), which is responsible for providing national clinical advice and leadership for specialised immunology and allergy services. The CRG uses its expertise to advise NHS England on the best ways to provide specialised services. This includes developing national standards in the form of service specifications and policies. The CRG commenced a review of the current service specification in May 2023, which is expected to be complete by summer 2024. The outcome of the service specification review will be an updated specification which references up-to-date guidance and takes into account the latest evidence base, to clearly define the standards of care for commissioned specialised services.<\/p>
To help promote awareness of allergies, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has published guidance on a range of allergy conditions, including food allergy in under 19-year-olds, anaphylaxis, and drug allergy. The NICE promotes its guidance via its website, newsletters, and other media.<\/p>
To support\u202fclinicians\u202fin\u202fthe implementation of\u202fclear\u202fcare pathways, the NICE\u202fwebsite\u202fhas guidance\u202fto support diagnosis and treatment\u202fof\u202fa range of allergy conditions, including\u202fhow to identify allergies and when\u202fto refer to specialist care,\u202fand how to ensure allergies are recorded in their medical records.\u202f\u202fThe NICE website also provides primary care practitioners with access to clinical knowledge summaries outlining the current evidence base and practical guidance on a range of skin conditions.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4044", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Andrew Stephenson"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Pendle"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Andrew Stephenson"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2024-04-15", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "groupedQuestionUIN" : {"_value" : "20254"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2024-04-15T08:15:46.517Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "17"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Health and Social Care"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Health and Social Care"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2024-03-25", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Allergies: 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 and Social Care, what steps her Department is taking to improve allergy awareness in health care settings.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/3924", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Yasmin Qureshi"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Bolton South East"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Yasmin Qureshi"} ], "uin" : "20255"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1697799", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Business and Trade"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1697799/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
The Office for Product Safety and Standards leads a national programme of regulatory action to tackle risks from unsafe and non-compliant goods, including from online marketplaces.<\/p>
This includes test purchasing to assess compliance and removal of non-compliant products; engagement with marketplaces to understand the steps they are taking to meet their responsibilities under law; and taking enforcement action including serving Withdrawal Notices.<\/p>
The recent Product Safety Review consultation includes additional proposals to ensure products bought online are as safe as on the high street. A Government response will be published this year.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4474", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Kevin Hollinrake"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Thirsk and Malton"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Kevin Hollinrake"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2024-03-26", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2024-03-26T16:52:56.857Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "214"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Business and Trade"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Business and Trade"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2024-03-21", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Consumer Goods: Safety"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that the goods sold by online marketplaces are compliant with the General Product Safety Regulations 2005.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/3924", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Yasmin Qureshi"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Bolton South East"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Yasmin Qureshi"} ], "uin" : "19838"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1696623", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department of Health and Social Care"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1696623/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
Audiology services are locally commissioned by the 42 integrated care boards (ICBs) across England. Waiting times for audiology assessments are recorded through the national diagnostic activity and waiting times collection. This data is reviewed and monitored monthly across the ICBs and NHS England.<\/p>
NHS England has been working to enable improvement in access to audiology services including through developing an improvement guide, endorsed by the British Audiology Association, which outlines approaches the ICBs can take to address waiting times. NHS England\u2019s National Diagnostics programme has supported implementation of this guide through a series of webinars and case studies to share learning.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4527", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Helen Whately"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Faversham and Mid Kent"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Helen Whately"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2024-03-21", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2024-03-21T12:06:26.82Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "17"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Health and Social Care"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Health and Social Care"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2024-03-18", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Audiology: 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 and Social Care, what steps her Department is taking to reduce waiting times for hospital hearing (a) tests and (b) aid fitting in areas where no community audiology service is commissioned.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/3924", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Yasmin Qureshi"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Bolton South East"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Yasmin Qureshi"} ], "uin" : "19029"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1696624", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department of Health and Social Care"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1696624/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
Information on how many integrated care boards (ICBs) have introduced community audiology services is not held centrally by the Department or NHS England. As part of an ICB self-assessment on the introduction of self-referral, conducted in September 2023, 26 ICBs reported having self-referral in place for community audiology in one or more services, with more ICBs reporting they had plans to introduce it later in the year, or as part of recommissioning arrangements for 2024/25.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4527", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Helen Whately"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Faversham and Mid Kent"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Helen Whately"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2024-03-26", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2024-03-26T11:06:09.447Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "17"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Health and Social Care"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Health and Social Care"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2024-03-18", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Audiology: 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 and Social Care, how many integrated care boards have introduced (a) community audiology services and (b) self-referral for community audiology.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/3924", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Yasmin Qureshi"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Bolton South East"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Yasmin Qureshi"} ], "uin" : "19030"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1692747", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department of Health and Social Care"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1692747/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
The Department published the inaugural Medical Technology Strategy in February 2023, which included a focus on improving resource efficiency. The Department is working with industry, the health and care sector, and academic partners to develop medical technology systems that support reuse, remanufacture, and material recovery, by default. The Department is exploring options for reuse, remanufacture, and material recovery in medical devices, through its Design for Life programme. This includes developing regulatory, commercial, and infrastructure and policy environments that support these aims. As part of the programme, the Department recognises we will need to define future data requirements, and align digital infrastructure to improve the gathering of core data.
<\/p>
NHS England has developed a waste planning tool for all National Health Service providers, consistent with the Clinical Waste Strategy, which includes improved waste segregation, minimisation, and increased reuse programmes. This will lead to reductions in the road miles the waste travels, increases in the use of re-usable sharps bins, and furthers plans made towards the achievement of Net Zero Carbon from waste management.
NHS England has an ambition to expand existing walking aid refurbishment schemes. Arrangements for the return and reuse of walking aids are managed locally, and a number of NHS trusts already have local return and reuse schemes, with over 200 return sites now featured on the Recycle Now website. Further information is available at the following link:<\/p>