Live webchat with Health Secretary Andy Burnham today (Weds 22 July) 2.30-3.30pm

[HelenMumsnet]

We're delighted to announce that Andy Burnham, Secretary of State for Health, will be joining us on Mumsnet tomorrow (Wednesday 22 July) between 2.30pm and 3.30pm for a live webchat, during which he's promised to answer your questions about swine flu (and anything else you'd like to know).

Andy has been Health Secretary since June this year. He is also MP for Leigh in Greater Manchester, was born in Liverpool, has three children, supports Everton and, apparently, plays a mean riff on the guitar.

Because of the last-minute scheduling of this webchat, we're NOT taking advance questions, so stand by your keyboards at 2.30pm tomorrow (or get someone else to ask your question if you can't be there)!

[Rachmumoftwo]

Blimey, he must be feeling brave!

[LuluMaman]

[mosschops30]

yes as a pg woman, lots Id like to know too

[hester]

Someone at the Department of Health told me that they're never off Mumsnet (in a professional capacity, of course)

[scrappydappydoo]

Eh? Surely it would easier to ask lots of questions in advance so he can reply properly??

[FiveGoMadInDorset]

On Breakfast yesterday morning (Monday) you were asked how many people had died didn't have underlying health issues. You dodged the question saying that you would answer it in your statement to the house of commons in the afternoon, which I listened to and you didn't.

So how many who have died have no underlying health conditions as I feel that we the public, the people who elected you, have a right to know how seriously we should be taking this.

[MollieOolala]

Bet he cancels. He has a reputation for doing that.

Easier to not have questions in advance as he can't be made to answer them, can he? Instead he will be able to pick and choose what he wants to answer. Bit of a cop out imo.

[FiveGoMadInDorset]

Nd if anyone could ask that tomorrow I would be grateful.

[OhYouBadBadKitten]

Marking my place as I have a lot of questions.
But why does it have to be over the school run???

[BoffinMum]

Why is nobody giving advice about breastfeeding?

[GIvePeasAChance]

Can you ask him how he got the job?

[GIvePeasAChance]

Perhaps also why he buys £19.99 bath robes from Ikea? John Lewis have a far superior range.

[GIvePeasAChance]

And finally, is Swine flu a welcome diversion from the disgrace of the commons expenses scandal and the total lack of integrity amongst MPs?

[Rindercella]

I like your style GivePeas

[1dilemma]

oh yes agree with the advance questions and the reason why we're not allowed to ask them.

Would anyone like to ask him why it is so hard to get an appointment? I am currently proofreading my complaint letter to the chief exec because I was refused a 24 week scan (I admit I turned up 15 mins late but I was kept waiting over an hour for my 12 week scan and tube delays aren't my fault) I was disconnected from the GP 4 times this morning in an attempt to get my next antenatal appointment and I have pretty much given up trying to get my kids their routine jabs I am fed up of being told there are no appointments left and I have to phone back between 8.45 and 8.50 in 3.5 weeks time on any day except one with a y in it!

[JustineMumsnet]

Hi all, the reason why we've steered away from advance questions is because it's such late notice - we just know, best will in the world, they'll be no time to look/prepare answers in advance. So, given that, we're going to try to cover as much ground as possible in the allotted time tomorrow.

The Minister may not get to every question asked but I'm sure he'll do his best. Carrie and I are going along to Whitehall tomorrow to pin him down try to help him cover as much ground as possible in the time. But bear with us/him - we do just have a precious hour and as you can imagine he's a busy man right now. If you want to try and prioritise questions in advance on this thread, do feel free.
Cheers.

[elkiedee]

Please could someone ask these two questions for me (we're taking our two sons to meet their paternal grandmother, ds2 for the 1st time).

1. What do you think the government could do to improve support within the NHS for those women who want to breastfeed but give up much earlier than they expected or planned to?

1. Could someone ask about breastfeeding in public and protecting the right of all women to feed their babies/young children in public (and not just up to 6 months either). Can't quite put the words together properly, sorry!

[Grendle]

I can't make it .

Please can someone ask these for me:

I would like to know what he thinks of the RCOG/RCM guidelines on swine flu and pregnancy. In particular, as access to homebirths can be so variable anyway, will their advice that if services are stretched generally then homebirth services may be cancelled be used as an excuse to deny women the choices they want in birthing? What will be done to ensure this isn't the case?

Also, if services get really stretched due to staff illness, how will they make sure that breastfeeding and other postnatal needs are fully supported? Particularly if as RCOG/RCM suggest women may be encouraged out of hospital faster and not receive postnatal home visits from midwives. Will all hospitals be actively promoting referrals to the voluntary breastfeeding helplines as a backup?

Please could more information about relenza and any flu vaccine and pregnancy be provided in order that pregnant women can make informed decisions about whether or not to take up these options. Simply saying 'this is what we recommend, there's no evidence of harm' isn't really reassuring enough, nor enough info on which to make a judgement. Pregnant women are not sheep .

Why has all formula advertising including follow-on formula not yet been banned? These products are used and needed by lots of people, but they don't need to be advertised. Impartial information on formula and bottle feeding would be better than marketing.

[Grendle]

Although there are officially no advance questions, don't you think the DH press office would be a bit dim if they aren't watching this thread tomorrow morning to make sure he's well briefed ?

[Bramshott]

Blimey - what a time to take over as Health Secretary! He was rather good as Culture Secretary though . . .

[manfrom]

Pity that there are no advance questions. I'd like to know if he regrets accusing David Davies of having "late-night, hand-wringing, heart-melting phone calls" (fnarr fnarr) with Shami Chakrabati........

[LoveBeingAMummy]

OK to help ensure tht no-one gets missed thought I'd put them all together in one place so its easier to work through.

1. By FiveGoMadInDorset on Tue 21-Jul-09 21:44:27
   On Breakfast yesterday morning (Monday) you were asked how many people had died didn't have underlying health issues. You dodged the question saying that you would answer it in your statement to the house of commons in the afternoon, which I listened to and you didn't.
   
   So how many who have died have no underlying health conditions as I feel that we the public, the people who elected you, have a right to know how seriously we should be taking this.
   
   
2. By BoffinMum on Tue 21-Jul-09 22:52:06
   Why is nobody giving advice about breastfeeding?
   
   3)By LeninGrad on Tue 21-Jul-09 22:56:06
   Can't make the chat as at an antenatal appt but if someone could ask some of these, I'd be grateful.
   
   It'd be really helpful if we could get some clarity on if/how/why they think this strain may be disproportionally affecting pg women.
   
   Essentially, I think we need to know what other health conditions, if any, the pg women in intensive care or who died may have or have had, what actual complication it is that they are having (pneumonia?) and what, if anything, we can do to recognise deterioration in order to act quickly (if that helps).
   
   I'd like to see more info on Relenza as a prophylactic, not sure that message is getting through.
   
   Also, some info on numbers of pg women hospitalised with complications from seasonal flu would be helpful too, along with outcomes of course.
   
   Finally, is it thought that this strain can cross the placenta and what are the implications of that if so?
   
   It seems to me either the media is being a bit irresponsible in its reporting, or the govt isn't doing enough to explain the risks or issues, or possibly a bit of both.
   
   
3. By GIvePeasAChance on Tue 21-Jul-09 23:02:41
   Can you ask him how he got the job?
   
   And finally, is Swine flu a welcome diversion from the disgrace of the commons expenses scandal and the total lack of integrity amongst MPs?
   
   
4. By 1dilemma on Tue 21-Jul-09 23:22:53
   oh yes agree with the advance questions and the reason why we're not allowed to ask them.
   
   Would anyone like to ask him why it is so hard to get an appointment? I am currently proofreading my complaint letter to the chief exec because I was refused a 24 week scan (I admit I turned up 15 mins late but I was kept waiting over an hour for my 12 week scan and tube delays aren't my fault) I was disconnected from the GP 4 times this morning in an attempt to get my next antenatal appointment and I have pretty much given up trying to get my kids their routine jabs I am fed up of being told there are no appointments left and I have to phone back between 8.45 and 8.50 in 3.5 weeks time on any day except one with a y in it!
   
   
5. By elkiedee on Wed 22-Jul-09 00:12:26
   Please could someone ask these two questions for me (we're taking our two sons to meet their paternal grandmother, ds2 for the 1st time).
   
   

1. What do you think the government could do to improve support within the NHS for those women who want to breastfeed but give up much earlier than they expected or planned to?

1. Could someone ask about breastfeeding in public and protecting the right of all women to feed their babies/young children in public (and not just up to 6 months either). Can't quite put the words together properly, sorry!

7) By Grendle on Wed 22-Jul-09 01:02:25
I can't make it sad.

Please can someone ask these for me:

I would like to know what he thinks of the RCOG/RCM guidelines on swine flu and pregnancy. In particular, as access to homebirths can be so variable anyway, will their advice that if services are stretched generally then homebirth services may be cancelled be used as an excuse to deny women the choices they want in birthing? What will be done to ensure this isn't the case?

Also, if services get really stretched due to staff illness, how will they make sure that breastfeeding and other postnatal needs are fully supported? Particularly if as RCOG/RCM suggest women may be encouraged out of hospital faster and not receive postnatal home visits from midwives. Will all hospitals be actively promoting referrals to the voluntary breastfeeding helplines as a backup?

Please could more information about relenza and any flu vaccine and pregnancy be provided in order that pregnant women can make informed decisions about whether or not to take up these options. Simply saying 'this is what we recommend, there's no evidence of harm' isn't really reassuring enough, nor enough info on which to make a judgement. Pregnant women are not sheep smile.

Why has all formula advertising including follow-on formula not yet been banned? These products are used and needed by lots of people, but they don't need to be advertised. Impartial information on formula and bottle feeding would be better than marketing.

8) By manfrom on Wed 22-Jul-09 09:39:31
Pity that there are no advance questions. I'd like to know if he regrets accusing David Davies of having "late-night, hand-wringing, heart-melting phone calls" (fnarr fnarr) with Shami Chakrabati........

9) By StarlightMcKenzie on Wed 22-Jul-09 10:19:07
From the NICE guidelines published today:

www.nice.org.uk/CG89

Ensuring access to appropriate medical care or treatment
1.3.9 Consider neglect if parents or carers fail to administer essential prescribed treatment for their child.

1.3.10 Consider neglect if parents or carers repeatedly fail to attend essential follow-up appointments that are necessary for their child?s health and wellbeing.

1.3.11 Consider neglect if parents or carers persistently fail to engage with relevant child health promotion programmes which include:
? immunisation
? health and development reviews
? screening.

You gotta be kidding right?

10) LoveBeingAMummy, At what point would movement be restricted due to swine flu? Also What is being done about the ongoing issues with maternity services, the lack of midwifes, the terrible hospital services, no resources to support everyone who wants a home birth, poor support for breastfeeding etc. Thanks