Written questions, answers and statements

NHS and Social Services: Protective Clothing

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Question for Department of Health and Social Care

UIN 120036, tabled on 24 November 2020

Question

Lilian Greenwood
Labour
Nottingham South
Commons

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of using anti-viral face masks in the NHS and social care settings.

This answer is the replacement for a previous holding answer.

Answer

Jo Churchill
Conservative
Bury St Edmunds
Commons

Answered on

23 December 2020

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) regulates ‘face masks’ that are medical devices, those intended to be used in a clinical/health care setting for the protection of the patient rather than the wearer. The MHRA has not conducted or participated in an assessment of anti-viral medical face masks for use in a health care setting.

NHS England and NHS Improvement have been approached by a number of suppliers claiming to have products or technologies with anti-viral properties. The Innovation and Sustainability Team within NHS England and NHS Improvement are currently looking into these claims and their potential application across a range of items.

Answered by

Department of Health and Social Care
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Named day questions only occur in the House of Commons. The MP tabling the question specifies the date on which they should receive an answer. MPs may not table more than five named day questions on a single day.