Tag: Lord Hunt of Kings Heath

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath on 2015-11-24.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of whether the current emphasis by NHS Choices on starchy foods such as potatoes, cereals, pasta, rice and bread products for people with diabetes, or who are pre-diabetic, is based on sufficiently rigorous evidence.

Lord Prior of Brampton

The Government takes a whole population approach to healthy eating, and therefore does not provide specific dietary advice to individuals with medical needs. It is recommended for anyone with a medical condition in search of dietary advice to consult their local general practitioner or a dietician.

In July 2015, the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN) published its report on Carbohydrates and Health, a review of the latest evidence on dietary carbohydrates and health. This included a review of the evidence on incidence of type 2 diabetes as well as a number of pre-diabetic markers and carbohydrate consumption. SACN continue to recommend that total carbohydrate, which includes starchy foods, should provide approximately 50% total dietary energy. They also advised reducing sugar consumption, increasing fibre consumption and minimising consumption of sugars-sweetened drinks. A copy of the report is attached.

Following publication, advice on what constitutes a healthy balanced diet for the general population, including those with diabetes, was updated on the NHS Choices website reflecting SACN’s recommendations.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath on 2015-12-08.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Prior of Brampton on 19 November (HL3436), whether doctors registered as temporary and occasional under the revised Recognition of Professional Qualifications Directive will be subject to revalidation like other doctors licensed to practise medicine in the UK.

Lord Prior of Brampton

The General Medical Council (Licence to Practise and Revalidation) Regulations Order of Council 2012 provide for a registered medical practitioner visiting the United Kingdom from a relevant European state to be exempt from revalidation if providing medical services in the UK on a temporary and occasional basis, as defined in schedule 2A of the Medical Act 1983.

Doctors registered to work in the UK on a temporary or occasional basis are expected to meet UK national standards of fitness to practise. To join the General Medical Council (GMC) register on a temporary or occasional basis, a European Economic Area doctor must provide proof that they are legally established in their home member state and evidence of their professional qualification as part of a declaration. To remain practising in the UK, this declaration must be renewed annually. The GMC has the power to challenge the individual if they do not consider that they are providing services on a temporary and occasional basis.

Individual National Health Service organisations are responsible for ensuring that all their staff are fully qualified and have the necessary knowledge and skills to perform their role.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath on 2015-12-22.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the clinical and ethical justifications for setting the benchmark in the NHS Supply Chain generic project plans for a national formulary for wound care that 80 per cent of patients will be treated using clinically appropriate dressings.

Lord Prior of Brampton

The wide variety of choice in the current system is leading to duplication of wound care products. This can create more complexity for nurses and clinicians, making their clinical decisions more difficult and potentially leading to over specification and variation in standards of care. Of the 4,796 wound care products available through the NHS Supply Chain, 34% of lines have had no sales in the last 12 months.

Providing an agreed set of National Health Service requirements for wound care products will start to reduce this duplication, complexity and therefore potential risk, helping to improve patient outcomes through less variation in care.

This issue was also highlighted by 74% of respondents to a Royal College of Nursing survey run by Nursing Times (Dec 2014) seeing opportunities to reduce duplication on wound care products, (more than any other type of product).

The project is part of a wider piece of work the Department is working with the NHS Supply Chain on to deliver £300 million of savings by October 2018. Central to this is reducing the number of specifications and variations by category so the NHS can leverage its scale and deliver clinically appropriate solutions that represent ‘value for money’. Such approaches are common in other countries and help drive savings, improve clinical standards and protect front line nursing.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath on 2016-01-11.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will publish in full the report and recommendations of the investigation commissioned by NHS England into the circumstances leading up to the termination of the contract between Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Clinical Commissioning Group and UnitingCare Partnership to deliver urgent care for the over-65s and adult community services.

Lord Prior of Brampton

NHS England advises that it has commissioned David Stout OBE to carry out an independent review of the contract between Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Clinical Commissioning Group and UnitingCare Partnership. The terms of reference are to establish, from a commissioner perspective, the key facts and root causes behind the termination of the contract in December 2015 and to draw out recommendations and lessons to be learned. This will include a review of documentation and discussion with staff members.

Relevant individuals will be contacted during the course of the review to inform the findings. NHS England is also setting up a web page which will include an email address where comments and responses can be submitted. This will enable the public to contribute.

The review is expected to start in January and to be completed in February 2016. NHS England plans to publish the review when complete.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath on 2016-01-26.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many teachers have left the profession within five years of qualifying in each year since 2009.

Lord Nash

Of the full and part-time teachers who gained qualified teacher status in 2009 (and were in service by March 2010), 72% were still in service in a state funded school in England five years after qualification. The rate of retention five years after qualification has remained broadly stable since 1996.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath on 2016-02-02.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the costs to the NHS of providing treatment to students who cannot afford to pay for prescriptions and subsequently experience a deterioration in their health.

Lord Prior of Brampton

We have not made such an assessment.

Where a student has difficulty in paying for their prescriptions, they may be able to get help through the National Health Service low income scheme, which may provide exemption from the prescription charge, and help with other health costs, on the basis of a means-tested assessment. They may also be entitled through other exemptions (for example based on medical condition, maternity or though receipt of a qualifying benefit, for example, child tax credit), or, if they have to pay and need many prescription items, can purchase a Prescription Prepayment Certificate to minimise the cost.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath on 2016-02-10.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government why the NHS Trust Development Authority has not published the findings of the review of whistle-blowing and governance at the Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust.

Lord Prior of Brampton

The NHS Trust Development Authority intends to publish the review as soon as possible. It is making publication arrangements in the light of its legal advice.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath on 2016-02-29.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the Rapid Review Panel process can be extended to medical device technology, and if not, why not.

Lord Prior of Brampton

The Rapid Review Panel’s (RRP) primary remit is the evaluation of products for potential use in the National Health Service, to support claims of improved efficiency or efficacy of infection prevention and control interventions i.e. products that could reduce healthcare associated infections. The RRP, however, does not have the remit to regulate the safety of therapeutic products such as medical devices.

Due to the requirements of safety assurance and regulation of therapeutic products, which are verified through Notified Bodies applying a Conformité Européenne (CE) marking, medical device technology falls within the remit of the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). The MHRA’s Innovation Office is set up to assist companies in the regulation of novel medical devices.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath on 2016-03-14.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to strengthen the transparency and governance arrangements of the NHS Strategic Projects Team.

Lord Prior of Brampton

We are advised that NHS England is awaiting finalisation of its review of the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Clinical Commissioning Group contract with UnitingCare LLP before considering what action might be required with regard to the Strategic Projects Team.

We understand that NHS England will not be making any commitments on any other current procurements until the review is complete and NHS England has had time to consider the findings.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath on 2016-03-22.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the timetable for publishing the review of whistle blowing and governance at the Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust is linked to the role the trust is to play in the provision of services to patients in Staffordshire.

Lord Prior of Brampton

This is a matter for the NHS Trust Development Authority (TDA).

We understand that the NHS TDA commissioned Verita to conduct an independent review of the procedures carried out by Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust in investigating recent whistleblowing and human resource concerns. The NHS TDA has confirmed its commitment to publication of its report of the review.

The NHS TDA is currently clarifying publication arrangements in the light of legal advice and in liaison with the Department. A publication date will be arranged as soon as possible.

The NHS TDA has confirmed that the timetable for publication of the Verita report is independent of any issues relating to the Trust’s role in providing services to patients in Staffordshire.