Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Members: Correspondence

Tuesday 7 March 2023 · 3 questions

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

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Esther McVey asked the Minister about the Government's explanation for non-covid excess deaths.
  • The Minister responded that the covid pandemic disrupted screening, referrals, and treatment for diseases like cardiovascular disease.
  • Gareth Thomas inquired if the Minister had also received his letter regarding intensive care investment at Northwick Park Hospital.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Esther McVey Con Tatton
NHS
Context

The right hon. Member for Tatton sent a letter on January 24, discussing the issue of non-covid related excess deaths in her constituency.

Question

When he plans to reply to the letter of 24 January from the right hon. Member for Tatton on non-covid excess deaths.

Answer from Neil O'Brien

In my letter to my right hon. Friend, I noted that it is likely that a combination of factors has contributed to potential excess deaths, including high flu prevalence, ongoing covid-19, and the disruption to the treatment and detection of conditions such as heart disease.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not provide a specific timeline for providing more details on non-covid excess deaths

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Q2 Esther McVey Con Tatton
NHS
Context

Following a previous question, the right hon. Member for Tatton requested further insight into non-covid related excess deaths since the pandemic.

Question

I am pleased my question has now resulted in a response, for which I am grateful. However, from that response, I was none the wiser as to how the Government have explained the non-covid excess deaths we have seen. So can the Minister give us an insight into the reasons for the non-covid excess deaths since the pandemic?

Answer from Neil O'Brien

Even if we just take one disease such as cardiovascular disease, there was disruption to screening, to referrals and to treatment from the covid pandemic. It was noted at the time that that would happen and there would be consequences from it, but let me set out in more detail to my right hon. Friend all the exact facts and figures on this, because I know she has been following it closely.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not provide specific details or numbers on non-covid excess deaths

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Q3 Gareth Thomas Labour (Co-op) Harrow West
NHS
Context

The hon. Member for Harrow West inquired about the need for new intensive care investment at Northwick Park Hospital.

Question

When the Minister dug out the letter from the right hon. Member for Tatton (Esther McVey), I wonder whether he also stumbled upon my letter of 8 February to the Secretary of State about the desperate need for new intensive care investment at Northwick Park Hospital in my constituency, and whether he might expedite a reply on that issue.

Answer from Neil O'Brien

I am sure the hon. Gentleman's question will indeed expedite it.

Not addressed: Did not commit to expediting a response or provide any substantive information on intensive care investment at Northwick Park Hospital

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