Every parliamentary written question tabled by Caroline Johnson this session, with the full answer and department. See how every department answers, or back to the MP page.
Showing 281–300 of 343 · Department of Health and Social Care
Pursuant to the Answer of 25 April 2025 to Question 44517 on Domestic Waste: Birmingham, when he expects the risk assessment on the potential public health impacts of uncollected waste in Birmingham to be published.
I refer the Hon. Member to the answer I gave to the Hon. Member for Thirsk and Malton on 25 April 2025 to Question 45661.
What recent meetings (a) he and (b) Ministers in his Department have had with relevant stakeholders to discuss the potential risks to public health posed by uncollected rubbish in Birmingham.
My Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care and ministers from the Department have had no recent meetings on the potential risks to public health posed by uncollected rubbish in Birmingham.The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) is part of a multi-agency response Strategic Coordinating Group, led by Birmingham City Council, and has contributed to their risk assessment. The UKHSA will continue to provide advice and support to Birmingham City Council.
What meetings he has had with (a) Cabinet colleagues and (b) relevant stakeholders on measles.
Following a resurgence of measles in late 2023 and 2024, there has been a decline in the number of cases from mid-July 2024, but small, localised outbreaks of measles are still affecting some regions of the United Kingdom. These ongoing outbreaks are largely due to a gradual decline in the uptake of childhood vaccines over the last decade, including the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine, which offers protection against measles.As part of ongoing efforts to reduce outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases, including measles, and improve uptake across childhood immunisation programmes, the Department is working with the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) and NHS England. The UKHSA and NHS England are supporting the National Health Service and local authorities to take steps to promote uptake by providing diverse delivery methods, to make getting vaccinated easier. This includes increasing outreach efforts to under-served groups and raising awareness of the dangers of vaccine preventable diseases, such as measles. Paid for marketing campaigns to support uptake of childhood immunisations, including MMR, have been run over the past year, with evaluation showing positive results.In addition to this, the Department regularly meets with the UKHSA, national and regional NHS colleagues, and devolved administrations, to discuss efforts to reduce measles case numbers. The Department also stays well informed on measles trends, with the UKHSA continuing to closely monitor cases across the UK.
If he will make it his policy for all patients with suspected measles to be sent an oral fluid kit.
In the UK, an appropriate test to confirm or discard cases is essential. As per the guidelines, all suspected measles cases reported to Health Protection Teams are sent an oral fluid kit for testing at the Virus Reference Department at UKHSA Colindale.The UK Health Security Agency publishes national clinical and public health guidelines for the management of all suspected measles cases at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/national-measles-guidelinesHigh quality surveillance is a fundamental component of the UK measles and rubella elimination strategy, which can be found at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/measles-and-rubella-elimination-uk-strategy Measles is a notifiable disease and healthcare professionals are legally required to report all suspected cases to their local Health Protection Team.
What steps he is taking to increase public awareness of the risks of tuberculosis infection.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) and NHS England’s joint Tuberculosis (TB) Action Plan for England 2021 to 2026 contains actions to encourage the use of new tools to raise awareness of TB in at risk populations and the healthcare workforce. Full details are available at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/tuberculosis-tb-action-plan-for-england/tuberculosis-tb-action-plan-for-england-2021-to-2026.The UKHSA produced a TB stakeholder communications toolkit which is shared widely at a national and regional level, including by the British Chamber of Commerce. A copy of the toolkit is attached.The UKHSA continues to raise awareness through national, regional, and specialist media coverage, as well as through community engagement through our regional health protection teams. The UKHSA also commissioned a radio campaign for the Prison Radio Association to raise the prison population’s awareness of TB in England and Wales. Further campaigns are planned.The NHS England funded Getting It Right First Time TB report, published in March 2025, noted numerous examples of information for awareness-raising for the public from both national and locally developed sources, often in multiple languages. The report is available at the following link:https://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/girft-review-of-tuberculosis-national-report.pdf
What steps he is taking to reduce the number of cases of tuberculosis in Non-UK born individuals (a) visiting and (b) migrating to the UK.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) and NHS England’s collaborative Tuberculosis (TB): action plan for England, 2021 to 2026 aims to reduce the numbers of cases of TB in non-United Kingdom born individuals migrating to the UK. The plan is available at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/tuberculosis-tb-action-plan-for-england/tuberculosis-tb-action-plan-for-england-2021-to-2026The UK pre-entry TB screening programme operates in 102 countries and is intended to reduce the importation of TB by screening applicants for long term visas, those greater than six months, from high TB incidence countries, those with more than 40 cases per 100,000 people. People are screened in line with the UK Technical Instructions, which are available at the following link:https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5cd18ae5e5274a34ee7f0275/UK_tuberculosis_technical_instructions_version_7.pdfIdentifying the contacts of people with active TB allows people who would be at high risk of developing the disease to be treated before they become ill. Enhancing contact tracing is a key pillar of the national action plan.There is also NHS England’s Latent Tuberculosis Infection Testing and Treatment programme, for migrants from high TB burden countries within five years of entry to the UK. In 2023, 34,680 people were tested, an increase of over 100% compared with the pre- pandemic year of 2019.
What assessment he has made of the potential correlation between (a) age, (b) sex, (c) vaccine status, (d) ethnicity and (e) upper tier local authority area and trends in the level of (i) all people, (ii) children and (iii) adults with measles.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) monitors trends in measles epidemiology and publishes a monthly report of laboratory confirmed cases of measles by age, region, and upper-tier local authority, available at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/measles-epidemiology-2023The UKHSA also publishes a quarterly report of laboratory confirmed cases of measles by age, region, vaccination status, and imported vs community acquired cases, available at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/measles-mumps-and-rubella-lab-confirmed-cases-in-england-2024Between 1 January and 10 April 2025, there have been 213 laboratory confirmed measles cases reported in England. The number of laboratory confirmed measles cases by month of symptom onset in 2025 to date are: 89 in January; 67 in February; 54 in March; and three so far in April.The majority, 128 of 213, or 60%, of these cases were in children aged 10 years old and under, and 34%, or 72 of 213, were in young people and adults aged 15 years old and over. 24%, or 52, of these cases have been in London, 21%, or 44 cases, in the South West, and 17%, or 37 cases, in Yorkshire and Humber. 57 out of the 152 upper-tier local authorities have reported at least one confirmed case with symptom onset since January 2025, with the highest numbers reported in Bristol, at 34 of 213, or 16%, Leeds, at 29 of 213, or 14%, and Hertfordshire at 13 of 213, or 6%.Data on measles cases by ethnicity is monitored but is not routinely published.
What recent meetings (a) he has had and (b) other Ministers in his Department have had on leptospirosis.
My Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care and ministers have had no recent meetings on leptospirosis. The UK Health Security Agency undertakes routine surveillance for leptospirosis infections in humans and publishes a quarterly report on the common animal-associated infections. Further information is available at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/common-animal-associated-infections-2024/common-animal-associated-infections-england-second-quarter-2024#leptospirosis
What recent meetings (a) he has had and (b) Ministers in his Department have had on the prevention of tuberculosis.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) met with the previous Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Public Health and Prevention in February 2025 to discuss tuberculosis (TB).UKHSA and NHS England’s joint plan, Tuberculosis action plan for England, 2021 to 2026, details actions to achieve a 90% reduction in people with TB by 2035. This is aligned with the World Health Organization’s elimination targets. Work to review and update the National Action Plan, including a call for evidence, is underway.The action plan is available at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/tuberculosis-tb-action-plan-for-england/tuberculosis-tb-action-plan-for-england-2021-to-2026
What steps he is taking to the meet the World Health Organisation's target to end tuberculosis by 2035.
In September 2023, the United Kingdom reconfirmed its commitment to the fight against tuberculosis (TB), including to World Health Organization’s (WHO) elimination targets, at the United Nations high-level meeting on TB.The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) and NHS England’s joint Tuberculosis (TB): action plan for England, 2021 to 2026 outlines outcomes and indicators to achieve a 90% reduction in people with TB by 2035, aligned with the WHO’s elimination targets.The action plan includes measures to address TB prevention, detection, and control, as well as supporting the TB workforce. Measures include actions targeted at improving tracing of contacts of people with TB, treatment completion, and ensuring effective management of drug-resistant TB. Further information is available at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/tuberculosis-tb-action-plan-for-england/tuberculosis-tb-action-plan-for-england-2021-to-2026.A pre-entry screening programme to detect active pulmonary TB has been in place since 2012. All migrants from high TB incidence countries arriving on visas for over six months are required to complete TB testing and, if necessary, treatment, before UK entry.There is also NHS England’s national Latent Tuberculosis Infection Testing and Treatment programme, for recent migrants from high incidence countries. Detection and treatment of latent infection prevents people from developing active TB. The UKHSA routinely undertakes whole genome sequencing of all TB strains through the National Mycobacterial Reference Service, to support treatment decisions based on resistance profiles and public health action with high resolution typing.Work has been initiated, including a call for evidence, to develop a joint UKHSA and NHS England action plan for 2026 to 2031.
How many and what proportion of tuberculosis cases show evidence of (a) multi drug resistance and (b) rifampicin resistance.
Detailed analysis on drug resistance is published in the annual Tuberculosis Diagnosis and Microbiology England reports, with the most recent being from 2023. Rifampicin-resistant (RR) and multidrug resistant (MDR) tuberculosis (TB) is reported in a single category, in line with World Health Organization’s categorisation. The full report is available at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/tuberculosis-in-england-2024-report/tuberculosis-diagnosis-and-microbiology-england-2023.Definitive diagnosis of RR or MDR TB requires the TB bacteria to be isolated from culture. 71 people, or 2.4% of the 2,973 individuals with positive cultures, were diagnosed with RR or MDR TB in 2023. An additional 37 individuals were treated for RR or MDR TB in England in 2023 in the absence of a positive culture. Overall, 108 out of 4,855 people, or 2.2%, were treated for RR or MDR TB in 2023.The UK Health Security Agency routinely undertakes whole genome sequencing of all TB strains through the National Mycobacterial Reference Service, to support treatment decisions based on resistance profiles.
What steps he is taking to increase the uptake of measles vaccination.
The Department is working alongside its partners to increase vaccine uptake and coverage across all childhood vaccination programmes, including the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) programme.The National Health Service and general practices (GPs) have been sending reminders to the families of children who are not fully vaccinated, with GPs providing catch-up doses for any missed vaccinations.NHS England works with the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) and local health partners and communities to understand the needs of their populations, and to tailor immunisation programmes to meet the needs of under-vaccinated communities.Regional outbreaks of measles and overall increases in cases since autumn 2023 led to a renewed focus on MMR coverage and targeted catch-up activity, including an NHS campaign which ran from November 2023 until April 2024 and resulted in over 180,000 additional doses given. The UKHSA and NHS England ran a second wave of England-wide childhood immunisation campaigns targeted towards parents and carers of children in autumn 2024. The campaign reminded parents of the risks to their children due to missing out on protection against the serious diseases that are re-emerging in the country, with an urgent call to action to catch up on missed vaccinations.It is vitally important that everyone takes up the vaccinations they are entitled to, for themselves, their families, and wider society. The MMR vaccine is highly effective, safe, and is the best way to prevent measles.
What meetings (a) he and (b) his Ministers have had with the doctors and dentists review body since July 2024.
I along with my hon. Friend, the Minister of State for Care, both met with the Review Body on Doctors' and Dentists' Remuneration at the scheduled oral evidence sessions in February 2025, one focussing on secondary care doctors, and the other on general practitioners and dentists.Oral evidence sessions are a regular feature of the annual pay review process and enable the pay review body to ask questions directly of ministers or to clarify points from the Department’s written evidence. Officials accompany ministers to these meetings. All parties to the pay review process, including the British Medical Association, are invited to give oral evidence.
What information his Department holds on the (a) vaccination status, (b) ethnicity, (c) travel history, (d) source of infection and (d) eligibility for NHS vaccine before infection diagnosed of children born in the UK that are aged between zero and five years old and have been diagnosed with tuberculosis.
Children are identified as a specific population group requiring actions in the joint UK Health Security Agency and NHS England plan, Tuberculosis (TB): action plan for England, 2021 to 2026, but there are no high-level indicators to report relating to TB in children as the number of infections and the rate of TB in children are low.Enhanced surveillance involving rigorous data collection is carried out for all individuals with TB. For specific population groups where TB is more common, for example, those who have a social risk factor, detailed data analysis is presented in the Annual Reports for Tuberculosis in England, which are available at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/tuberculosis-in-england-2024-report/tuberculosis-in-children-aged-0-to-17-years-england-2023Indicators to monitor actions are identified in the joint plan, which is available at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/tuberculosis-tb-action-plan-for-england/tuberculosis-tb-action-plan-for-england-2021-to-2026In 2023, 102 out of 259, or 39.4% of, children under 18 years old notified with TB with a known country of birth, were born in the United Kingdom. In the group of children aged between zero and four years old, the proportion born in the UK was 80.4%, or 41 out of 51 individuals.Data on ethnicity are not reported separately for children due to small numbers. Information about travel history and source of infection is not available for this age group.Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccination coverage for eligible children is captured as part of the Cover of Vaccination Evaluated Rapidly programme. The latest quarterly national data available is for infants at age three months for children, born between April and June 2024, and at age 12 months, born between July and September 2023. Measured at three months, coverage in England was 78.4% and measured at 12 months, it was 84.1%. The full data is available at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/cover-of-vaccination-evaluated-rapidly-cover-programme-2022-to-2023-quarterly-data/quarterly-vaccination-coverage-statistics-for-children-aged-up-to-5-years-in-the-uk-cover-programme-january-to-march-2023The eligibility criteria for BCG in the UK is a selective risk-based programme targeting children with a parent or grandparent born in a high incidence country or infants in areas of the UK with high TB incidence. Further information is available at the following link:https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5b645a2140f0b66875559e93/_Greenbook_chapter_32_Tuberculosis_.pdf
What plans his Department has to ensure that biological women can access single-sex healthcare provision in NHS hospital wards.
We have always supported the protection of single-sex spaces based on biological sex. The Supreme Court ruling about the meaning of ‘sex’ in the Equality Acy 2010 case has provided much needed confidence and clarity to service providers.The National Health Service is reviewing its ‘delivering same-sex accommodation’ guidance and will ensure it reflects the Supreme Court ruling. Single-sex spaces are protected in law and will always be protected by the Government.
If he will list the NHS accident and emergency departments currently not offering an opt out of (a) HIV, (b) Hepatitis B and (c) Hepatitis C testing to all patients requiring a blood test.
Emergency department opt out testing is currently being offered to all extremely high and high HIV prevalence areas in England until 2026/27. A detailed list of specific sites offering opt-out HIV, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C testing is in the attached table. Emergency departments not listed in the attached table are not currently offering opt-out testing.The Department, the UK Health and Security Agency (UKHSA), and NHS England are working together in the development of a new HIV Action Plan which we aim to publish this year. The plan will include a focus on scaling up HIV testing, including an assessment of the future of opt out testing, based on the programme’s progress and the available data, in line with our 2030 ambition.
What plans he has to extend opt out (a) HIV, (b) Hepatitis B and (c) Hepatitis C testing to all patients requiring a blood test in all NHS accident and emergency departments that do not currently offer it.
Emergency department opt out testing is currently being offered to all extremely high and high HIV prevalence areas in England until 2026/27. A detailed list of specific sites offering opt-out HIV, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C testing is in the attached table. Emergency departments not listed in the attached table are not currently offering opt-out testing.The Department, the UK Health and Security Agency (UKHSA), and NHS England are working together in the development of a new HIV Action Plan which we aim to publish this year. The plan will include a focus on scaling up HIV testing, including an assessment of the future of opt out testing, based on the programme’s progress and the available data, in line with our 2030 ambition.
If he will list the NHS accident and emergency departments currently offering an opt out of (a) HIV, (b) Hepatitis B and (c) Hepatitis C testing to all patients requiring a blood test.
Emergency department opt out testing is currently being offered to all extremely high and high HIV prevalence areas in England until 2026/27. A detailed list of specific sites offering opt-out HIV, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C testing is in the attached table. Emergency departments not listed in the attached table are not currently offering opt-out testing.The Department, the UK Health and Security Agency (UKHSA), and NHS England are working together in the development of a new HIV Action Plan which we aim to publish this year. The plan will include a focus on scaling up HIV testing, including an assessment of the future of opt out testing, based on the programme’s progress and the available data, in line with our 2030 ambition.
What assessment he has made of the potential merits of the provision of female-only health services.
The Department has not made an assessment of the merits of female-only health services. It is for integrated care boards and trusts to commission and deliver services suitable to their local population.Services within the National Health Service are patient centred, and the NHS Constitution is clear that patients have the right to receive care and treatment that is appropriate to them, meets their needs and reflects their preferences.Patients are able to request that intimate care is provided by someone of the same sex. This is recognised through accompanying Care Quality Commission statutory guidance to the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014. In line with this guidance, we expect that providers will make every reasonable effort to respect patient preferences.The Government remains committed to prioritising women’s health as we build an NHS fit for the future.
What steps he is taking to help improve public awareness of the (a) risk factors (b) transmission and (c) symptoms of leptospirosis.
The UK Health Security Agency publishes standard guidance on the risk factors, transmission, and symptoms of leptospirosis, which is available at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/guidance/leptospirosis#full-publication-update-history.National Health Service guidance is also available, at the following link:https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/leptospirosis/.Finally, guidance for workers is available from the Health and Safety Executive, at the following link:https://www.hse.gov.uk/construction/healthrisks/hazardous-substances/harmful-micro-organisms/leptospirosis-weils-disease.htm.