Topical Questions

Question

East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust has the potential to get hundreds of millions in investment as part of the Government's NHS estate infrastructure improvement plan. Will funding be allocated on a two to three-year basis, so that the NHS can better plan its funding and estates plans? Where funding has been indicated for a longer term, what plans are there to ensure that providers have sufficient resource in the shorter term to address immediate issues, or to support covid or recovery?

Question

Let us consider these words about mental health services: “prior to 2017, no government invested in or prioritised MH services.” Those are not my words but the words of the Minister for Patient Safety, Suicide Prevention and Mental Health, the hon. Member for Mid Bedfordshire (Ms Dorries). Indeed, the new Secretary of State was the architect of these cuts, during his time as a Treasury Minister. The unparalleled devastation he left behind has been simply staggering, so does he agree with his Minister? Can he explain to us why 140,000 children were turned away from mental health services last year? Can he explain why a quarter of mental health beds have been cut since 2010? Is he ashamed of his track record?

Question

May I welcome the Secretary of State to his place? I am sure he will do an excellent job. As he thinks about a 24-hour A&E for Chorley, I hope he will also think about the urgent need for a cancer institute at the Royal Surrey County Hospital as only second on his list. The Secretary of State will know that this morning the Health and Social Care Committee published a worrying report about the inhumane treatment given to 2,000 people with learning disabilities and autism in in-patient units, often because no community provision was available. When he brings forward his plans for social care, will he make sure that there is adequate funding for local authorities to give care to such people? Will he also make sure that care workers are always paid the minimum wage, including for the time taken to travel between appointments?

Question

I congratulate the Secretary of State on his new role. There are 1.5 million older people, disabled people and carers with unmet needs who are desperately waiting for care reform. What is the Secretary of State's estimated start date for the implementation of the care package that the Government claimed was ready in their manifesto more than 20 months ago?

Question

I know that many of my constituents will be pleased to hear that from 16 August we will end the requirement for people to self-isolate after possible exposure to the virus if they are fully vaccinated. I am sure we all agree that it is right to change the rules as the information changes; however, will my right hon. Friend explain to the House the rationale for making this change on 16 August rather than next Monday?

Question

Macmillan estimates that the NHS will need to operate at 110% capacity for 14 months to address the backlog of undiagnosed and untreated cases. Will the Secretary of State confirm whether the NHS is on schedule to clear this cancer diagnosis, care, and treatment backlog by March 2022?

Question

What measures are being taken to ensure that constituents can access GP services in person when they need it, especially for older individuals?

Question

What actions are being taken by the Government to reach out to those at risk of undiagnosed or untreated cancers over the past year and a half?

Question

Does my hon. Friend agree that infertility treatment should be based solely on medical need and not influenced by whether a partner already has children?

Question

Given that more than two thirds of people do not fully understand the implications for those who remain immunocompromised, should masks be kept mandatory to protect such clinically at-risk residents?

Question

Will the need to balance these hidden costs against the reduced threat from the virus be a key part of the Government's decision-making in easing restrictions?

Question

I have been contacted by a number of my Colne Valley constituents who have had operations and medical procedures cancelled or postponed at short notice. With coronavirus cases still on the rise, what is the strategy to tackle the backlog in operations and medical procedures?

Question

When I return to my constituency of North East Fife, I will cross into Scotland, where the mandating of face masks is likely to continue. Is it the Government's expectation that passengers will wear a mask only when they cross into Scotland—or, indeed, Wales? What consultation has happened with the Home Office in relation to guidance to the British Transport police? Do the Government accept that a lack of a four-nations approach to such measures is not helpful?

Question

I congratulate the Secretary of State on his appointment. Cases of covid rose by 30% last week compared with the previous week, and on 10 July we saw over 35,000 new cases, the highest since 22 January. By mid-August we could see 1,000 people a day being hospitalised, and up to 200 people a day could die, despite the excellent vaccination programmes. Given that the Secretary of State now considers it irresponsible not to wear masks, is it not equally irresponsible for the Government not to require people to continue to wear masks rather than leaving it as an option?