theodi/ndl-core-corpus huggingface dataset:
wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_55
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-07)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_55

Alex Ballinger:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he has made an assessment of the potential impact of (a) seed oils, (b) added gluten and (c) processed food standards on public health. \p Ashley Dalton: Government advice on a healthy, balanced diet is encapsulated in the United Kingdom’s Eatwell Guide. This is underpinned by the robust independent risk assessments and recommendations of the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN).

SACN has not undertaken a specific assessment of seed oils. However, SACN’s 2019 report on ‘Saturated fats and health’ concluded that reducing saturated fats reduces the risk of heart disease and lowers cholesterol. SACN recommended that saturated fat intake is reduced and saturated fats are substituted with unsaturated fats. Vegetable oils, including seed oils, are higher in unsaturated fats and lower in saturated fat than alternatives such as butter, ghee and palm oil. The topic of individual fatty acids, including omega-3 and omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids, of which seed oils may be a source, is on SACN’s watching brief.

SACN has not undertaken a specific assessment of the impact of added gluten on health outcomes. However, gluten-containing carbohydrate foods were considered as part of SACN’s report on ‘Carbohydrates and health’ published in 2015. SACN recommended that approximately 50% of total dietary energy should be derived from carbohydrates. Government dietary advice, as depicted in the Eatwell Guide, is that we should choose wholegrain or higher fibre versions of starchy carbohydrates wherever possible. Management of clinical conditions for which gluten has a role is under the remit of the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence.

There are no food standards on processed foods. However, the evidence on processed foods and health has been assessed by SACN in position statements published in 2023 and 2025. SACN has concluded that the observed associations between higher consumption of (ultra) processed foods and adverse health outcomes are concerning. SACN has recommended that on balance, most people are likely to benefit from reducing their consumption of processed foods high in energy, saturated fat, salt and free sugars and low in fibre. This is based on the nutrient content of many ultra-processed foods and concerns raised in relation to health. SACN will continue to keep the topic under review.
wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_56
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-07)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_56

Lizzi Collinge:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of introducing a requirement for self-employed carers to be regulated by the Care Quality Commission. \p Ashley Dalton: The Department has understood that the term ‘self-employed carer’ refers to self-employed personal assistants. There are no current plans to introduce a requirement for self-employed carers to be regulated by the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

Currently, a person, or a related third party on their behalf, can make their own arrangement for personal care where an individual works directly for that person and under their control, without involving an agency or employer in managing or directing the care provided. In this case, the individual engaged does not need to register with the CQC for the regulated activity of personal care.
wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_57
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-07)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_57

Marsha De Cordova:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department plans to take to help tackle barriers to the safe use of medical devices for the management of diabetes among partially sighted and blind people. \p Ashley Dalton: The Department and the National Health Service work with suppliers and manufacturers to help improve the accessibility and safe use of medical devices for the management of diabetes among partially sighted and blind people. It is recommended to suppliers that people with experience of visual and hearing impairment should be included and considered in the design of insulin pumps, continuous glucose monitors, and hybrid closed loop systems, as well as in the user information and instructions that accompany their supply and use.

Suppliers of the hybrid closed loop must provide educational materials appropriate for those who are visually impaired, and commissioning recommendations for blood glucose, ketone meters, testing strips, and lancets include recommendations for cohorts of the population, including the visually impaired. These commissioning recommendations are available at the following link:

PRN00037-v3-commissioning-recommendations-following-the-national-assessment-of-blood-glucose-and-ketone-meters.pdf

Finally, the Department is in the process of modernising the listing of medical devices on the NHS Drug Tariff to further improve access by building in incentives for suppliers for cohorts of the population, such as partially sighted and blind people, who need added features.
wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_58
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-07)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_58

James Naish:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of allocating further funding for research into improving treatments for PANS and PANDAS. \p Ashley Dalton: We recognise that more research is necessary to understand the multiple factors leading to pediatric acute-onset neuropsychiatric syndrome (PANS) and pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorders associated with streptococcal infections (PANDAS), and to understand how best to raise awareness among healthcare professionals on how to diagnose these conditions and support affected children and their families.

The Department funds research through the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), which welcomes funding applications for research into any aspect of human health, including conditions such as PANS and PANDAS.

In October 2024, a project led by NIHR BioResource announced a partnership with PANS PANDA UK to delve further into immune conditions and mental health, and how to raise awareness of these neuropsychiatric conditions.
wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_59
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-07)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_59

Grahame Morris:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 28 April 2025 to Question 47191 on Radiotherapy: Medical Equipment, if he will ensure that trusts outside of (a) London and (b) the South East are prioritised for future funding (i) to replace radiotherapy equipment and (ii) for additional radiotherapy treatment. \p Ashley Dalton: NHS England wrote to all radiotherapy treatment providers, including those outside of London and the South East, inviting them to apply for funding to replace ageing radiotherapy machines.

To help to address accessibility to radiotherapy, the Department has allocated £70 million in funding for 28 new radiotherapy machines to trusts across the country to replace outdated machines, 18 of which are located outside of London and the South East of England.

All future spending commitments beyond 2025/26 will be determined through the next phase of the Spending Review process, which will conclude in June.
wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_60
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-07)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_60

Suella Braverman:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will take steps to help ensure that the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Integrated Care Board increases funding for Rowan's Hospice. \p Stephen Kinnock: Palliative care services are included in the list of services an integrated care board (ICB) must commission. This promotes a more consistent national approach and supports commissioners in prioritising palliative and end of life care. To support ICBs in this duty, NHS England has published statutory guidance and service specifications. ICBs are responsible for commissioning palliative and end of life care services to meet the needs of their local populations.

Whilst the majority of palliative and end of life care is provided by National Health Service staff and services, we recognise the vital part that voluntary sector organisations, including hospices such as Rowan’s Hospice, also play in providing support to people at end of life and their loved ones.

Most hospices, including Rowan’s Hospice, are charitable, independent organisations which receive some statutory funding for providing NHS services. The amount of funding each charitable hospice receives varies both within and between ICB areas. This will vary depending on demand in that ICB area but will also be dependent on the totality and type of palliative and end of life care provision from both NHS and non-NHS services, including charitable hospices, within each ICB area.

We are supporting the hospice sector with a £100 million capital funding boost for adult and children’s hospices in England to ensure they have the best physical environment for care. The Government has released the first £25 million tranche of the £100 million of capital funding, with Hospice UK kindly allocating and distributing the money to hospices throughout England. I am pleased that Rowan’s Hospice received £171,289 from this first tranche. An additional £75 million will be allocated in the coming weeks for use in 2025/26.
wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_61
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-07)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_61

Terry Jermy:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of trends in the level of people requiring palliative care over the next 10 years. \p Stephen Kinnock: Currently, approximately 600,000 people die per year in the United Kingdom. It is estimated that up to 90% of deaths could benefit from palliative and end of life care.

The Office for National Statistics has projected that, by 2040, approximately 800,000 people a year will die in the UK. Also, current trends point to a growing proportion of people dying from chronic disease, particularly cancer and dementia. Taking these considerations together, it has been estimated that the number of people needing palliative and end of life care could increase by 42% by 2040.

We have committed to develop a 10-Year Plan to deliver a National Health Service fit for the future, by driving three shifts in the way health care is delivered, from hospital to community, from treatment to prevention, and from analogue to digital. We will carefully be considering policies, including those that impact people with palliative and end of life care needs, with input from the public, patients, health staff, and our stakeholders as we develop the plan.
wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_62
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-07)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_62

Susan Murray:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to help ensure that primary care services are accessible to night workers during their normal waking hours. \p Stephen Kinnock: To accommodate patients who may not be able to access general practices during core opening hours, integrated care boards in England are required to provide general practice out of hours services from 18:30 to 08:00 on weekdays, all weekends, and on bank holidays.
wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_63
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-07)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_63

Max Wilkinson:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to increase capacity for training new GPs. \p Stephen Kinnock: We are committed to training thousands more general practitioners and will ensure that there is sufficient capacity in the National Health Service to deliver this.

To reform the NHS and make it fit for the future, we have launched a 10-Year Health Plan as part of Government’s five long-term missions. Ensuring we have the right people, in the right places, with the right skills will be central to this vision. We will publish a refreshed workforce plan to deliver the transformed health service we will build over the next decade, and treat patients on time again.
wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_64
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-07)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_64

Liz Jarvis:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to provide diagnostic training for GPs to recognise the symptoms of hyperemesis gravidarum. \p Stephen Kinnock: We recognise that hyperemesis gravidarum is a debilitating condition that can have a devastating impact on women and their families.

The standard of medical training is the responsibility of the General Medical Council (GMC), which is an independent statutory body. The GMC has the general function of promoting high standards of education and co-ordinating all stages of education to ensure that medical students and newly qualified doctors are equipped with the knowledge, skills, and attitudes essential for professional practice.

The curriculum for general practice (GP) specialty training is set by the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP), and must meet the standards set by the GMC and be formally approved by them. The curriculum emphasises the skills and approaches a GP must develop in order to ensure accurate and timely diagnoses and treatment plans for their patients. This is assessed by the Membership of the Royal College of General Practitioners Examination. The RCGP GP training curriculum includes “emesis” as a symptom of concern during pregnancy.

Qualified GPs are responsible for ensuring their own clinical knowledge remains up-to-date, and for identifying learning needs across their whole scope of practice, as part of their continuing professional development and professional evaluation by the GMC.
wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_65
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-07)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_65

Jenny Riddell-Carpenter:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of mandating the installation of defibrillators in all (a) visitor attractions and (b) entertainment venues in the UK that accommodate over a specified number of visitors annually. \p Ashley Dalton: No assessment has been made and there are no plans to mandate the installation of defibrillators at such locations, in light of the rapid expansion of automated external defibrillators across the United Kingdom.

There are now over 100,000 defibrillators in the UK registered on The Circuit, which represents an increase of 30,000 since September 2023. 58.6% of the over 100,000 defibrillators are accessible on a 24/7 basis.

The Circuit is operated independently by the British Heart Foundation, in partnership with the Resuscitation Council UK, the Association of Ambulance Chief Executives, and the National Health Service.
wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_66
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-07)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_66

Olivia Blake:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to reduce waiting times for adult ADHD assessments. \p Stephen Kinnock: Lord Darzi’s independent review of the National Health Service, published September 2024, highlighted the severe delays in access to attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) assessments and that demand for assessments for ADHD has grown significantly in recent years.

It is the responsibility of the integrated care boards (ICBs) in England to make appropriate provision to meet the health and care needs of their local population, including ADHD assessments, in line with relevant National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidelines.

NHS England has established an ADHD taskforce which is working to bring together those with lived experience with experts from the NHS, education, charity, and justice sectors to get a better understanding of the challenges affecting those with ADHD, including timely and equitable access to services and support, with the report expected in the summer.

In conjunction with the taskforce, NHS England has carried out detailed work to develop an ADHD data improvement plan to inform future service planning. NHS England has also captured examples from ICBs who are trialling innovative ways of delivering ADHD services, and is using this information to support systems to tackle ADHD waiting lists and provide support to address people’s needs.
wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_67
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-07)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_67

Nadia Whittome:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that people diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease have access to (a) appropriate information, (b) treatment options and (c) a multidisciplinary care team. \p Ashley Dalton: There are 27 specialised neurological treatment centres across the National Health Service in England, which provide access to neurological multidisciplinary teams to ensure that patients with Parkinson’s disease can receive specialised treatment and support, according to their needs.

Most services for long-term conditions are commissioned locally by integrated care boards (ICBs), including for Parkinson’s. It is the responsibility of ICBs, working with clinicians, service users, and patient groups, to develop local services and care pathways that are convenient and that meet patients’ needs.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) publishes guidance on the diagnosis and treatment of long-term conditions for use by healthcare professionals and commissioners. The NICE published Parkinson’s disease in adults guidance in July 2017, which is available at the following link:

https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng71/chapter/recommendations

The NICE guidance includes that communication with people with Parkinson's disease should aim towards empowering them to participate in judgements and choices about their own care, and individually tailored and consistent communication from the professionals involved.

We have launched a 10-Year Health Plan to reform the NHS and improve care for people with long-term conditions, such as Parkinson’s disease. A central and core part of the 10-Year Health Plan will be our workforce and how we ensure we train and provide the staff, technology, and infrastructure the NHS needs to make it more accessible, proactive, and tailored for patients.
wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_68
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-07)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_68

Gregory Stafford:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what discussions he has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the Transformation Fund announced in the Spring Statement 2025; and whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of using some of this money for the palliative and end of life care sector. \p Stephen Kinnock: We want a society where every person receives high-quality, compassionate care from diagnosis through to the end of life. The Government is determined to shift more healthcare out of hospitals and into the community, to ensure patients and their families receive personalised care in the most appropriate setting, and palliative and end of life care services will have a big role to play in that shift.

In February, I met with key palliative and end of life care and hospice stakeholders, in a roundtable format with a focus on long-term sector sustainability within the context of our 10-Year Health Plan.

As part of the Spring Statement, Government announced a £3.25 billion Transformation Fund to drive efficiencies across government and save money later in the Parliament, and set out how this would be allocated over the Spending Review process.

The Spending Review is underway, and details will be announced on 11 June 2025.
wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_69
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-07)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_69

Tim Farron:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on the availability of dental appointments for women. \p Stephen Kinnock: We are aware of the challenges faced in accessing a dentist and are committed to reducing health inequalities.

The Government plans to tackle the challenges for patients trying to access National Health Service dental care with a rescue plan to provide 700,000 more urgent dental appointments and recruit new dentists to the areas that need them most. To rebuild dentistry in the long term, we will reform the dental contract with the sector, with a shift to focus on prevention and the retention of NHS dentists.

The responsibility for commissioning primary care services, including NHS dentistry, to meet the needs of the local population has been delegated to the integrated care boards across England.
wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_70
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-07)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_70

Mr Peter Bedford:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of correcting cosmetic surgery undertaken by British Nationals abroad. \p Karin Smyth: The Department does not have data on the overall costs to the National Health Service for treating complications from cosmetic procedures conducted overseas. We are exploring ways to improve our understanding of the scale of the cost to the NHS.
wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_71
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-07)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_71

Helen Morgan:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate his Department has made of the potential change in the number of staff employed in (a) corporate and (b) other functions in the NHS in 2025-26. \p Karin Smyth: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.
wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_72
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-07)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_72

Helen Morgan:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many NHS trusts have informed his Department that they plan to reduce the number of staff employed for non-corporate functions. \p Karin Smyth: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.
wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_73
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-07)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_73

Helen Morgan:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many (a) integrated care boards and (b) NHS trusts have contacted his Department to discuss the potential cost of redundancies since 1 January 2025. \p Karin Smyth: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.
wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_74
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-07)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_74

Helen Hayes:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he plans to take through the NHS Long-Term Workforce Plan to reduce vacancy rates for Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons. \p Karin Smyth: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.
wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_75
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-07)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_75

Helen Morgan:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate his Department has made of the cost of redundancies in the NHS in 2025-26. \p Karin Smyth: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.
wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_76
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-07)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_76

Luke Murphy:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of training available to (a) Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services and (b) other healthcare staff on recognising and responding to anxiety-led behaviour in children. \p Stephen Kinnock: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.
wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_77
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-07)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_77

Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what information his Department holds on the number of patients who are registered with each General Practice in Huntingdon constituency. \p Stephen Kinnock: The following table shows the number of patients registered at each general practice in the Huntingdon constituency:

Practice code

Practice name

Total registered patients

D81004

ALCONBURY SURGERY

14,252

D81010

PRIORY FIELDS SURGERY

11,399

D81027

WELLSIDE SURGERY

7,957

D81030

GROVE MEDICAL PRACTICE

15,147

D81038

KIMBOLTON MEDICAL CENTRE

7,330

D81045

BUCKDEN SURGERY

10,467

D81049

SPINNEY SURGERY

11,785

D81050

THE HICKS GROUP PRACTICE

17,257

D81060

MOAT HOUSE SURGERY

7,578

D81081

GREAT STAUGHTON SURGERY

5,349

D81606

RIVERPORT MEDICAL PRACTICE

13,531

D81633

ACORN SURGERY

11,416
wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_78
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-07)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_78

Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 28 April 2025 to Question 46099 on General Practitioners: Average Earnings, what year the value of £15.94 per hour for Cambridgeshire relates to. \p Stephen Kinnock: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.
wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_79
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-07)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_79

Helen Morgan:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate his Department has made of the potential change in the number of (a) contracted staff and (b) bank and agency staff in the NHS in 2025-26. \p Karin Smyth: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.
wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_80
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-07)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_80

Olivia Blake:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what progress NHS England’s ADHD Taskforce has made on improving access to (a) services and (b) support. \p Stephen Kinnock: The Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) taskforce, established by NHS England, is working to bring together those with lived experience with experts from the National Health Service, education, charity, and justice sectors, to get a better understanding of the challenges affecting those with ADHD, including timely and equitable access to services and support. The taskforce is working closely with the Department for Education’s Neurodivergence Task and Finish Group to ensure consideration of joined up services and support across the health and education systems. The taskforce expects to publish its report in the summer.
wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_81
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-07)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_81

Helen Hayes:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate his Department has made of the vacancy rate of (a) Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon training posts and (b) Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon consultants. \p Karin Smyth: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.
wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_82
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-07)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_82

Tessa Munt:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether an application for authorisation of Sipavibart has been submitted to the the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency. \p Karin Smyth: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.
wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_83
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-07)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_83

Dr Simon Opher:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of self-care on demand on NHS services; and whether this will be reflected in the 10-Year Health Plan. \p Stephen Kinnock: Support for self-care is an essential service that all pharmacies must provide, and can include provision of advice, information, and where appropriate, the sale of over-the counter-medicines to patients, carers, and the general public, to support their self-care for minor ailments. This gives patients easy access to advice from highly trained and skilled healthcare professionals in the community and relieves pressure on other areas of the National Health Service.

Under Pharmacy First, NHS 111, general practitioners, and accident and emergency departments can refer patients to see a pharmacist for advice on a minor illness, which may include the sale of over-the-counter medicines. They can also refer patients to one of the Pharmacy First seven clinical pathways, as part of which pharmacies can supply prescription-only medicines to patients. Patients can also walk into a pharmacy for treatment as part of the seven clinical pathways.

The 10-Year Health Plan will describe a shared vision for the health and care system in 2035, drawing directly from the extensive engagement that has been undertaken with the public, patients, and staff. The plan will include how care models and pathways will need to change or evolve to better meet their needs, and the cultural and behavioural changes we want to see.
wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_84
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-07)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_84

Martin Wrigley:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to ensure that deafblind people are able to access care needs assessments. \p Stephen Kinnock: Under the Care Act 2014 and the Care and Support (Assessment) Regulations 2014, local authorities are responsible for ensuring that deafblind people in their area access the right care and support. This includes making contact with, and keeping a record of, all deafblind people in their area, and ensuring that needs assessments are carried out by a person who has specific training and expertise relating to individuals who are deafblind. In addition, under the Equality Act (2010), local authorities must make reasonable adjustments to ensure that disabled people are not disadvantaged.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) is assessing how well local authorities in England are performing against their duties under Part 1 of the Care Act 2014, including their duties relating to the access and provision of care and support for deafblind people. Support for deafblind people will form part of the CQC’s overall assessment of local authorities’ delivery of adult social care. In that context, the CQC will report on it when there is something important to highlight, for example, something being done well, an innovative practice, or an area for improvement. So far, the CQC has published over twenty assessments, with ratings of Requires Improvement, Good, and Outstanding. By identifying local authorities’ strengths and areas for improvement, CQC assessments facilitate the sharing of good practice and help us to target support where it is most needed. These steps will help ensure deafblind people are accessing needs assessments and appropriate care.
wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_85
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-07)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_85

Mike Martin:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to help improve access to NHS services for deaf people. \p Stephen Kinnock: Integrated care boards are responsible for commissioning services to meet the needs of their local population, including deaf people.

Under the Equality Act (2010), health and social care organisations must make reasonable adjustments to ensure that disabled people are not disadvantaged. The Reasonable Adjustment Digital Flag was developed in the National Repository to enable health and care workers to record, share, and view details of reasonable adjustments, across the National Health Service and social care, wherever the person is seen or treated. Following the launch of the Reasonable Adjustment Digital Flag Information Standard, published September 2023, the flag went live in the National Care Record Service and is being rolled out across England.

Since 2016, all NHS organisations and publicly funded social care providers are expected to meet the Accessible Information Standard (AIS), which details the recommended approach to supporting the information and communication support needs of patients and carers with a disability, impairment, or sensory loss, including deaf people. NHS England has been undertaking a review of the AIS to help ensure that the communication needs of people with a disability, impairment, or sensory loss are met in health and care provision. A revised AIS will be published in due course. In the meantime, the current AIS remains in force and therefore there should not be a gap in provision for people using services.
wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_86
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-07)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_86

Martin Wrigley:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of additional costs incurred during eye tests on low income households attending opticians. \p Stephen Kinnock: Free National Health Service sight tests are available to individuals on income-related benefits, and help is also available through the NHS low income scheme. An ophthalmic practitioner is required to undertake any clinically necessary tests to determine if a patient has any signs of injury, disease, or abnormality, and to refer the patient for any necessary further investigations. Therefore, no patient receiving a sight test under the NHS is required to incur any additional costs.

Additionally, NHS optical vouchers to help towards the cost of glasses or contact lenses are available for eligible groups, including people on income-related benefits, and through the NHS low-income scheme. Patients can use their voucher to purchase their optical appliance from a supplier of choice, and there are providers who offer a range of glasses within voucher value.
wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_87
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-07)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_87

Edward Morello:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he plans to take to improve (a) service delivery and (b) patient care standards in community pharmacies after the abolition of NHS England. \p Stephen Kinnock: The Government recognises that pharmacies are an integral part of the fabric of our communities, as an easily accessible ‘front door’ to the NHS, staffed by highly trained and skilled healthcare professionals.

All services delivered within a community pharmacy are delivered under the supervision of a pharmacist, who are regulated by the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC). The GPhC is the independent regulator of pharmacists, pharmacy technicians and registered pharmacy premises in Great Britain, and will remain unaffected by any changes to NHS England. GPhC sets standards for the education and training of pharmacists, pharmacy technicians and pharmacy support staff. They inspect pharmacies to ensure standards are met and act if there are concerns about a registered pharmacy or pharmacy professional.
wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_88
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-07)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_88

Neil Duncan-Jordan:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he plans to update the statutory guidance on the Autism Act. \p Stephen Kinnock: The House of Lords has established an Autism Act 2009 Committee, which is holding an inquiry to look at the Autism Act, the autism strategy, and the autism statutory guidance, and which will make recommendations to the Government by 30 November 2025. This will inform the Government’s future approach.
wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_89
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-07)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_89

Amanda Hack:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that carers in the adult social care sector (a) are adequately trained for the range of tasks they undertake, (b) spend the requisite amount of time with each client and (c) adhere to guidance relating to time sensitive medicines. \p Stephen Kinnock: The Government is committed to a well-supported adult social care workforce who are recognised as the professionals they are. We have expanded the Care Workforce Pathway and are continuing to fund the Learning Development Support Scheme to help care workers build their skills and careers in care. The scheme is backed by up to £12 million this financial year. Medication handling and administration are among the topics covered by the list of over 200 training courses and qualifications eligible for funding.

In addition, the sector is being supported to move from analogue to digital, through our digital skills offer. With the necessary skills, capability, and confidence, carers can adopt technologies such as Digital Social Care Records, which have been shown to release at least 20 minutes per care worker, per shift, to give staff more time interacting with people.

The Care Quality Commission monitors, inspects, and regulates adult social care services to make sure they meet fundamental standards of quality and safety. As per Regulation 18 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014, providers must deploy “sufficient numbers of suitably qualified, competent, skilled and experienced staff to enable them to meet the needs of the people using the service at all times”.
wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_90
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-07)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_90

James McMurdock:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to improve transparency around (i) care quality and (ii) safeguarding in domiciliary care services. \p Stephen Kinnock: To ensure adult social care providers, including domiciliary care services, meet fundamental standards of quality and safety, the Care Quality Commission (CQC) monitors, inspects, and regulates these services. All inspection reports on individual providers are made publicly available.

Dr Penny Dash undertook a review of the CQC’s operational effectiveness in 2024, during which she uncovered significant concerns about the CQC’s internal operation. In response, the CQC is taking immediate action to help ensure that it is carrying out its regulatory work with sufficient depth and frequency. This will enable the CQC to address delays in the reporting on the quality and safety of care in all care services, including domiciliary care services, increasing transparency for both providers and the public who use these services. I met with Sir Julian Hartley on 14 March 2025, where we discussed the CQC’s recent challenges, and how we will continue working closely together on key priorities.

Additionally, under the Care Act 2014, local authorities have statutory duties relating to safeguarding adults. Local Safeguarding Adults Boards help to provide transparency through a requirement that they carry out a Safeguarding Adult Review when an adult with care and support needs has died or has experienced serious abuse or neglect. The Department commissioned a national analysis of all such reviews that took place between 2019 and 2023. This work is published and serves to identify priorities for improvement, and is available at the following link:  https://www.local.gov.uk/publications/second-national-analysis-safeguarding-adult-reviews-april-2019-march-2023-executive#conclusions-and-improvement-priorities
wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_91
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-07)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_91

Dan Aldridge:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what measures his Department is taking to (a) monitor and (b) regulate care home fees. \p Stephen Kinnock: Under the Care Act 2014, local authorities are tasked with the duty to shape their care markets to meet the diverse needs of all local people. This includes commissioning a diverse range of care and support services that enable people to access quality care.

Section 4.31 of the Care and Support Statutory (CASS) guidance states that when commissioning services, local authorities should assure themselves and have evidence that the contract terms, conditions, and fee levels for care and support services are appropriate to provide the delivery of the agreed care packages with the agreed quality of care. Further information on the CASS guidance can be found at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/care-act-statutory-guidance/care-and-support-statutory-guidance.

Fee rates are set by providers of adult social care, the majority of which are in the independent sector. The Department does not have powers to set or recommend the level of fees that care homes charge.

As part of our monitoring of the Market Sustainability and Improvement Fund grant conditions, and to understand fee rates more generally, local authorities are required to provide an annual return to the Department which includes data on the fee rates they pay care providers. The Government publishes this data annually, with the latest being available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/market-sustainability-and-improvement-fund-2024-to-2025-care-provider-fees/market-sustainability-and-improvement-fund-msif-provider-fee-reporting-2024-to-2025

Please note this does not include data on fee rates for those that pay for their own care, known as self-funders.
wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_92
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-07)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_92

Fabian Hamilton:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent discussions he has had with NHS England on improving access to speech and language therapy for people with Primary Progressive Aphasia. \p Stephen Kinnock: The Government is committed to improving care for everyone with dementia, including those with primary progressive aphasia.

That is why we have funded the work of the D100: Assessment Tool Pathway programme, which brings together multiple resources into a single, consolidated tool. This will help to simplify best practice for busy system leaders and create communities and services where the best possible care and support is available to those with dementia.

A number of experts, including those with expertise in speech and language therapy and dementia care, provided independent, desktop analysis of the tool, and this invaluable feedback was integrated into the revised edition. The D100: Pathway Assessment Tool is available at the following link:

https://www.rcpsych.ac.uk/improving-care/nccmh/service-design-and-development/dementia-100-pathway-assessment-tool
wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_93
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-07)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_93

Gregor Poynton:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to reduce the time taken for cancer diagnoses. \p Ashley Dalton: Our Plan for Change is already making an impact. In February, the proportion of patients getting a diagnosis or an all clear within four weeks was the highest yet. After outlining renewed focus on cancer standards in the Elective Reform Plan, we set new targets for faster diagnosis in the NHS 2025/26 Planning Guidance.

Our National Cancer Plan will cover the whole pathway, including diagnosis.
wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_94
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-07)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_94

Adam Dance:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate he has made of the number of letters on NHS (a) appointments and (b) test results received late by patients in Yeovil constituency. \p Karin Smyth: Data is not held centrally in the format requested.
wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_95
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-07)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_95

Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 8 April 2025 to Question 43807 on NHS: Carbon Emissions, how much will be spent each year on solar generation from the £100 million partnership with Great British Energy. \p Karin Smyth: Capital funding for this programme is available in the 2025/26 financial year, and is for the procurement and installation of solar panels and battery storage only. As announced on 21 March 2025, £100 million has been provisionally allocated to projects covering approximately 200 National Health Service sites at 78 trusts. The lifespan of the solar panels to be delivered has been estimated at 30 years, and total savings are estimated at approximately £260 million. This includes consideration of operational and maintenance costs and panel performance over time.

Any future funding for NHS solar investment will be confirmed through the Spending Review.