Topical Questions 2020-01-28
2020-01-28
TAGS
Response quality
Questions & Answers
Q1
Direct Answer
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The Secretary of State is questioned about his department's actions and goals.
If he will make a statement on his departmental responsibilities, focusing on the protection against infectious diseases, improving technology in healthcare, and workforce recruitment for the NHS. The Minister acknowledges that there are record numbers of nurses working in the NHS, up by over 7,800 compared to last year.
As well as working to protect the public from infectious disease outbreaks, we are working to improve technology and recruit the workforce that the NHS needs. Figures just out show that we have record numbers of nurses working in our NHS—up by over 7,800 on the same time last year.
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Q2
Direct Answer
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The West Suffolk Hospital has been a subject of negative media coverage, indicating issues in its operation. The question raises concern over how constituents are represented by both the Secretary of State and an Under-Secretary of State for Health and Social Care.
The West Suffolk Hospital has been in the news for all the wrong reasons. Does not this fact that West Suffolk constituents are represented by both the Secretary of State and the Under-Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, the hon. Member for Bury St Edmunds (Jo Churchill), show that something has gone fundamentally wrong in the scrutiny and oversight of our NHS? What has gone wrong, and what is the Minister going to do about it?
I would not draw that conclusion about my right hon. and hon. Friends. What I would say, though, is that I want all staff to feel that they can speak up and have the confidence that anything they raise will be taken seriously. That is why I requested on 17 January that NHS England and NHS Improvement commission a rapid and independent review into how the West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust has handled this issue. I will be happy to update Members, including the hon. Gentleman, when that review reports.
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Q3
Direct Answer
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Due to workforce challenges, oncology services have been temporarily transferred from Scunthorpe General Hospital to Grimsby's hospital.
Last week, due to ongoing workforce challenges, Northern Lincolnshire and Goole NHS Foundation Trust temporarily transferred all oncology services to Grimsby's hospital. This is not acceptable to local patients. Will the Secretary of State join me on a visit to Scunthorpe General Hospital so that we can discuss this and other issues with local NHS staff?
I appreciate the concerns raised by my hon. Friend about that matter. I understand that the changes, which have been made for patient safety reasons, are temporary, with a review to follow led by the Humber, Coast and Vale cancer alliance. As we monitor the results of the review closely—I will continue to take a close interest in this matter—either I or my right hon. Friend will be happy to take up her invitation for a visit.
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Q4
Direct Answer
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Labour's private finance initiative contract means that Royal Stoke University Hospital is paying double the interest on its debt than if it had been funded directly from the Treasury, which reduces funding available for patient care.
Labour's private finance initiative contract means that Royal Stoke University Hospital is paying double the interest on its debt than if it had been funded directly from the Treasury—money that should be going to improve patient care. Will my hon. Friend agree to look at how these costs can be mitigated?
I am grateful to my hon. Friend, who, along with my other hon. Friends who represent Stoke, has raised this issue in the past; they are right to highlight it. My hon. Friend is absolutely right that Labour's PFI deal has left the trust burdened with debt. My Department's PFI centre of best practice supports trusts in ensuring best value, and I will happily ask it to work with him. Yesterday I also committed to meet him and my other hon. Friends to discuss this matter.
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Q5
Direct Answer
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The A&E department at Tameside Hospital has been experiencing overcrowding and unsuitable treatment areas due to an increase in patient numbers.
Robert Largan asks for an update on the construction timeline of a new urgent care centre for Tameside Hospital, which was committed by the government in response to these issues.
We want to begin construction urgently. My hon. Friend has been assiduous in promoting and supporting this project, which he has raised with me a number of times. I look forward to meeting him in the next week or so to go through the details of when we can see it open.
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Q6
Direct Answer
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The A&E department at Burnley General Hospital was closed in 2007 by the Labour administration.
Antony Higginbotham requests a meeting with Edward Argar to discuss the future of the hospital and its urgent care services, especially since there is record investment in the NHS.
My hon. Friend, like his colleagues, has already proved himself to be a doughty champion for his constituency. The urgent care centre at Burnley General Hospital will continue to play an important role in meeting urgent care needs locally, but he is right to highlight the broader importance of Burnley as part of the health ecosystem in his area. I would be delighted to meet him.
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Q7
Direct Answer
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There are concerns in east London about delays in the breast cancer screening programme, with many women not getting their first screening until close to their 53rd birthday.
Meg Hillier asks Jo Churchill to meet her and other concerned east London MPs to address these delays in the breast cancer screening programme.
I would be delighted to meet the hon. Lady and other east London MPs. Mike Richards has done a review of screening, and we need to level up and ensure that everybody can access screening.
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Q8
Direct Answer
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In December, more than 2,200 patients waited in excess of 12 hours in A&E departments in north Wales. The Welsh Government has managed the health board in special measures for nearly five years.
James Davies asks Matthew Hancock to respond to these delays and the situation with the Welsh Government managing the health board under special measures.
I worry about the delivery of health services to people in Wales. Although this issue is devolved, I am the UK Health Minister, and my hon. Friend is right to raise that issue for his constituents. The number of people waiting more than one year in Wales is over 4,000. In England, despite the much larger population, it is only just over 1,000. The Welsh NHS, frankly, is an advert for why people should not want the Labour party running the NHS.
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Q9
Direct Answer
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A number of women in Munira Wilson's constituency have been struggling to access necessary hormone replacement therapy due to shortages.
Munira Wilson asks Matthew Hancock for an assessment of current supplies and actions being taken to address the shortages.
That is obviously an incredibly important issue. The shortages come from problems with factories outside the UK. We have been working hard on it through the autumn. I am advised that the shortages are starting to be mitigated and that production is back up and running, but we keep a close eye on it, because I understand how important it is.
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Q10
Direct Answer
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There is a need to secure the long-term future of hospice services in any reorganisation of the Mount Vernon Hospital site.
David Simmonds requests Caroline Dinenage's commitment to working with him on securing the long-term future of these services.
We are very committed to hospice services, which is why an additional £25 million went into hospices last year. I am certainly happy to meet my hon. Friend to discuss the hospices in his area.
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Q11
Direct Answer
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It was Cervical Cancer Prevention Week last week, and the work of Jo's Cervical Cancer Trust to raise awareness is commendable.
Stephen Crabb asks Jo Churchill to join him in commending the trust's work and underlining the Government's support for Sir Mike Richards's review of the adult screening programme.
I am delighted to join my right hon. Friend in congratulating Jo's Cervical Cancer Trust on the work it does. I had the pleasure of meeting its team only last week, who do fantastic work to raise awareness of vital cervical screening. He is right about Mike Richards's review. We must ensure that we screen all the available population in order to see cervical cancer eliminated for good, which would be brilliant. I am delighted to support this year's “Smear for smear” campaign. There is nothing shameful about human papillomavirus, and we must bust the myths, because being tested can save someone's life.
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Q12
Direct Answer
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Following the news headlines about preventable baby deaths at East Kent, including that of Harry Richford who was only seven days old.
Rosie Duffield asks Nadine Dorries to join her in calling for a full, transparent public inquiry into these preventable deaths.
I thank the hon. Lady for raising this issue, and also my hon. Friend the Member for Dover (Mrs Elphicke), who made an excellent speech last night about this very issue at East Kent. I would like to reassure the hon. Lady that the Care Quality Commission conducted a further investigation of the whole trust last week and will take enforcement action if necessary. On Monday, I asked it to provide a summary report within 14 days. The Healthcare Safety Investigation Branch has examined 26 individual maternity cases at the trust, and it has already reported on 15. It was also asked on Monday to complete its work within 14 days and to send in a summary report to give us further information.
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Q13
Direct Answer
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The local Labour party has been running a campaign suggesting the closure of the Parsons Green walk-in centre.
My local Labour party is spreading misinformation about the closure of the Parsons Green walk-in centre, which is confirmed by the clinical commissioning group to be in good use. Will the Secretary of State join me in condemning this scare tactic?
Last year, I secured the long-term future of the Parsons Green walk-in centre. Despite the announcement, misinformation continued to spread, supported by the local Labour party and Andy Slaughter. Their tactics are a disgrace as they cause unnecessary worry among vulnerable people. I want to assure everyone in Parsons Green that their walk-in centre will remain open.
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