Tag: Baroness Gould of Potternewton

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Gould of Potternewton on 2015-11-24.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the costs to the NHS of the £200 million reduction in the Public Health Grant to local authorities for 2015–16.

Lord Prior of Brampton

Local authorities are best placed to make an assessment of local public health needs, and to prioritise and deploy their available resources accordingly, in partnership with the National Health Service. The NHS will continue to provide a vital role in the delivery of public health services.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Gould of Potternewton on 2016-03-08.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to publish the findings of Public Health England’s survey of local commissioning arrangements for sexual health.

Lord Prior of Brampton

Public Health England plans to publish the findings of the commissioning survey for sexual health, reproductive health and Human Immunodeficiency Virus in summer 2016.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Gould of Potternewton on 2016-06-29.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what monitoring is conducted to ensure that local authorities commission open-access contraceptive services for all persons present in their area.

Lord Prior of Brampton

Local authorities are mandated to commission open access sexual health services and are accountable for their statutory duty to improve the public’s health. Public Health England (PHE) has a specific role in assurance of the ring-fenced grant and that local authorities are meeting the grant conditions and the terms of the associated statutory regulations. PHE publishes data on outcomes from services for each local authority in England and can provide support and advice where necessary.

Departmental and PHE officials meet regularly with stakeholders where open access to sexual health services is discussed.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Gould of Potternewton on 2015-11-24.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the effect of the £200 million reduction in the Public Health Grant to local authorities for 2015–16 on (1) teenage pregnancy rates, and (2) rates of unintended pregnancy.

Lord Prior of Brampton

The under-18 conception rate is an indicator within the Public Health Outcomes Framework and we continue to see a sustained reduction in teenage pregnancy, improved detection of sexually transmitted infections, and increasing access to the more effective long acting contraception.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Gould of Potternewton on 2016-04-13.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what are the arrangements for assessing whether pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) should be nationally commissioned in England following the NHS England statement that they were withdrawing PrEP from consideration by them.

Lord Prior of Brampton

NHS England has agreed to carefully consider their position on commissioning Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). Planning continues on the early implementer tests sites in the meantime. Irrespective of the commissioning arrangements for PrEP, decisions to fund will depend on full assessment of clinical and cost effectiveness and how it can be integrated with other HIV prevention efforts.

The Government is investing £2.4 million in HIV prevention nationally and through this will fund a number of innovative local projects and set up a new HIV home sampling service – one of the first of its kind. National investment in home sampling has been significantly enhanced by local investment from local authorities.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Gould of Potternewton on 2015-11-24.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government how they define open access in the context of mandatory open-access sexual health services.

Lord Prior of Brampton

Local authorities are mandated by legislation to commission open access sexual health services for everyone present in their area; this includes free testing and treatment for sexually transmitted infections and notification of sexual partners of infected persons; and free contraception, and reasonable access to all methods of contraception.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Gould of Potternewton on 2016-04-13.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many sexual health clinics will no longer be reimbursed by NHS England for the provision of post-exposure prophylaxis following the announcement by NHS England of its change of commissioning policy.

Lord Prior of Brampton

NHS England has advised that it is not changing its commissioning policy in relation to post exposure prophylaxis after sexual exposure to HIV (PEPSE). However, NHS England is aiming to produce guidance to clarify how contractual arrangement for PEPSE can work in sexual health services that are no longer provided by the National Health Service and or have no experience of prescribing of antiretroviral drugs to enable appropriate levels of monitoring for quality and safety. NHS England remains committed to reimbursement for the appropriate use of PEPSE.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Gould of Potternewton on 2015-12-09.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment has been undertaken to ensure that reductions in the public health budget do not negatively affect those who share protected characteristics under the Equality Act 2010.

Lord Prior of Brampton

The Government reached its decisions on implementing reductions in the 2015/16 local authority public health grant after giving full consideration to its duty under the Equality Act 2010 (the public sector equality duty, or PSED). The Government’s response to a public consultation exercise, published on 4 November 2015, contains an equality analysis of the options for making the saving. A copy is attached.

Final decisions on the distribution of the grant in 2016/17 have not yet been taken, but again will be made in the light of the PSED. Government decisions on the quantum of the grant have taken account of the PSED. Local authorities are responsible for identifying local needs and priorities for public health interventions, and for making decisions on local spending. Local authorities are themselves subject to the PSED.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Gould of Potternewton on 2016-04-13.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government why NHS England does not intend to reimburse some sexual health clinics for the provision of post-exposure prophylaxis.

Lord Prior of Brampton

NHS England has advised that it is not changing its commissioning policy in relation to post exposure prophylaxis after sexual exposure to HIV (PEPSE). However, NHS England is aiming to produce guidance to clarify how contractual arrangement for PEPSE can work in sexual health services that are no longer provided by the National Health Service and or have no experience of prescribing of antiretroviral drugs to enable appropriate levels of monitoring for quality and safety. NHS England remains committed to reimbursement for the appropriate use of PEPSE.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Gould of Potternewton on 2015-12-09.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether an assessment has been undertaken of the effect on contraceptive services of reductions in the public health budget.

Lord Prior of Brampton

Decisions on local public health spending are a matter for local authorities. Local authorities are mandated to commission open access contraceptive services that provide advice on, and reasonable access to, a broad range of contraceptive substances and appliances.