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Health and Social Care Update
18 March 2021
Lead MP
Matthew Hancock
Debate Type
Ministerial Statement
Tags
NHSSocial CareEmploymentForeign AffairsMental Health
Other Contributors: 36
At a Glance
Matthew Hancock raised concerns about health and social care update in the House of Commons. A government minister responded. Other MPs also contributed.
How the Debate Unfolded
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:
Government Statement
The Minister announced significant funding to support the NHS and social care in their recovery efforts post-COVID-19. He highlighted the progress of the vaccination programme, reaching over 25 million vaccinations within 100 days and committing to offering vaccines to all adults by July end. The minister addressed concerns about supply delays from Pfizer and Serum Institute of India and reassured that there will be no cancelled appointments or weeks without first doses in April. He also mentioned Gibraltar's completion of its vaccination programme ahead of schedule. Additionally, the statement included £6.6 billion funding for NHS recovery, £594 million towards safe hospital discharge, £341 million to support adult social care, and a commitment to building 40 new hospitals and hiring 50,000 more nurses.
Jon Ashworth
Lab
Leicester South
Question
Asks about the prospects of new appointments being offered if Moderna supplies come on stream in April. Also seeks clarification for constituents regarding second dose guarantees within 12 weeks during supply issues.
Minister reply
Acknowledges concerns and reassures that efforts are underway to ensure second doses remain on schedule despite supply challenges.
Jon Ashworth
Lab
Leicester South
Question
Inquires about the ramping up of vaccinations to 3.5 million weekly doses from May, expressing concern over infection rate rises due to delays and asks if lockdown easing stages will be pushed back.
Minister reply
Confirms commitment towards target vaccination figures but acknowledges uncertainties in supply timelines.
Jon Ashworth
Lab
Leicester South
Question
Proposes a cross-party taskforce to address vaccine hesitancy issues and seeks clarity on the timeline for vaccinating children.
Minister reply
Acknowledges the need for community engagement in tackling vaccine hesitancy and discusses ongoing research for paediatric vaccinations.
Jon Ashworth
Lab
Leicester South
Question
Asks about continued NHS funding beyond the announced six-month period and seeks assurance on meeting waiting list reduction targets.
Minister reply
Reaffirms commitment to support NHS recovery but does not provide specific guarantees for long-term funding.
Jon Ashworth
Lab
Leicester South
Question
Questions the implementation of any recommendations from the independent pay review body and the impact on NHS staff morale.
Minister reply
Acknowledges the value of NHS staff but does not commit to reversing pay cut decisions at present.
Jon Ashworth
Lab
Leicester South
Question
The right hon. Gentleman raises concerns about delays in vaccine supply, particularly affecting key workers under the age of 50. He also questions whether these delays will impact the roadmap for easing lockdown and expresses concern over rising infection rates due to these delays. The MP asks if there is a prospect that new appointments can be offered if Moderna supplies come online and confirms that about 11 million people received their first dose between January and February, asking for clarification on ensuring second doses within 12 weeks by April. He inquires about the capability of vaccinating over 3.5 million doses per week from May onwards to ensure all under-50s are vaccinated by mid-July. The MP also seeks information on a timeline for vaccinating children and potential booster jabs this autumn due to new variants. Additionally, he questions future funding commitments beyond six months and expresses concern about NHS staff pay cuts.
Minister reply
The Minister assures that the vaccination programme is on track despite supply issues, with no delays expected in second dose appointments or cancellations of existing ones. He states there will be no impact on the roadmap for easing lockdown. The timeline for vaccinating children remains uncertain as trials are ongoing and a booster jab programme may be needed but is not yet certain. Regarding future funding commitments beyond six months, the Minister affirms that the NHS will receive whatever it needs to deal with covid and restart paused operations. He also acknowledges concerns about NHS staff pay cuts.
Jeremy Hunt
Con
Godalming
Question
The Member expresses concern over EU Commission President's threat to block vaccine exports, citing a former Finnish Prime Minister’s comments on the matter as incredibly dangerous. He questions whether making such threats alongside casting doubt on vaccine safety is helpful at this critical juncture.
Minister reply
The Minister agrees with the concerns raised and stresses the importance of international cooperation in ensuring supply chains for vaccines are not disrupted by political actions. He highlights that contract law must be respected, citing statements from President von der Leyen affirming no restrictions on companies fulfilling contractual responsibilities. The Minister also celebrates AstraZeneca’s decision to offer its vaccine at cost globally, emphasising its role in providing a vaccine for the world without profit.
Martyn Day
SNP
Linlithgow and East Falkirk
Question
Questions the effectiveness of the £22 billion UK Government test and trace system, noting that it has had no clear impact on infection rates according to a Public Accounts Committee report. Asks whether NHS-led track and trace was the correct option or if privatising public health would have been better.
Minister reply
Defends the UK government's actions during the pandemic, highlighting vaccine distribution and economic support as benefits of unity within the United Kingdom.
Robert Halfon
Con
Southend West
Question
Acknowledges £320 million spent on moving Public Health England to Harlow since 2015, asks for progress updates and timings regarding this move.
Minister reply
Reaffirms the government's commitment to reforming public health delivery, focusing on contagious disease security and non-contagious diseases like obesity. Acknowledges Halfon’s support for the Harlow project.
Munira Wilson
Lib Dem
Twickenham
Question
Raises concerns about NHS staff's exhaustion and dissatisfaction with proposed 1% pay rise, asking if the Welsh Government's £500 tax-free bonus can be considered.
Minister reply
Explains that due to economic challenges caused by the pandemic, a public sector wage freeze was implemented. The independent Pay Review Body is currently examining this issue.
Stephen Hammond
Con
Wimbledon
Question
Acknowledges vaccine roll-out success but expresses concern about recent supply fluctuations, asking for assurance that supply levels will meet expectations over the next few months.
Minister reply
Provides assurances regarding future vaccine supply and reaffirms commitment to meeting public targets.
Jim Shannon
DUP
Strangford
Question
Concerns that overweight individuals, who are more vulnerable to coronavirus, must have access to vaccines without any delays or changes in clinical priority.
Minister reply
Confirms vaccine shipments will continue as scheduled and no changes will be made to prioritisation.
Jacob Young
Con
Welwyn Hatfield
Question
Compliments the Secretary of State on the successful vaccine roll-out, asks for an outline of decision-making that led to the taskforce's success.
Minister reply
Acknowledges the collaborative effort involving Government officials, business and academia in achieving this success.
Mick Whitley
Lab
Cynon Valley
Question
Raises concern about vaccine uptake among care home staff and whether high-risk staff can get their first dose.
Minister reply
Encourages all elderly care workers to come forward for vaccination if they have not done so already.
Chris Grayling
Con
Epsom and Ewell
Question
Acknowledges vaccine success but raises concern about hospitality businesses going bust due to continued restrictions.
Minister reply
Defends the road map based on clinical advice, emphasising that it is possible to proceed down this path due to vaccination success.
Kim Johnson
Lab
Liverpool Riverside
Question
Supports the vaccine roll-out but asks for assurance regarding second dose supply and timing.
Minister reply
Assures that all individuals due their second dose will receive it within the specified 12-week period.
John Redwood
Con
Wokingham
Question
Compliments vaccine roll-out success and asks for an update on progress with finding new treatments.
Minister reply
Acknowledges the collaborative approach to discovering therapeutics, emphasising the UK's unique role in this research.
Dan Jarvis
Lab
Barnsley North
Question
One of the gravest threats posed by covid is its potential to create a cancer epidemic. I urge the Secretary of State to give serious consideration to an urgently needed £50 million refurbishment plan for Sheffield’s Weston Park cancer centre.
Minister reply
I have seen the letter and I am looking into what we can do. There is more hope in mRNA technology that could improve cancer-fighting techniques significantly, and I would be happy to discuss the proposal for South Yorkshire.
Question
Given the success of the vaccination roll-out in North Norfolk, can my right hon. Friend assure my constituents that despite recent supply news, they will see no interruption to their vaccine doses?
Minister reply
Yes.
Question
I want to pat the Secretary of State on the back for much of what he has done. I hope we can have a good PR effort, working together to make sure that people know it is so vital to get the vaccine wherever they live.
Minister reply
I am a pretty collegiate kind of guy and I generally see the best in people. The vaccine roll-out has been a totally cross-party effort.
Luke Evans
Con
Hinckley and Bosworth
Question
How long does he estimate it will take to clear the elective-surgeries backlog that has built up?
Minister reply
We are not yet able to answer this because the pace at which we can return activity to full levels is unclear. The main barrier is a combination of infection, prevention and control and the need for staff to get some R and R.
Tim Farron
Lib Dem
Westmorland and Lonsdale
Question
There was no mention of cancer in the Secretary of State’s statement, nor a single penny in the Budget to boost cancer services. Given the scale of this crisis, will the Secretary of State agree to set out an urgent, ambitious and funded plan to catch up with cancer?
Minister reply
The need to catch up on the backlog is there across all elective operations including those for cancer. Some cancer services have in fact delivered more than their normal pre-pandemic levels of care.
Question
Could we use AstraZeneca vaccines from Europe? Will my right hon. Friend assure me that the Pfizer vaccine will be available for not just second jabs but first jabs in April?
Minister reply
My hon. Friend has put her finger on an irony in two different positions our European friends are taking at the same time. The best thing to say is that I hope we can get the vaccine going everywhere, because the data are really very clear that it saves lives.
Warrington North
Question
Can the Secretary of State reassure the House that if high-risk people in the top categories come forward for their first dose of the vaccine, they will not be prevented from receiving it as a result of anticipated delays to delivery?
Minister reply
That is absolutely our goal. We will take this time to find as many people in the most vulnerable cohorts as possible.
Question
Will the Secretary of State join me in congratulating Sarah Gilbert on her thoroughly well-deserved accolade from her home town, praising her outstanding work and recognising her as a role model for young people everywhere?
Minister reply
I am sure the whole House will agree with every single word that my hon. Friend said. Sarah Gilbert has played a role in saving many lives over her career in medical research.
Question
According to a survey conducted by the Family Fund, 93% of families said that coronavirus had negatively affected disabled or seriously ill children’s mental health. What crucial steps are the Government taking to support the mental health and wellbeing of children and adults with disabilities?
Minister reply
Of course, those with disabilities have been recognised where they have clinical priority for a vaccine, as have their carers, according to clinical advice. Part of the £500 million of mental health funding will go towards further strengthening children’s mental health services.
Question
With these constraints on supply, is the Secretary of State still confident that we can follow our road map to release?
Minister reply
Yes. We did fund the science from the start, and we worked collegiately to make that happen. There is no impact on the road map timetable from the news on supply.
Mary Foy
Lab
City of Durham
Question
Will the Government now commit to supporting a waiver of covid-19-related patents at the World Trade Organisation, or is artificially limiting vaccine supply official Government policy?
Minister reply
AstraZeneca is providing the Oxford vaccine free of charge—it is not charging for any intellectual property rights—right around the world.
Question
Thanked the Minister for naming vaccines after submarines built in his constituency. Asked about monoclonal antibodies as part of the defence against coronavirus.
Minister reply
Acknowledged the importance of monoclonal antibodies and stated that work is being done with clinical leads and external experts.
Tulip Siddiq
Lab
Hampstead and Highgate
Question
Asked about concerns over Centene Corporation taking over GP surgeries in London, including those in her constituency.
Minister reply
Did not share the same concern.
Question
Expressed concern about social media junk food adverts targeting children from poorer constituencies and asked if he would meet young people from Bite Back 2030.
Minister reply
Agreed to ensure a meeting with the Minister for public health, Jo Churchill.
Liz Twist
Lab
Blaydon and Consett
Question
Asked about guidelines for those who are shielding but have not received their second jab.
Minister reply
Confirmed that they will be writing to all those who are shielding with personal copies of the guidelines.
Question
Praised the sensible and proportionate decision making by MHRA and JCVI compared to decisions made in European countries.
Minister reply
Agreed, stating that precaution is important but over-precaution is a mistake when there are huge benefits to vaccination.
Salford
Question
Asked if the Secretary of State would authorise Salford to proceed with vaccinating those in cohorts 10, 11 and 12.
Minister reply
Stated that efforts should be made to reach every last person in groups 1 to 9 before moving on.
Question
Thanked the Minister for the work done at his local vaccination centre and asked if they are still on track with vaccinating over-50s.
Minister reply
Confirmed that efforts will continue to vaccinate all over-50s and deliver second doses as planned.
Shadow Comment
Jon Ashworth
Shadow Comment
The Shadow Secretary of State expressed concerns about the delays in vaccine supply affecting younger age groups' vaccination timelines. He questioned the guarantee for second doses within the stipulated timeframe and the impact on easing lockdown stages. He also raised issues around vaccine hesitancy, potential need for booster jabs, mental health support, cancer targets, and NHS pay cuts despite funding announcements.
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