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Tag: 2015

  • Sharon Hodgson – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Sharon Hodgson – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Sharon Hodgson on 2015-10-09.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, which agency is tasked with ensuring that mothers, infants and children are provided with adequate protection and support for appropriate feeding during emergencies; and if he will publish his Department’s policy or guidance documents to outline the steps to be taken in that direction.

    Jane Ellison

    Local emergency responders including Police, Fire and Rescue Service, Ambulance Service and Local Authorities are required under the Civil Contingences Act 2004 to assess the likelihood and impact of emergencies occurring in their local area, and to put in place appropriate plans to respond to these emergencies. This includes arrangements to evacuate and shelter large numbers of people, including vulnerable groups such as mothers with young infants. The Government publishes guidance on evacuation and shelter for local responders (https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/274615/Evacuation_and_Shelter_Guidance_2014.pdf) which includes advice on the care and provision for vulnerable people.

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  • Matthew Pennycook – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Matthew Pennycook – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Matthew Pennycook on 2015-10-09.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what proportion of Improving Access to Psychological Therapies patients in Greenwich and Woolwich constituency waited less than 28 days for treatment in the last 12 months.

    Alistair Burt

    The information is not collected in the format requested.

    The following attachment, Improving Access to Psychological Therapies contains referrals assessed in 28 and 90 days or less and referrals that waited 28 and 90 days or less to enter treatment, as a proportion of all referrals assessed between 1 April 2013 and 31 March 2014, for England and NHS Greenwich Clinical Commissioning Group.

    Data is not published at constituency level.

  • Tulip Siddiq – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Tulip Siddiq – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tulip Siddiq on 2015-10-09.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, with reference to his Department’s response to e-petition No. 104334, what the evidential basis is of the statement that (a) if you are admitted to hospital on a weekend, you have 16 per cent. greater chance of dying and (b) the average earnings for a hospital consultant are £118,000.

    Ben Gummer

    The 16% figure is taken from a study published in 2012 in the Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine entitled ‘Weekend hospitalization and additional risk of death: an analysis of inpatient data’ by Freemantle et al. The authors analysed all hospital admissions in 2009-10 and found that patients admitted to hospital on a Saturday had a 11% increased chance of dying compared to a Wednesday, and patients admitted on a Sunday had a 16% increased chance of dying compared to a Wednesday.

    This analysis has recently been updated by the study’s authors to look at 2013-14 admissions. The latest study, published in the British Medical Journal in September 2015, found that patients admitted to hospital on a Saturday had a 10% increased chance of dying compared to a Wednesday, and patients admitted on a Sunday had a 15% increased chance of dying compared to a Wednesday.

    The figure of average hospital consultant earnings is an estimate of the derived average earnings of consultants per full time equivalent, and is based on data covering the 2013/14 financial year. The figure was published as part of evidence submitted by the NHS Employers organisation to the Review Body on Doctors’ and Dentists Remuneration ahead of their report published in July, ‘Contract reform for consultants and doctors and dentists in training – supporting healthcare services seven days a week’. The evidence is publicly available here:

    http://www.nhsemployers.org/your-workforce/pay-and-reward/pay/medical-pay/ddrb-evidence—in-detail

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  • Matthew Pennycook – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Matthew Pennycook – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Matthew Pennycook on 2015-10-09.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many women diagnosed with breast cancer under the age of 40 in (a) England and (b) Greenwich and Woolwich constituency were offered a referral to a fertility specialist prior to commencement of their cancer treatment in the last three years.

    Jane Ellison

    The information requested is not collected.

  • Laurence Robertson – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Laurence Robertson – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Laurence Robertson on 2015-10-09.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what recent assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the roll-out of the Liaison and Diversion services schemes; and if he will make a statement.

    Ben Gummer

    Liaison and Diversion (L&D) services operate by referring offenders who are identified as having mental health issues, learning disabilities, substance misuse and other vulnerabilities such as homelessness, into appropriate treatment and support services. L&D services also share appropriate information with justice agencies to assist with justice decisions.

    NHS England commissions L&D services and since April 2015 services have been available to over 50% of the English population. The Department of Health commissioned RAND Europe to conduct an independent evaluation of L&D services. This evaluation will form part of the Full Business Case for national roll out of L&D services, to be submitted to HM Treasury in autumn 2015.

  • Patrick Grady – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    Patrick Grady – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Patrick Grady on 2015-10-09.

    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether the report of (a) the United Nations Office Commission of Inquiry on Human Rights in Eritrea, published in June 2015 and (b) the Independent Advisory Group on Country Information Eritrea, published in May 2015, was taken into account in drafting her Department’s country information and guidance on Eritrea.

    James Brokenshire

    The Home Office considered these reports and they are reflected in the updated country information and guidance on Eritrea. This was published on 9 September and is available online. This includes reference to the IAGCI report, material taken from the UN Commission on Inquiry report on Eritrea and other relevant country information.

  • Gavin Newlands – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    Gavin Newlands – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Gavin Newlands on 2015-10-09.

    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will estimate the number of illegal migrants working in late-night takeaways and off-licences.

    James Brokenshire

    It is not currently possible to quantify accurately the number of immigration offenders in the UK as, by their very nature, those that deliberately evade immigration control to enter and stay in the country illegally are not officially recorded until they come to light and are arrested. The current Immigration Bill includes measures to prevent illegal workers from obtaining and holding licences permitting the sale of alcohol or late night refreshments, as part of a range of provisions continuing the Government’s reforms to tackle illegal working.

  • Laurence Robertson – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    Laurence Robertson – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Laurence Robertson on 2015-10-14.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the PCR test for tuberculosis; and if she will make a statement.

    George Eustice

    Defra recently funded a comparative study of several potential tests, including the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test, for detecting Mycobacterium bovis in badger faeces. None of the tests met the minimum levels of sensitivity and specificity. Defra is considering if there are any situations where the current tests can be used informatively on a large scale. PCR is also used to enhance detection of M.bovis in bacterial culture and the EU Reference Laboratory for bovine tuberculosis has also assessed the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test. (https://www.visavet.es/bovinetuberculosis/ring-trials.php).

    Defra continues to review evidence of effectiveness of the potential diagnostic application of PCR in other situations.

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  • Jim Shannon – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    Jim Shannon – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Shannon on 2015-10-14.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent reports he has received of the situation of the Bahá’i community in Iran.

    Mr Tobias Ellwood

    The Baha’i community in Iran is subject to mounting persecution, and we are concerned by state efforts to identify, monitor and arbitrarily detain Baha’is. We have repeatedly expressed our concern at the harassment faced by Baha’is in Iran and at the sentencing of seven Baha’i leaders to 20 years in prison. We urge the Iranian Government to ensure that all Iranian citizens are able to practise their faith freely, as required by international conventions.

  • Gregory Campbell – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Gregory Campbell – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Gregory Campbell on 2015-10-14.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what recent discussions he has had with representatives of junior doctors about their hours and rates of pay.

    Ben Gummer

    Ministers receive regular representations from groups representing junior doctors.

    On 30 September 2015 the Secretary of State met Mark Porter, BMA Council Chair, and Dr Johann Malawana following Dr Malawana’s election as Chair of the BMA Junior Doctors Committee.

    Ministers also meet regularly representatives of Medical Royal Colleges on a range of issues. At a meeting on 30 September doctors working conditions were raised and the junior doctor training experience discussed.