The below Parliamentary question was asked by Sarah Wollaston on 2015-12-07.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when NHS England’s Clinical Reference Group for Severe and Complex Obesity will publish its proposed template for clinical commissioning groups on access to obesity surgery pathways and follow-up treatment.
George Freeman
The template is in development and the draft will be shared in January 2016.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Sarah Wollaston on 2015-12-07.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what account will be taken of NICE’s clinical guidelines on levels of patient access in setting the budgets devolved by NHS England to clinical commissioning groups for obesity surgery from April 2016.
George Freeman
NHS England would expect commissioners to take account of this guidance when commissioning services.
Any transfer of budget from NHS England to devolved areas will be on the basis of existing contractual activity.
Before the transfer of services, NHS England will complete a data capture exercise, working with providers through the specialised commissioning hubs, to collect the current activity level. This will provide the basis for the transfer of the budget. Governance sign off will then be agreed at NHS England Board level.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Helen Jones on 2015-12-07.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what estimate he has made of the number of nursing posts which are currently (a) vacant and (b) filled by temporary staff in (i) the North West and (ii) England.
Ben Gummer
The information is not collected by the Department.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Helen Jones on 2015-12-07.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many nurses trained abroad were recruited by the NHS in each year since 2010.
Ben Gummer
The Department does not hold information on the numbers of National Health Service nurses that have received training outside of the United Kingdom.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Mike Kane on 2015-12-07.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment his Department has made of whether local provision through clinical commissioning groups and local authorities is ensuring that high-quality, personalised services are being delivered for young people with dementia and their carers.
Jane Ellison
The Government is clear that all types of dementia remain a priority and will implement the Prime Minister’s Challenge on Dementia 2020 in full to make sure that dementia care, support, awareness and research are transformed by 2020. Under the Prime Minister’s Challenge on Dementia 2020, we want to see:
– Every person diagnosed with dementia having meaningful care following their diagnosis, which supports them and those around them, with meaningful care being in accordance with published National Institute for Health and Care Excellence Quality Standards.
– Information on what post-diagnosis services are available locally and how these can be accessed, through for example an annual ‘information prescription’.
– Access to relevant advice and support to help and advice on what happens after a diagnosis and the support available through the journey.
– Carers of people with dementia being made aware of and offered the opportunity for respite, education, training, emotional and psychological support so that they feel able to cope with their caring responsibilities and to have a life alongside caring.
Under the 2020 Challenge, we wish to encourage greater personalisation in the provision of post-diagnosis services – this means building support around the individual with dementia, their carer and their family.
It is for clinical commissioning groups and local authorities, working together, to ensure that high quality, personalised services are delivered for people with dementia including younger people and their carers.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Poulter on 2015-12-07.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the (a) total and (b) per capita expenditure on mental health was in England in each year since 2008.
Alistair Burt
We do not have comparable figures for spending on mental health for the years requested as financial reporting systems changed after 2013 with the formation of NHS England.
The table below shows actual expenditure by clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) on mental health in 2013/14 and 2014/15 and forecast spend in 2015/16. This does not include spending on mental health services directly commissioned by NHS England.
Total actual expenditure on mental health by CCGs across all providers for 2013/14 and 2014/15 and the total forecast expenditure for 2015/16
|
2013/14 actual spend (£ billion) |
2014/15 actual spend (£ billion) |
2015/16 forecast spend (£ billion) |
|
9.6 |
10.1 |
10.6 |
Source: NHS England
Published figures are available from the published primary care trust Summarised Accounts (2007/08 to 2010/11) and the Department of Health Annual Report and Accounts (2011/12 and 2012/13).
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tom Brake on 2015-12-07.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps his Department is taking to ensure there are enough neonatal nurses who have completed accredited training in specialised neonatal care to enable neonatal units to meet marker of good practice 2.2.3 in the Toolkit for High Quality Neonatal Services, published by the NHS and his Department in October 2009.
Ben Gummer
A key standard set out within NHS England’s service specification for specialised neonatal critical care is that hospitals trusts who do not meet the staffing levels recommended by the British Association of Perinatal Medicine, must be working towards an agreed plan with their respective Regional Specialised Commissioning Teams to meet and maintain the nurse staffing levels in line with the Department’s Toolkit for High Quality Neonatal Services.
The increasing demand for neonatal care has resulted in additional challenges for some trusts in meeting the recommended nurse to patient ratios. However, 71 (54%) of the 131 neonatal critical care services now meet required staffing ratios and NHS England Regional Specialised Services Commissioning Teams continue to work with their respective hospital trusts to improve this situation.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Mrs Cheryl Gillan on 2015-12-07.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will take steps to improve access for patients with muscular dystrophy to hydrotherapy services.
George Freeman
NHS England is responsible for commissioning specialised neurological services, which includes services for patients with neuromuscular disorders. NHS England has published a service specification for neurological care, which sets out what providers must have in place to offer evidence-based, safe and effective services. The specification can be found at the following link:
www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/d04-neurosci-spec-neuro.pdf
Specialised neuromuscular care may include referral to local physiotherapy, hydrotherapy or rehabilitation if appropriate, however the commissioning of hydrotherapy services is a matter for local clinical commissioning groups. There are no plans to conduct a national review of hydrotherapy provision.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tom Brake on 2015-12-07.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps his Department is taking to ensure there are enough neonatal nurses to enable neonatal units to meet markers of good practice 2.2.5, 2.2.6 and 2.2.7 in the Toolkit for High Quality Neonatal Services, published by the NHS and his Department in October 2009.
Ben Gummer
A key standard set out within NHS England’s service specification for specialised neonatal critical care is that hospitals trusts who do not meet the staffing levels recommended by the British Association of Perinatal Medicine, must be working towards an agreed plan with their respective Regional Specialised Commissioning Teams to meet and maintain the nurse staffing levels in line with the Department’s Toolkit for High Quality Neonatal Services.
The increasing demand for neonatal care has resulted in additional challenges for some trusts in meeting the recommended nurse to patient ratios. However, 71 (54%) of the 131 neonatal critical care services now meet required staffing ratios and NHS England Regional Specialised Services Commissioning Teams continue to work with their respective hospital trusts to improve this situation.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Yasmin Qureshi on 2015-12-07.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what comparative assessment he has made of the ability of local authorities in the (a) poorest and (b) richest areas in England to meet their social care spending needs through a two per cent council tax charge.
Alistair Burt
The Government recognises that councils have varying capacity to raise money through council tax. My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government will shortly publish for consultation the provisional local government finance settlement for 2016-17. This will include proposed changes to rebalance support, including to those authorities with social care responsibilities, by taking into account the main resources available to councils, including council tax.