Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Topical Questions

Tuesday 23 November 2021 · 19 questions

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

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 2 Partly answered 14 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Jill Mortimer asked about a constituent with a medical condition requiring urgent surgery, but the response indicated that clinical commissioning groups are responsible for healthcare services.
  • Jon Ashworth criticized the Secretary of State for failing to meet promises on GP numbers and hospital construction, but the response denied these claims and highlighted the Government's commitment to hiring more GPs and building hospitals.
  • Robert Largan inquired about building a major new health centre for Buxton, and the response confirmed interest in reviewing the revised bid for the project.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Jill Mortimer
NHS
Context

The MP's constituent, Chris, has had part of his skull removed following a stroke. He is prone to falling but has been refused necessary surgery by his surgeon.

Question

A young constituent of mine, Chris, has had to have part of his skull removed following a stroke. Although he is prone to falling, his brain has been largely unprotected for nearly two years. This is because his surgeon feels that the necessary surgery is primarily cosmetic. Several other of my constituents have been refused surgery on those grounds, despite procedures being available elsewhere. What steps is my right hon. Friend taking to level up such health disparities and make health inequality a thing of the past?

Answer from Sajid Javid

First, I am sorry to hear about my hon. Friend's constituent Chris and wish him all the very best. She will know that clinical commissioning groups are responsible for commissioning local healthcare services. If the aim of a cosmetic procedure is health rated, such as the need to repair or reconstruct missing or damaged tissue or skin that might come through illness, birth defect or accident, it will be commissioned and seen to by commissioners. She refers to a particular case. If she would like to provide me with more details, I would be happy to take a look.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The issue of health disparities was not directly addressed; instead, the Secretary referred the constituent to clinical commissioning groups and asked for more details about Chris's case.

How: Asked For More Details

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Q2 Jon Ashworth Lab
NHS Social Care
Context

The Secretary of State's promise to deliver 6,000 extra GPs was effectively ditched. The Infrastructure and Projects Authority said the promise to deliver 40 new hospitals is unachievable.

Question

At the weekend, the Secretary of State effectively ditched his promise to deliver 6,000 extra GPs. Last week, the Infrastructure and Projects Authority said his promise to deliver 40 new hospitals is 'unachievable'. Last night, he whipped a vote that sees poorer pensioners lose their homes to pay for care, while the homes of the richer are protected. Can he tell us which promise is he going to break next?

Answer from Sajid Javid

I have to say that the right hon. Gentleman is wrong on all three counts. The Government are absolutely committed to hiring more GPs, with over 1,800 full-time equivalent GPs entering primary care in the two years to September 2021. We are seeing success after success in the hospital building programme, with the biggest capital investment programme in hospitals that this country has ever seen.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The Secretary acknowledged hiring more GPs but did not specify about the 6,000 target or acknowledge unachievability of hospital promise.

How: Refuted Points Without Specifics

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Q3 Jon Ashworth Lab
NHS Social Care
Context

The Secretary of State's social care programme is criticized as not leveling up, with pensioners losing their homes to pay for care while richer ones are protected. The MP asks about staff recruitment for the NHS.

Question

The Secretary of State's social care programme is not levelling up when the promise in his manifesto that no one should have to lose their home to pay for care is broken and in tatters after last night. The Secretary of State's next promise was to give the NHS “everything” to get through the backlog. With waiting lists growing at pace, ambulances backed up outside hospitals, and cancer operations getting cancelled, what will he do to recruit the staff we need? He is apparently not going to support the cross-party amendment in the name of the former Health Secretary, the right hon. Member for South West Surrey (Jeremy Hunt), tonight, and he failed to win the funding needed for recruitment and training in the Budget, so how will he deliver on his promise to give the NHS “everything” when it does not have the staff to deliver the care to bring waiting lists down?

Answer from Sajid Javid

Once again, the right hon. Gentleman proves he still does not understand the social care programme that this Government have set out. I think that is deliberate; he chooses not to understand it. For the first time, catastrophic costs are being capped for everyone in the country, regardless of where they live, and the generous means-testing system will ensure that the vast majority of people will benefit and that no one will lose out. The right hon. Gentleman asks me what I am doing about the workforce. We are making the biggest investment in the workforce that this country has ever seen.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The issue of staffing was not directly addressed; instead, there were statements on social care programme effectiveness and workforce investments without specifics.

How: Refuted Points

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Q4 Robert Largan
NHS
Context

Hundreds of local people have responded to the MP's High Peak GP surgery survey. One major concern is about improving access to primary care, which can be achieved by building a new health centre in Buxton.

Question

Hundreds of local people have responded to my High Peak GP surgery survey, and I look forward to presenting Ministers with the results shortly. One of the top concerns is about how we can improve access to primary care. One way would be finally to build a major new health centre for Buxton. The local NHS already owns a suitable town centre location with outline planning permission; all it requires is the capital funding. Derbyshire Community Health Service NHS Trust has submitted a strong bid, which I support, so will the Secretary of State meet me to discuss how we can deliver the proposal and improve healthcare for Buxton and the whole High Peak?

Answer from Sajid Javid

Yes, I will. I looked at the previous bid and have been trying to understand why it was not taken forward. However, I would like to look carefully at the revised bid. I reassure my hon. Friend that more funding is available for such capital projects, and I would be happy to discuss that with him.

Answered
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Q5 Andy McDonald Lab Middlesbrough and Thornaby East
Social Care Standards & Ethics
Context

The MP's constituents feel misled and betrayed by the unraveling of the cap on care costs, especially those with modest capital.

Question

Now that the cap on care costs has unravelled, many of my constituents feel misled and betrayed, especially those with modest capital in the value of their home. How can it be that those with the most will contribute the least and that those with the least will contribute the most? Where is the equity, where is the fairness, and where is the justice in any of that?

Answer from Gillian Keegan

I thank the hon. Gentleman for his question. We are trying to solve something that has not been solved for decades, and the Labour party does exactly what it always does when it comes to this point: it picks one specific part without looking at the package as a whole and misleads the whole country. I want a better system not only for our grans and grandads, but for our mums and dads and all of us.

Not addressed: The questioner's constituents' concerns about care costs cap were not addressed; instead, there was criticism of Labour party's approach.

How: Criticised Opposition

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Q6 David Simmonds Con Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner
NHS
Context

Hillingdon Hospital needs a rebuild due to its age.

Question

My constituents benefit from the excellent healthcare provided at Hillingdon Hospital, but it is long overdue a rebuild. Can my right hon. Friend give me an update on when we might expect to see progress on those plans?

Answer from Sajid Javid

It is a vital project, and the trust project team are working well with NHS England and with my Department. The scheme, as I understand it, remains on track; like my hon. Friend, I look forward to its completion.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not provide specific timeline or concrete progress details

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Q7 Vicky Foxcroft Lab Lewisham North
NHS Children & Families
Context

Disabled Children's Partnership research shows that nearly three quarters of disabled children and young people have seen their conditions regress in the pandemic due to inadequate support.

Question

New research from the Disabled Children's Partnership shows that nearly three quarters of disabled children and young people have seen their conditions regress in the pandemic because of a lack of adequate support. Therapies, short breaks and health services have all been massively reduced, and there are huge backlogs. Will the Secretary of State outline how the Government plan to rapidly sort that out?

Answer from Sajid Javid

I thank the hon. Lady for her very important question. There is nothing more important than our children. Sadly, some of the actions that were taken at the height of the pandemic, for understandable reasons, have had unintended consequences. That is exactly why we are putting in a record amount of funding, with the biggest catch-up programme for elective procedures in the history of the NHS. I know that that will help.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not provide specific plan or actions to address disabled children's needs

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Q8 Philip Dunne Con
NHS
Context

The capital transformation of acute hospitals in Shrewsbury and Telford has been delayed for eight years.

Question

The capital transformation of acute hospitals in Shrewsbury and Telford has been eight years in the making. Will the Secretary of State confirm what is now needed to start delivering the £312 million of capital committed by the Conservative Government to improve Shropshire's healthcare facilities? Will he also confirm that it does not make sense to head down the rabbit hole of a new hospital and start this whole process all over again?

Answer from Edward Argar

I am grateful to my right hon. Friend, who has taken a long-term and consistent interest in the matter. The strategic outline case for transforming the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital and Princess Royal Hospital Telford was received at the end of October 2021. It has been reviewed by the NHS and detailed feedback has been given; I look forward to it coming forward to me early next year. We remain committed to delivering the investment and improvement that Shropshire's hospitals need and that he and his colleagues have helped to secure.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not provide specific timeline or actions for beginning construction

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Q9 Sarah Green Lib Dem Chesham and Amersham
NHS Women & Equalities
Context

Women have lost jobs and life savings due to complications from medical mesh use, and many have had to pay for corrective surgery overseas.

Question

Women across the country have lost jobs and life savings as a result of chronic pain and disability caused by complications after the use of medical mesh. Many, including one of my constituents, have had to pay for corrective surgery overseas. The Government have so far refused to set up agencies to provide financial redress, as was recommended in the Cumberlege report. Will the Secretary of State revisit the Cumberlege report, and in particular the need for financial redress?

Answer from Maria Caulfield

Women who have suffered are being helped and supported through the difficult choices that they are having to make. The Government have set up eight specialist mesh centres across the country to provide them with the specialist treatment that they need. Our priority is patient safety, preventing anything like this from happening again, and supporting women who have been affected. There is no evidence that a redress system would improve patient safety or improve the outcome for those women.

Not addressed: Did not address the request to reconsider financial redress recommendation

How: Changed Subject To Treatment And Support

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Q10 Andrew Selous Con
NHS
Context

Ear syringing is no longer being undertaken in local surgeries, leaving many people without a viable solution.

Question

As ear syringing is no longer being undertaken in local surgeries, and as self-care does not work for many people, will the Government make sure that microsuction is at least available in every primary care network area? Otherwise, we are leaving people to go deaf.

Answer from Maria Caulfield

Local commissioners are responsible for meeting the health needs of their local population and should continue to ensure appropriate access to ear wax services. However, should a CCG not routinely commission ear wax removal or the suction method that my hon. Friend refers to, a patient can request an individual funding request. I am happy to help my hon. Friend if that is not happening locally.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not commit to ensuring microsuction availability in every area

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Q11 Andrew Gwynne Ind Gorton and Denton
NHS
Context

Cancer targets are not being met, with the worst figures on record in September for both the 31-day and 62-day targets.

Question

Cancer targets are not being met. This September had the worst figures on record for both the 31-day and the 62-day targets; the 62-day target has not been met since 2015. Extra funding is welcome, but where is the detailed implementation plan that was promised to follow?

Answer from Maria Caulfield

I reassure the hon. Gentleman that cancer has remained an absolute priority for the NHS during the pandemic, as it will continue to be. The funding that has been awarded to deal with long-term electives includes funding for cancer referrals. Some amazing work is being done by our cancer alliances, which are looking to deal with the urgent backlog that has developed during the pandemic.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not provide specific implementation plan details

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Q12 David Davis Con Goole and Pocklington
NHS
Context

The Department has failed to maximize the use of national health service data in the past decade.

Question

In the next week or so, the Secretary of State will receive the Goldacre report on maximising the use of data in the national health service for both research and operational reasons. The Department has failed dramatically, a couple of times in the past decade, to maximise the use of this enormously important resource. Will he undertake to read the report, consider carefully the policies in it with a view to implementing them quickly, and publish it before the end of January?

Answer from Sajid Javid

My right hon. Friend has raised this issue with me before, but he is right to raise it again, because proper use of data is important to the future of the NHS. He may have noted our announcement yesterday that we are merging NHS Digital and NHSX with NHS England, which will enable us to do a much better job with data. I will of course look carefully at that report, and I should be happy to meet him to discuss it further.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not commit to implementing recommendations quickly or by end of January

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Q13 Rachael Maskell Labour (Co-op) York Central
NHS
Context

Poppy, an eight-year-old with severe epilepsy, has been refused assessment by Sheffield and Leeds hospitals.

Question

Poppy is just eight. She has severe epilepsy, with ever more frequent and enduring episodes. Her specialist consultant has said that surgery is her only hope, but Sheffield and Leeds have refused to assess her for capacity and administration reasons, not clinical reasons. Will the Minister work with me to ensure that Poppy receives the treatment that she needs?

Answer from Sajid Javid

I am sorry to hear about the hon. Lady's constituent, and of course a Minister will meet her.

Not addressed: Did not provide specific assistance or action plan for Poppy's case

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Q14 Bob Neill Con
NHS
Context

NHS England committed to a full roll-out of mechanical thrombectomy by 2022, but progress has lagged behind.

Question

I refer to my interest as chair of the all-party parliamentary group on stroke and as the husband of a stroke survivor. Mechanical thrombectomy can be a game-changer for sufferers of strokes, greatly reducing the levels of disability they are left with. NHS England committed itself to a full roll-out of mechanical thrombectomy availability by 2022, but we are lagging seriously behind. Where are the plan and the investment to bring the programme back up to date and on track?

Answer from Maria Caulfield (Minister of State for Health)

The national stroke service model was published by NHS England and NHS Improvement in May this year, and as of 1 April there are 20 operational integrated stroke delivery networks, bringing together key stakeholders to improve the diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation of those who have suffered a stroke.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not provide specific plan or investment details for mechanical thrombectomy programme

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Q15 Daisy Cooper Lib Dem St Albans
NHS
Context

Ambulance response times are at their highest since records began. The hon. Member tabled a parliamentary question on the number of ambulance trusts that have moved into level 4.

Question

I am still awaiting an answer to my parliamentary question asking how many ambulance trusts had moved into level 4, where potential failures creep into the service. Will the Minister provide this information today?

Answer from Edward Argar (Minister for Patient Safety)

If the hon. Lady supplies the number of the question, I will ensure that it is dealt with today. As for her broader point, yes, ambulance services across the country are under significant pressure this winter, which is one of the reasons why we have already invested an additional £55 million in helping them to cope with that pressure.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not provide the specific number of trusts at level 4

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Q16 Jeremy Hunt Con Godalming and Ash
NHS
Context

The Secretary of State knows that some in Government are worried about the extra cost of training more doctors.

Question

Does the Secretary of State agree that every additional doctor trained means one fewer locum hired, which is cheaper for the NHS and better for patients?

Answer from Sajid Javid (Secretary of State for Health)

I agree that we want more full-time doctors, which will mean less demand for locums and is very good for the NHS. I also agree that there should be more focus on the workforce, and I hope my right hon. Friend welcomes the measure to merge Health Education England with the NHS.

Answered
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Q17 Debbie Abrahams Lab Oldham East and Saddleworth
Social Care
Context

Andrew Dilnot says the Government's social care plans will be catastrophic for working-age disabled individuals.

Question

What is the Government's assessment of the impact on working-age disabled people from its new social care plans?

Answer from Sajid Javid (Secretary of State for Health)

The hon. Lady is right to raise the importance of doing everything we can to look after working-age people who need social care. As she will know, the total funding of social care from the state now constitutes most of the funding, and it is right that all needs are met through those funds. Everyone will benefit—no one will lose out—from this versus the current system.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not address catastrophic impact on working-age disabled people

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Q18 Daniel Kawczynski Con
NHS
Context

The Minister has heard from the Member for Ludlow how essential it is that £320 million be released for the Future Fit programme.

Question

Please will the Minister do everything possible to ensure that the money for the Future Fit programme is finally released and construction can start?

Answer from Edward Argar (Minister for Patient Safety)

We now have the outline business case from the trust, and we are reviewing it at pace to ensure that we can deliver the investment in both Shropshire's hospitals. We recognise the importance of this project for the constituents of my hon. Friend and colleagues.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not commit to releasing funding immediately

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Q19 Jeff Smith Lab Manchester Withington
NHS
Context

The hon. Member's constituent, Jimmy, faced a 14-hour wait for an ambulance.

Question

When is the Government going to get a grip on the crisis in our ambulance services?

Answer from Edward Argar (Minister for Patient Safety)

I would be grateful if the hon. Gentleman wrote to me about his constituent's case, as it is always interesting and useful to hear from Members about specific incidents. We have invested £55 million this year ahead of the winter to support our ambulance services, but they are under considerable pressure across the country.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not commit to addressing the crisis directly

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