Every parliamentary written question tabled by Steve Darling this session, with the full answer and department. See how every department answers, or back to the MP page.
Showing 121–140 of 140 · Department of Health and Social Care
If he will make a decision on the funding of Torbay Hospital under the New Hospital Programme before 31 December 2024.
The Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust is currently developing their Strategic Outline Case for the new Torbay Hospital scheme. Following review and agreement of the Strategic Outline Case, the next step would be the development, review, and agre...
When he plans to make a decision on funding for the Family Hubs and Start for Life programme beyond 31 March 2025.
The Family Hubs and Start for Life programme is central to the Government’s commitments to give every baby the best start in life, and to deliver the healthiest generation of children ever.The Government recognises the importance of providing local author...
If he will have discussions with NICE on the potential merits of offering Paxlovid to people over the age of 50.
Decisions on whether licensed medicines should be recommended for routine National Health Service funding are made independently by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), on the basis of the evidence of the costs and benefits. The D...
What steps his Department is taking to improve accident and emergency services at Torbay Hospital.
The Government has committed to supporting the National Health Service to improve performance across the country, including in Torbay. This includes returning to the standard set out in the NHS Constitution, that 95% of patients attending accident and eme...
What recent discussions his Department has had with NICE on reducing the time taken for patients to access treatment for very rare diseases in cases when there is uncertainty on the (a) incidence a
The Department has regular discussions with the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) about a range of issues, including in relation to timelines for appraisals. The NICE aims to issue draft guidance on new medicines, including for rare...
Whether he plans to increase the number of healthcare professionals trained to (a) diagnose and (b) treat Charles Bonnet Syndrome.
Patients who experience Charles Bonnet symptoms who are already under hospital eye services can access support services via an Eye Care Liaison Officer within the hospital. Otherwise, a patient should contact their general practice (GP). The GP will make ...
Whether his Department is taking steps to establish a formal pathway for the (a) diagnosis and (b) treatment of Charles Bonnet Syndrome.
Patients who experience Charles Bonnet symptoms who are already under hospital eye services can access support services via an Eye Care Liaison Officer within the hospital. Otherwise, a patient should contact their general practice (GP). The GP will make ...
If he will make an assessment with Cabinet colleagues of the potential impact of providing auditory verbal therapy to deaf young children on (a) their employment prospects and (b) other outcomes.
I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Washington and Gateshead South on 14 October 2024 to Question 5963.
What estimate he has made of the number of NHS employees who have (a) taken early retirement and (b) had their employment terminated as a result of long covid, by region.
No such estimate has been made by the Department.
If he will publish a regional breakdown of the supply chain issues with Creon.
The Department monitors and manages medicine supply at a national level so that stocks remain available to meet regional and local demand. Information is not collected on a local level.The Department has been working with suppliers to address current supp...
If he will make an assessment of the potential merits of increasing the flexibility NHS trusts have relating to capital departmental resource limit leases to allow trusts to support (a) local autho
The Government is supportive of the National Health Service considering wider benefits from health capital investment opportunities, including high street regeneration. NHS England provides ‘business as usual’ capital allocations to integrated care system...
Whether his Department has made an assessment of the impact of hospice funding on people's experiences of death and dying.
We want a society where every person receives high-quality, compassionate care from diagnosis through to the end of life. The Government is determined to shift more healthcare out of hospitals and into the community, to ensure patients and their families ...
What assessment he has made of the level of variation in funding hospices receive across England.
We want a society where every person receives high-quality, compassionate care from diagnosis through to the end of life. The Government is determined to shift more healthcare out of hospitals and into the community, to ensure that patients and their fami...
Whether he plans to reform the funding model for charitable hospices as part of the 10 year plan for health and care.
We have committed to develop a 10-Year Health Plan to deliver an NHS fit for the future, by driving three shifts in the way health care is delivered, specifically: moving healthcare from hospital to the community; from analogue to digital; and from sickne...
How many and what proportion of NHS estates are rated condition A in each NHS estate in the South West.
As part of the management of their estate, National Health Service trusts regularly assess the physical condition of their estate. Facilities rated as category A are considered new and able to perform adequately throughout their full lifespan.The Estates ...
If he will establish a Cystic Fibrosis task force within his Department to (a) investigate and (b) address supply chain vulnerabilities and ensure the supply of essential medicines.
While there are no plans to establish a cystic fibrosis task force, the Department has been working with suppliers to address current supply issues with Creon, which is an essential medicine for patients with cystic fibrosis. Supply issues with Creon are ...
If he will take steps to introduce national screening for prostate cancer by level of risk.
The UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC) advises ministers and the National Health Service on all aspects of population and targeted screening. Screening for prostate cancer is currently not recommended in the United Kingdom. This is because of the in...
If he will make an assessment of the potential merits of introducing a duty on local authorities to facilitate the installation of defibrillators on buildings that they own.
The Department does not have any plans to introduce a duty on local authorities to facilitate the installation of automated external defibrillators (AEDs) on buildings that they own. The Government is committed to improving access to AEDs in public spaces and reducing inequalities in access to these life saving devices.
What steps his Department is taking to reduce the waiting list for NHS dentists in Torbay.
The Government will tackle the immediate crisis with a rescue plan to provide 700,000 more urgent dental appointments and recruit new dentists to the areas that need them most.Patients in England are not registered with a National Health Service dental practice, although many NHS dental practices do tend to see patients regularly. NHS dentists are required to keep their NHS website profiles up to date so that patients can find a dentist more easily. This includes information on whether they are accepting new patients. In circumstances where patients are unable to access an urgent dental appointment directly through an NHS dental practice, they should contact NHS 111.From 1 April 2023 the responsibility for commissioning primary care dentistry to meet the needs of the local population has been delegated to integrated care boards (ICBs) across England. ICBs are responsible for having local processes in place to involve patient groups, and for undertaking oral health needs assessments, to identify areas of need and determine the priorities for investment.
If he will make it his policy to continue funding (a) family hubs and (b) the Start for Life programme.
The Government has a bold new ambition to raise the healthiest generation of children in our history. There is strong evidence that the critical 1,001 days from conception to the age of two years old sets the foundations for later cognitive, emotional, and physical development.Launched in August 2022, the three-year Family Hubs and Start for Life programme provides approximately £300 million to 75 local authorities in England with high levels of deprivation, to improve outcomes for families with babies.The Family Hubs and Start for Life programme is currently funded until 31 March 2025. Further funding for the programme is dependent on future fiscal events and cannot yet be confirmed.