Blog

  • Julie Hilling – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Northern Ireland Office

    Julie Hilling – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Northern Ireland Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Julie Hilling on 2014-06-04.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what assessment she has made of the effect of the Government’s welfare reform policies in Northern Ireland.

    Mr Andrew Robathan

    We have worked hard with the Executive to adapt our reforms flexibly to Northern Ireland circumstances. They will ensure work always pays, and help lift people out of poverty by moving them into work. When fully implemented, Universal Credit will make over 3 million low to middle income households across the UK better off.

  • Rehman Chishti – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Rehman Chishti – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Rehman Chishti on 2014-06-04.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what progress his Department has made in turning around failing hospitals.

    Mr Jeremy Hunt

    Through the use of special measures, the Care Quality Commission, Monitor and the NHS Trust Development Authority are making considerable progress at turning around failing hospitals.

    Across the trusts now in the regime, there are over 1,200 new nurses and nursing assistants, as well as 118 more doctors.

    I am delighted that Basildon yesterday became the first trust to exit special measures. This is clear proof that our tough action to turn these hospitals around is working.

  • Kerry McCarthy – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Kerry McCarthy – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Kerry McCarthy on 2014-06-04.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the effect on patient safety of prescription drug dispensing regulations.

    Dr Daniel Poulter

    There are robust arrangements in place to maintain patient safety in the dispensing of prescription medicines through medicines legislation, National Health Service pharmaceutical services regulations and professional regulation. These arrangements are kept under review and changes made as necessary.

  • Damian Hinds – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Damian Hinds – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Damian Hinds on 2014-06-04.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what progress his Department has made in improving maternity and early years care.

    Dr Daniel Poulter

    We have made improving maternity services a key objective in our Mandate to NHS England. Over the past two years we have also invested 35 million pounds of capital funding to improve the physical environment of over 140 maternity units.

    We have increased the numbers of midwives and health visitors. There are 1,700 more midwives and over 2,000 more health visitors than in 2010. In addition, there are more than 6,000 midwifery students in training. And we are committed to having an extra 4,200 health visitors by 2015.

    We are expanding the Family Nurse Partnership programme – which provides dedicated one to one support to young, at risk first time mothers – to 16,000 places by 2015.

    We launched the NHS Start4life Information Service for Parents, a digital service for parent-to-be and new parents in May 2012. Take up has already exceeded the sign-up target of 300,000 parents by 2015 – as of 1 June over 339,000 parents had signed up to the service.

  • Nigel Evans – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Nigel Evans – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nigel Evans on 2014-06-04.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what support his Department provides to small rural hospitals in England to ensure that health services are available as close to the public as possible.

    Norman Lamb

    Responsibility for the commissioning of local NHS services lies with clinical commissioning groups. Small rural and community hospitals have a key role in contributing to more integrated care through better out-of-hospital care at local level for frail older people and people with long-term conditions.

  • Mike Kane – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Mike Kane – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Mike Kane on 2014-06-04.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what recent estimate he has made of the number of patients visiting A&E departments after having been unable to make an appointment with their GP.

    Jane Ellison

    There are over 300 million consultations in general practice each year. The latest general practitioner (GP) patient survey results show that less than 2% of patients attended a walk-in centre or accident and emergency department because they were unable to get a convenient appointment with their GP at their practice.

  • David Mowat – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    David Mowat – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by David Mowat on 2014-06-04.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what recent discussions he has had on improving the fairness of the health allocation formula.

    Dr Daniel Poulter

    NHS England now has responsibility for clinical commissioning group (CCG) allocations. These decisions have been taken independently of government.

    Between 2013-14 and 2015-16, Warrington CCG will receive a 7% increase in funding which is a £16.1 million uplift. The national average in this period is a 4.7% increase, which if it had been applied to Warrington would have given them £10.8 million, meaning they are £5.3 million better off than average.

  • Graham Stringer – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Graham Stringer – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Graham Stringer on 2014-06-04.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the conclusions of the Healthier Together review of health and care in Greater Manchester.

    Jane Ellison

    The reconfiguration of local health services is a matter for the local National Health Service.

    The Greater Manchester health economy is working to design services to improve quality and sustainability, and ensure improved outcomes for patients.

    Where major service change is proposed, we expect this to be subject to full public consultation.

  • Simon Burns – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Simon Burns – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Simon Burns on 2014-06-04.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps his Department has taken to improve access to and standards of primary care.

    Mr Jeremy Hunt

    The Government recently outlined its ambitions in ‘Transforming Primary Care’. We have invested £50 million to improve access and made changes to the general practitioner (GP) contract to help ensure that patients aged over 75 and those with the most complex needs receive more personalised and proactive care.

    We have also appointed a new Chief Inspector of General Practice, and the Care Quality Commission is inspecting standards in GP practices and taking strong action wherever they find poor care.

  • Andrew Stunell – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Andrew Stunell – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andrew Stunell on 2014-06-04.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what estimate he has made of the average length of time between diagnosis of a mental health condition and the commencement of talking therapies in the Greater Manchester area.

    Norman Lamb

    By March 2015, we expect measurable progress towards achieving true parity of esteem, where everyone who needs it has timely access to evidence based services. This includes extending access to the Improving Access to Psychological Therapies programme to children and young people and those out of work.