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Tag: 2022

  • Michael Fabricant – 2022 Parliamentary Question on University Places for Medical Students

    Michael Fabricant – 2022 Parliamentary Question on University Places for Medical Students

    The parliamentary question asked by Michael Fabricant, the Conservative MP for Lichfield, in the House of Commons on 6 December 2022.

    Michael Fabricant (Lichfield) (Con)

    What recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Education on increasing the number of university places for medical students; and if he will make a statement.

    The Minister of State, Department of Health and Social Care (Will Quince)

    The Department has commissioned NHS England to develop a long-term workforce plan. That plan will help to ensure that we have the right numbers of staff, including doctors with the right skills, to deliver high-quality services fit for the future. The plan will be independently verified. We have funded 1,500 more medical school places in England and opened five new medical schools in Sunderland, Lancashire, Chelmsford, Lincoln and Canterbury, and there are record numbers of medical students in training.

    Michael Fabricant

    I thank my hon. Friend for his answer. He will know that it takes five or six gruelling years to get a Bachelor of Medicine or a Bachelor of Surgery degree—or Doctor of Medicine in Scotland—but many students, having graduated, think that they would prefer more structured development by working as hospital doctors. What can we do to encourage young graduates to go into general practice?

    Will Quince

    We have record numbers going into general practice, which is the remit of the Under-Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, my hon. Friend the Member for Harborough (Neil O’Brien), but part of the plan is to make it more attractive through practice improvement through cloud-based telephony, the additional roles reimbursement scheme, the 24,000 extra staff in primary care, developing multi-function staff so that people can develop their skills and have specialism but still practise as a GP, increasing the use of pharmacy, moving towards more continuity of care and the new GP contract for 2024-25.

    Chris Bryant (Rhondda) (Lab)

    But when are we going to see the workforce plan? The other day I spoke to a radiologist who runs a radiology department. There are meant to be 15, but there are only five and they have not had a single person apply. It needs more radiologists and radiographers. We have a national shortage of dermatologists, which is one reason why skin cancers are not being picked up, and a national shortage of pathologists and histopathologists. We need a dramatic increase in the number of people working in the NHS. When are we going to see that workforce plan?

    Will Quince

    As I said, we have committed to publishing a comprehensive workforce strategy, which, as the Chancellor set out, will be independently verified. That will come soon. We have also set out new pension flexibilities. However, it is important to point out that we have 29,000 more nurses and we are on track to meet our 50,000 target. We have 3,700 more doctors compared with last year, 9,100 extra nurses and 2,300 more GPs.

  • James Wild – 2022 Parliamentary Question on Queen Elizabeth Hospital in King’s Lynn

    James Wild – 2022 Parliamentary Question on Queen Elizabeth Hospital in King’s Lynn

    The parliamentary question asked by James Wild, the Conservative MP for North West Norfolk, in the House of Commons on 6 December 2022.

    James Wild (North West Norfolk) (Con)

    What recent assessment he has made of the expressions of interest submitted by Queen Elizabeth Hospital King’s Lynn NHS Foundation Trust to be part of the new hospitals programme.

    The Secretary of State for Health and Social Care (Steve Barclay)

    I had the question down as No.13, but given who is asking the question I can guess that it is related to the build of the King’s Lynn hospital.

    I visited the site and looked at the scheme over the summer. I made it clear in a speech that I gave to NHS Providers that addressing the concerns of the RAAC—the rebar autoclaved aerated concrete——hospitals is my No. 1 priority. Obviously, I cannot comment on individual schemes while the process is ongoing, but I can assure my hon. Friend that we are working actively on it.

    James Wild

    I warmly welcome the priority that my right hon. Friend has put on resolving the serious RAAC concrete issues at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, but the decision on this was due in the spring. Christmas is coming and the only question that people in North West Norfolk have is, when will we get the present that everyone wants—a new hospital for the staff and patients?

    Steve Barclay

    I note the extensive support that my hon. Friend has among parliamentary colleagues, including my right hon. Friend the Member for South West Norfolk (Elizabeth Truss), who has recently added her support to the scheme. He will be aware that we allocated £20 million last year and £30 million this year to address some of the immediate issues, but we recognise that it is a priority and we are working on it.

  • Catherine West – 2022 Parliamentary Question on Social Care Reform

    Catherine West – 2022 Parliamentary Question on Social Care Reform

    The parliamentary question asked by Catherine West, the Labour MP for Hornsey and Wood Green, in the House of Commons on 6 December 2022.

    Catherine West (Hornsey and Wood Green) (Lab)

    What progress he has made on delivering social care reform.

    The Minister of State, Department of Health and Social Care (Helen Whately)

    We are already putting social care reforms into practice. For instance, we want care providers to adopt digital care records, and more than 50% have already done so. I am determined to shine more light on our social care system, so our new Care Quality Commission-led assurance of local authorities’ social care duties will start in April.

    Catherine West

    One of the worst vacancy rates across the NHS is that of geriatricians. What urgent action is the Minister putting in place to ensure that people either at home with domiciliary care or in social care settings are seeing a geriatrician consultant regularly? If there is a shortage, which I believe there is, what action is she taking to have more doctors train as geriatricians?

    Helen Whately

    The hon. Lady makes an important point about people who are receiving social care also having access to the healthcare they need and these systems working together across our health and social care systems. We are training more doctors overall, and we have an increase in medical school places, which is leading to more doctors coming through. I am happy to take away and look at her question about the number of geriatricians.

    Wendy Morton (Aldridge-Brownhills) (Con)

    On delivering social care reform, does the Minister agree that we also need to be looking at how the funding packages work, particularly across borders? I have a constituent whose case falls between two local authorities. Will she agree to meet me as a matter of urgency to make sure that this poor constituent receives the funding she needs for her husband’s care?

    Helen Whately

    As announced in the autumn statement, we have a record funding settlement of £7.5 billion going into the social care system over the next two years, to improve both access and quality of care. I am happy to meet my right hon. Friend to look into the specific challenge that she has outlined, because it is important that local areas are working together across boundaries.

    Mr Speaker

    I call the shadow Minister.

    Liz Kendall (Leicester West) (Lab)

    Let’s just tell it like it is on the Government’s record on social care reform. Their cap on care costs was first promised 10 years ago. In 2015, they delayed it and in 2017 they scrapped it. In 2019, the right hon. Member for Uxbridge and South Ruislip (Boris Johnson) again promised to fix the crisis in social care, but last month the Chancellor buried the policy, once and for all. After 12 long years, what have Conservative Members got to show on social care: the highest ever staff vacancies; millions left without the care they need; hospitals full of people who do not need to be there; and families picking up the strain. Isn’t the truth on social care, just as with our economy, transport, housing and schools, that the Conservatives have run out of excuses and run out of road, and the country deserves a change?

    Helen Whately

    We have delayed our social care charging reforms because we listened to those in the system and we heard local authorities asking for more time to prepare. Importantly, we have allowed local authorities to keep the money allocated to that in their bank accounts to fund some of the current pressures on social care. I ask the hon. Lady to recognise the record funding settlement for social care in the autumn statement—£7.5 billion for social care over the next two years—which she has not even acknowledged. That is coupled with the fact that we are pressing full steam ahead with our system-wide reforms to social care, with funding of more than £1 billion to support the workforce and innovations in social care and to transform the quality and access to social care across the country.

  • Margaret Ferrier – 2022 Parliamentary Question on Improving Survival Rates from Sudden Cardiac Arrest

    Margaret Ferrier – 2022 Parliamentary Question on Improving Survival Rates from Sudden Cardiac Arrest

    The parliamentary question asked by Margaret Ferrier, the Independent MP for Rutherglen and Hamilton West, in the House of Commons on 6 December 2022.

    Margaret Ferrier (Rutherglen and Hamilton West) (Ind)

    What steps his Department is taking to improve survival rates from sudden cardiac arrest.

    The Minister of State, Department of Health and Social Care (Helen Whately)

    Immediate cardiopulmonary resuscitation doubles or quadruples the chance of surviving an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. Defibrillation within three to five minutes dramatically improves the chance of survival, which is why NHS England is establishing a network of defibrillators and community first responders to save up to 4,000 lives a year by 2028.

    Margaret Ferrier

    On average, 150 people a day die from sudden cardiac arrest outside hospital. Access to a defibrillator is crucial for survival. Without one, the chance of surviving drops by 10% every minute. I welcome the Government’s commitment to rolling out defibrillators across state-funded schools in England and Wales, but I share the concern that, because of significant ongoing supply chain issues, it might not be achieved. Can the Minister explain how the Department is helping to reach the target of supplying 20,000 defibrillators by 2023?

    Helen Whately

    As the hon. Lady says, access to a defibrillator makes a great difference to the survival prospects of somebody having a sudden cardiac arrest, which most commonly happens either at home or in the workplace. Since May 2020, the Government have required all new school builds and refurbishments to have defibrillators installed. I am happy to look into the concern she raises and get back to her. I am also working on other initiatives to make sure we get more defibrillators into public places.

    Sir Edward Leigh (Gainsborough) (Con)

    Like many of my Lincolnshire constituents, I live in a remote village and in the unlikely event of my having a sudden cardiac arrest—I am sure that would disappoint people—there is no prospect of an ambulance coming within 10, 15 or even 20 minutes. The Government could make themselves really popular in rural areas by having a massive campaign to roll out defibrillators in most villages. For instance, we have a good opportunity to put a defibrillator in all those red telephone boxes that BT are now closing down.

    Helen Whately

    My right hon. Friend makes an important point, and this is exactly why work is going on to increase the number of defibrillators across the community, for instance, in villages such as his. Many villages will already have them. We are also supporting the NHS to train community first responders to make sure that there are people all across the community who have the skills to do CPR— cardiopulmonary resuscitation—and use a defibrillator. I look forward to being able to announce shortly a new initiative that will mean further defibrillators across our communities.

  • Scott Benton – 2022 Parliamentary Question on the NHS Dental Contract

    Scott Benton – 2022 Parliamentary Question on the NHS Dental Contract

    The parliamentary question asked by Scott Benton, the Conservative MP for Blackpool South, in the House of Commons on 6 December 2022.

    Scott Benton (Blackpool South) (Con)

    What progress he is making on negotiating a new NHS dental contract.

    The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health and Social Care (Neil O’Brien)

    In July, we made some initial changes to the reformed system to support NHS dentistry. We have invested an extra £50 million, reformed the contract to create more UDA—unit of dental activity—bands to better reflect the fair cost of work, and introduced a minimum UDA to help practices where the levels are low, allowing dentists to deliver 110% of their UDAs to provide more treatment. The number of dentists doing NHS work last year was up 2.3% but we are working on plans to go further.

    Scott Benton

    The changes made to the dental contract last week were a step in the right direction, but they fall some way short of the holistic reform required to help the estimated 25,000 of my constituents who do not yet have an NHS dentist. Will the Minister consider a change whereby the NHS funds subsidies to underprivileged areas such as Blackpool, thereby allowing NHS practice to offer a greater financial incentive to attract new dentists into those areas?

    Neil O’Brien

    Absolutely; my hon. Friend and I have talked about this. We are looking urgently at payment models and measures to address areas that are struggling to attract the right workforce. The commissioning of dentistry will be coming down to a more accountable local level in April, and we need to build on that.

    Mary Kelly Foy (City of Durham) (Lab)

    My constituents in Durham have told me tales of DIY dentistry, missing teeth, children in pain and the unfairness of only being able to access dental care if they can afford it. Things should not be this way. The British Dental Association does not accept that the Government’s new plans go far enough to halt the decay in NHS dentistry provision. Will the Minister tell me when the Government will put in adequate funding and reform so that people in Durham can get the dental care that they need and deserve?

    Neil O’Brien

    As well as increasing the number of dentists doing NHS work and the amount of work being done, we are taking further steps to look to the longer term and build NHS dentistry. The number of dental school places is up from 810 in 2019 to 970 in 2021, but of course we want to go further. We are making it easier for dentists to come to the UK to practise. In fact, we laid draft secondary legislation on 11 October to give the General Dental Council more flexibility to do that. Around the country, plans are advancing for centres for dental development to provide not only additional dentists but hygienists and other nurses.

  • Elliot Colburn – 2022 Parliamentary Question on Hospital New Builds and Upgrades

    Elliot Colburn – 2022 Parliamentary Question on Hospital New Builds and Upgrades

    The parliamentary question asked by Elliot Colburn, the Conservative MP for Carshalton and Wallington, in the House of Commons on 6 December 2022.

    Elliot Colburn (Carshalton and Wallington) (Con)

    What steps he is taking to upgrade existing hospitals and build new hospitals.

    The Secretary of State for Health and Social Care (Steve Barclay)

    As we heard earlier, the Government are committed to a programme to create 40 new hospitals by 2030. We have committed £3.7 billion—[Interruption.] The hon. Member for Ilford North (Wes Streeting) will get a go in a moment, and I look forward to hearing him welcome the increase in the Government’s capital spending, not just on our new hospitals programme but on, for instance, elective surgery. We are putting £5.6 billion into more surgical hubs and community diagnostic centres, and £1.7 billion has gone to more than 70 hospitals to enable them to deliver significant upgrades.

    Elliot Colburn

    Patients in Carshalton and Wallington will benefit massively from the building of a new hospital in Sutton and the improvement of St Helier Hospital under NHS plans approved by the Government. Will my right hon. Friend agree to meet me, and the NHS trusts? They are raring to go and to get spades in the ground next year.

    Steve Barclay

    I know they are raring to go because I personally have spoken to the chief exec about this scheme, but I can offer my hon. Friend something better: the Minister of State, Department of Health and Social Care, my hon. Friend the Member for Colchester (Will Quince), will personally be visiting shortly to discuss this further. But I also need to be transparent with the House: we are fundamentally changing how we are going to be building hospitals in the NHS estate—[Laughter.] I am not sure why something as important as new hospitals—learning from the Department for Education and the Ministry of Justice through a more standardised model that allows us to deliver more at a cheaper unit price and get them built quicker—is a source of mirth to Opposition Members. It is important that we standardise those designs, and that is what my colleague the Minister of State will be discussing with my hon. Friend.

    Hilary Benn (Leeds Central) (Lab)

    The new children’s hospital, the new adult building and the maternity centre at Leeds General Infirmary will bring much-needed new facilities to Leeds and the region, as well as wider economic benefits. It is unusual among the hospital building schemes. As the Secretary of State knows, the site is clear and the plans are ready, so may I urge him to give the go-ahead as soon as possible?

    Steve Barclay

    I visited that scheme over the summer. The right hon. Gentleman will know that the costs have inflated significantly since what was signed off by the Treasury in 2019. I think the point that has been missed by Opposition Members is that the way we deliver these schemes is to grip the cost better by using standardisation, and that is what I will be discussing with Leeds General. I agree with him that it is important that the scheme goes ahead, and we need to work together to make sure that it does so at a price that is affordable.

  • Chris Heaton-Harris – 2022 Comments on Reducing Pay of MLAs

    Chris Heaton-Harris – 2022 Comments on Reducing Pay of MLAs

    The comments made by Chris Heaton-Harris, the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, on 7 December 2022.

    For over 200 days MLAs have been receiving full pay while failing to fulfil the full duties they were elected to do. Reducing their pay until an Assembly is restored reflects the work they are currently carrying out.

    This pay reduction is a necessary step when the people of Northern Ireland are tackling significant cost of living challenges and, after long-term mishandling of the NI public finances [by NI ministers] that has left a staggering £660m black hole, further protecting public finances.

    I urge Northern Ireland’s parties to use the time that this Act allows to work together and return to their full roles in a devolved government so that they can better serve the people of Northern Ireland.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Northern Ireland Secretary announces 27.5% reduction to MLA pay [December 2022]

    PRESS RELEASE : Northern Ireland Secretary announces 27.5% reduction to MLA pay [December 2022]

    The press release issued by the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland on 7 December 2022.

    The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland the Rt Hon Chris Heaton-Harris has confirmed that he will make a determination to cut Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) pay by 27.5%.

    • The Northern Ireland (Executive Formation etc) Act has reached Royal Assent, extending the period for Executive formation and permitting the Secretary of State to take a number of actions, including on MLA pay.
    • This legislation has been put in place to support Executive formation and to take limited but necessary steps to maintain the delivery of Northern Ireland’s public services.
    • The Bill also allows for a further six week extension to the period for Executive formation, until 19 January 2023, if needed.

    The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland has received Parliamentary support to reduce the salaries of Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs).

    Since February 2022, Northern Ireland’s devolved government has not been functioning fully and MLAs have subsequently been unable to perform all of the duties they were elected to do.

    The Northern Ireland (Executive Formation etc) Act, which reached Royal Assent yesterday (Tuesday 6 December 2022), enables the Secretary of State to make this 27.5% reduction to MLA pay.

    Through this Act, the Government has demonstrated its continued commitment to address the governance gap in Northern Ireland,  by enabling the Secretary of State to extend the time period for Executive formation. The Bill also allows for a further six week extension to the period for Executive formation, until 19 January 2023, if needed.

    The legislation also considers the pressures put on senior officials in the civil service, and clarifies the limited decision-making powers provided to NI Civil Servants to ensure decisions are made where necessary.

    The Secretary of State Rt Hon Chris Heaton-Harris MP said:

    For over 200 days MLAs have been receiving full pay while failing to fulfil the full duties they were elected to do.  Reducing their pay until an Assembly is restored reflects the work they are currently carrying out.

    This pay reduction is a necessary step when the people of Northern Ireland are tackling significant cost of living challenges and, after long-term mishandling of the NI public finances [by NI ministers] that has left a staggering £660m black hole, further protecting public finances.

    I urge Northern Ireland’s parties to use the time that this Act allows to work together and return to their full roles in a devolved government so that they can better serve the people of Northern Ireland.

  • Ian Blackford – 2022 Comments on Stephen Flynn Becoming SNP Leader at Westminster

    Ian Blackford – 2022 Comments on Stephen Flynn Becoming SNP Leader at Westminster

    The comments made by Ian Blackford, the outgoing SNP Leader at Westminster, on Twitter on 6 December 2022.

    Congratulations to Stephen Flynn on being elected the SNP Westminster leader. I look forward to supporting Stephen as he takes on the responsibility of taking the group forward as we work to deliver independence.

  • Stephen Flynn – 2022 Comments on Becoming SNP Leader at Westminster

    Stephen Flynn – 2022 Comments on Becoming SNP Leader at Westminster

    The comments made by Stephen Flynn, the SNP MP for Aberdeen South, on Twitter on 6 December 2022.

    A massive thank you to everyone for their kind messages, to Ian [Blackford] and Kirsten [Oswald] for the example they have set and also to Alison and Stuart – two of the most talented and compassionate people I’ve the good fortune to know.

    Now, time to deliver ???????!