{ "format" : "linked-data-api", "version" : "0.2", "result" : {"_about" : "https://eldaddp.azurewebsites.net/answeredquestions.text?tablingMemberPrinted.=Mr+Virendra+Sharma&writtenParliamentaryQuestionType=Ordinary", "definition" : "https://eldaddp.azurewebsites.net/meta/answeredquestions.text?tablingMemberPrinted.=Mr+Virendra+Sharma&writtenParliamentaryQuestionType=Ordinary", "extendedMetadataVersion" : "https://eldaddp.azurewebsites.net/answeredquestions.text?tablingMemberPrinted.=Mr+Virendra+Sharma&_metadata=all&writtenParliamentaryQuestionType=Ordinary", "first" : "https://eldaddp.azurewebsites.net/answeredquestions.text?tablingMemberPrinted.=Mr+Virendra+Sharma&_page=0&writtenParliamentaryQuestionType=Ordinary", "hasPart" : "https://eldaddp.azurewebsites.net/answeredquestions.text?tablingMemberPrinted.=Mr+Virendra+Sharma&writtenParliamentaryQuestionType=Ordinary", "isPartOf" : "https://eldaddp.azurewebsites.net/answeredquestions.text?tablingMemberPrinted.=Mr+Virendra+Sharma&writtenParliamentaryQuestionType=Ordinary", "items" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1719700", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1719700/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "

It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4494", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Simon Hoare"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "North Dorset"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Simon Hoare"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2024-05-24", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2024-05-24T11:24:18.017Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "211"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Levelling Up, Housing and Communities"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Levelling Up, Housing and Communities"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2024-05-21", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Local Government Finance"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what recent discussions he has had with (a) HM Treasure and (b) the Prime Minister's Office on the local government funding settlement.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1604", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Mr Virendra Sharma"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Ealing, Southall"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Mr Virendra Sharma"} ], "uin" : "27321"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1719701", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1719701/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "

It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4494", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Simon Hoare"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "North Dorset"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Simon Hoare"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2024-05-24", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2024-05-24T12:06:08.773Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "211"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Levelling Up, Housing and Communities"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Levelling Up, Housing and Communities"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2024-05-21", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Local Government: Pay"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what assessment he has made of the budgetary capacity of local authorities to deliver pay awards in line with inflation.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1604", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Mr Virendra Sharma"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Ealing, Southall"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Mr Virendra Sharma"} ], "uin" : "27322"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1719702", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1719702/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "

It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4494", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Simon Hoare"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "North Dorset"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Simon Hoare"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2024-05-24", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2024-05-24T12:06:18.767Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "211"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Levelling Up, Housing and Communities"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Levelling Up, Housing and Communities"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2024-05-21", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Local Government: Contracts for 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 Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, whether his Department has made an assessment of the adequacy of local services outsourced by local authorities.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1604", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Mr Virendra Sharma"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Ealing, Southall"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Mr Virendra Sharma"} ], "uin" : "27323"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1719703", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department of Health and Social Care"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1719703/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "

The Government has made available up to £8.6 billion in additional funding over the financial years 2023/24 and 2024/25, to support adult social care and discharge. This includes £1.6 billion through the Discharge Fund, to support the National Health Service and local authorities to ensure timely and effective discharge from hospital. This funding enables local authorities to buy more care packages, help people leave hospital on time, improve workforce recruitment and retention, and reduce waiting times for care.<\/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" : "2024-05-24", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2024-05-24T08:42:13.68Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "17"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Health and Social Care"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Health and Social Care"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2024-05-21", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Social Services: Finance"} , "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 assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of local authority funding changes on hospital discharge times to social care.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1604", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Mr Virendra Sharma"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Ealing, Southall"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Mr Virendra Sharma"} ], "uin" : "27324"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1689853", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department of Health and Social Care"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1689853/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "

The benefits of reducing sight loss for both the economy and an individual\u2019s quality of life are clear. That is why prevention, early detection, and timely treatment are essential. In England, over 12 million free National Health Service sight tests are provided annually. Diabetic retinopathy screening is also offered annually to individuals aged 12 years old or over, with diabetes. The Government also has well established programmes on reducing smoking and obesity, both long terms risk factors for sight loss.<\/p>

NHS England\u2019s transformation programme is considering how eye care services should be commissioned for the future, to improve access to care and patient outcomes. The National Institute for Health and Care Research also continues to invest to support research into the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of eye conditions.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4117", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Andrea Leadsom"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "South Northamptonshire"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Andrea Leadsom"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2024-02-27", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2024-02-27T17:55:51.643Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "17"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Health and Social Care"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Health and Social Care"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2024-02-19", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Visual Impairment"} , "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 her Department has made an assessment of the potential economic benefits of reducing the prevalence of sight loss.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1604", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Mr Virendra Sharma"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Ealing, Southall"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Mr Virendra Sharma"} ], "uin" : "14525"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1689064", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department of Health and Social Care"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1689064/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, along with other inherited cardiac conditions, is included on the National Genomic Test Directory. The directory sets out the eligibility criteria for patients to access testing, as well as the genomic targets to be tested, the method that should be used, and the healthcare professional that can request the test, including when a general practice can request testing. The directory also enables the testing of family members as part of cascade testing. A robust and evidence-based process and policy is in place to ensure that genomic testing continues to be available for all patients for whom it would be of clinical benefit. This is supported by a horizon scanning process and fast track application system to ensure the directory can respond quickly to emerging developments. Testing is available for all eligible patients across the whole of England. The National Genomic Test Directory is available at the following link:<\/p>

https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/national-genomic-test-directories/<\/a><\/p>

On raising awareness, the seven NHS Genomic Medicine Service Alliances also play an important role in supporting the strategic and systematic embedding of genomic medicine in end-to-end clinical pathways and clinical specialities, supporting the achievement of equitable access to standardised end-to-end pathways of care, inclusive of genomic testing. They also support clinical genetics and genomic counselling services, as well as raising awareness among clinicians and the public of the genomic testing available through the National Health Service.<\/p>

Furthermore, the 17 NHS Clinical Genomic Services, commissioned by NHS England, deliver a comprehensive clinical genomic and counselling service that directs the diagnosis, risk assessment, and lifelong clinical management of patients of all ages and their families who have, or are at risk of having, a rare genetic or genomic condition. The Department does not hold specific information on how many people were diagnosed with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in 2020, 2021 or 2022, although hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is thought to affect 1 in 500 people in the United Kingdom. Further information is available at the following link:<\/p>

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/cardiomyopathy/<\/a><\/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" : "2024-02-27", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "groupedQuestionUIN" : [{"_value" : "13962"} , {"_value" : "13963"} , {"_value" : "13967"} , {"_value" : "13974"} , {"_value" : "13975"} ], "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2024-02-27T11:38:26.357Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "17"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Health and Social Care"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Health and Social Care"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2024-02-16", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy"} , "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 people were diagnosed with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in (a) 2020, (b) 2021 and (c) 2022.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1604", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Mr Virendra Sharma"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Ealing, Southall"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Mr Virendra Sharma"} ], "uin" : "13961"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1689065", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department of Health and Social Care"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1689065/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, along with other inherited cardiac conditions, is included on the National Genomic Test Directory. The directory sets out the eligibility criteria for patients to access testing, as well as the genomic targets to be tested, the method that should be used, and the healthcare professional that can request the test, including when a general practice can request testing. The directory also enables the testing of family members as part of cascade testing. A robust and evidence-based process and policy is in place to ensure that genomic testing continues to be available for all patients for whom it would be of clinical benefit. This is supported by a horizon scanning process and fast track application system to ensure the directory can respond quickly to emerging developments. Testing is available for all eligible patients across the whole of England. The National Genomic Test Directory is available at the following link:<\/p>

https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/national-genomic-test-directories/<\/a><\/p>

On raising awareness, the seven NHS Genomic Medicine Service Alliances also play an important role in supporting the strategic and systematic embedding of genomic medicine in end-to-end clinical pathways and clinical specialities, supporting the achievement of equitable access to standardised end-to-end pathways of care, inclusive of genomic testing. They also support clinical genetics and genomic counselling services, as well as raising awareness among clinicians and the public of the genomic testing available through the National Health Service.<\/p>

Furthermore, the 17 NHS Clinical Genomic Services, commissioned by NHS England, deliver a comprehensive clinical genomic and counselling service that directs the diagnosis, risk assessment, and lifelong clinical management of patients of all ages and their families who have, or are at risk of having, a rare genetic or genomic condition. The Department does not hold specific information on how many people were diagnosed with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in 2020, 2021 or 2022, although hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is thought to affect 1 in 500 people in the United Kingdom. Further information is available at the following link:<\/p>

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/cardiomyopathy/<\/a><\/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" : "2024-02-27", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "groupedQuestionUIN" : [{"_value" : "13961"} , {"_value" : "13963"} , {"_value" : "13967"} , {"_value" : "13974"} , {"_value" : "13975"} ], "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2024-02-27T11:38:26.433Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "17"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Health and Social Care"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Health and Social Care"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2024-02-16", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy"} , "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 people have hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1604", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Mr Virendra Sharma"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Ealing, Southall"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Mr Virendra Sharma"} ], "uin" : "13962"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1689066", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department of Health and Social Care"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1689066/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, along with other inherited cardiac conditions, is included on the National Genomic Test Directory. The directory sets out the eligibility criteria for patients to access testing, as well as the genomic targets to be tested, the method that should be used, and the healthcare professional that can request the test, including when a general practice can request testing. The directory also enables the testing of family members as part of cascade testing. A robust and evidence-based process and policy is in place to ensure that genomic testing continues to be available for all patients for whom it would be of clinical benefit. This is supported by a horizon scanning process and fast track application system to ensure the directory can respond quickly to emerging developments. Testing is available for all eligible patients across the whole of England. The National Genomic Test Directory is available at the following link:<\/p>

https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/national-genomic-test-directories/<\/a><\/p>

On raising awareness, the seven NHS Genomic Medicine Service Alliances also play an important role in supporting the strategic and systematic embedding of genomic medicine in end-to-end clinical pathways and clinical specialities, supporting the achievement of equitable access to standardised end-to-end pathways of care, inclusive of genomic testing. They also support clinical genetics and genomic counselling services, as well as raising awareness among clinicians and the public of the genomic testing available through the National Health Service.<\/p>

Furthermore, the 17 NHS Clinical Genomic Services, commissioned by NHS England, deliver a comprehensive clinical genomic and counselling service that directs the diagnosis, risk assessment, and lifelong clinical management of patients of all ages and their families who have, or are at risk of having, a rare genetic or genomic condition. The Department does not hold specific information on how many people were diagnosed with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in 2020, 2021 or 2022, although hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is thought to affect 1 in 500 people in the United Kingdom. Further information is available at the following link:<\/p>

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/cardiomyopathy/<\/a><\/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" : "2024-02-27", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "groupedQuestionUIN" : [{"_value" : "13961"} , {"_value" : "13962"} , {"_value" : "13967"} , {"_value" : "13974"} , {"_value" : "13975"} ], "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2024-02-27T11:38:26.48Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "17"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Health and Social Care"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Health and Social Care"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2024-02-16", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy: Young People"} , "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 her Department is taking steps to raise awareness of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in young people.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1604", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Mr Virendra Sharma"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Ealing, Southall"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Mr Virendra Sharma"} ], "uin" : "13963"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1689067", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department of Health and Social Care"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1689067/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "

Through the 2022 Health and Care Act, the 2023/25 NHS Payment Scheme has replaced the National Tariff Payment System. This is a set of rules, prices and guidance used by commissioners and providers of National Health Service care, to ensure the available funding delivers the most efficient, cost-effective care to patients. The scheme contains four payment mechanisms, block contracts being one of these, along with aligned payment and incentives, activity-based payments, and local agreements. Contracts are developed and agreed between integrated care boards and healthcare providers, where the appropriate mechanism for specific services will be decided locally. The aligned payment and incentives approach, which includes a fixed and a variable element, covers almost all NHS provider activity. Within that, almost all elective activity is paid for under the variable element, including cardiac services. Block contracts are used primarily to fund providers for low volume activity, which may apply to some specific cardiac services.<\/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" : "2024-02-26", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2024-02-26T11:29:40.26Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "17"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Health and Social Care"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Health and Social Care"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2024-02-16", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Heart Diseases: 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, whether there are block contract payment models in use for cardiac services.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1604", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Mr Virendra Sharma"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Ealing, Southall"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Mr Virendra Sharma"} ], "uin" : "13964"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1689068", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department of Health and Social Care"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1689068/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "

Through the 2022 Health and Care Act, the 2023/25 NHS Payment Scheme has replaced the National Tariff Payment System. This is a set of rules, prices and guidance used by commissioners and providers of National Health Service care to ensure the available funding delivers the most efficient, cost-effective care to patients. The scheme contains four payment mechanisms, block contracts being one of these, along with aligned payment and incentives, activity-based payments, and local agreements. Contracts are developed and agreed between integrated care boards and healthcare providers, where the appropriate mechanism for specific services will be decided locally.<\/p>

The aligned payment and incentives approach, which includes a fixed and a variable element, covers almost all NHS provider activity. Within that, almost all elective activity is paid for under the variable element. Block contracts are primarily used to fund providers for low volume activity. This is a nationally set value, usually paid annually by commissioners to healthcare providers, therefore providing an element of budget certainty for providers. Additionally, given these are usually single payments, they can reduce administrative burdens for both providers and commissioners. Block contract payment methods can also be useful in areas where activity levels are difficult to measure.<\/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" : "2024-02-26", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2024-02-26T10:17:24.823Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "17"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Health and Social Care"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Health and Social Care"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2024-02-16", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Heart Diseases: 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, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of the use of block contract payment models in cardiac services.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1604", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Mr Virendra Sharma"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Ealing, Southall"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Mr Virendra Sharma"} ], "uin" : "13965"} ], "itemsPerPage" : 10, "next" : "https://eldaddp.azurewebsites.net/answeredquestions.text?tablingMemberPrinted.=Mr+Virendra+Sharma&_page=1&writtenParliamentaryQuestionType=Ordinary", "page" : 0, "startIndex" : 1, "totalResults" : 602, "type" : ["http://purl.org/linked-data/api/vocab#ListEndpoint", "http://purl.org/linked-data/api/vocab#Page"]} }