theodi/ndl-core-corpus huggingface dataset:
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-20)

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Helen Morgan:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to encourage NHS trusts to take part in clinical trials for innovative treatments. \p Dr Zubir Ahmed: The Department is committed to turbocharging clinical research and encouraging National Health Service trusts to take part through the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) and a four-nation UK Clinical Research Delivery Programme (UKCRD).

The Department-funded NIHR funds research and research infrastructure, which supports patients, the public, and NHS settings to participate in high-quality research, including clinical trials for innovative treatments. NIHR infrastructure provides world-class research expertise, specialist facilities, a research delivery workforce, and support services. Through the NIHR’s Research Delivery Network (RDN), the NIHR supports all NHS trusts in England to deliver research, operating across 12 regions throughout the country.

In April 2025, the Department began publishing monthly key performance indicators on commercial clinical trial set up performance for NHS trusts in England, as part of the UKCRD programme, Study Set Up Plan. This report provides a monthly snapshot of site-level commercial study set-up performance, with the expectation that this will encourage NHS trusts to improve study set-up performance and therefore increase their participation in clinical trials for innovative treatments.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-20)

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Liz Jarvis:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of introducing routine (a) blood glucose and (b) ketone testing for children presenting with symptoms consistent with Type 1 diabetes; and what steps he is taking to help improve early diagnosis and prevent deaths from diabetic ketoacidosis. \p Ashley Dalton: The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) is the independent body responsible for providing guidance and quality standards on the treatment and care of diabetes in England. NICE NG18 guideline for type 1 and 2 diabetes provides clinical guidelines for the diagnosis, treatment and care of children and young people. Children with suspected type 1 diabetes should receive a blood test that checks blood glucose (sugar) levels.

NG18 recommends that children and young people with suspected type 1 diabetes are referred immediately (on the same day) to a multidisciplinary paediatric diabetes team with the competencies needed to confirm diagnosis and provide immediate care. Where diabetic ketoacidosis is suspected, NG18 recommends that children and young people should be immediately transferred to a hospital with acute paediatric facilities.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-20)

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Alistair Strathern:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to increase the supply of Hyoscine hydrobromide 1.5mg patches. \p Dr Zubir Ahmed: The Department is aware that hyoscine hydrobromide (Scopoderm) 1.5 milligram patches are currently out of stock with a resupply date yet to be confirmed. We are continuing to work closely with the sole supplier of this product and the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency to resolve this issue as soon as possible.

The Department issued comprehensive management guidance to the National Health Service, including all general practices and community pharmacists, on 21 September 2023. This management guidance includes information on a variety of alternative licensed medicines, and should these not be suitable or appropriate, clinicians can consider prescribing unlicensed hyoscine hydrobromide (Scopoderm) 1.5 milligram patches.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-20)

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James Naish:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the 10 Year Plan for the NHS on migraine care. \p Ashley Dalton: At the national level, there are a number of initiatives supporting service improvement and better care for patients with migraine, including those in Lincolnshire, such as the Getting It Right First Time (GIRFT) Programme for Neurology and the RightCare Headache and Migraine Toolkit. The GIRFT programme published a National Speciality Report, which makes several recommendations in relation to improving recognition and diagnosis of migraine by general practitioners. Additionally, the RightCare Toolkit sets out key priorities for improving care for patients with migraine, including those in Lincolnshire, which includes correct identification and diagnosis of headache disorders.

The Royal College of General Practitioners has developed two e-learning modules about migraine and cluster headaches, which aim to raise awareness amongst primary care clinicians about the different types of migraine and their associated symptoms, and how to differentiate.

NHS England has also established a Neurology Transformation Programme, a multi-year, clinically led programme, which has developed a new model of integrated care for neurology services, to support integrated care boards to deliver the right service, at the right time for all neurology patients, including for those with migraine.

There are a number of policies outlined in the 10-Year Health Plan which have the potential to have a very positive impact on care for patients with migraine. More tests and scans delivered in the community, better joint working between services, and greater use of technology will all support people to manage their long-term conditions, including migraine, closer to home.

As set out in the 10-Year Health Plan, the NHS App will be enhanced to allow patients to manage appointments, medications, and view or create their own care plans. Patients will be able to manage their care in one place, giving them direct access and preference over the services they need. The My Medicines section will enable patients to manage their prescriptions, and the My Health section will enable patients to monitor their symptoms and bring all their data into one place. Patients will be able to self-refer to services where clinically appropriate through the My Specialist section on the NHS App. This will accelerate their access to treatment and support.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-20)

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Afzal Khan:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent estimate his Department has made of the health costs associated with air pollution in Greater Manchester. \p Ashley Dalton: The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has published a tool to allow local authorities to estimate the health benefits and cost effectiveness of improved air quality, at a local authority level.

The information is not held in the format requested. However, the cost of air pollution tool quantifies the potential costs to the National Health Service and social care due to the health impacts of particulate matter (PM2.5) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) in England and separately for each local authority. The tool and the estimated costs are available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/air-pollution-a-tool-to-estimate-healthcare-costs
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Patrick Hurley:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he plans to incorporate clinical trials as a performance metric within the NHS to encourage clinicians to prioritise research. \p Dr Zubir Ahmed: As outlined in the 10-Year Health Plan and Life Sciences Sector Plan, the Government is committed to providing full transparency on clinical trial performance by publishing a monthly scorecard for the National Health Service on trust-level clinical trial performance, in addition to wider measures to encourage clinicians to prioritise research through the UK Clinical Research Delivery (UKCRD) Programme.

The four-nation UKCRD programme brings together delivery partners and key stakeholders to create a faster, more efficient, more accessible, and more innovative clinical research delivery system in the United Kingdom.

In April 2025, the Department began publishing monthly key performance indicators on commercial clinical trial set up performance for all NHS trusts in England, as part of the four-nation UKCRD programme Study Set Up Plan.

Trust level data on clinical trials study set up is being published monthly alongside the UKCRD’s Key Performance Indicator Report to provide an additional monthly snapshot of site-level commercial study set-up performance.

In May 2025, NHS England wrote a letter to NHS providers requiring board-level reporting of research activity and income, with scrutiny of the UKCRD Programme’s site-level performance metrics for study set-up. NHS England will publish revised guidance on research financial management later in 2025.
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Helen Maguire:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to help increase he number of suicide prevention services. \p Dr Zubir Ahmed: The Suicide Prevention Strategy for England, published in 2023, identifies eight priority groups for targeted and tailored support at a national level, including people in contact with mental health services. The strategy also identifies key risk factors for suicide, providing an opportunity for effective early intervention.

The purpose of the Suicide Prevention Strategy is to set out our aims to prevent suicide through action by Government and other organisations. One of the key visions of the strategy to reduce the stigma surrounding suicide and mental health, so people feel able to seek help through the routes that work best for them. This includes raising awareness that no suicide is inevitable.

The 10-Year Health Plan sets out ambitious plans to boost mental health support across the country. This includes transforming mental health services into 24/7 neighbourhood mental health centres, improving assertive outreach, expanding talking therapies, and giving patients better access to 24/7 support directly through the NHS App.
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Daisy Cooper:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he has assessed the potential merits of reintroducing the Children of Alcohol Dependent Parents Programme. \p Ashley Dalton: Local authorities are responsible for commissioning drug and alcohol treatment and recovery services as part of their public health responsibilities. In addition to the Public Health Grant, in 2025/26 the Department is providing a total of £310 million in further targeted grants to improve services and wider recovery support, which includes housing and employment. Further details are available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/drug-and-alcohol-treatment-and-recovery-funding-2025-to-2026/drug-and-alcohol-treatment-and-recovery-funding-allocations-2025-to-2026

All local authorities can invest some of their funding allocation on interventions that strengthen the support available to children and families affected by alcohol and/or drugs, according to local need.

The Government also has an alcohol and drug information and advice service called Talk to FRANK, which aims to reduce alcohol and drug use and its harms by providing awareness to young people, parents, and concerned others. Further information on Talk to FRANK is available at the following link:

https://www.talktofrank.com/

For these reasons, there are no national plans to reintroduce the Children of Alcohol Dependent Parents Programme.
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Sir John Whittingdale:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when he expects the Lampard Inquiry to report; and what steps he is taking to support the Inquiry. \p Dr Zubir Ahmed: Although the Department sponsors the Lampard Inquiry, the inquiry is independent of the Government. Baroness Lampard has committed to publish the final report as soon as possible and the inquiry will publish its intended timescales in due course. The next hearings are due to commence on 13 October 2025, with further hearings scheduled throughout 2026.

The Government is committed to ensuring that lessons are learned from the Lampard Inquiry to improve patient safety. The Department is a core participant to the inquiry and will give evidence. We are confident that the inquiry will play an important role in identifying wider learning for the health system and will contribute to improvements in patient safety. The inquiry continues to be funded by the Department.
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Mr Will Forster:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to support people who have been diagnosed privately with ADHD to enter shared care agreements with GPs. \p Dr Zubir Ahmed: It is the responsibility of the integrated care boards in England to make available appropriate provision to meet the health and care needs of their local population, including providing access to attention deficit hyperactivity disorder assessment and treatment, in line with relevant National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidelines.

Shared care with the National Health Service refers to an arrangement whereby a specialist doctor formally transfers responsibility for all or some aspects of their patient’s care, such as prescription of medication, over to the patient’s general practitioner (GP).

The General Medical Council (GMC), which regulates and sets standards for doctors in the United Kingdom, has made it clear that GPs cannot be compelled to enter into a shared care agreement. Practices may decline such requests on clinical or capacity grounds.

The GMC has issued guidance on prescribing and managing medicines, which helps GPs decide whether to accept shared care responsibilities. In deciding whether to enter into a shared care agreement, a GP will need to consider a number of factors such as whether the proposed activity is within their sphere of competence, and therefore safe and suitable for their patient’s needs. This includes the GP being satisfied that any prescriptions or referrals for treatment are clinically appropriate.

If a shared care arrangement cannot be put in place after the treatment has been initiated, the responsibility for continued prescribing falls upon the specialist clinician, and this applies to both NHS and private medical care.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-20)

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David Simmonds:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he plans to include astrocytoma brain cancer in the (a) National Cancer Plan, (b) Rare Cancers Bill and (c) NHS Cancer Vaccine Launch Pad. \p Ashley Dalton: The National Cancer Plan will take into account the needs of all patients with brain tumours. This means we will not be excluding any kinds of brain or spinal cord tumours and astrocytomas will be included as part of our work on brain tumours.

The Rare Cancers Bill as currently drafted is relevant to cancers that affect not more than 1 in 2000 people in the United Kingdom. Astrocytoma and low grade gliomas fit this definition and will therefore be relevant to the Bill.

The Cancer Vaccine Launch Pad (CVLP) is a platform that will speed up access to clinical trials for cancer vaccines and immunotherapies for patients who have been diagnosed with cancer. The platform is designed to be company and clinical trial agnostic so any company, including those developing vaccines for brain tumours, can contact the CVLP to explore how the platform can support their research.
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Matt Vickers:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps the NHS is taking to improve access to clinical trials for people with rare blood cancers. \p Dr Zubir Ahmed: The Department is committed to ensuring that all patients in the National Health Service, including those with rare blood cancers, have access to cutting-edge clinical trials and innovative, lifesaving treatments.

The Department-funded National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) funds research and research infrastructure, which supports NHS patients, the public, and NHS organisations across England, to participate in high-quality research, including clinical trials into rare blood cancers. NIHR infrastructure schemes aim to build research capacity and capability across all geographies, settings, and disease areas within the NHS.

The forthcoming National Cancer Plan will include further details on how we will improve access to clinical trials in the NHS for cancer patients across the country, including patients with rare cancers.

The Government also supports the Rare Cancers Bill and its ambitions to incentivise clinical trials and access to innovative treatments for rare cancers.

The NIHR provides an online service called 'Be Part of Research', which promotes participation in health and social care research by allowing users to search for relevant studies and register their interest. This makes it easier for people to find and take part in health and care research that is relevant to them, including research into blood cancer.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-20)

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Mary Glindon:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent discussions his Department has had with Integrated Care Boards on steps to improve access to care for people with postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome. \p Ashley Dalton: Integrated care boards (ICBs), with oversight from NHS England, have a statutory responsibility to commission services which meet the needs of their local populations, including for those with PoTS.

We are investing in additional capacity to deliver appointments to help bring waiting lists and times down, including for those with PoTS. The Elective Reform Plan, published in January 2025, sets out the specific productivity and reform efforts needed to return to the constitutional standard, that 92% of patients to wait no longer than 18 weeks from referral to treatment, by March 2029.

Additionally, the shifts outlined in our 10-Year Health Plan will free up hospital-based consultants’ time by shifting care from hospitals to communities, utilising digital technology to reduce administrative burdens, and promoting prevention to reduce the onset and severity of conditions that lead to hospital admissions. This includes expanding community-based services, employing artificial intelligence for productivity, developing integrated neighbourhood health teams, and investing in digital tools and data. These shifts will allow specialists to focus on more complex cases of PoTS, enabling earlier identification and management, and improved patient outcomes.

By shifting care into the community through Neighbourhood Health Services, promoting integrated, multidisciplinary models of care, and expanding the use of personalised care plans, as outlined in the 10-Year Health Plan, we will ensure that people with conditions like PoTS receive more timely and accessible support closer to home.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-20)

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Daisy Cooper:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 13 May to Question 50928 on Brain: Tumours, what discussions he has had with (a) the Southampton Clinical Trials Unit and (b) other stakeholders in the NHS Cancer Vaccine Launch Pad on prioritising vaccine trials for brain cancers. \p Dr Zubir Ahmed: The Cancer Vaccine Launch Pad (CVLP) is a platform that will speed up access to clinical trials for cancer vaccines and immunotherapies for patients who have been diagnosed with cancer. NHS England is responsible for the overall delivery of the CVLP and has contracted the Southampton Clinical Trials Unit to manage the day-to-day delivery of the platform. The platform is designed to be company and clinical trial agnostic so any company, including those developing vaccines for brain tumours, can contact the CVLP to explore how the platform can support their research.

My Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care and officials have not had discussions to prioritise cancer vaccine trials for brain or other cancer types. However, the Government is taking measures to boost brain cancer research. We are working closely with the patient and researcher communities to stimulate high-quality research applications through: establishing a national Brain Tumour Research Consortium to bring together researchers from different disciplines to drive scientific advancements in how to prevent, detect, manage and treat brain tumours; a dedicated funding call for research into wraparound care and rehabilitation for people living with brain tumours; and a partnership with the Tessa Jowell Brain Cancer Mission to fund the next generation of researchers through the Allied Health Professionals Brain Tumour Research Fellowship programme.

The National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) continues to welcome funding applications for research into any aspect of human health and care, including brain tumours. These applications are subject to peer review and judged in open competition, with awards being made on the basis of the importance of the topic to patients and health and care services, value for money, and scientific quality. Welcoming applications on brain tumours to all NIHR programmes enables maximum flexibility in terms of the amount of research funding a particular area can be awarded, and the type of research which can be funded.
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Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 9 September 2025 to Question 72364 on North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust: Medical Records, by when he expects North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust to submit that investment case. \p Dr Zubir Ahmed: The North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust is unable to confirm the date the investment case will be submitted, as this is subject to conversations between NHS England regional and national colleagues to confirm necessary approvals and funding for the Outline Business Case. We are working to ensure this happens in a timely manner to secure the trust and integrated care system strategic objectives, and to meet the timeline for the new hospital opening at Hinchingbrooke.
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Martin Vickers:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many patients were admitted to hospital with a primary diagnosis of migraine in the 2024-25 financial year; and what steps he plans to take to help reduce the number of patients presenting to hospital with migraines. \p Ashley Dalton: NHS England publishes data on hospital admissions and related diagnosis information, including finished admission episodes due to migraines. The total number of hospital admissions due to migraines in the 2024/25 financial year was 39,207. The data is available at the following link:

https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/publications/statistical/hospital-admitted-patient-care-activity/2024-25

At the national level, there are a number of initiatives supporting service improvement and better care for patients with migraine, including the Getting It Right First Time programme for neurology and the RightCare Headache and Migraine Toolkit.

The Government’s 10-Year Health Plan includes a focus on expanding access to urgent care services at home and in the community as part of our new Neighbourhood Health model, to reduce demand into urgent and emergency care.
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Sir Julian Smith:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the policy paper entitled Fit for the future: 10 Year Health Plan for England, published on 30 July 2025, whether the proposal to provide opt-out smoking cessation interventions in all routine care within hospitals includes people who (a) have been referred through urgent suspected referral for cancer, (b) are awaiting cancer treatment and (c) are undergoing cancer treatment. \p Ashley Dalton: The 10-Year Health Plan committed to ensuring that all hospitals integrate ‘opt-out’ smoking cessation interventions into routine care. Within their 2025/26 allocations, integrated care boards have access to funding to support the rollout of tobacco dependency treatment services in hospital settings, including acute and mental health inpatient settings and maternity services. Where inpatients are identified as a smoker, including those in cancer-related services or undergoing cancer treatment, the expectation would be for them to receive an opt-out referral to talk to a specialist and subsequently make an informed decision about accessing treatment tailored to their needs.

Future funding decisions, including any decision to expand tobacco dependency treatment services across routine care, are subject to the Spending Review process.
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Steve Yemm:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what policies his Department plans to include in the National Cancer Plan on increasing access to clinical trials for (a) teenagers and (b) young adults with cancer. \p Ashley Dalton: The Department is committed to getting the National Health Service diagnosing cancer earlier and treating it faster, so that more people survive, and we will improve the experience of cancer patients across the system, including teenagers and young adults.

Since the launch of the Children and Young People Cancer Taskforce on 4 February 2025, the taskforce has been exploring opportunities for clinical and non-clinical improvement across a range of areas. These include data, early detection and diagnosis, patient experience, genomic testing and treatment, and research and innovation, which includes access to clinical trials. The Government is aware of the unique challenges that teenagers and young adults with cancer face, often falling in between paediatric and adult care, and the work of the taskforce has included a specific focus on this issue.

As part of its work, the taskforce will ensure that the needs of teenagers and young adults are carefully considered as part of the forthcoming National Cancer Plan. The plan will have patients at its heart and will cover the entirety of the cancer pathway, from referral and diagnosis to treatment and ongoing care, as well as research and innovation. It will seek to improve every aspect of cancer care to better the experience and outcomes for people with cancer. Our goal is to reduce the number of lives lost to cancer over the next ten years, for all patient groups. This will include teenagers and young adults with cancer.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-20)

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Blake Stephenson:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the 10-Year Health Plan, whether he has had discussions with the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities & Local Government about the role of placemaking in improving public health. \p Ashley Dalton: Ministers from the Department of Health and Social Care and the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government meet periodically to discuss shared priorities and links to health.

The Government’s initial response to the report of the independent New Towns Taskforce makes clear the importance of health in placemaking, stating that this work “is about creating new places and new communities, each place with a distinct sense of identity and the necessary infrastructure and amenities to support the health and wellbeing of its residents and neighbouring communities”. The taskforce report specifically recommends learning from the former NHS England Healthy New Towns programme.
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Andy MacNae:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the (a) mental and (b) physical health benefits of having access to (i) green and (ii) blue spaces for recreation. \p Ashley Dalton: The ability to access green and blue space is associated with improved physical and mental health and increased healthy life expectancy.

The Government recognises the importance of providing access to the outdoors for people's health and wellbeing, and has committed to creating nine new national river walks and three new national forests in England, expanding access to the great outdoors.
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Dr Al Pinkerton:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of increasing investment in research into postural tachycardia syndrome in Surrey Heath constituency. \p Dr Zubir Ahmed: The Department funds health and care research through the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). The NIHR funds clinical, public health, and social care research and works in partnership with the National Health Service, universities, local government, other research funders, patients, and the public. The NIHR welcomes proposals for research into a range of conditions, including Postural Tachycardia Syndrome, and topics for new research can be proposed to the NIHR via the following link:

https://www.nihr.ac.uk/get-involved/suggest-a-research-topic
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Helen Maguire:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to promote regular exercise. \p Ashley Dalton: The Government and the National Health Service recognise that reducing physical inactivity in people of all ages is important in helping people live longer, healthier lives. Building movement back into people’s everyday lives is a key part of the Health Mission and requires action across the Government and the NHS to deliver, as part of the shift from treatment to prevention.

As committed to in the 10-Year Health Plan, we will develop a national movement campaign led by Brendan Foster and will explore ways to recognise what places and communities are doing to help people build movement back into everyday lives. Wider cross-Government action is underway to invest in grassroots sport, develop a new physical education and school sports partnership network, to support children in reaping the benefits of movement, and to support cycling and walking infrastructure and promote active travel.

The NHS Better Health Campaign promotes ways for people of all ages to move more, and signposts to digital support like the NHS Couch to 5k and the NHS Active 10 walking app providing free and accessible ways of building movement into everyday life.
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Mr Alex Barros-Curtis:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department is taking steps to increase research funding into the development of anti-epileptic drugs with fewer side effects and greater efficacy. \p Dr Zubir Ahmed: The Department funds research on health and social care through the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). The NIHR welcomes funding applications for research into any aspect of human health and care including epilepsy treatment and side effects.

These applications are subject to peer review and judged in open competition, with awards being made on the basis of the importance of the topic to patients and health and care services, value for money, and scientific quality. Welcoming applications on epilepsy to all NIHR programmes enables maximum flexibility both in terms of the amount of research funding a particular area can be awarded, and the type of research which can be funded.

Details of NIHR funding allocated to individual research awards are openly published and updated quarterly on the NIHR’s Open Data website, at the following link:

https://nihr.opendatasoft.com/explore/

The NIHR also works closely with other Government funders, including UK Research and Innovation, which is funded by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology and which includes the Medical Research Council, to fund research into a range of conditions, including epilepsy.
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Sir John Hayes:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent steps he has taken to promote awareness of screening for prostate cancer. \p Ashley Dalton: I refer the Hon. Member to the answer I gave to the Hon. Member for Leyton and Wanstead on 7 July 2025 to Question 63475.
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Alex Sobel:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to support research for a cure for Fanconi Anaemia. \p Dr Zubir Ahmed: The Department funds research on health and social care through the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). The NIHR welcomes funding applications for research into any aspect of human health and care including Fanconi Anaemia.

These applications are subject to peer review and judged in open competition, with awards being made on the basis of the importance of the topic to patients and health and care services, value for money, and scientific quality. Topics for new research can be proposed to the NIHR via the following link:

https://www.nihr.ac.uk/get-involved/suggest-a-research-topic

The NIHR also works closely with other Government funders, including UK Research and Innovation, which is funded by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology and which includes the Medical Research Council, to fund research into a range of conditions, including Fanconi Anaemia.
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Matt Vickers:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to support research into treatments for (a) Ehlers Danlos Syndrome and (b) related conditions. \p Dr Zubir Ahmed: The Department funds research on health and social care through the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). The NIHR welcomes funding applications for research into any aspect of human health and care including Ehlers Danlos Syndrome and related conditions.

These applications are subject to peer review and judged in open competition, with awards being made on the basis of the importance of the topic to patients and health and care services, value for money, and scientific quality. Topics for new research can be proposed to the NIHR via the following link:

https://www.nihr.ac.uk/get-involved/suggest-a-research-topic
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-20 conversation_82

Mr Andrew Snowden:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate he has made of the level of uptake of (a) flu, (b) RSV and (c) whooping cough vaccinations among pregnant women in Fylde constituency in the last 12 months. \p Ashley Dalton: The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) routinely monitors and reviews vaccination coverage of all routine immunisation programmes in England. UKHSA does not collect or publish data at constituency level and is therefore unable to provide these data. UKHSA publishes data for uptake of influenza, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and pertussis vaccinations for England at national and NHS commissioning region level. For pertussis and influenza, data are published by integrated care board level for Lancashire and South Cumbria.

Flu vaccine uptake for pregnant women in Lancashire and South Cumbria integrated care board was 31.4% during the 2024 to 2025 flu season.

RSV vaccine uptake for pregnant women is published for England at a national and NHS commissioning region level only. Uptake for women in the North-West region was 53.2%. The latest assessment for women delivering in May 2025 is available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/rsv-maternal-vaccination-coverage-in-england

Pertussis vaccine uptake for pregnant women is published for England at a national and NHS commissioning region level only. Uptake for women in the North-West region was 66.2% and in Lancashire and South Cumbria integrated care board was 62.1%.

The latest assessment for women delivering in June 2025 is available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/pertussis-immunisation-in-pregnancy-vaccine-coverage-estimates-in-england-october-2013-to-march-2014/prenatal-pertussis-vaccination-coverage-in-england-from-april-to-june-2025
wrans/answers2025-10-20 conversation_83
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-20 conversation_83

Sir John Hayes:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to ensure that the NHS provides adequate support to digitally-excluded people in (a) South Holland and the Deepings constituency and (b) Lincolnshire. \p Dr Zubir Ahmed: Digital health tools should be part of a wider offering that includes face-to-face support with appropriate help for people who struggle to access digital services. Digital inclusion is a key priority for the National Health Service as it will support the shift from ‘analogue to digital’. It is one of the five national NHS England Health Inequalities Strategic Priorities, and they published a Digital Healthcare Framework which has guided the approach of integrated care boards.

In line with this, the Lincolnshire Integrated Care System (ICS) has collaboratively developed the Lincolnshire Health and Care Digital Inclusion Strategy 2025-2028 in partnership with ICS organisations and individuals with lived experience. A Patient Participation Group representative from Bourne actively contributed to the oversight group, and extensive engagement with the population groups most at risk of digital exclusion was carried out to support the development of the strategy.

Following on from previously successful initiatives in Mablethorpe utilising community-based digital learning and support from the voluntary sector, a project is underway in Boston, the highest area at risk of digital exclusion, which will provide digital community drop sessions for the local population until March 2026.
wrans/answers2025-10-20 conversation_84
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-20 conversation_84

Matt Vickers:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that (a) general practitioners and (b) hospital doctors receive training on (i) Ehlers Danlos Syndrome and (ii) other rare conditions. \p Ashley Dalton: NHS England commissions a national diagnostic service for complex and rare types of Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS) via two specialist centres. This service supports patients with a suspected or confirmed diagnoses of rare types like classical, vascular, or kyphoscoliotic EDS, and aims to provide accurate diagnoses, minimise unnecessary tests, and provide management plans for local care providers to implement.

A primary goal of the Complex EDS Service, which is commissioned by NHS England, is to educate referring doctors about the diagnosis, investigation, and management of patients with complex and atypical forms of EDS. While the service focuses on rare types and accepts referrals from secondary and tertiary care, its development of guidelines and educational initiatives also benefits general practitioners (GPs), who are on the front line of patient care. Additionally, other resources like the EDS GP Toolkit, developed by the Royal College of General Practitioners and Ehlers-Danlos Support UK, is specifically designed to provide information and guidance to GPs.

For the more common types of EDS, diagnosis and management are handled locally and are commissioned by integrated care boards (ICBs), which have a statutory responsibility to commission services which meet the needs of their local populations, including for those with EDS. It is the responsibility of ICBs, working with clinicians, service users, and patient groups, to develop services and care pathways that meet patients’ needs.

Neighbourhood Health Centres, as outlined in the 10-Year Health Plan, will improve care for people with EDS by providing integrated, multidisciplinary community-based care and support. This approach will offer a more coordinated and holistic support system for people with complex conditions like EDS.
wrans/answers2025-10-20 conversation_85
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-20 conversation_85

David Simmonds:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking with Cancer Research UK to increase levels of future funding for brain tumour research. \p Dr Zubir Ahmed: The Department continues to engage with a broad range of stakeholders, including Cancer Research UK and other third sector organisations, to identify areas of investment in brain tumour research. The National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) is the research arm of the Department. Working with stakeholders from across the research community, in September 2024 the NIHR launched a package of support to stimulate high-quality research applications through: establishing a national Brain Tumour Research Consortium to bring together researchers from different disciplines to drive scientific advancements in how to prevent, detect, manage, and treat brain tumours; a dedicated funding call for research into wraparound care and rehabilitation for people living with brain tumours; and a partnership with the Tessa Jowell Brain Cancer Mission to fund the next generation of researchers through the Allied Health Professionals Brain Tumour Research Fellowship programme.

We will continue to explore all opportunities for collaborations with Cancer Research UK and other organisations to increase the amount of high-quality research into this important area.
wrans/answers2025-10-20 conversation_86
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-20 conversation_86

David Simmonds:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of using brain tumour research funding announced in 2018 for supporting (a) new vaccines and (b) novel therapeutics. \p Dr Zubir Ahmed: In May 2018 the Government made a commitment to spend £40 million on brain cancer research. Between 2018/19 and 2023/24, the Department, via the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), directly invested £11.8 million in research projects and programmes focused on brain tumours. The NIHR has also invested approximately £37.5 million in research infrastructure to support the delivery of 261 brain tumour research studies and to enable over 11,400 people to participate in potentially life-changing brain tumour research.

The Government is working closely with the patient and researcher communities to provide new funding opportunities for novel brain tumour research and is stimulating high-quality research applications through: establishing a national Brain Tumour Research Consortium to bring together researchers from different disciplines to drive scientific advancements in how to prevent, detect, manage, and treat brain tumours; a dedicated funding call for research into wraparound care and rehabilitation for people living with brain tumours; and a partnership with the Tessa Jowell Brain Cancer Mission to fund the next generation of researchers through the Allied Health Professionals Brain Tumour Research Fellowship programme.
wrans/answers2025-10-20 conversation_87
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-20 conversation_87

Darren Paffey:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what data his Dpartment holds on the average waiting times for (a) ADHD and (b) autism diagnosis for (i) primary school age and (ii) secondary school age children. \p Dr Zubir Ahmed: The information is not held centrally in the format requested, but some data on waiting times for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism assessments for children aged 0-17 is available on the NHS England website at the following link:

https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/publications/statistical/mi-adhd/august-2025

https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/publications/statistical/autism-statistics/july-2024-to-june-2025