Microplastics: Health
Question
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment the National Institute for Health Research has made of the merits of funding projects to establish the potential effect of microplastics on human health.
Answer
The National Institute for Health Research is funding research on microplastic toxicity in humans through the Health Protection Research Unit in Environmental Exposure, which is led by Imperial College London and Public Health England. This work will be reported in peer reviewed academic journals in due course.
Edward Argar MP, Minister for Health
12th August 2021
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Dental Services
Question
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to promote ongoing, routine preventative dental care to protect people's oral health.
Answer
Public Health England have published the guidance ‘Delivering better oral health - an evidence-based toolkit for prevention’, for dental teams to support preventive advice and treatment for their patients. The toolkit includes evidence-based advice and treatment that dentists and their teams can use to support their patients to help prevent tooth decay, gum disease, mouth cancer and tooth wear. This toolkit is available at the following link:
The dental contract reform programme has been piloting new contract models to better incentivise preventative and restorative treatments. The Department will publish an evaluation of the programme this summer and based on the learning, NHS England and NHS Improvement will take forward the design of proposals to protect and improve oral health.
Jo Churchill MP, Minister for Prevention, Public Health and Primary Care
30th March 2021
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Dental Services
Question
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the effect of the disruption to routine dentistry as a result of the covid-19 outbreak on the early detection of oral cancers.
Answer
No such assessment has been made. Dentists play an ad hoc role in detecting oral cancers as a by-product of dental check-ups. However, oral cancer is primarily detected through the medical system. Patients with concerns about changes in their mouth should seek advice from their general practitioner and not wait for their next dental appointment.
Jo Churchill MP, Minister for Prevention, Public Health and Primary Care
30th March 2021
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Dental Services
Question
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans he has to support the private dentistry sector to recover from the effect of the covid-19 outbreak.
Answer
Dentists who meet the criteria can access the full range of HM Treasury support for their private earnings. Self-employed dentists who have met the criteria have been eligible for the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme which will continue until September, with a fourth and fifth grant. Dentists who receive a salary through a Pay As You Earn scheme may be eligible for the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, which has also been extended until September. In addition, a new United Kingdom-wide Recovery Loan Scheme will help businesses of all sizes through the next stage of recovery.
Jo Churchill MP, Minister for Prevention, Public Health and Primary Care
30th March 2021
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Care Homes: Coronavirus
Question
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he will give care homes discretion to decide on the best use of funding allocated under the Infection Control Fund?
Answer
The £600 million Infection Control Fund was set up to reduce the rate of COVID-19 transmission in and between care homes and support wider workforce resilience. It provides funds in addition to the £3.7 billion of general funding provided to local authorities, which can be used to support adult social care. Public Health England advice is that one of the key mitigations against transmission was through restricting staff movements between care homes wherever feasible. Taking this advice and feedback from care providers regarding workforce costs into account, care home providers may use the fund to support the implementation of a new set of measures. These measures also include paying staff full pay to isolate, and other infection control matters as set out in the grant determination. Local authorities have greater discretion over the use of 25% of the funding, which may be used on other COVID-19 infection control measures.
Helen Whately MP, Minister for Care
6th August 2020
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NHS: Cycling and Walking
Question
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what discussions he has had with (a) the Secretary of State for Transport and (b) health sector bodies on promoting cycling and walking for NHS (i) employees and (ii) patients?
Answer
The Secretary of State has frequent conversations with relevant Cabinet colleagues and stakeholders. The Department of Transport recently announced a £2billion investment to boost a greener active transport. This includes a £250million emergency active travel fund to help encourage more people to choose cycling and walking as alternatives to public transport when they need to travel. Evidence suggests that regular physical activity can promote good physical health and help manage stress and anxiety.
Jo Churchill MP, Minister for Prevention, Public Health and Primary Care
8th July 2020
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Care Homes and Home Care Services: Coronavirus
Question
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to help protect (a) care homes and (b) home care providers during the easing of the covid-19 lockdown?
Answer
On 15 May 2020 the Government published a care home support package, backed by a £600 million Infection Control Fund. The package sets out the steps that must now be taken to keep people in care homes safe, and the support that will be brought together across national and local government to help care providers put this into practice.
We are currently reviewing our care homes guidance and will be publishing new guidance shortly. As the easing of the COVID-19 lockdown begins, any assessment of a resident’s needs, and subsequent decisions made, must consider individual circumstances and ethical implications, ensuring that the resident is treated with respect so that their human rights, personal choices, safety and dignity is upheld.
We also recognise the vital importance of protecting those who receive care in their homes, as well as those who provide home care. We have published detailed guidance for home care providers to support them to deliver care safely and effectively during the pandemic.
We keep our policies under continuous review during the COVID-19 pandemic, based on the emerging international and domestic evidence.
Helen Whately MP, Minister for Care
11th June 2020
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Cancer: Radiotherapy
Question
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to ensure that radiotherapy services used in cancer treatment continue during the covid-19 outbreak?
Answer
A letter was issued to trusts on 29 April detailing the Second Phase of Response to COVID-19. This letter sets out that:
Local systems and Cancer Alliances must continue to identify ring-fenced diagnostic and surgical capacity for cancer, and providers must protect and deliver cancer surgery and cancer treatment by ensuring that cancer surgery hubs are fully operational. Full use should be made of the available contracted independent sector hospital and diagnostic capacity locally and regionally. Regional cancer Senior Responsible Officers must now provide assurance that these arrangements are in place everywhere.
Treatment, including radiotherapy, must be brought back to pre-pandemic levels at the earliest opportunity to minimise potential harm, and to reduce the scale of the post-pandemic surge in demand.
Jo Churchill MP, Minister for Prevention, Public Health and Primary Care
28th May 2020
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Social Services: Staff
Question
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to help ensure the adequacy of staffing levels in the social care sector during the covid-19 outbreak?
Answer
I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 5 May 2020 to Question 902192.
Helen Whately MP, Minister for Care
14th May 2020
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Social Services: Staff
Question
What steps he is taking to help ensure the adequacy of staffing levels in the social care sector during the covid-19 outbreak?
Answer
Social care workers are at the frontline of our battle with COVID-19. We are grateful to all care workers, caring for our loved ones every day.
Care workers must follow the guidance on isolating if they or a household member have COVID-19 symptoms - which means that there are higher absence levels than normal – but there must also be enough staff to provide essential care.
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has been monitoring staff absence rates to see where there are particular risks. The CQC is sharing this information with local authorities and the Government has provided them with guidance on supporting care providers. We are encouraging returning health and social care professionals to work in social care and we have launched a national recruitment campaign with the ambition to attract 20,000 people into adult social care.
Helen Whately MP, Minister for Care
5th May 2020
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Care Homes: Dementia
Question
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he has taken to help ensure that residents of care homes living with dementia can maintain contact with their relatives to preserve their cognitive and communication skills during the covid-19 outbreak; and if he will make a statement?
Answer
The Department, Public Health England, the Care Quality Commission and the National Health Service have published guidance on the care of residents in care homes, including those with dementia. It asks care homes to consider alternatives to in-person visiting, including use of telephones or video, or the use of plastic or glass barriers between residents and visitors. Care homes are responding with innovative solutions which are allowing residents to stay in touch with their family and friends.
We continue to review the need for further guidance including specific guidance on the care of people with dementia, informed by the views of stakeholders. We have also commissioned research on the best ways to mitigate the psychological and social impact of COVID-19 on people with dementia living in the community and their family.
Helen Whately MP, Minister for Care
5th May 2020