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🗣️ Speeches and Debates
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Further to the Government's response to Lord Archer of Sandwell's report on NHS-supplied contaminated blood and blood products, which we published on 20 May 2009, I wish to inform the House that we have decided to bring forward a review of the Skipton fund, which makes ex gratia payments to those infected with hepatitis C as a result of their treatment. The unintended and tragic consequences...
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The Department has no plans to do so. First aid is normally given to sustain a patient in an emergency. It is not, of course, a substitute for effective treatment by a health professional.
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I am, of course, disappointed to disappoint the hon. Gentleman. I am sure that he, like me, would pay tribute to organisations such as the Red Cross and the St. Johns Ambulance service, of which I used to be a member, and to the many first-aiders up and down the country who give their time to provide on-the-spot initial care. However, first aid is not a treatment, as it can involve anything...
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I would of course be very happy to look at that service, and I congratulate the local health care services in my hon. Friend's constituency on showing such initiative. What they are doing is exactly what the NHS is about-taking the right services to the right people at the right time.
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It is not possible to separate out confidential severance payments within the NHS account. However, NHS expenditure in England, excluding foundation trusts, in the relevant category-ex gratia payments, other-was £4 million in 2006-07, £8.2 million in 2007-08 and £5.4 million in 2008-09.
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That is not a culture in the NHS that I recognise. It is important to say that those payments relate to all staff groups-for example, a termination payment made out of compassion, perhaps to a seriously ill nurse, could be included in the figures. Another example would be where a payment represents best value for money-for example, if legal advice suggests that a case would be lost at an...
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This is a matter for the local NHS, which is proposing changes to improve the quality of services to patients. That will be thoroughly tested against national criteria.
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I spoke to the chief executive of Worcestershire PCT just this morning, and the need for improving services has been worked on since January 2009. The Department's deadline for achieving substantial implementation is April next year. The local NHS does not see this as a forced or a hastened change, and it has worked closely with staff, patients and others to improve services. What I believe...
More of Gillian Merron's speeches and debates
✍️ Written Questions and Answers
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I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave her on 8 March 2010, Official Report, column 51W. The information requested was placed in the Library on 18 March 2010.
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As humans may be infected by E. coli O157 through a variety of routes there are several different Government Departments that contribute to reducing the chances of an outbreak. Humans may become infected when they consume contaminated food or water, by direct or indirect contact with animals that carry E. coli O157 or from exposure to an environment contaminated with animals' faeces, such...
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The Department has provided capital funding of £8 million for the Health Protection Agency (HPA) to install new digital x-ray machines at Gatwick and Heathrow to replace the old ones in a phased programme across 2008-09. These have been installed and are fully functioning. In addition, an electronic notification system for results of screening is being piloted across the country to replace...
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I have been asked to reply. We have been advised by the Food Standards Agency that official controls are in place to monitor food imports from countries outside the European Union (EU) and to ensure it is safe. Products of animal origin such as meat from approved countries outside the EU must come from approved establishments. Such products must enter the United Kingdom through designated...
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I have been asked to reply. Origin labelling is required on certain foods and in cases where not to inform the consumer of origin may mislead them. In cases where voluntary origin information is provided this must be accurate and the Food Standards Agency has had best practice guidance in place since 2002 recommending labelling formats that are meaningful to consumers. The Government have...
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Pharmacological interventions are interventions that include prescribing for detoxification, stabilisation, maintenance and symptomatic relief of substance misuse as well as prescribing of medications to prevent relapse. They are prescribed on an individual basis in conjunction with provision of a range of psychosocial interventions as agreed between treatment provider and an individual in...
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Negotiations, which were based on a United Kingdom wide approach, did not include representatives from the devolved Administrations, nor the Ministry of Justice. However, following negotiations, the Department of Health will be consulting with the devolved Administrations and the Ministry of Justice, before finalising the terms of any new reciprocal healthcare agreement with the Isle of Man.
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Data on the precise number of swine flu cases in a particular area are not available. However, the Department does have data on the number of antivirals dispensed through the National Pandemic Flu Service (NPFS). Shropshire is covered by two primary care trusts (PCTs), Shropshire county PCT and Telford and Wrekin PCT. Figures for these PCTs show that between 23 July 2009 and 11 February...
More of Gillian Merron's written questions
