Topical Questions 2023-01-24

2023-01-24

TAGS
Response quality

Questions & Answers

Q1 Partial Answer
Justin Madders Lab
Ellesmere Port and Bromborough
Context
The Health and Care Bill discussed safe staffing levels in the NHS.
During the passage of the Health and Care Bill, it was stated that there is no single ratio or formula for calculating safe staffing. Is the Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Bill not about preventing healthcare workers from exercising their right to strike due to a lack of confidence in the Government?
The legislation balances the right to strike with minimum safe staffing levels, similar to practices in European countries like France and Italy. The bill aligns the NHS with other health systems regarding these standards.
Assessment & feedback
Did not address if the bill is aimed at preventing strikes due to lack of confidence in the government
Response accuracy
Q2 Partial Answer
Justin Madders Lab
Ellesmere Port and Bromborough
Context
Wrexham Maelor Hospital was built in 1934 and is no longer fit for purpose, lacking modern facilities.
Given that the Welsh Labour Government has received significant funding since devolution began, will the Minister agree that they need to listen to the people of Wrexham and build a new hospital?
The Minister hopes that the Labour-run NHS in Wales will heed professional advice regarding investment in the healthcare estate.
Assessment & feedback
Did not directly agree to build a new hospital in Wrexham
Response accuracy
Q3 Direct Answer
Context
Prime Minister's advocacy for charging for GP appointments and one predecessor urged to charge for A&E visits.
Given that the Prime Minister has advocated for charging for GP appointments, will he rule out any extension of user charges in the NHS?
The Secretary of State clarified that the Prime Minister remains committed to treatment being free at the point of use, contrary to misrepresentation.
Assessment & feedback
Response accuracy
Q4 Partial Answer
Wes Streeting Lab
Ilford North
Context
Request for doubling medical school places, nursing and midwifery clinical training places, and district nurses qualifying.
Given the need to expand NHS training, will he adopt Labour's workforce plan instead of having no plan?
The Secretary of State criticized the misrepresentation of government plans and noted that even BMA deputy chair contradicts Labour's claims.
Assessment & feedback
Did not address adoption of Labour's workforce plan or admit lack of a plan
Response accuracy
Q5 Partial Answer
Wes Streeting Lab
Ilford North
Context
Lloyds has closed two branches in the constituency despite government investment.
How will the additional £100 million funding cut NHS waiting times and reverse the trend of closures?
The investment allows pharmacies to provide more clinical services, supports pharmacies in areas with fewer branches through the access scheme, increasing the number of community pharmacists by 18% since 2017.
Assessment & feedback
Did not specifically address reducing waiting times or reversing closures
Response accuracy
Q6 Partial Answer
Context
Discussions on pension tax rules were initiated in November, with the Secretary of State acknowledging their importance.
When I brought up pension tax rules in November, the Secretary of State agreed that pensions were an important issue and said he would meet the Chancellor later that day. Can he give an update on the progress his Cabinet colleagues are making to provide a permanent solution that will help retain NHS staff?
Those discussions are ongoing with my right hon. Friend the Chancellor. The hon. Gentleman will know that we made progress in the summer on a couple of areas in relation to pensions, and my right hon. Friend is having further discussions with us in that context.
Assessment & feedback
No concrete update or timeline provided for permanent pension tax rule solution.
Response accuracy
Q7 Direct Answer
Luke Evans Con
Hinckley and Bosworth
Context
The questioner is a GP, concerned about the GP partnership model in tough times.
I declare an interest as a GP and the immediate family of a GP and doctors. GPs are working incredibly hard in tough times. It is true that supply has gone up, but so too has demand. Change needs to happen in primary care, but one of the bedrocks is the GP partnership model. Does this Government agree?
Unlike the Opposition, we do not regard GPs' finances as murky and we do not want to go back to Labour's policy of 1934 by trying to finish off the business that even Nye Bevan thought was too left-wing. We do not believe in nationalising GPs; we believe in the current model.
Assessment & feedback
Response accuracy
Q8 Partial Answer
Context
Data from the Food Foundation shows that 9.7 million people in the UK lived in food insecurity in September 2022.
The UK has the sixth largest and richest economy in the world, yet data from the Food Foundation shows that in September 2022, 9.7 million people on these islands lived in food insecurity. That kind of malnutrition does not have a good impact on the health service. When will Ministers pick up the phone or nip along the corridor to the Department for Work and Pensions and tell it to drop its punitive sanctions regime, which pushes so many people into poverty and so many problems onto the NHS?
We are concerned about the exact same issues. The £900 cost of living payment for 8 million households is how we are trying to address this. It is also why we are bringing in the largest ever increase in the national living wage for 2 million workers.
Assessment & feedback
Did not directly address dropping sanctions regime or tackling food insecurity specifically.
Response accuracy
Q9 Partial Answer
Priti Patel Con
Witham
Context
The Secretary of State is aware of the challenges facing Essex mental health care and an independent inquiry into patient deaths.
The Secretary of State is well aware of the challenges facing Essex mental health care and the independent inquiry there into so many patients who have died. Can he tell the House and my constituents what steps he is taking to make this a statutory inquiry?
My right hon. Friend raises an extremely grave and serious issue that I know is of concern to a number of colleagues. Following representations from parliamentary colleagues, I had discussions with the chair of the inquiry, and I then with the chief executive and leadership team, in terms of the level of engagement with the inquiry.
Assessment & feedback
Did not provide specific steps or timeline for making the inquiry statutory.
Response accuracy
Q10 Partial Answer
Stephen Morgan Lab
Portsmouth South
Context
The Government have slashed medical school places by a third, whereas Labour aims to double them.
While the Government have slashed medical school places by a third, Labour is committed to doubling the number of places in order to train a new generation of NHS staff. Will the Minister support me in backing the University of Portsmouth's bid for a much-needed medical school for my city?
The hon. Gentleman is just factually wrong. We have increased medical undergraduate places by a quarter—I was in the Department at the time the decision was taken—so he is wrong on the facts. We also need to look at new ways of getting medics in and having more diverse recruitment in relation to social profile.
Assessment & feedback
Did not address support for Portsmouth's medical school bid; instead corrected perceived factual inaccuracies.
Response accuracy
Q11 Partial Answer
Context
The Select Committee looks forward to engaging with the major conditions strategy and a national newspaper contacted 125 acute trusts about visiting rights.
The Select Committee looks forward to hearing about the major conditions strategy and engaging with it, as I hope Ministers will engage with our major prevention inquiry, launched last week. One of our national newspapers has contacted 125 acute trusts and asked them about visiting rights. Some 70% of them still have some form of restrictions in place, most commonly limiting the time that people can spend with their loved ones and the number of people who can sit by the bedside.
I thank my hon. Friend for his question. National NHS guidance is absolutely clear: providers are expected to facilitate visiting for patients in hospital wherever possible and to do so in a risk-managed way. It is up to individual providers—they do have discretion—but I understand the benefit that this brings to patients.
Assessment & feedback
Did not specify further action from NHS England beyond reiterating current guidance.
Response accuracy
Q12 Partial Answer
Kim Johnson Lab
Liverpool Riverside
Context
According to a recent Care Quality Commission report, black people experiencing mental health crisis are 11 times more likely to be sectioned and receive restrictive treatment orders.
According to a recent Care Quality Commission report, black people experiencing mental health crisis are 11 times more likely to be sectioned and to receive restrictive and violent community treatment orders. How will the Minister tackle these inequalities and implement the recommendations in the report?
I thank the hon. Lady for her question. She is right that black and ethnic minority groups are more likely to be detained under the Mental Health Act 1983. We are planning to reform the Mental Health Act. There has been pre-legislative scrutiny, and I hope that when we reform that Act there will be an improvement in those figures.
Assessment & feedback
Did not provide a specific plan or timeline for addressing racial disparities.
Response accuracy
Q13 Direct Answer
Context
The Kent and Medway integrated care board reported an increase of over 230,000 in the number of GP appointments offered to patients between September 2020 and September 2022.
The Kent and Medway integrated care board reported that we had an increase of over 230,000 in the number of GP appointments offered to patients between September 2020 and September 2022. However, Medway has some of the lowest numbers of GPs per head in the country, and demand has increased. What support is the Department giving to the ICB to further increase access to GP appointments in Medway?
I welcome the increase in appointments and the numbers that my hon. Friend has drawn to the House's attention. There is targeted funding of up to £20,000 for areas that are having difficulty recruiting; I am happy to discuss with her how we ensure that Medway can adequately access that fund.
Assessment & feedback
Response accuracy
Q14 Partial Answer
Jessica Morden Lab
Newport East
Context
The regulation of physician associates is under discussion to maximise their use in hospitals, relieving pressure on staff.
Why are the Government continuing to delay their consultation on the regulation of physician associates? Constituents who are physician associates point out that they could be doing much more to perform vital duties and relieve pressure in our hospitals, which, I am sure the Secretary of State would agree, we desperately need.
I agree that that is an important issue and I am keen to expedite it; we are having urgent discussions about how we maximise the use of physician associates. The hon. Lady raises an important point that we are discussing with the devolved Administrations, because it applies across the United Kingdom. I am keen to move quickly on that important area.
Assessment & feedback
Under Discussion Keen To Move
Response accuracy
Q15 Partial Answer
Context
The “Future of Pharmacy” report highlights funding pressures on the sector, including a £370 million loan burden from covid-19 loans.
“The Future of Pharmacy” report was published yesterday and highlighted again the funding pressures on the sector, including for the brilliant Belfairs Pharmacy in Leigh-on-Sea, which asks whether the Minister will urgently consider writing off the £370 million of covid loans given to pharmacies during covid-19.
We are working to increase the amount of funding going into pharmacies so that they can do more clinical services. I will look closely at the issue that my hon. Friend raises.
Assessment & feedback
Looking Closely
Response accuracy
Q16 Partial Answer
Matt Western Lab
Warwick and Leamington
Context
The Government decided to mothball a £1 billion testing lab in Leamington, leaving up to 670 people without jobs.
Last week, the Government decided to mothball the covid-19 testing facility in Leamington, which will leave up to 670 people without a job. The lab reputedly cost more than £1 billion—perhaps the Minister could confirm—and when the investment was made, I was promised that it would be used for other purposes, such as pathological testing and other diagnostics. Why is that not happening?
As the hon. Gentleman knows—we discussed the issue over the telephone last week—the decision was taken to wind down the Rosalind Franklin Laboratory because the number of PCR tests has reduced significantly and NHS laboratories can take that capacity. There is a residual service and additional use of the laboratory is being considered.
Assessment & feedback
Additional Use Being Considered
Response accuracy
Q17 Partial Answer
Martin Vickers Con
Brigg and Immingham
Context
The rate of units of dental activity varies from £25 to £36 across different practice groups, affecting dentist attraction in areas with shortages.
I recently met a dentist in my constituency whose practice group operates over 19 sites where the rate for units of dental activity ranges from £25 to £36. He is convinced that there needs to be a uniform UDA rate to attract NHS dentists to areas such as Cleethorpes. Can the Minister consider that?
Absolutely; we are looking at that issue. We have already brought in a new minimum UDA value, and we would like to deliver more. We will look at measures to encourage people to work in areas with the greatest shortages.
Assessment & feedback
Looking At Issue
Response accuracy
Q18 Partial Answer
Jim Shannon DUP
Strangford
Context
The Government announced a 10-year cancer plan in 2022 to make the UK a world leader, but current cancer services are struggling.
On World Cancer Day 2022, the then Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, the right hon. Member for Bromsgrove (Sajid Javid), announced a 10-year cancer plan to make us a world leader. Today, cancer services are buckling under immense pressure. Can the Minister confirm that the strategy will be fully resourced and will she commit to working with cancer charities to ensure that it is delivered?
Right now, we are seeing more people come forward for cancer diagnosis or to be given the all-clear. We are supporting services with an extra £8 billion for elective recovery. Cancer is an important part of our major conditions strategy, which the Secretary of State just announced, because we are determined to include patients' cancer outcomes.
Assessment & feedback
Extra Funding Strategy In Place
Response accuracy
Q19 Direct Answer
Context
Healthcare services are described as being in a 'war zone', with Shropshire facing significant challenges.
In today's Shropshire Star, my local paper, there is an eight-page spread on what is happening to healthcare in Shropshire, which is described as a war zone. Will the Secretary of State meet me and other Shropshire MPs to discuss the challenges we face?
I am happy to meet my hon. Friend to discuss the issues in Shropshire. I draw her attention to the fact that we have more doctors, more nurses and more funding going into the NHS, and more people are being treated.
Assessment & feedback
Response accuracy
Q20 Partial Answer
Rupa Huq Lab
Ealing Central and Acton
Context
West London NHS Trust has decided to make the covid closure of the Wolsey wing permanent, leaving Ealing with no acute mental health beds for under-65s.
In the light of the Government's welcome announcement of the Strathdee rapid review of in-patient mental health services, can we revisit West London NHS Trust's decision to make the covid closure of the Wolsey wing permanent, which leaves Ealing, the third biggest borough in London, with no acute mental health beds for under-65s?
Local healthcare decisions are made by local commissioning groups, but I am happy to raise that on behalf of the hon. Lady. We are putting an additional £2.3 billion a year into expanding and transforming mental health services in the community and patient services.
Assessment & feedback
Additional Funding Raising Issue
Response accuracy
Q21 Partial Answer
Context
The Government announced new investment in emergency mental health services, but a long-term strategy is needed to achieve parity of esteem.
Although I welcome the new investment in emergency mental health services that was announced this week, does the Secretary of State agree that we must not lose sight of the fact that we need a long-term plan for the transformation of mental health services so that we achieve parity of esteem between mental and physical health in the NHS?
I do agree. That is why the long-term plan signalled the importance of mental health and the parity of which my hon. Friend speaks. It is also why, as the Under-Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, my hon. Friend the Member for Lewes (Maria Caulfield), has said, additional funding is being targeted at mental health—the extra £2.3 billion a year from 2024—signalling this Government's commitment to mental health, as he will have seen with the announcement on mental health ambulances this week.
Assessment & feedback
Agreement Long-Term Plan
Response accuracy
Q22 Partial Answer
Liz Twist Lab
Blaydon and Consett
Context
Suicide rates in England remain high, despite a promised new suicide prevention strategy.
Suicide rates in England are as high now as they were 20 years ago, yet the written ministerial statement today simply says that a strategy will be published later this year. Saving deaths by suicide cannot wait. When exactly will the suicide prevention strategy be produced?
What we have signalled, and I agree with the hon. Member on this, is the importance of the suicide prevention plan. It is something my predecessor, my right hon. Friend the Member for Bromsgrove (Sajid Javid), highlighted. I am keen to work with him and Members across the House on that. I set out in the written ministerial statement today not a specific date, but our commitment to a bespoke plan, and I am very happy to work with her and other Members on that.
Assessment & feedback
No Specific Date Keen To Work
Response accuracy
Q23 Partial Answer
Context
A single community diagnostic hub planned for North Staffordshire is insufficient to serve over half a million people, as per Jack Brereton.
Current plans for community diagnostic hubs in North Staffordshire would see only a single facility, which is meant to serve over half a million people. That is totally insufficient, so will the Secretary of State look at my suggestion that there should be two of these facilities in North Staffordshire?
I am very happy to meet my hon. Friend to discuss that further.
Assessment & feedback
Specific commitment or timeline was not provided
Response accuracy
Q24 Partial Answer
Richard Burgon Lab
Leeds East
Context
A previous government call to impose charges on visits to the GP or A&E is being questioned for its fairness.
Will the Secretary of State for Health—today, on the record—condemn the call from his predecessor to impose charges on visits to the GP or to A&E?
I am not sure how many times one needs to say the same point. The Government's position on this is clear: we are committed to treatment free at the point of use. That is the Government's position, and it has been throughout the NHS's history, the majority of which has been under Conservative Governments.
Assessment & feedback
Specific condemnation not provided; commitment without specifics
Response accuracy
Q25 Direct Answer
Context
Strikes in the NHS are affecting operations.
How many operations have been lost to strike action in the NHS so far?
On an average strike day, I believe it is about 2,500.
Assessment & feedback
Response accuracy
Q26 Partial Answer
Charlotte Nichols Lab
Warrington North
Context
Syphilis cases in the UK have reached alarming levels, prompting calls for a sexual and reproductive health action plan.
The most recent figures published by the UK Health Security Agency show that, last year, the rate of syphilis cases reached its highest since 1991 and the total number of cases hit its highest since 1948. That shocking increase in syphilis transmission is just one reason why we need the Government to set out their vision for sexual and reproductive health in their long-overdue sexual and reproductive health action plan. Can I therefore ask the Minister to set out when the plan will be published and what she is doing to stop the spread of syphilis?
Can I just reassure the hon. Lady that we take sexual health services very seriously? Local authorities in England have received more than £3 billion from Government to support those services. We have produced a number of plans to improve sexual and reproductive health, from the HIV action plan in 2021 to the women's health strategy, which focuses on sexual health as well.
Assessment & feedback
Publication date not specified; specific measures for syphilis not detailed
Response accuracy
Q27 Partial Answer
Context
The all-party group for diagnostics is planning an inquiry into community diagnostic centres.
The all-party group for diagnostics will hold its inaugural meeting on 8 February, and plans to conduct a short inquiry with the aim of providing a blueprint for how community diagnostic centres should operate in the longer term. As part of the inquiry, will my right hon. Friend commit to meeting members of the group to discuss what more the Government can do to maximise the role of diagnostics in addressing the pressures on the NHS?
I am very happy to give my hon. Friend that commitment. She is absolutely right to highlight the centrality of diagnostics and its importance in our overall plan to get elective numbers down.
Assessment & feedback
Specific actions or timeline not committed
Response accuracy