Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Health Inequalities

Tuesday 5 December 2023 · 5 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 4 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Essex is receiving funding from the National Institute for Health and Care Research to promote research into health inequalities.
  • The decision on building a new primary health centre in Witham lies with the integrated care board, which has received 183 million of capital funding.
  • The Government is increasing the public health grant to local authorities, providing more than 3.5 billion this year.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Debbie Abrahams Lab Oldham East and Saddleworth
NHS
Context

The MP expressed concerns about increasing health inequalities in her constituency.

Question

What steps she is taking to help reduce health inequalities?

Answer from Victoria Atkins

I am pleased to reiterate that Essex is receiving funding from the National Institute for Health and Care Research, which is funded by the Department of Health and Social Care, to promote research into health inequalities and support better health outcomes for her constituents and all residents in Essex.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The answer did not specify any concrete steps or commitments beyond referencing funding for a general programme.

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Get updates like this by email
Q2 Priti Patel Con Witham
NHS
Context

The MP noted her constituents' high patient-GP ratio and the challenges in accessing NHS services, exacerbated by industrial action.

Question

Will she give an update on the work she is leading to address some of those issues and will she support my work and campaign locally to get a new primary health centre in Witham town?

Answer from Victoria Atkins

I thank my right hon. Friend very much for her kind words... in terms of her work in Essex, she is a formidable campaigner and she will know that the decision on such a healthcare centre lies with her integrated care board, to which the Government have given some £183 million of capital funding between 2022 and 2025. I am sure she will make a compelling case to the ICB for such a centre in her constituency.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The answer did not provide specific updates on addressing health access issues but mentioned funding available for integrated care boards.

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Get updates like this by email
Q3 Debbie Abrahams Lab Oldham East and Saddleworth
NHS Economy Children & Families
Context

The MP referenced warnings from experts about widening health inequalities since 2015, which were exacerbated by the pandemic.

Question

What else is she going to do to address in particular the socioeconomic inequalities that drive those health inequalities?

Answer from Victoria Atkins

First, we are increasing the public health grant to local authorities, providing more than £3.5 billion this year... The family hubs and start for life programme will deliver a step change in outcomes for babies, children and parents in 75 local authorities in England with high deprivation.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The answer provided general commitments without specifying new actions beyond existing programmes and funding allocations.

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Get updates like this by email
Q4 Maggie Throup Con
NHS
Context

The MP welcomed the Health Secretary to her role and highlighted the importance of community diagnostic centres in tackling health inequalities.

Question

Will she honour her predecessor's commitment to meet the all-party group to discuss the benefits of diagnostics in general and the preventive role that they can play in reducing health inequalities across the country?

Answer from Victoria Atkins

Not only am I delighted to accept my hon. Friend's kind invitation, but I am also extremely grateful for her work in that area... We know that community diagnostic centres are an important and exciting part of healthcare in this country.

Answered
Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Get updates like this by email
Q5 Kirsten Oswald SNP
Education Economy Benefits & Welfare
Context

The MP discussed the Trussell Trust's research showing one in seven people facing hunger due to insufficient funds, and the need for an essentials guarantee.

Question

Will the Secretary of State raise with her Cabinet colleagues the Trussell Trust joint campaign with the Joseph Rowntree Foundation calling for an essentials guarantee in universal credit to ensure that the basic rate at least covers life's essentials so as to ensure that people can afford essentials such as food and heating?

Answer from Victoria Atkins

Of course, conversations continue between Ministers across Government in terms of helping not just with health inequalities but with inequality of opportunity... We know that getting people into work can have enormous benefits, not just financially but, importantly, for their wellbeing. The idea behind the back to work plan is that we do it by working with people to draw out their full potential and help them to lead healthy lives.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The answer did not commit to raising the issue specifically but discussed broader efforts related to inequality of opportunity and employment support.

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Get updates like this by email