COVID-19 & Dementia
I can only imagine how challenging it must be for families caring for loved ones during this difficult time, particularly those who have needed to take on extra responsibilities. I know that the Government is working closely with system partners, stakeholders, local authorities and the care sector to monitor the impact of COVID-19 on people with dementia and to identify what additional actions may be required to ensure safety, and access to the right support and care.
In addition, research through the National Institute for Health Research was commissioned on how to manage or mitigate the impact of COVID-19 on people with dementia and their carers living in the community. The research has considered the best ways to support people to stay well during the outbreak, including help to manage the psychological and social impacts of social distancing, self-isolation, and lockdown. You can find more information, including summary leaflets, here: http://www.idealproject.org.uk/covid/
I agree that we should do everything we can to offer support to people with long term health conditions, as well as those who support them, throughout this difficult time, and I will certainly continue to monitor this issue closely. Thank you again for taking the time to contact me.
Access to Healthy Food
Access to healthy food is a serious issue and it is vital everything possible is done to help people with the cost of living. Influences outside Government control are the main factors in this area; however Ministers are working hard to improve competition to help producers and retailers offer the best prices for food and regularly discuss all aspects of food security, including accessibility.
It is encouraging that the UK has long-established relationships with industry, and I am pleased that the Government continues to work with business to ensure that we have access to safe, nutritious and affordable food from a wide range of sources, particularly from British farmers.
I am pleased that the Government remains committed to encouraging children and adults to eat at least five portions of a variety of fruit and vegetables every day. Public Health England encourages the eating of fruit and vegetables through the Eatwell Guide, catering guidance and marketing campaigns, including Start4Life, Change4Life and One You.
I want to make sure vulnerable people feel cared for throughout this difficult time and, above all, no one should go hungry or be unable to pay their bills this winter. I am therefore pleased that a new £170m Covid Winter Grant Scheme will be run by councils in England which will directly help the hardest-hit families and individuals, as well as provide food for children who need it over the holidays. This funding will include £63m for councils to provide emergency assistance to families, pensioners and the most vulnerable with food, essentials and meals.
I also firmly support the Government's Healthy Start voucher programme, helping pregnant people or people with a child under four to buy basic foods like milk or fruit. I understand that the programme can also include pregnancy vitamins, breastfeeding vitamins, and vitamins for children aged 6 months to five years old. I know that the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care believes that healthy living will enable us to prevent people from developing lifestyle related conditions, in turn freeing up NHS staff to deal with other patients, and wholeheartedly supports raising the profile of the Healthy Start Voucher scheme.
Social Care Funding
I completely agree that social care is at the front line of the fight with coronavirus, protecting vulnerable people and continuing to provide vital care in communities across the country.
The Government has also made £2.9bn funding available, comprised of £1.6bn for local authorities across the country to ensure that they are able to deal with the impact of coronavirus on social care.
It is most welcome that care providers in England will benefit from an additional £546m to boost infection control, reduce COVID-19 transmission, and help protect residents and staff throughout winter, as an extension of the Infection Control Fund, first established in May. This brings the total funding for infection control measures in care homes to over £1.1bn. The fund will help care providers pay staff full wages while self-isolating, as well as enabling staff to work in only one care home to reduce the risk of spreading the virus.
I know that the Government is also fully committed to supporting the 5.4 million unpaid carers over the winter months. Funding has recently been extended to Carers UK’s support phone line until March 2021 to cover the winter period, and the Department for Health and Social Care will also provide free flu vaccines for unpaid carers. Existing support will remain available including the Carer’s Allowance, as well as through NHS volunteers who can provide support by going shopping or collecting prescriptions.
£37 million has also been allocated to support children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) in 2020/21 with £10 million committed specifically in response to the unique difficulties posed by the Coronavirus pandemic. This fund will provide the means for computers, specialist equipment and educational toys. Ministers are working closely with charities to deliver support programmes. The ‘See, Hear, Respond’ partnership, spearheaded by Barnardo’s and funded with £7 million from the Department for Education, will quickly identify and support children and families who are struggling to cope with the impacts of Coronavirus.
Detailed guidance for those providing unpaid care can be found here:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-providing-unpaid-ca….
Respite care is crucial for families of children with SEND and I know that this service has been disrupted. I am assured by colleagues in Government that where it is not possible for local authorities to arrange respite care, they should discuss alternative arrangements with parents.
I fully support the social care sector and will continue to ensure that it is at the forefront of consideration during this difficult time. 7
Is NHS Test & Trace Working?
As part of an unprecedented response to this pandemic, my colleagues in the Department of Health and Social Care have drawn on the expertise and resources of a number of public and private sector partners to support our NHS and social care sector. The Government has been guided by the science throughout, consulting with a range of experts in each field, and has made significant progress in testing capacity and analysis. Testing and NHS Test and Trace services are being provided through the NHS, and I am confident that these providers will be held to the highest standards to ensure that the best service possible is delivered.
I agree with the Prime Minister that it is absolutely crucial to continue working to improve the NHS Test and Trace system, speeding up turnaround times and growing capacity. Further, it is important that a higher percentage of close contacts of those with a positive test are contacted, and as quickly as possible, to enable them to self-isolate and to restrict the spread. As cases continue to spike, it is more crucial than ever that the NHS Test and Trace organisation functions as smoothly and effectively as possible, and I believe more can be done to ensure this. I will continue to monitor progress in this area closely.
The Department for Health and Social Care has outlined that granular data is being made available to specialist teams through local dashboards, and that this service has been expanded to provide more data for local areas. I understand that there have been some concerns about data sharing protocols, and I understand that Baroness Dido Harding, who is heading up the Government's test and trace programme as part of her work heading up the newly established National Institute for Health Protection, is working with local authorities and Public Health England to ensure that outbreak management teams have access to the information that they require. I will continue to closely monitor this issue.
I know that NHS Test and Trace has now reached more than half a million people while the Covid-19 app has already been downloaded more than fourteen million times. Nevertheless, these concerns should be taken seriously, and I will monitor the situation closely in Parliament.
RightToLife Campaign: Foetal Sentience
I completely understand what an incredibly emotive issue abortion is, and I appreciate the strength of feelings on all sides. It is for this reason that, as with other matters of conscience, the Government rightly adopts a neutral stance on abortion, allowing Conservative MPs to vote freely according to their moral, ethical, or religious beliefs. This is a convention which I support wholeheartedly.
I understand that, in the last ten years, the body of knowledge relating to foetal sentience has been expanding, such that in 2019 the NHS recommended pain relief for foetuses undergoing surgery for spina bifida from 20 weeks onwards. I also know that the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists has not recommended the use of analgesia or anaesthesia for the foetus in utero, including for abortions. There is a wide range of guidance and research in this area, reaching a wide range of recommendations and conclusions.
I believe it is vital that, on a matter this sensitive and important, the broadest possible scope of scientific research is examined, informing a comprehensive debate. I would encourage all my colleagues across the House and on all sides of the discussion to engage in this debate.
EDM 256 on Accelerating Human Relevant Life Sciences
As a rule, I do not sign Early Day Motions as I find they do not result in any useful legislative change and do so at a great cost to the taxpayer. However, I do understand your concerns.
It is my view that animal research still plays an important role in providing vital safety information for potential new medicines. It is worth remembering that, as a result of findings from animal studies, a large number of potential new drugs never get as far as being tested in humans. Some aspects of the toxicological assessment of new medicines cannot be adequately assessed in humans, and animal data will be the only kind available.
Without animal testing it is highly likely that a large number of potentially dangerous new medicines would be tested in healthy volunteers and patients in clinical trials, and I know Ministers believe that this would be quite unacceptable. However, animals are only used when there are no suitable alternatives, and by encouraging new cutting-edge approaches to science we will ensure that standards of animal welfare are improved.
South Cambridgeshire is often dubbed the life sciences capital of Europe and, as such, I fully support all steps to establish new methods and to support the life sciences and research industry. However, existing scientific research methods ensure that, by the time medicines reach clinical trial, risks are significantly reduced.
Breast Cancer in the Spending Review
Please allow me to assure you that every effort is being made to continue raising awareness of breast cancer and to improve the treatment of all those diagnosed with this disease.
I’m delighted that breast cancer survival rates have improved remarkably over the last 40 years, with five-year survival rates for women at over 86 per cent, up from just 53 per cent in the 1970s. This is a testament to the efforts made to raise awareness of this disease and boost funding for research and treatment. But more must be done.
I am glad the Public Health England campaign, Be Clear on Cancer, continues to raise awareness of breast cancer among women over 70, who account for roughly 1 in 3 cases of the disease. First launched in 2014, the campaign drives awareness around key symptoms of breast cancer, encouraging thinking, acting, and treating early.
I have spoken with colleagues at HM Treasury about suggestions for the Comprehensive Spending Review taking place this year. The Integrated Review and Comprehensive Spending Reviews will conclude in the autumn, although I am regrettably not able to pre-empt their conclusions.
Covid 19 - redundancy while pregnant
I sympathise with anyone who have been made redundant or who is currently facing redundancy, particularly during this already challenging time. I appreciate that many employees are worried that, as restrictions are eased and the UK begins its economic recovery, there may be redundancies.
There are some circumstances in which an employee who is pregnant or on maternity could legally be made redundant, and these include if the businesses closes down either temporarily or permanently, if the business moves and the employee cannot get to the new premises, or if fewer employees are required for existing work.
However, the law is very clear, if an employee is made redundant because she is pregnant or on maternity leave, this is unfair dismissal and also pregnancy/maternity discrimination. If this is the case, an employee should check their rights online (https://www.gov.uk/redundancy-your-rights) and if necessary take their case forward to an employment tribunal.
I am pleased that the Government has taken measures to support employees and protect jobs throughout this crisis, such as the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme. Under this scheme, pregnant women can be “furloughed” if they and their employer agree, and provided they meet the normal eligibility requirements.
The Pregnancy & Maternity (Redundancy Protection) Private Members’ Bill, which failed to complete its passage in the previous Parliament, was re-introduced on 8 July 2020 by Mrs Maria Miller MP. I understand that the Bill seeks to further protect employees from being made redundant as a result of being pregnant or on maternity leave. I understand that its Second Reading is scheduled to be on 16 October and I look forward to hearing more on this important issue.
Attending Mind's roundtable on mental health
Sadly, a prior diary commitment prevented my attendance at the roundtable, but I certainly agree that proper mental health care has rarely been more critical than at present.
I hope you will be encouraged that, as part of the five-year funding offer that will see the annual NHS budget grow by over £33.9 billion, mental health services will receive budget growth of £2.3 billion over the five-year funding settlement, the fastest uplift in funding. This will enable further service expansion and faster access to community and crisis mental health services for both adults and particularly children and young people.
I am also pleased that a new mental health crisis service with comprehensive mental health support will be available in every major A&E, alongside new children and young peoples’ crisis teams across the country. The additional funding will also deliver more mental health ambulances, “safe havens” in the community and a 24-hour mental health crisis hotline when people are in urgent need of help.
I hope these new services help end the stigma surrounding mental health, offering crucial support to people suffering from crisis and those who have suffered in silence for too long.
Hospital Parking
I agree that patients and their families should not have to deal with the added stress of unfair parking charges at what may already be an extremely difficult time. That is why I am pleased that the Government is taking steps to make parking free for those in greatest need, including disabled people, frequent outpatient attenders, parents of sick children staying overnight and staff working night shifts. This will eliminate costs for those in need while making sure there are enough spaces for everyone.
I understand that, following publication of Department of Health and Social Care guidelines for managing parking, NHS trusts were encouraged to consider concessions for other groups, like volunteers and staff who car share, as well as establishing 'pay on exit' schemes to ensure that drivers only pay for the time that they have used. NHS trusts are required to publish their parking policy, implementation of NHS car parking principles and financial information relating to their car parking to ensure that patients are able to hold them to account.
The Government is covering the costs of providing free car parking to NHS staff working in hospitals during this COVID-19 outbreak. I agree with the Prime Minister that, while there are no plans to extend this, we must get on with the job of meeting our manifesto commitment to ensure that those in greatest need are able to park for free in hospitals.
Choices at the End of Life APPG
Unfortunately, I was unable to attend the virtual event due to prior diary commitments but rest assured, this cause is important to me and something I continue to monitor closely.
Coping with terminal illness is distressing and difficult both for the patient and their families. These cases are truly moving and evoke the highest degree of compassion and emotion. Currently assisting or encouraging suicide is a criminal offence under Section 2 of the Suicide Act 1961 for which the maximum penalty is 14 years’ imprisonment. I am aware that the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) published guidelines primarily concerned with advising the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) prosecutors about the factors which they need to consider when deciding whether it is in the public interest to prosecute a person for assisting or encouraging another to commit suicide.
The House of Commons has discussed the DPP’s guidelines and these were unanimously commended as being a compassionate and measured way of dealing with one of the most emotionally charged crimes in the statute book. However, they do not change the law; assisting or encouraging suicide has not been decriminalised.
The DPP further clarified the CPS Policy on the likelihood of prosecution of health care professionals, to specify that the relationship of care will be the important aspect and it will be necessary to consider whether the suspect may have been in a position to exert some influence on the victim.
I believe the application of the law should be flexible enough to distinguish the facts and the circumstances of one case from another. To this end, the DPP’s policy offers important and sensitive guidance.
I fully accept that suicide, assisting or encouraging suicide, assisted dying and euthanasia are all subjects on which it is entirely possible for people to hold widely different but defensible opinions. This is why the substance of the law in this area is not a matter of party politics but of conscience, and any vote would be a free one should the law in this area ever be altered. I, personally, believe that competent adults who are terminally ill should be provided at their request with specified assistance to end their own life.
Funding for Radiotherapy
Cancer remains a high priority for the Government and despite survival rates being at a record high, too many people continue to die from it, leaving many devastated by the loss of loved ones. Since 2010 rates of survival from cancer have increased year-on-year. Around 7,000 people are alive today who would not have been had mortality rates stayed the same as then.
The NHS Long Term Plan (LTP), published earlier this year, outlined a number of new measures for catching cancer early and providing treatment, with the aim that from 2028, 55,000 more people each year will survive their cancer for at least five years after diagnosis. One of the measures outlined in the plan is safer and more precise treatment, including advanced radiotherapy techniques and immunotherapies to continue to support improvements in survival rates. This will be supported by a £130 million upgrade of radiotherapy machines across England, as well as commissioning the NHS new state-of-the-art Proton Beam facilities in London and Manchester.
In addition, the LTP commits to reforms to the specialised commissioning payments for radiotherapy hypofractionation to support further equipment upgrades. Faster, smarter and effective radiotherapy, supported by greater networking of specialised expertise, will mean more patients are offered curative treatment, with fewer side effects and shorter treatment times. Starting with ovarian cancer, the NHS will ensure greater access to specialist expertise and knowledge in the treatment of cancers where there are fewer or more risky treatment options.
I hope that this provides reassurance that providing adequate support for a widely used and effective treatment for cancer is absolutely a priority for the Department of Health and Social Care and across the NHS.
Funding for Arthritis treatments
I know this can be a very painful and debilitating condition. I recognise that living with a long-term condition, such as arthritis, has a significant impact upon a person’s wellbeing and I would like to thank Versus Arthritis for raising awareness of this issue.
I know that there is no cure for arthritis, but there are many treatments that can help slow it down, including lifestyle changes, medicines and surgery. I welcome that the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence is presently working on updated guidance for treatment of Osteoarthritis, which is due for publication following extensive consultation in 2022. I will continue to monitor this issue and I welcome that Versus Arthritis is already registered as a stakeholder in this process.
The NHS is being provided with an additional £33.9 billion by 2023/24; this is the largest, longest funding settlement in the history of the NHS. This landmark investment to help secure the long-term future of our NHS is extremely welcome, demonstrating the Government’s commitment to properly funding our NHS and public services: health is the Government's top priority.
Alongside this, the NHS was asked to undertake a clinical review of standards relating to waiting times. This must be clinically led to enable best, and safest, delivery of care for patients. I understand that NHS England has now prepared proposals, covering waiting times across the service, including elective procedures, mental health, cancer, and A&E.
I understand that the recommendations following this review have been deferred as part of the NHS response to the Covid-19 pandemic, which is understandable. I will be sure to study these in due course.
I know that, while it has been important to postpone some NHS activities to protect individuals and enable resources to be used as efficiently as possible, my colleagues in the Department of Health and Social Care, as well as NHS Staff, are determined to restart elective procedures as soon as it is safe to do so. I was delighted when the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care announced on 27th April that, from the following day, NHS services began restarting, including the most urgent, like cancer care and mental health support. The exact pace of this restoration is determined by local circumstances, according to local need and demand, and according to the number of coronavirus cases being dealt with by the hospital.
Between 2014/15 and 2018/19, the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) funded 42 research programmes and individual awards, including doctoral research fellowships and clinical lectureships, on rheumatoid arthritis, with a total value of £18.5m. In addition, in March 2019 the UK Musculoskeletal Translational Research Collaboration launched, a partnership between NIHR and the charity Versus Arthritis. This brings together a range of specialists and research facilities to drive cutting edge research and improve outcomes for patients: rheumatoid arthritis is at the forefront of this work.
A new social care system that is free, fair and available to everyone
I believe we must all receive dignified care in old age. With an ageing population, this is one of the biggest challenges our country faces. I support the Government’s commitment to making sure that the most vulnerable in society gain the support they need. While it is important to note that more than 4 of every 5 people in care receive care from good and outstanding organisations, it is clear that more needs to be done to tackle this serious challenge – crucially by securing a long-term funding solution. I’m delighted that the Prime Minister has spoken of his determination to tackle this, stating in his first speech as Prime Minister that “we will fix the crisis in social care once and for all with a clear plan we have prepared, to give every older person the dignity and security they deserve”.
Since 2015 local authorities have had greater flexibility over the use of the council tax social care precept, so they can choose to raise extra money, as well as retain savings from the New Homes Bonus, totalling £240 million. In the Spending Round in September, an extra £1.5 billion was made available to councils for adult social care services. This funding should be viewed as a significant down payment as we move towards a long-term funding solution.
Money alone will not fix the problem and reform is needed to encourage high standards across the whole country. It is vital for us to consider ways of better joining up health and care services, and I am encouraged by the use of the Better Care Fund to assist local government and the NHS with the implementation of integrated health and care services.
In the Conservative Manifesto, on which I was proud to stand, it was made clear that we must build the same level of consensus on social care that we have already built on the NHS, across political parties, so that an answer can be brought forward that solves the problem, commands the widest possible support, and stands the test of time. I stand by this commitment, and I urge my colleagues and constituents of all political beliefs to take part in a conversation about establishing a care system fit for the 21st century.
Supporting Dementia Care - Alzheimer's UK
I believe increasing public awareness and understanding of dementia among the wider public is vital to ensure that people are supported to live well with the condition, and I am encouraged that there are over 3 million Dementia Friends.
Research is crucial to understanding and tackling dementia. In 2017, the Government launched the UK Dementia Research Institute, in partnership with the Alzheimer's Society and Alzheimer's Research UK, with £290m funding, the single biggest investment ever made in the UK in this field. Under the Challenge on Dementia 2020 strategy, the Government's commitment to spend over £300m on dementia research between 2015 and 2020 was met a year early, with £341m being spent by March 2019 through the Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, and the Department of Health and Social Care. The Government is also supporting the £79 million Accelerating Detection of Disease challenge, a project bringing together the NHS, industry and leading charities to support research into the early diagnosis of disease, including dementia.
By the end of 2020, all relevant staff will be expected to have received appropriate dementia training, including training relevant staff to be able to signpost interested individuals towards research via the Join Dementia Research Service. I understand that good progress has been made against this goal, and more options are currently being explored to increase take-up of more advanced training among those who need it.
As I am sure you are aware, the Prime Minister recently announced the Government’s intention to provide the NHS with an additional £33.9 billion by 2023/24; this is the largest, longest funding settlement in the history of the NHS. This landmark settlement investment to help secure the long-term future of our NHS is extremely welcome, and I hope you agree it demonstrates the Government’s commitment to properly funding our NHS and public services. As part of this, there is a commitment to improving detection, with more targeted screening and Rapid Access Diagnostic Centres, so that in 10 years’ time these measures will help achieve 55,000 more people surviving cancer each year, and 100,000 heart attacks, strokes and dementia cases being prevented.
The Government is integrating and improving health and social care to protect people at every stage of their lives. In the Conservative Manifesto, on which I was proud to stand, it was made clear that we must build the same level of consensus on social care that we have already built on the NHS, across political parties, so that an answer can be brought forward that solves the problem, commands the widest possible support, and stands the test of time. I stand by this commitment and urge my colleagues and constituents of all political beliefs to take part in a conversation about establishing a care system fit for the 21st century.
BAME COVID-19 report
The Health Secretary commissioned Public Health England (PHE) to complete an urgent review on the disparities in risk and outcomes of the Covid-19 pandemic and has now published its findings. The report confirms that being black or from a minority ethnic background is a major risk factor, both in contracting the disease and, sadly, dying from it. There are many other risk factors – for example, being over 80, being male, and being obese.
There is much more work to be done to understand the key drivers of these disparities, the relationships between the different risk factors and what must be done to close the gap. It is important that we build on this initial work.
Professor Kevin Fenton was asked to lead the review by PHE and has been engaging with a significant number of individuals and organisations within the BAME community over the past couple of months to hear their views. This has now been published in a second report by PHE which provides additional information and insights on the relationship between COVID-19 and BAME communities in England. I am encouraged that this report makes a series of recommendations which build on the views shared with Professor Fenton. I understand the Equalities Minister will build on this by taking forward this work, working with the Race Disparity unit and across government where necessary.
These reports are an important step, but this work is still ongoing. I will continue to follow this issue extremely closely and to press ministerial colleagues to tackle health inequalities.
Belly Muijinga - protecting workers on public transport
It is vital that we keep our transport system going but also protect transport staff. The case of Belly Muijinga is incredibly heart-breaking, and it must not happen again.
Guidance has been issued to transport operators to help them identify and address risks to their staff as the lockdown eases. For example, the guidance encourages operators to carry out risk assessments, set out clear rules on interacting with passengers, re-deploy clinically vulnerable people into roles where the risk is lower and use screens to create a physical barrier at places such as ticket offices.
I have been reassured that the Government will also work with transport operators to ensure staff are provided with and wear face coverings where appropriate for their role. In addition, operators should put in place protocols to ensure that both public and private areas and vehicles are kept clean to stop transmission of coronavirus through people touching contaminated surfaces. Buttons, handrails, vehicle keys and other touch points should be subject to increased cleaning.
Transport staff should wash their hands thoroughly and frequently and operators should maintain sufficient supplies of hand sanitiser, including for those working away from hand washing facilities. The guidance also recognises that transport staff may not be able to stay 1 metre apart from each other or passengers at all times, but states that the length of these periods should be minimised.
Guidance for passengers also makes clear that they should consider all other transport options before deciding to take public transport. Passengers who do use public transport must wear a face covering and should try to avoid the rush hour. They should also observe social distancing rules, wash or sanitise their hands and catch coughs or sneezes with tissues. People should not be using public transport at all if they have symptoms of coronavirus or if they or anyone in their household is self-isolating.
Abortion in relation to COVID-19
I believe it is essential that women have safe access to abortions – even during a global pandemic.
I completely understand what an incredibly emotive issue this is, and I appreciate the strength of feelings on both sides. It is for this reason that, as with other matters of conscience, the Government adopts a neutral stance on abortion, allowing Conservative MPs to vote freely according to their moral, ethical, or religious beliefs. This is a convention which I support wholeheartedly.
Abortion care is an essential part of care for women, and safeguarding measures are still in place. The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynagologists has offered guidance on this issue which can be found here:
Guidelines have been issued which enable women to take both Mifepristone and Misoprostol at home for the duration of the outbreak, so that they do not have to visit a medical practice and risk exposure to the virus. Doctors are also able to prescribe medicines from home without consulting a second practitioner, so that abortion care can be provided even in the case of staff shortages. I have been assured this alteration will last only as long as the temporary provisions enacted by the Coronavirus Act 2020 to protect women seeking care. The medicines must still be instigated prior to nine weeks and six days into the pregnancy.
Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)
I know that concerns about the supply of medications can be very distressing, so I would like to reassure you that my colleagues in the Department of Health and Social Care are aware of supply issues with some treatments, and they are working closely with suppliers to address the problem.
I note that the Department of Health and Social Care urge patients who used HRT products to discuss alternatives with their doctor. I welcome the announcement of a £33.9 billion increase to the NHS budget by 2023/24, as well as £1.8 billion to improve hospital and health facilities.
I will continue to closely monitor any issues with medication supplies.
Availability of hearing aids on the NHS.
Hearing aids can assist people’s lives immensely – improving the ability to hear speech and giving people more confidence in holding a conversation, and overall help to allow people to live happier, more fulfilling lives.
The Government is committed to ensuring people with hearing impairments receive the care they need. I am encouraged that an Action Plan on Hearing Loss has been developed to make sure that the NHS and other public services deliver what matters to people with deafness and hearing loss. This includes steps to improve diagnosis, service integration, and participation in society for people with hearing impairments.
I understand that as part of the Action Plan on Hearing Loss, NHS England has worked alongside CCGs and interested parties, including the hearing loss community, to develop a Commissioning Framework for hearing loss services. The Framework provides commissioners with prevalence data at a local level, helping them to make decisions based on a clearer understanding of local needs, and will enable appropriate planning and quality management processes to be introduced.
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