theodi/ndl-core-corpus huggingface dataset:
wrans/answers2025-03-13 conversation_9
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-13)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-13 conversation_9

Harpreet Uppal:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he plans to include diabetes (a) care and (b) prevention in the NHS 10-year plan. \p Ashley Dalton: The 10-Year Health Plan will deliver the three big shifts our National Health Service needs to be fit for the future: from hospital to community; from analogue to digital; and from sickness to prevention. All of these are relevant to improving diabetes care in all parts of the country.

More tests and scans delivered in the community, better joint working between services, and greater use of apps and wearable technology will all help people manage their long-term conditions, including diabetes, closer to home. Moving from sickness to prevention will help us reduce the causes of the biggest killers, and provide treatment earlier, rather than only intervening when conditions deteriorate.

As part of the work to develop a 10-Year Health Plan, we have launched a significant public engagement process, and we would encourage all those with an interest in diabetes services to take part in that process so that we can fully understand what is not working as well as it should, and what the potential solutions are. Further information is available at the following link:

https://change.nhs.uk/en-GB/
wrans/answers2025-03-13 conversation_10
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-13)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-13 conversation_10

Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on the potential impact of untreated musculoskeletal conditions on levels of lost workdays. \p Ashley Dalton: Over 17 million people in England live with a musculoskeletal (MSK) condition, which are a leading cause of ill-health related economic inactivity, with 23.4 million working days lost across the United Kingdom in 2022 due to this. Improving health and work outcomes will help deliver the Government's missions to build a National Health Service fit for the future and kickstart economic growth.

The Get Britain Working white paper sets out the Government’s plans to reform employment, health, and skills support, to tackle rising economic inactivity levels. The white paper announced the joint Department for Work and Pensions, Department of Health and Social Care, and NHS England Getting It Right First Time MSK Community Delivery Programme, which has been working directly with integrated care boards in England to reduce MSK community waiting times and enable referral pathways to wider support services.

As part of the mission led Government, regular cross Government collaboration takes place at both a ministerial and official level.
wrans/answers2025-03-13 conversation_11
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-13)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-13 conversation_11

Freddie van Mierlo:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of commissioning of the use of Visualase for Inoperable brain tumours on the NHS. \p Ashley Dalton: The decision to commission new services sits with integrated care boards (ICBs), overseen by NHS England. For proposed new treatments which require additional investment, NHS England carries out a relative prioritisation process to determine which services will be routinely commissioned.

NHS England and the National Institution for Clinical Excellence have conducted literature reviews on the effectiveness of MRI-guided laser interstitial thermal therapy (MRgLITT), which includes Visualase, to treat different conditions relating to inoperable brain tumours. Studies have shown very low certainty of treatment success, and it was not possible to draw reliable conclusions about the clinical effectiveness, safety or cost effectiveness of MRgLITT compared with continued medical therapy.

However, the Government is invested in driving new lifesaving and life-improving research, supporting those diagnosed and living with brain tumours. The Department, NHS England, and the National Institute for Health Care and Research (NIHR) are taking several steps to help improve outcomes for brain tumour patients to ensure the most promising research opportunities are made available to adult and child patients.

Furthermore, we will publish a new National Cancer Plan, which will include further details on how we will improve outcomes for cancer patients, including improvement treatment options for cancer patients.
wrans/answers2025-03-13 conversation_12
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-13)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-13 conversation_12

Rupert Lowe:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what his Department's timetable is for the completion of the James Paget Hospital rebuild. \p Karin Smyth: The pre-construction activity for the James Paget Hospital scheme, which includes business case development and critical enabling works, is ongoing, with construction of the main hospital build expected to commence in 2027/28 as part of Wave 1 of the New Hospital Programme (NHP).

The expected completion dates for all schemes will be confirmed following the approval of a Full Business Case as set out in the HM Treasury Green Book and is usual for large infrastructure projects.

We have made clear that we will expediate reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) schemes in the NHP, including James Paget Hospital. To support this approach, my Rt. Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, has commissioned an updated site by site report, due in summer 2025, to inform decisions on the delivery of the replacement hospitals. The site-by-site report on all seven RAAC hospitals will help inform individual development plans, which includes continued mitigation works as well as addressing the highest risk elements as early as possible through phasing of works. The report will be based on an up-to-date assessment of the safety of the hospital site now, and in future.
wrans/answers2025-03-13 conversation_13
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-13)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-13 conversation_13

Martin Wrigley:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the supply shortage of Quetiapine modified-release tablets on patients. \p Karin Smyth: The Department is aware of the supply issues affecting several brands and tablet strengths of quetiapine modified release tablets. Following the Department working with suppliers, there have been improvements in the supply through February and early March, with improvements in supply expected to continue through to May, and full resolution expected in October 2025. The Department continues to work with the suppliers of quetiapine modified release tablets to bring forward these future deliveries. Working with National Health Service specialists, we have provided comprehensive management advice for this supply issue, advising healthcare professionals on how to manage patients during this time, and are providing up to date information on the availability of the impacted medicines. The Department continues to engage with representatives from the pharmacy sector on the supply of quetiapine modified-release tablets. Any patient who is worried about their condition, or access to these medications, should speak to their clinician in the first instance.
wrans/answers2025-03-13 conversation_14
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-13)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-13 conversation_14

John Cooper:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 10 February 2025 to Question 27757 on DHSC: cost of external public affairs, how many communications staff work in his Department. \p Karin Smyth: The Department had 90 full-time equivalent staff in post working in the Communications Directorate at the end of January 2025; this is a reduction from a headcount of 110 in July 2021. Staff in this Directorate cover a broad range of communications roles including media relations, marketing and branding, public health and prevention campaigns, internal communications and external publishing on GOV.UK.
wrans/answers2025-03-13 conversation_15
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-13)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-13 conversation_15

Dr Luke Evans:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many Remedial Service Statements (a) are required in total (b) have been issued to date (c) are calculated and awaiting fulfilment and (d) still outstanding. \p Karin Smyth: The NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA), the scheme administrator, has identified that 381,920 remedial service statements are required for affected members who have retired. Of these, 21 statements have been issued and 393 have been calculated and are awaiting fulfilment, and 381,506 are outstanding.

A revised delivery plan for remedial service statements is currently in production and will be communicated with affected individuals within the coming weeks. The Department recognises the importance of issuing the remedial service statements to members in a timely way and is working with the NHSBSA to increase delivery.
wrans/answers2025-03-13 conversation_16
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-13)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-13 conversation_16

Jim Shannon:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 8 October 2024 to Question 5319 on Peripheral Arterial Disease, if he will make it his policy to ensure that hospitals revascularise patients with chronic limb-threatening ischaemia within five days of admission. \p Karin Smyth: In 2022, NHS England commissioned a two-year Commissioning for Quality and Innovation (CQUIN) scheme, which incentivised the adoption of the Vascular Peripheral Arterial Disease Quality Improvement Framework, to support timely interventions for revascularisation. This measures the proportion of patients who have a diagnosis of chronic limb threatening ischaemia (CLTI) who undergo revascularisation within five days of a non-elective admission to vascular providers.

NHS England commissions the National Vascular Registry (NVR) to provide information on the quality and outcomes of care for adults who have major vascular procedures. The NVR provides annual and quarterly reports for emergency and elective vascular procedures, including for those people with peripheral arterial disease who undergo either a lower limb angioplasty/stent, lower limb bypass surgery, or a major lower limb amputation. From quarter one of 2022 to quarter four of 2024, NVR data demonstrated that vascular providers achieving the CQUIN standard had increased from 47% to 55%. During this period, the number of providers submitting data to the NVR had increased by approximately 14%, and every National Health Service region showed an improvement in CLTI revascularisation quality.

Furthermore, NHS England has commissioned the NVR to facilitate an ‘outliers’ process, in which vascular providers are monitored on several key performance metrics, including CLTI revascularisation. NHS England continues to monitor all specialised vascular disease services via the NVR, working in collaboration with NHS England’s regional teams and the integrated care boards.
wrans/answers2025-03-13 conversation_17
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-13)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-13 conversation_17

Freddie van Mierlo:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to (a) ensure the interoperability of NHS IT systems and (b) reduce duplication across NHS IT systems. \p Karin Smyth: Regulations will be introduced shortly to Parliament to commence section 95 of the Health and Care Act 2022 and establish the process for preparing and publishing information standards, which will be mandatory for public and private health and adult social care providers. In addition, the Data (Use and Access) Bill, which is currently before Parliament, will make information standards mandatory for IT suppliers in the health and care system and will provide support for ensuring compliance.

Information standards define a common set of requirements that must be followed when health and adult social care information is used, processed, and shared. Mandatory information standards can be set to provide for interoperability between IT systems, allowing for information to be shared easily, in real time, between organisations that use different systems, to improve outcomes for patients, and the productivity of the National Health Service.

To achieve the vision of a digitised NHS by March 2026, the current patchwork of digitisation across the system must be remedied, to reduce duplication and ensure that the NHS is better able to harness the power of data and technology.

Through the NHS Federated Data Platform (FDP), we have been supporting trusts and integrated care boards to access the information they already hold in a single, secure place. The NHS FDP is software that sits across existing systems, making it possible to connect them, and thereby reducing duplication and improving efficiency.

Through the Frontline Digitisation programme, we are supporting levelling up integrated care systems (ICS) and trusts to a baseline level of digital capability, as defined in our Minimum Digital Foundation. The What Good Looks Like guidance sets a common vision for good digital practice to empower frontline leaders to accelerate digital transformation in their organisations and reduce duplication.

The NHS App provides the digital front door for citizens to access whichever national or locally commissioned services will best meet their needs. Each ICS can use these channels to support the delivery of their own digital transformation programmes. We also provide services that can be utilised by health and care organisations through their own system solutions, for example NHS.UK website’s syndicated content or the NHS App notification and messaging service. By enabling others to use our channels and services, we reduce duplication of investment and effort, and create efficiencies across the system.
wrans/answers2025-03-13 conversation_18
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-13)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-13 conversation_18

Rupert Lowe:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what costs from the treatment of chargeable overseas visitors (a) are outstanding and (b) have been written off in 2024. \p Karin Smyth: The Department publishes data on the income identified from chargeable overseas visitors in England in its Annual Report and Accounts. The consolidated NHS provider accounts published cash payments received, and amounts written-off in-year by the National Health Service from overseas visitors.

The following table shows these amounts in 2023/24:

Year

2023/24

Aggregate income identified

£123,000,000

Cash payments received in-year

£42,000,000

Amounts written off in-year

£44,000,000

Source: Department of Health and Social Care Annual Report and Accounts and Consolidated NHS provider accounts.

NHS charges can be recovered up to six years from the date of invoice, and therefore the amount recovered in a year does not necessarily mean it was identified in the same financial year.
wrans/answers2025-03-13 conversation_19
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-13)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-13 conversation_19

Tom Morrison:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to support (a) the NHS Greater Manchester Integrated Care System and (b) other NHS bodies with (i) financial deficits and (ii) cash flow. \p Karin Smyth: NHS England has a range of mechanisms and guidance in place to support local organisations to improve their financial management. As part of the Oversight Framework, which is currently being refreshed, NHS England closely monitors the financial performance of providers and systems, intervening and providing support where there is concern about a risk of overspending against agreed plans.

The Investigation and Intervention programme was established in 2024/25 to help National Health Service systems that were facing significant risk to their finances. Following a comprehensive review, a series of actions and interventions are implemented to rectify the risks within their plan. The Greater Manchester Integrated Care System entered the Investigation and Intervention programme in July 2024 and has received external support to develop and implement a financial recovery plan that does not adversely impact patient care or service delivery.

Organisations with the largest financial challenges will enter NHS England's Recovery Support Programme (RSP) and will receive assistance from the National Intensive Support Team to strengthen financial control. Support for organisations who have entered the RSP can include, but is not limited to, specialist support to reduce use of agency staffing, implementation of cost controls, and full implementation of the grip and control checklist. The Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust entered the RSP in November 2022 and is currently being supported by its intensive support team to review its spending and recovery plans.

These support mechanisms should ensure the continuity of services and patient safety, and ultimately where NHS trusts need help with cash flow, the Department will provide cash support in the form of Public Dividend Capital. To date, NHS trusts within the Greater Manchester Integrated Care System have received £22.4 million of cash support in 2024/25, with the Stockport NHS Foundation Trust receiving £15.6 million and the Tameside and Glossop Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust receiving £6.8 million.
wrans/answers2025-03-13 conversation_20
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-13)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-13 conversation_20

Helena Dollimore:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 4 February 2025 to Question 24568 on Department of Health and Social Care: Media, which Ministers received media training. \p Karin Smyth: Between 4 July 2022 and 4 July 2024, media training was received by Minister Caroline Johnson MP, the then Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Mental Health and Public Health, and Lord Markham, the then Parliamentary Under Secretary of State.
wrans/answers2025-03-13 conversation_21
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-13)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-13 conversation_21

Andrew Rosindell:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many NHS prescriptions for cannabis-based products have been issued in Romford constituency in each year since 2018. \p Karin Smyth: The following table shows the total number of cannabis-based medicines with a marketing authorisation, namely nabilone, sativex, and epidyolex, dispensed in the community in the North East London Integrated Care Board against a National Health Service prescription, each year from 2018 to 2024:

Calendar year

Number of prescription items

2018

22

2019

27

2020

14

2021

30

2022

44

2023

61

2024

72

Source: NHS Business Services Authority.

Data on unlicensed cannabis-based medicines is withheld in accordance with the UK General Data Protection Regulations, due to the number of items attributed to fewer than ten patients and the enhanced risk of release of patient identifiable information.
wrans/answers2025-03-13 conversation_22
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-13)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-13 conversation_22

Sir John Hayes:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what proportion of food procured by his Department is sourced in the UK. \p Karin Smyth: During 2023/24, 72% of the food procured by the Department was produced in the United Kingdom.
wrans/answers2025-03-13 conversation_23
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-13)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-13 conversation_23

Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent steps his Department has taken to improve (a) maternity and (b) perinatal outcomes. \p Karin Smyth: NHS England’s three-year delivery plan for maternity and neonatal services is making good progress in rolling out new services to improve maternity and perinatal outcomes. All local areas have published Equity and Equality action plans setting out local action to tackle ethnic inequalities in maternal and neonatal outcomes; all 150 maternity and neonatal units in England are currently part of the Perinatal Culture and Leadership programme; there are important improvements to safety through version three of Saving Babies Live Care Bundle; and families are being engaged more through additional funding for Maternity and Neonatal Voices Partnerships.

NHS England is also rolling out perinatal pelvic health services and maternal mental health services to reduce rates of perineal tears, provide additional mental health support and improve outcomes for women.
wrans/answers2025-03-13 conversation_24
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-13)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-13 conversation_24

Lee Barron:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking tackle the shortfall in the children's health and therapy workforce across integrated care systems. \p Karin Smyth: The refreshed Long Term Workforce Plan, which will be published in summer 2025, will deliver the transformed health service we will build over the next decade, to treat patients on time again. We will ensure we have the staff we need so that children and their families are cared for by the right professional, when and where they need it. This will take time, but we are committed to building a health service fit for the future with the workforce it needs.
wrans/answers2025-03-13 conversation_25
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-13)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-13 conversation_25

Matt Bishop:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to support maternity services in the Forest of Dean constituency. \p Karin Smyth: Several steps are being taken to support maternity services in the Forest of Dean constituency, in addition to those being delivered nationally through the three-year delivery plan for maternity and neonatal services across England. These include, but are not limited to:
wrans/answers2025-03-13 conversation_26
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-13)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-13 conversation_26

Sonia Kumar:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to increase the allied health professional workforce. \p Karin Smyth: The refreshed Long Term Workforce Plan, which will be published in summer 2025, will deliver the transformed health service we will build over the next decade, and will ensure that the National Health Service has the right people, including allied health professionals, in the right places, with the right skills to deliver the care patients need, when they need it.
wrans/answers2025-03-13 conversation_27
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-13)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-13 conversation_27

Leigh Ingham:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment he has made of the levels of ambulance delays for Category (a) 1, (b) 2, (c) 3 and (d) 4 calls; and what assessment he has made of the impact of ambulance delays on healthcare in Stafford constituency in the last 12 months. \p Karin Smyth: Ambulance services in Stafford are provided by the West Midlands Ambulance Service NHS Trust, with responsibility for commissioning services a matter for the local Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Integrated Care Board. Any assessment of the specific local actions needed to improve response times should be undertaken and agreed locally by National Health Service organisations in the best interests of the local population and patients.

At a national level, the Government and NHS England are committed to improving ambulance response times. The NHS 2025/26 priorities and operational planning guidance sets national priorities, which include improving accident and emergency waiting times and ambulance response times compared to 2024/25.
wrans/answers2025-03-13 conversation_28
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-13)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-13 conversation_28

Anna Sabine:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the criteria is for medication for long-term illnesses to be exempt from prescription charges. \p Karin Smyth: There are no current plans to review the list of prescription charge exemptions or the list of medical conditions that entitle someone to apply for a medical exemption certificate.

There are extensive arrangements in place in England to ensure that prescriptions are affordable for everyone. Approximately 89% of prescription items are dispensed free of charge in the community in England, and there is a wide range of exemptions from prescription charges already in place for which those with chronic illnesses may be eligible. Eligibility depends on the patient’s age, whether they are in qualifying full-time education, whether they are pregnant or have recently given birth, whether they have a qualifying medical condition or whether they are in receipt of certain benefits or a war pension.

People on low incomes can apply for help with their health costs through the NHS Low Income Scheme. People who need to pay and need many prescription items could save money with a prescription prepayment certificate (PPC). PPCs allow people to claim as many prescriptions as they need for a set cost, with three-month and 12-month certificates available. The 12-month PPC can be paid for in ten monthly direct debit instalments.

The list of specified medical conditions that provide exemption from prescription charges is available at the following link:

https://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/check-if-you-have-nhs-exemption/medical-exemption-certificates

The exemption covers all the patient’s prescriptions, not just those for the qualifying condition.
wrans/answers2025-03-13 conversation_29
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-13)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-13 conversation_29

Nick Timothy:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will list (a) ambulance substations and (b) the number of ambulances permanently located in the East of England in (i) January 2025 and (ii) February 2025. \p Karin Smyth: The information requested is not held centrally. The location of ambulance stations is held locally by ambulance services. The East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust publishes a list of ambulance stations on its website, which is available at the following link:

https://www.eastamb.nhs.uk/join-the-team/working-for-us/EEAST-station-list

The East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust has reported that it provides services through 577 ambulances.
wrans/answers2025-03-13 conversation_30
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-13)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-13 conversation_30

Sadik Al-Hassan:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if his Department will make an assessment of the potential impact of National Institute for Health and Care Excellence proposed changes to its Highly Specialised Technology routing criteria on access to medicines for people living with rare diseases. \p Karin Smyth: Decisions on whether medicines should be evaluated by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) through its highly specialised technologies (HST) programme are taken by NICE itself against a set of published criteria that have been developed through public and stakeholder engagement.

NICE is currently reviewing its HST criteria and has recently closed its public consultation on proposed changes. NICE will discuss the updated criteria at its Public Board Meeting on 19 March 2025.

The purpose of the review is not to change the number or nature of the topics that are evaluated through the HST programme, but to ensure that the criteria are sufficiently clear and predictable for companies and patient groups and are aligned to the HST vision. The aims of the HST programme will remain unchanged. It is intended to: encourage research on, and innovation for, very rare conditions when there are challenges in generating an evidence base that is robust enough to bring the product to market; secure fairer and more equitable treatment access for very small populations with very rare diseases; and recognise that an approach that maximises health gain for the NHS may not always be acceptable; it could deliver results that are not equitable.

Since 2022/23, NICE has been able to recommend 13 out of 14 medicines that it has appraised through its HST programme.
wrans/answers2025-03-13 conversation_31
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-13)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-13 conversation_31

Clive Jones:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of AI radiotherapy auto-contouring on (a) patient outcomes, (b) productivity and (c) workforce retention. \p Karin Smyth: Artificial intelligence (AI) technologies have huge potential in improving productivity across the National Health Service by supporting clinicians with faster and more accurate diagnosis, enhancing clinical decision-making about treatment plans, and reducing the administrative burden faced by healthcare staff. The Department and NHS England are developing guidance for the responsible use of these tools and how they can be rolled out to make the day-to-day operations of the NHS more productive and provide better outcomes for patients.

The Department is focusing the £21 million AI Diagnostic Fund on the integration of AI technologies in key, high-demand areas such as radiology, particularly for chest x-rays and chest computed tomography scans to enable faster diagnosis and treatment of lung cancer in over half of acute trusts in England. This will not only allow patients to be diagnosed and treated sooner, but will also lower the demands on NHS staff, improving morale and staff retention.

In addition, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), sponsored by the Department, evaluates new health technologies for NHS use, considering clinical effectiveness, value for money, and impacts on staff. As part of this, the NICE conducts Early Value Assessments (EVA) for developers, reviewing their AI tools before they are deployed. For the NHS, EVAs aim to give the NHS a clear signal about which innovations work, offer good value for money, and meet system needs, including productivity gains for staff.

The NICE has recommended that AI technologies can be used in the NHS to help with the contouring of computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging scans, to plan radiotherapy treatment for people having external beam radiotherapy. Technologies such as these have been shown to contour images almost two and a half times faster than a human. This reduction in time could support the reduction of backlogs, ensure patients receive treatment sooner, save money, and allow healthcare professionals to spend more time with patients.
wrans/answers2025-03-13 conversation_32
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-13)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-13 conversation_32

Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent steps his Department has taken to reduce gynaecology waiting lists. \p Karin Smyth: At the end of December 2024, the referral to treatment (RTT) gynaecology waiting list stood at 586,013 across England, with 55.4% of patient pathways waiting within 18 weeks.

As set out in the Plan for Change, we have committed to return to the National Health Service constitutional standard that 92% of patients, including those waiting for gynaecological care, wait no longer than 18 weeks from RTT by March 2029.  We provided additional investment in the Autumn Budget that has enabled us to deliver an additional two million appointments as a First Step to achieving this, seven months ahead of schedule.

The Elective Reform Plan, published in January 2025, sets out the reform we will undertake to return to the 18-week standard, and ensure patients have the best possible experience while they wait. This includes commitments to offer patients care closer to home, in the community, including piloting gynaecology pathways in community diagnostic centres for patients with unscheduled bleeding on hormone replacement therapy. We have also committed to increasing the relative funding available to support gynaecology procedures with the largest waiting lists and reviewing support options from the independent sector.
wrans/answers2025-03-13 conversation_33
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-13)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-13 conversation_33

Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent steps he has taken to help improve the quality of maternity care in (a) Slough, (b) Berkshire and (c) England. \p Karin Smyth: NHS England’s three-year delivery plan for maternity and neonatal services has made good progress across England by rolling out of new maternal mental health services, Saving Babies Live Care Bundles and families are being engaged more through additional funding for Maternity and Neonatal Voices Partnerships.

Improvement to Slough and East Berkshire maternity services include alignment with the three-year delivery plan which include but are not limited to: the recruitment of more midwives to significantly reduce vacancies and have minimal shortages by 2025; increased access to services through a new maternity hub in Crowthorne; piloting a perinatal pelvic health service that provides women with information about pelvic health risks, signs of pelvic floor dysfunction, and prevention strategies; the implementation of the MAMAs phone line, a triage service staffed by midwives with interpretation services; a Rapid Communication Aid being developed to assist in identifying patient needs in 30 languages; free midwife-led antenatal education classes in Urdu being launched, focusing on birth preparation for over 24 weeks gestation; a culturally competent genetics service being established to support informed decision-making for Close Relative Couples; and equity training for staff on mandatory update day.

The Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust has focused on addressing inequalities by improving access to perinatal mental health services and antenatal and preconception information and promoting an increase in folic acid uptake.
wrans/answers2025-03-13 conversation_34
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-13)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-13 conversation_34

Jim Shannon:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many women have had mastectomies in the last three years. \p Karin Smyth: The following table shows a count of Finished Consultant Episodes at hospitals in England for female patients where there was any procedure of mastectomy, from 2021/22 to 2024/25:

Year

Total excision of breast, or complete mastectomies

Other excision of breast, or partial mastectomies

2021/22

16,941

44,123

2022/23

16,525

44,581

2023/24

16,994

44,145

2024/25

12,287

33,811

Source: Hospital Episode Statistics, NHS England.

The data for 2024/25 is provisional and covers the period from April to December 2024. Provisional data may be incomplete or contain errors for which no adjustments have yet been made. In addition, the data is a count of activity, not patients. A patient may have had more than one admission within this requested timeframe, and may therefore be counted multiple times.
wrans/answers2025-03-13 conversation_35
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-13)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-13 conversation_35

Terry Jermy:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when he plans to publish the outcomes from the 2025/26 NHS Payment Scheme consultation, which closed on 28 February 2025. \p Karin Smyth: The outcome of the consultation will be published shortly, once all responses received have been fully considered and any decisions made about the final payment scheme.
wrans/answers2025-03-13 conversation_36
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-13)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-13 conversation_36

Steve Darling:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps should be taken prior to a test for change on a healthcare offer. \p Karin Smyth: The Getting It Right First Time (GIRFT) programme is a national NHS England programme designed to improve the treatment and care of patients through an in-depth review of services and benchmarking, and by presenting a data-driven evidence base to support change. This key Government priority sits within my departmental portfolio.

The GIRFT team is working with systems and regions to help the National Health Service embed best practice in elective care, to reduce waiting times, improve patient outcomes and, ultimately, to support delivery of the commitment that 92% of all patients will wait no longer than 18 weeks from referral-to-treatment by March 2029.

Responsibility for the delivery, implementation, and funding of healthcare services ultimately rests with the appropriate NHS commissioning body. All service changes should be based on clear evidence that they will deliver better outcomes for patients. All substantial planned service change is subject to a full public consultation and must meet the Government and NHS England’s ‘tests’ to ensure good decision making.
wrans/answers2025-03-13 conversation_37
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-13)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-13 conversation_37

Jim Shannon:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many people are being prescribed Ozempic for weight loss in the UK. \p Karin Smyth: Ozempic is only licenced for the treatment of type 2 diabetes and can only be prescribed off-label for use in weight management.

The data requested is not held centrally. Although the NHS Business Services Authority collects data on the number of prescriptions dispensed in England for Ozempic, they do not collect data on the clinical condition it is prescribed for.
wrans/answers2025-03-13 conversation_38
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-13)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-13 conversation_38

Freddie van Mierlo:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will direct NHS England to update the guidance on gluten-free food prescriptions in the document entitled Prescribing Gluten-Free Foods in Primary Care: Guidance for Clinical Commissioning Groups, published on 28 November 2018. \p Karin Smyth: NHS England currently has no plans to update the guidance. NHS England’s guidance on prescribing gluten-free foods in primary care was developed in 2018 to communicate to the then clinical commissioning groups (CCGs). The guidance stated that CCGs may further restrict the prescribing of gluten-free foods by selecting bread and mixes only, or that they may choose to end the prescribing of such foods altogether, having considered whether it is appropriate for their population, taking account of their legal duties to advance equality and have regard of reducing health inequalities.

Decisions about the commissioning and funding of local health services are now the responsibility of local integrated care boards (ICBs), rather than the CCGs. NHS England’s guidance should be taken into account when ICBs formulate local policies, and prescribers are expected to reflect local policies in their prescribing practice. The guidance does not remove the clinical discretion of prescribers in accordance with their professional duties.

The national prescribing position in England remains that gluten free bread and mixes can be provided to coeliac patients on a National Health Service prescription, and a wide range of these items continue to be listed in part XV of the Drug Tariff. This means that prescribers can issue NHS prescriptions, based on a shared decision between a prescriber and a patient, while also being mindful of local and national guidance.
wrans/answers2025-03-13 conversation_39
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-13)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-13 conversation_39

Anna Dixon:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the need for a resettlement scheme to support Palestinian refugees seeking asylum in the UK. \p Seema Malhotra: The UK has a long history of providing protection through various resettlement routes to supporting the most vulnerable people in the world.

We keep all existing pathways under review and we are closely monitoring the events in Gaza,

Palestinians who wish to settle in the UK can do so via the existing routes available which allow a person to apply to work, study, settle or join family in the UK. Further information can be found on the GOV.UK website: Visas and immigration - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).
wrans/answers2025-03-13 conversation_40
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-13)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-13 conversation_40

Steve Barclay:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of (a) 14 February 2025 to Question 30619 on Deportation and (b) 25 February 2025 to Question 33426, how many appeals against deportation orders have sought to rely on rights under the ECHR in the most recent period for which figures are available for and in which a manual review would not be of disproportionate cost. \p Dame Angela Eagle: The information requested is not currently available from published statistics, and the relevant data could only be collated and verified for the purpose of answering this question at disproportionate cost.
wrans/answers2025-03-13 conversation_41
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-13)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-13 conversation_41

Luke Taylor:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will offer asylum and temporary travel documents to pro-democracy activists in Hong Kong. \p Dame Angela Eagle: The UK has a proud history of providing protection for those who need it through a number of safe and legal routes, including a route for British National Overseas (BNO) passport holders coming from Hong Kong. However, those non BNO passport holders who need international protection should claim asylum in the first safe country they reach – that is the fastest route to safety.
wrans/answers2025-03-13 conversation_42
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-13)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-13 conversation_42

Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to para 2.19 of the National Audit Office report entitled Local Government financial sustainability, published in February 2025, HC691, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of levels of demand for asylum accommodation on prices for local authorities to procure accommodation. \p Dame Angela Eagle: The Home Office continues to work closely with local authorities to manage all the pressures arising from the provision of asylum accommodation including the impact on wider LA obligations and plans.
wrans/answers2025-03-13 conversation_43
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-13)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-13 conversation_43

Liz Jarvis:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she plans to remove barriers for families of non-UK Armed Forces personnel to stay in the UK. \p Seema Malhotra: HM Armed Forces personnel are exempt from immigration control in service. Those who do not naturalise as British during service, can apply for settlement under Appendix HM Armed Forces of the Immigration Rules on discharge when their exemption from immigration control ends, up to 18 weeks before their discharge, or for two years after.

HM Armed Forces personnel can be accompanied by their family members, and there are special Immigration Rules in place to ensure that those who serve, have served, or their family members are not disadvantaged due to that service. This takes into account the unique nature of their service, the Armed Forces Covenant, and the recruitment and retention of HM Armed Forces personnel in order to maintain national security.

A manifesto commitment was made to “strengthen support for our Armed Forces communities by putting Armed Forces Covenant fully into law”, and to “scrap visa fees for non-UK veterans who have served for four or more years, and their dependants.”.

We continue to keep this policy under review in the context of our wider considerations of various aspects of the immigration system.
wrans/answers2025-03-13 conversation_44
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-13)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-13 conversation_44

Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate she has made of the number of suspected age misidentifications at the UK border in each of the last five years. \p Dame Angela Eagle: There is no single age assessment technique, or combination of techniques, able to determine age with complete precision, but the Government continues to work to establish the best available processes and techniques to improve the accuracy of our age assessment results.
wrans/answers2025-03-13 conversation_45
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-13)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-13 conversation_45

Martin Wrigley:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will offer indefinite right to remain for Ukrainians on the Homes for Ukraine scheme. \p Seema Malhotra: The Ukraine Permission Extension Scheme opened to applications on 4 February 2025, which enables Ukrainians in the UK under the Ukraine visa schemes to apply for a further 18 months’ temporary permission to remain in the UK.

We recognise the Ukrainian government’s desire for the future return of its citizens to Ukraine to assist in the rebuilding of the country. It is important our approach respects these wishes.

This is why the temporary sanctuary Ukraine visa Schemes do not lead to settlement in the UK.

There are other routes available for those who wish to settle in the UK permanently, if they meet the requirements.
wrans/answers2025-03-13 conversation_46
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-13)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-13 conversation_46

Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 6 February 2025 to Question 28420 on Undocumented Migrants: Repatriation, when she plans to publish the Home Office annual report and accounts for 2024 to 2025. \p Dame Angela Eagle: The Home Office’s financial figures for 2024-25 will be subject to a full and detailed independent external audit by the National Audit Office, after the accounts close on 31st March 2025. Only after the conclusion of this audit, can the financial schedules and full report be completed, signed off, laid before Parliament and then published.
wrans/answers2025-03-13 conversation_47
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-13)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-13 conversation_47

Rupert Lowe:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to her Department's contract entitled Refugee Employability Programme, procurement reference CF-0276700D58000000L5A4EAK, what the total number of service users is. \p Seema Malhotra: I refer the Honourable Member to my response to Question 30479 dated 21st February 2025.