Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Covid-19: Health and Social Care Workforce

Tuesday 23 February 2021 · 2 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 1 Partly answered 1 Not answered 0

Key points

  • The Department is recruiting extra staff and aims to have 50,000 more nurses in the NHS.
  • The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence published a guideline on vitamin D for covid in December.
  • There is insufficient evidence to support additional specific actions regarding vitamin D beyond current advice to take supplements.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Karl McCartney Con
NHS Social Care
Context

The MP asked about the steps being taken to support workers in health and social care amidst the pandemic.

Question

What steps his Department is taking to support the health and social care workforce during the covid-19 outbreak.

Answer from Helen Whately

Our health and social care workers have been simply extraordinary during the pandemic, caring for people in the most challenging circumstances. We are recruiting extra staff and we are on track to have 50,000 more nurses in the NHS. We are funding things that help when working long hours, we are funding social care providers to provide full pay for staff who are isolating, and we have put in place a package of mental support for health and social care staff.

Answered
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Q2 Karl McCartney Con
NHS
Context

The MP questioned the government's handling of information about vitamin D and other drugs like hydroxychloroquine during the pandemic.

Question

At what stage did the Secretary of State and his officials become aware that vitamin D helped to fight covid symptoms for certain sections of our society, for how long was this information suppressed or ignored, what steps have subsequently been taken to take appropriate action, and what other drugs have also not been fully utilised so far, such as hydroxychloroquine?

Answer from Helen Whately

I thank my hon. Friend for his question. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence published a guideline on vitamin D for covid in December. Its expert panel supported current Government advice to take vitamin D supplements through the autumn and winter. However, there is insufficient evidence that taking vitamin D mitigates effects of covid-19. Hydroxychloroquine is not recommended or authorised for the treatment of covid outside of trials.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Timeline of awareness about vitamin D's role and whether information was suppressed or ignored.

How: Under Review

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