The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jon Trickett on 2015-02-20.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when he expects the meningitis B vaccine to be made available on the NHS; and what steps he is taking to make progress on price negotiations with Novartis for that vaccine.
Jane Ellison
I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 5 February 2015 to Question 222863.
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The below Parliamentary question was asked by Barry Sheerman on 2015-02-20.
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps he is taking to ensure that the disability benefits regime takes into account the symptoms of multiple sclerosis which are sometimes hidden.
Mr Mark Harper
Eligibility for Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) and Personal Independence Payment (PIP) is not based on the type of health condition or impairment an individual may have but the impact it has on their everyday life or their capability for work.
Individuals making a claim for these benefits are assessed by Healthcare Professionals who must complete comprehensive training in disability assessment, including fluctuating conditions; they have their work regularly audited and are required to keep their continuing professional education up to date.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by David T. C. Davies on 2015-02-20.
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many teenage girls and women died in each of the last five years from toxic shock syndrome caused by tampon use.
Mr Rob Wilson
The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Barry Sheerman on 2015-02-20.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he is taking to ensure that multiple sclerosis is detected at the earliest possible stage.
Norman Lamb
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidance Multiple sclerosis: management of multiple sclerosis in primary and secondary care, updated in October 2014, sets out best practice on the diagnosis, treatment, care and support of people with multiple sclerosis (MS). The guidance makes a range of recommendations on drug based treatments for MS, but also highlights the importance of involving professionals who can meet the needs of the patient in the best way, such as physiotherapists and occupational therapists.
With regard to early diagnosis, MS is a difficult condition to diagnose as a number of the symptoms such as fatigue, depression or dizziness may be unrelated. The guidance sets out a number of initial presentations that clinicians should be aware of when looking for signs of MS. It also recommends a number of assessments a clinician should make, including testing of vision and blood tests before referral to a consultant neurologist, who can confirm or exclude a diagnosis of MS, subject to investigation.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Barry Sheerman on 2015-02-20.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he is taking to ensure that people with multiple sclerosis receive adequate treatment, care and support.
Norman Lamb
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidance Multiple sclerosis: management of multiple sclerosis in primary and secondary care, updated in October 2014, sets out best practice on the diagnosis, treatment, care and support of people with multiple sclerosis (MS). The guidance makes a range of recommendations on drug based treatments for MS, but also highlights the importance of involving professionals who can meet the needs of the patient in the best way, such as physiotherapists and occupational therapists.
With regard to early diagnosis, MS is a difficult condition to diagnose as a number of the symptoms such as fatigue, depression or dizziness may be unrelated. The guidance sets out a number of initial presentations that clinicians should be aware of when looking for signs of MS. It also recommends a number of assessments a clinician should make, including testing of vision and blood tests before referral to a consultant neurologist, who can confirm or exclude a diagnosis of MS, subject to investigation.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Diana Johnson on 2015-02-20.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps his Department is taking to provide additional support for girls with autism.
Norman Lamb
National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidance on autism recommends a multi-disciplinary diagnostic pathway, involving different professionals according to the child’s presentation, and it highlights that girls are an at-risk group for under-diagnosis.
Responsibility sits with clinical commissioning groups to ensure that diagnostic services are commissioned in their area in accordance with the NICE guidance.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andrew Smith on 2015-02-20.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment his Department has made of trends in the incidence of Crohn’s disease.
Norman Lamb
The Department has made no assessment of the incidence of Crohn’s disease. However, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) 2012 guideline Crohn’s Disease Management in Adults, Children and Young People, states that there are currently at least 115,000 people in the United Kingdom with Crohn’s disease.
The NICE guideline sets out best practice on the diagnosis, treatment, care and support of people with Crohn’s disease. This includes, ‘Minimising psychological concerns and possible side effects of treatment are fundamental to best practice for all people with Crohn’s disease, whatever their age’, which could include access to psychological support, if appropriate. The guideline also recommends that clinicians give patients with Crohn’s disease contact details for relevant support groups. The full guideline can be found at the following link: www.nice.org.uk/guidance/cg152.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Diana Johnson on 2015-02-20.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he is taking to ensure that sufficient numbers of clinicians capable of diagnosing and treating autism are being trained in (a) Hull and (b) England.
Norman Lamb
It is the responsibility of local employers to ensure that they have the right numbers of staff, with the right skills available to provide a high quality service to their patients. Locally there should be specialist training for those in roles that have a direct impact on and make decisions about people with autism.
This will be re-enforced in new statutory guidance on autism for local authorities and the National Health Service which is to be issued shortly. In addition clinical staff such as psychiatrists and clinical psychologists should be undertaking their own clinical professional development. In support of this Health Education England will provide support in raising awareness of autism. In Hull, the clinical commissioning group is working with local providers, particularly Humber NHS Foundation Trust, to recruit additional staff for its Autism Diagnosis Team.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Mark Hendrick on 2015-02-20.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, which police stations in each constabulary in the North West have been (a) closed and (b) reduced to part time status since June 2010.
Mike Penning
This information is not held centrally. Decisions about the most effective use of available resources, including the numbers and operating hours of police stations, are a matter for the Police and Crime Commissioner and Chief Constable locally, tailored to the needs of the local community.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Mark Hendrick on 2015-02-20.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many newly qualified police officers have been employed in (a) Preston and (b) each constabulary in the North West of England in each year since 2010.
Mike Penning
The table provided shows the number of new police officers who joined each police force in the North West of England from 2009/10 to 2013/14. These figures include police officer standard direct recruits and police officers who were previously special constables. They exclude transfers and re-joiners.
The Home Offices does not collect these statistics below police force area level.