Topical Questions 2024-07-23

2024-07-23

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Response quality

Questions & Answers

Q1 Partial Answer
Carolyn Harris Lab
Neath and Swansea East
Context
The questioner asks about the inclusion of menopause assessments during free NHS health checks, which she claims would be cost-neutral and beneficial.
During their free NHS 40-plus health checks, women are assessed for conditions that may affect them as they grow older, but menopause is not included. To include it would be cost-neutral and would not only help millions of women to recognise the symptoms, but prevent needless GP appointments when those symptoms start to develop. Along with Menopause Mandate, I have been campaigning tirelessly on this issue. Will the Secretary of State please look into it as a matter of urgency?
I am delighted to see my hon. Friend back in the House. She campaigns relentlessly on this vital issue, and it would be very risky for me to do anything other than agree to meet her, because I share her view that progress needs to be made on it.
Assessment & feedback
Response accuracy
Q2 Partial Answer
Victoria Atkins Con
Louth and Horncastle
Context
The questioner inquires about the cost implications of the 35% pay rise demand by the junior doctors committee.
In opposition, the Secretary of State described the 35% pay rise demand by the junior doctors committee as 'reasonable'. What he did not tell the public was that this single trade union demand would cost an additional £3 billion, let alone the impact on other public sector workers. Will he ask the Chancellor to raise taxes, or will she ask him to cut patient services to pay for it?
May I welcome the shadow Secretary of State to her new position? She has behaved in her typically graceful and decent way. I enjoyed working with her on that basis, and will continue to do so. Although, I must confess that when I heard about the 'abominable' behaviour of the shadow Health Secretary, I thought, 'What on earth have I done now?' Then I remembered that our roles have swapped, and that it was not me they were referring to.

What I said was that the doctors were making a reasonable case that their pay had not kept in line with inflation, but we were clear before the election that 35% was not a figure we could afford. We are negotiating with junior doctors in good faith to agree on a settlement that we can deliver and that the country can afford.
Assessment & feedback
Response accuracy
Q3 Partial Answer
Victoria Atkins Con
Louth and Horncastle
Context
The questioner inquires about the implementation of Dr Cass's recommendations regarding gender identity, specifically exercising caution with cross-sex hormones.
I am afraid I do not like it when Secretaries of State do not answer questions, and I am sorry to say that the right hon. Gentleman gave another non-answer, as has been the case for those on the Government Front Bench. I have a question that I hope he will be able to answer. The final act of the Conservative Government was to protect children and young people by banning private clinics from selling puberty blockers to young people questioning their gender. Will the right hon. Gentleman confirm that he will resist the voices of opposition on the Benches behind him and implement in full all of Dr Cass's recommendations, including exercising “extreme caution”, as she said, in the use of cross-sex hormones in young people? They and their parents deserve certainty from this Government.
Obviously, there is a judicial review of the former Secretary of State's decision, which I am defending. The matter is sub judice, so I will steer clear of it.

To go back to first principles, we are wholeheartedly committed to the full implementation of the Cass review, which will deliver material improvements in the wellbeing, safety and dignity of trans people of all ages. I think that is important. I want to reassure LGBT+ communities across the country, particularly the trans community, that this Government seek a very different relationship with them.
Assessment & feedback
Avoided discussing specific implementation due to judicial review and steered towards general commitment
Sub Judice
Response accuracy
Q4 Partial Answer
Satvir Kaur Lab
Southampton Test
Context
The questioner inquires about support for patients at Southampton general hospital, where the waiting list is close to 60,000.
After 14 years of Conservative mismanagement of our NHS, the waiting list at Southampton general hospital is close to 60,000. I welcome my hon. Friend's commitment and plan to bring down waiting lists, but can she also outline what support will be offered to those waiting for treatment, many of whom are in pain, as we tackle the shameful backlog we inherited?
My hon. Friend makes an excellent point about the stress that people face when waiting, and we have talked about the disaster of the past 14 years. People with potentially deteriorating conditions are waiting, and we absolutely need to address this issue as part of our work to reduce waiting lists.
Assessment & feedback
Response accuracy
Q5 Partial Answer
Blake Stephenson Con
Mid Bedfordshire
Context
The questioner asks about the government's policy of rebuilding or refurbishing 250 GP surgeries in England.
The Government have announced ambitious house building targets but, as far as I could tell, the Labour party manifesto was silent on the GP estate upgrades. Does the Secretary of State agree that the Conservative policy of rebuilding or refurbishing 250 GP surgeries in England is a sensible policy to implement?
I am proud that the Deputy Prime Minister will be delivering the commitment to build 1.5 million new homes. It is absolutely vital that the infrastructure needed is delivered alongside those new homes, and we and other colleagues across Government will be working very closely with the Deputy Prime Minister to make sure that the social infrastructure is also provided.
Assessment & feedback
Response accuracy
Q6 Partial Answer
Tom Rutland Lab
East Worthing and Shoreham
Context
Worthing hospital nearly downgraded its maternity services due to a shortage of neonatal nurses and midwives.
Last week, Worthing hospital came close to having to consider downgrading its maternity services due to a shortage of specialist neonatal nurses and midwives. Will the Minister please update the House on the Government's plans to build an NHS that is fit for the future, including by addressing staffing shortages?
We will listen to women and deliver evidence-based improvements to make maternity and neonatal services safer and more equitable for women and their babies, and we have committed to delivering the long-term workforce plan.
Assessment & feedback
Did not provide specific details on addressing staffing shortages or timelines.
Response accuracy
Q7 Partial Answer
Victoria Collins Lib Dem
Harpenden and Berkhamsted
Context
West Hertfordshire teaching hospitals trust lost 843 days due to the social care backlog.
In one month alone at the West Hertfordshire teaching hospitals trust, we lost 843 days because of the social care backlog. The burden of that cost is often taken up by families and individuals, which impacts not only on them, but on the rest of our NHS healthcare. I welcome the talk about working together across parties, but would the Secretary of State also consider introducing greater support for unpaid carers, including paid carers leave and a statutory guarantee of regular respite breaks?
We are absolutely committed to the new hospitals programme. On the budgets and the timescales, as I have said, we will come forward with an honest appraisal of what we have inherited from the last Government and what we will be able to deliver within reasonable timescales.
Assessment & feedback
Did not address support for unpaid carers or mention specific measures like paid carer's leave.
Response accuracy
Q8 Partial Answer
Sean Woodcock Lab
Banbury
Context
The Keep the Horton General campaign in Banbury has catalogued poor experiences of mothers who gave birth at John Radcliffe hospital.
The Keep the Horton General campaign in my constituency has recently catalogued the poor experiences of tens of Banbury-based mothers who gave birth at the John Radcliffe hospital in Oxford. Will the Secretary of State or a member of his team meet me to discuss these concerning reports of poor maternity care?
We have already heard about the staffing shortages and the actions we will take to address that, but I also want to reassure people that patient voices, including those of recent and expectant mothers, will be part of our 10-year plan for the NHS.
Assessment & feedback
Did not commit to a meeting or provide specific details on addressing maternity care issues.
Response accuracy
Q9 Partial Answer
Kit Malthouse Con
North West Hampshire
Context
During the election campaign, the Prime Minister promised to replace Basingstoke hospital by 2030.
During the election campaign the Prime Minister came to Basingstoke on a visit and specifically promised to replace Basingstoke hospital by 2030. Can we rely on that promise?
We are absolutely committed to the new hospitals programme. On the budgets and the timescales, as I have said, we will come forward with an honest appraisal of what we have inherited from the last Government and what we will be able to deliver within reasonable timescales.
Assessment & feedback
Did not confirm or deny reliance on the promise without providing a specific timeline or budget commitment.
Response accuracy
Q10 Partial Answer
Matt Western Lab
Warwick and Leamington
Context
Yesterday's NHS data showed that England has among the highest incidences of dementia in the world, with approximately 500,000 cases.
I appreciate that this is early days, 16 days in, but does the Minister have any idea why that may be, and what can be done about it?
A number of potential new disease-modifying drugs for Alzheimer's are in the pipeline, including lecanemab and donanemab. We are committed to ensuring that clinically effective and cost-effective medicines reach patients in a timely and safe way.
Assessment & feedback
Did not provide reasons behind high incidences of dementia or specific actions beyond drug availability.
Response accuracy
Q11 Partial Answer
Simon Hoare Con
North Dorset
Context
Sacha Langton-Gilks lost her son to a brain tumour and is campaigning for better awareness.
Will he agree to meet me and my fierce campaigner constituent Sacha Langton-Gilks, who lost her son to a brain tumour, to discuss how NHS England could be persuaded to do more to inform and educate parents to identify the symptoms?
I can confirm that I am more than happy to meet him and his constituents now that I have dropped the “shadow”.
Assessment & feedback
Did not provide a specific commitment or timeline for meeting.
Response accuracy
Q12 Partial Answer
Dan Tomlinson Lab
Chipping Barnet
Context
There are 100,000 people on the NHS waiting list in Chipping Barnet.
Specifically in the Royal Free trust area, which covers the community that I now have the honour of being the MP for—Chipping Barnet in North London—there are 100,000 people on the NHS waiting list. So what steps will the Minister take to reduce the waiting list in places such as mine so that we can see more people getting the treatment and support that they need from the NHS?
Our 40,000 extra appointments, scans and procedures and our doubling of the number of diagnostic scanners will make a real difference to getting that backlog down to where it should be.
Assessment & feedback
Did not provide specific details or timelines on reducing waiting lists.
Response accuracy
Q13 Partial Answer
Lee Anderson Reform
Ashfield
Context
King's Mill hospital was built through a private finance initiative deal by the last Labour Government and is now very costly.
Will the Secretary of State please now assure me and the people of Ashfield that this will never happen again?
I was very impressed by what I saw at King's Mill hospital, and I am proud of the last Labour Government's record of delivering the shortest waiting times and the highest patient satisfaction in history. As I said during the election campaign, we will build on that success and learn from some of our shortcomings, too.
Assessment & feedback
Did not provide a specific assurance or commitment to avoid such deals in the future.
Response accuracy
Q14 Partial Answer
Danny Beales Lab
Uxbridge and South Ruislip
Context
Residents in Uxbridge and South Ruislip have waited for over a decade for a new hospital, with no business case agreed or funding released under the previous government.
I welcome the honesty and urgency of reviewing the new-build hospitals programme. Residents in Uxbridge and South Ruislip are sick and tired after 14 years of broken promises on a new hospital. Board minutes have revealed that no business case was agreed under the last Government. No funding was released for a new hospital, and not a brick has been laid. Does my right hon. Friend agree that urgent investment is needed at Hillingdon hospital? Will he come back to the hospital, a year later, to visit staff and discuss their plans?
I welcome my hon. Friend to his place. Better late than never, as they say. I have been to Hillingdon hospital, which has amazing staff and appalling buildings. That is why the people of Hillingdon, and people right across the country, deserve honesty, clarity and certainty about the new hospitals programme. This Government will provide it and stick to it.
Assessment & feedback
The government's specific commitment or timeline for investment at Hillingdon hospital was not provided.
Response accuracy
Q15 Partial Answer
Esther McVey Con
Tatton
Context
Concerns over the UK's ability to make independent decisions regarding health matters and potential delegation of powers to international bodies.
Does the Secretary of State agree that handing over powers to the World Health Organisation, undermining the UK's ability to make its own sovereign decisions, would be unacceptable?
The World Health Organisation is an intergovernmental arrangement. It is of vital importance that, first and foremost, we agree only to things that are in our national interest, but we should not lose sight of the fact that there are lots of things that we need to do together in pursuit of our national interest, from tackling antimicrobial resistance to preventing future pandemic threats. That is exactly what we will do.
Assessment & feedback
The government did not commit to specific actions regarding delegation of powers to the WHO or how it aligns with UK sovereignty.
Response accuracy
Q16 Partial Answer
Marsha de Cordova Lab
Battersea
Context
Ophthalmology services are facing a significant backlog due to the NHS crisis, with nearly 10% of the entire waiting list.
I congratulate the Secretary of State and welcome him to his post. Eye healthcare services are in crisis due to the Tories breaking our NHS. Ophthalmology is the busiest out-patient service, making up nearly 10% of the entire waiting list. My national eye health strategy will seek to tackle some of these issues, so will the Secretary of State meet me to discuss how we can tackle the eye healthcare emergency?
I would be delighted to do that. As my hon. Friend knows, we visited Specsavers during the election campaign. There are lots of high street opticians, and they can make a real difference to cutting the backlog. The Conservatives should have gone to Specsavers, and this Government will.
Assessment & feedback
The government did not commit to specific actions or timelines for tackling ophthalmology service backlogs.
Response accuracy
Q17 Partial Answer
Wendy Chamberlain Lib Dem
North East Fife
Context
Families with young children facing pre-diagnosis ADHD and autism need early intervention but face difficulties in accessing support.
My constituents have struggled to get pre-diagnosis ADHD and autism support for their young daughters. We cannot diagnose children at a very young age, but that does not mean that families do not need help. Can the Minister confirm what engagement he will have with support organisations such as the National Autistic Society to ensure that best practice means that families are not struggling for support?
I welcome the hon. Lady to her place. She raises a vital issue. We have a plan for improving mental health services, including 8,500 more mental health workers. Autism is, of course, a vital part of that, and I will be more than happy to meet her to discuss further how we might be able to take it forward.
Assessment & feedback
The minister did not provide specific details on the engagement planned with support organizations for early intervention.
Response accuracy