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  • Nigel Evans – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Nigel Evans – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nigel Evans on 2016-04-18.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans his Department has to work with Lancashire Teaching Hospitals Trust following the closure of Chorley Accident and Emergency unit.

    Ben Gummer

    The Department is concerned about the current situation at Chorley and South Ribble Hospital and is actively monitoring developments. These matters, including recruitment, are for Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust as employer, and NHS Improvement as regulator. The Trust has not asked the Department for any support in resolving these issues.

  • Andrew Rosindell – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Andrew Rosindell – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andrew Rosindell on 2016-04-18.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he is taking to improve dental standards amongst primary school age children.

    Alistair Burt

    We are committed to improving the oral health of school children. Public Health England (PHE) has produced a toolkit to support local authorities in their responsibility to improve dental health and reduce inequalities among children and young people in their area. It supports local authorities to invest in programmes which have demonstrated improvement in children’s dental health, for example targeted community-based fluoride varnish programmes, targeted tooth brushing programmes and water fluoridation. PHE has also this year published a toolkit to support the consideration of water fluoridation as a measure to reduce levels of tooth decay.

    Sugar consumption is the primary cause of tooth decay in children. The Sugar Swaps campaign was launched in January 2015, helping families reduce their sugar consumption through making simple swaps to their diets. In addition PHE has developed guidance for dental teams on preventing dental disease in young children. Advice on prevention of dental disease has also been published by the National Institute of Health and Care Excellence.

  • Heidi Alexander – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Heidi Alexander – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Heidi Alexander on 2016-04-18.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, which residential and nursing homes he has visited in an official capacity in 2016; and what the date was of each such visit.

    Jane Ellison

    My Rt. hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health and his team have visited the following hospitals in an official capacity in 2016 to date.

    Secretary of State for Health

    29 January 2016 Kings College Hospital, South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, King’s Health Partners

    5 February 2016 Coombe Wood Perinatal Mental Health Unit, Park Royal Centre for Mental Health, Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust

    14 April 2016 Oxford University, Department of Psychiatry, Warneford Hospital, Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust

    Lord Prior

    6 January 2016 Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, Chelsea and Westminster NHS Foundation Trust

    20 January 2016 East Surrey Hospital, Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust

    3 February 2016 St Thomas Hospital, Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust

    18 February 2016 Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts

    16 March 2016 Southmead Hospital, North Bristol NHS Trust

    22 March 2016 Guy’s Hospital, Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust

    24 March 2016 Royal Derby Hospital, Derby Teaching Hospital Foundation Trust

    24 March 2016 Lings Bar Hospital, Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust

    12 April 2016 Royal Brompton Hospital, Royal Brompton & Harefield NHS Foundation Trust

    Ben Gummer

    14 January 2016 Watford General Hospital, West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust

    21 January 2016 Salford Royal Hospital, Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust

    21 January 2016 St Mary’s Hospital, Central Manchester University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

    15 February 2016 Royal Cornwall Hospital, at Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust

    16 February 2016 Mount Gould Hospital, Livewell Southwest

    16 February 2016 Tiverton and District Hospital, Royal Devon and Exeter NHS Foundation Trust

    17 February 2016 Dorset County Hospital, Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

    17 February 2016 Southampton General Hospital, University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust

    29 February 2016 St Mary’s Hospital, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust

    14 March 2016 St Thomas’ Hospital, Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust

    Alistair Burt

    3 March 2016 St Pancras Hospital, Camden & Islington NHS Foundation Trust

    11 March 2016 Wythenshawe Hospital, University Hospital of South Manchester NHS Foundation Trust

    17 March 2016 Kings College Hospital, King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

    14 April 2016 Clock View Hospital and Ashworth Hospital, Mersey Care NHS Trust

    George Freeman

    7 March 2016 CityLabs, Manchester Royal Eye Hospital, Oxford Rd, Manchester

    My Rt. hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health and his team have visited the following primary care services in an official capacity in 2016 to date.

    Secretary of State for Health

    15 January 2016 Hillfoot Surgery, Pudsey, West Yorkshire

    Alistair Burt

    11 February 2016 Copes Pharmacy Ltd, London

    11 March 2016 Five Oakes Family Practice, Manchester

    Jane Ellison

    4 February 2016 The Acton African Well Woman Clinic, Hillcrest Surgery, London

    My Rt. hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health and his team have visited the following residential and nursing homes in an official capacity in 2016 to date.

    Secretary of State for Health

    5 February 2016 Coombe Wood Perinatal Mental Health Unit, Park Royal Centre for Mental Health, Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust

    Ben Gummer

    15 February 2016 St Julia’s Hospice, Cornwall Hospice Care

    Alistair Burt

    25 February 2016 The Betty and Asher Loftus Centre, London

  • Heidi Alexander – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Heidi Alexander – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Heidi Alexander on 2016-04-18.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, which primary care services he has visited in an official capacity in 2016; and what the date was of each such visit.

    Jane Ellison

    My Rt. hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health and his team have visited the following hospitals in an official capacity in 2016 to date.

    Secretary of State for Health

    29 January 2016 Kings College Hospital, South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, King’s Health Partners

    5 February 2016 Coombe Wood Perinatal Mental Health Unit, Park Royal Centre for Mental Health, Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust

    14 April 2016 Oxford University, Department of Psychiatry, Warneford Hospital, Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust

    Lord Prior

    6 January 2016 Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, Chelsea and Westminster NHS Foundation Trust

    20 January 2016 East Surrey Hospital, Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust

    3 February 2016 St Thomas Hospital, Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust

    18 February 2016 Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts

    16 March 2016 Southmead Hospital, North Bristol NHS Trust

    22 March 2016 Guy’s Hospital, Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust

    24 March 2016 Royal Derby Hospital, Derby Teaching Hospital Foundation Trust

    24 March 2016 Lings Bar Hospital, Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust

    12 April 2016 Royal Brompton Hospital, Royal Brompton & Harefield NHS Foundation Trust

    Ben Gummer

    14 January 2016 Watford General Hospital, West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust

    21 January 2016 Salford Royal Hospital, Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust

    21 January 2016 St Mary’s Hospital, Central Manchester University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

    15 February 2016 Royal Cornwall Hospital, at Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust

    16 February 2016 Mount Gould Hospital, Livewell Southwest

    16 February 2016 Tiverton and District Hospital, Royal Devon and Exeter NHS Foundation Trust

    17 February 2016 Dorset County Hospital, Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

    17 February 2016 Southampton General Hospital, University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust

    29 February 2016 St Mary’s Hospital, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust

    14 March 2016 St Thomas’ Hospital, Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust

    Alistair Burt

    3 March 2016 St Pancras Hospital, Camden & Islington NHS Foundation Trust

    11 March 2016 Wythenshawe Hospital, University Hospital of South Manchester NHS Foundation Trust

    17 March 2016 Kings College Hospital, King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

    14 April 2016 Clock View Hospital and Ashworth Hospital, Mersey Care NHS Trust

    George Freeman

    7 March 2016 CityLabs, Manchester Royal Eye Hospital, Oxford Rd, Manchester

    My Rt. hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health and his team have visited the following primary care services in an official capacity in 2016 to date.

    Secretary of State for Health

    15 January 2016 Hillfoot Surgery, Pudsey, West Yorkshire

    Alistair Burt

    11 February 2016 Copes Pharmacy Ltd, London

    11 March 2016 Five Oakes Family Practice, Manchester

    Jane Ellison

    4 February 2016 The Acton African Well Woman Clinic, Hillcrest Surgery, London

    My Rt. hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health and his team have visited the following residential and nursing homes in an official capacity in 2016 to date.

    Secretary of State for Health

    5 February 2016 Coombe Wood Perinatal Mental Health Unit, Park Royal Centre for Mental Health, Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust

    Ben Gummer

    15 February 2016 St Julia’s Hospice, Cornwall Hospice Care

    Alistair Burt

    25 February 2016 The Betty and Asher Loftus Centre, London

  • Heidi Alexander – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Heidi Alexander – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Heidi Alexander on 2016-04-18.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, which hospitals he has visited in an official capacity in 2016; and what the date was of each such visit.

    Jane Ellison

    My Rt. hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health and his team have visited the following hospitals in an official capacity in 2016 to date.

    Secretary of State for Health

    29 January 2016 Kings College Hospital, South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, King’s Health Partners

    5 February 2016 Coombe Wood Perinatal Mental Health Unit, Park Royal Centre for Mental Health, Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust

    14 April 2016 Oxford University, Department of Psychiatry, Warneford Hospital, Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust

    Lord Prior

    6 January 2016 Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, Chelsea and Westminster NHS Foundation Trust

    20 January 2016 East Surrey Hospital, Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust

    3 February 2016 St Thomas Hospital, Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust

    18 February 2016 Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts

    16 March 2016 Southmead Hospital, North Bristol NHS Trust

    22 March 2016 Guy’s Hospital, Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust

    24 March 2016 Royal Derby Hospital, Derby Teaching Hospital Foundation Trust

    24 March 2016 Lings Bar Hospital, Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust

    12 April 2016 Royal Brompton Hospital, Royal Brompton & Harefield NHS Foundation Trust

    Ben Gummer

    14 January 2016 Watford General Hospital, West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust

    21 January 2016 Salford Royal Hospital, Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust

    21 January 2016 St Mary’s Hospital, Central Manchester University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

    15 February 2016 Royal Cornwall Hospital, at Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust

    16 February 2016 Mount Gould Hospital, Livewell Southwest

    16 February 2016 Tiverton and District Hospital, Royal Devon and Exeter NHS Foundation Trust

    17 February 2016 Dorset County Hospital, Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

    17 February 2016 Southampton General Hospital, University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust

    29 February 2016 St Mary’s Hospital, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust

    14 March 2016 St Thomas’ Hospital, Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust

    Alistair Burt

    3 March 2016 St Pancras Hospital, Camden & Islington NHS Foundation Trust

    11 March 2016 Wythenshawe Hospital, University Hospital of South Manchester NHS Foundation Trust

    17 March 2016 Kings College Hospital, King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

    14 April 2016 Clock View Hospital and Ashworth Hospital, Mersey Care NHS Trust

    George Freeman

    7 March 2016 CityLabs, Manchester Royal Eye Hospital, Oxford Rd, Manchester

    My Rt. hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health and his team have visited the following primary care services in an official capacity in 2016 to date.

    Secretary of State for Health

    15 January 2016 Hillfoot Surgery, Pudsey, West Yorkshire

    Alistair Burt

    11 February 2016 Copes Pharmacy Ltd, London

    11 March 2016 Five Oakes Family Practice, Manchester

    Jane Ellison

    4 February 2016 The Acton African Well Woman Clinic, Hillcrest Surgery, London

    My Rt. hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health and his team have visited the following residential and nursing homes in an official capacity in 2016 to date.

    Secretary of State for Health

    5 February 2016 Coombe Wood Perinatal Mental Health Unit, Park Royal Centre for Mental Health, Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust

    Ben Gummer

    15 February 2016 St Julia’s Hospice, Cornwall Hospice Care

    Alistair Burt

    25 February 2016 The Betty and Asher Loftus Centre, London

  • Andrea Jenkyns – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Andrea Jenkyns – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andrea Jenkyns on 2016-04-18.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how much he estimates will be spent on research into brain tumours in children and young people (a) in total and (b) as a proportion of the total spend on cancer research in each of the next three years.

    George Freeman

    Total spend by the Department’s National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) in each of the next three years on cancer research, and on research relating specifically to brain tumours in children and young people, will depend on the number and scale of successful applications to NIHR programmes and fellowship schemes and on the volume of research supported by NIHR infrastructure including biomedical research centres and the NIHR Clinical Research Network.

    More brain tumour research is needed and, as I announced on 18 April, Official Report, columns 258-59WH, I will be convening a working group of clinicians, charities and officials to discuss how working together with our research funding partners, we can address this.

  • Luciana Berger – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Luciana Berger – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Luciana Berger on 2016-04-18.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether his Department has a team with specific responsibility for addressing women’s mental health.

    Alistair Burt

    The Department’s mental health policy teams provide strategic policy advice on mental health for people of all ages and genders. When issues are specific to a gender these are addressed within the policy development.

    The Coalition Government published a national mental health strategy No Health Without Mental Health in 2012 which addressed mental health issues for the whole population, and introduced the concept of parity of esteem for mental health. This Government continues to hold NHS England to account through the NHS Mandate for the achievement of measurable progress towards the parity of esteem for mental health.

    The Government announced almost £1 billion of additional investment for mental health in January 2016 including £290 million of new investment over the next five years to provide mental healthcare for new mothers. The Mental Health Taskforce Report published in February 2016 set out a recommendation for NHS England to ensure that by 2020/21 at least 30,000 more women each year access evidence-based specialist mental health care during the perinatal period. The recommendation stated this should include access to psychological therapies and the right range of specialist community or inpatient care so that comprehensive, high-quality services are in place across England.

  • Luciana Berger – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Luciana Berger – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Luciana Berger on 2016-04-18.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the Answer of 11 April 2016 to Question 32447, what steps his Department has taken to check whether all the local transformation plans have been published online.

    Alistair Burt

    As part of NHS England’s robust assurance process for Local Transformation Plans (LTPs) all local areas were asked to publish their LTP in an accessible format and made widely available to improve transparency. As part of its quarter three monitoring process NHS England has asked that clinical commissioning groups submit the website address on which its LTP has been published. NHS England is currently reviewing that this has happened.

  • Luciana Berger – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Luciana Berger – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Luciana Berger on 2016-04-18.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what progress has been made on improving women’s mental health since the publication in 2010 of Working towards women’s wellbeing: unfinished business.

    Alistair Burt

    The Department’s mental health policy teams provide strategic policy advice on mental health for people of all ages and genders. When issues are specific to a gender these are addressed within the policy development.

    The Coalition Government published a national mental health strategy No Health Without Mental Health in 2012 which addressed mental health issues for the whole population, and introduced the concept of parity of esteem for mental health. This Government continues to hold NHS England to account through the NHS Mandate for the achievement of measurable progress towards the parity of esteem for mental health.

    The Government announced almost £1 billion of additional investment for mental health in January 2016 including £290 million of new investment over the next five years to provide mental healthcare for new mothers. The Mental Health Taskforce Report published in February 2016 set out a recommendation for NHS England to ensure that by 2020/21 at least 30,000 more women each year access evidence-based specialist mental health care during the perinatal period. The recommendation stated this should include access to psychological therapies and the right range of specialist community or inpatient care so that comprehensive, high-quality services are in place across England.

  • David Hanson – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    David Hanson – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by David Hanson on 2016-04-18.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what progress has been made on producing an implementation plan for England for the UK Strategy for Rare Diseases; and when he expects such a plan to be in place.

    George Freeman

    There are no plans to consult on the implementation plan for England on the UK Strategy for Rare Diseases. NHS England published a Statement of Intent to implement the UK Strategy in February 2014. Implementation of the Strategy is also included in NHS England’s Five Year Forward View.

    The UK Rare Disease Forum is responsible for monitoring progress on implementation of the Strategy across the United Kingdom. It published its first progress report on 29 February 2016. This recognises that significant progress has been made against majority of the 51 recommendations in the report. Further reports will be published in 2018 and 2020.