theodi/ndl-core-corpus huggingface dataset:
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Alex Brewer:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to tackle shortages of medications used to treat Parkinson’s disease. \p Karin Smyth: Medicine supply issues are global in their nature and, while we cannot always prevent them, we have a range of well-established processes and tools to manage them when they arise and to mitigate risks to patients. There is a team in the Department that deals with medicine supply problems by working closely with the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, the pharmaceutical industry, NHS England and others operating in the supply chain. We also work with partners to ensure alternative treatments are available to patients until their usual treatments are back in stock.

The Department has been notified of a discontinuation of apomorphine (APO-go PFS) 50mg/10ml pre-filled syringes from September 2025 used in the management of Parkinson’s Disease. Alternative formulations of apomorphine remain available for patients and management guidance has been issued to the National Health Service.

On 11 August, we published a policy paper titled Managing a robust and resilient supply of medicines. This marks the beginning of a new phase of work planned and aims to provide greater transparency of the further actions that the Department and NHS England are taking to protect patients from medicines shortages and strengthen medicines supply chain resilience. The paper is available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/managing-a-robust-and-resilient-supply-of-medicines/managing-a-robust-and-resilient-supply-of-medicines
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David Taylor:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the implications for his Department’s policies of the report by Action on Smoking and Health entitled At risk? Tobacco dependence treatment in the NHS, published on 28 August 2025. \p Ashley Dalton: As set out in the 10 Year Health Plan, the Government remains committed to ensuring that all hospitals integrate ‘opt-out’ smoking cessation interventions into routine care. This is an important part of our ambition for a smoke-free United Kingdom. We assess that continued investment into National Health Service tobacco dependence services at a local level is important to realise this ambition. We note the risks highlighted in this report and we will continue to monitor investment of NHS tobacco dependence services.

Integrated care boards have access to funding to support the rollout of tobacco dependency treatment services in hospital settings, including acute and mental health inpatient settings and maternity services, within their 2025/26 allocations. Future funding decisions, including any decision to expand tobacco dependency treatment services to additional settings beyond routine care, are subject to the Spending Review process.
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Mr Joshua Reynolds:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of midwifery recruitment freezes on maternal health outcomes in England; and what steps his Department is taking to reduce staffing shortages in maternity services in areas where (a) hospital access times are longer and (b) home birth provision has declined. \p Karin Smyth: The Government is committed to tackling the retention and recruitment challenges that face the National Health Service.

NHS England is leading a range of initiatives to boost the retention of existing staff. This includes building a compassionate and inclusive culture, supporting staff wellbeing, and promoting flexible working opportunities.

On 11 August, we announced the Graduate Guarantee for nurses and midwives. The Graduate Guarantee will ensure that there are enough positions for every newly qualified midwife in England. The package of measures will unlock thousands of jobs and will ensure thousands of new posts are easier to access by removing barriers for NHS trusts, creating opportunities for graduates and ensuring a seamless transition from training to employment.

Vacant maternity support worker posts will be temporarily converted to band 5 midwifery roles, backed by £8 million to create new opportunities specifically for newly qualified midwives and to further ease the recruitment strain.

These new measures aim to tackle graduates’ concerns about job availability and ensure the NHS has the right staff to provide the best possible care to patients everywhere.

Targeted retention work for midwives is being undertaken by NHS England, led by the Chief Nursing Officer for England. This work contains a range of measures, including creation of a midwifery and nursing retention self-assessment tool, mentoring schemes, strengthened advice and support on pensions, and embedding flexible retirement options. NHS England has also invested in unit-based retention leads which, alongside investment in workforce capacity, has seen a reduction in vacancy, leaver and turnover rates.

There are four nationally run programmes to develop midwifery staff, at bands 6 and above, from ethnic minority groups to better support patients, in addition to local initiatives to better reflect the community of the women and babies they support.

Responsibility for the delivery, implementation and funding decisions for services ultimately rests with the appropriate NHS commissioner. This includes waiting times and homebirth provisions.

NHS commissioners are expected to develop clear plans for reverting temporary service changes or developing plans for the permanent reconfiguration of the service. All service changes should be based on clear evidence that they will deliver better outcomes for patients.
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Sarah Bool:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 17 July 2025 to Question 67788 on Prescriptions: Terminal Illnesses, whether the 50,330 Penalty Charge Notices were issued as separate individual cases; and how many were issued to the same individuals for repeat offences. \p Karin Smyth: Overall, 55,347 Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs) were issued to 50,330 individuals for incorrectly claiming a medical exemption from prescription charges between 1 June 2024 and 1 July 2025. Of these, 4,339 individuals received multiple PCNs, while 45,991 received a single PCN.
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Lisa Smart:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of extending eligibility for weight-loss drugs to people who are pre-diabetic. \p Karin Smyth: The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) is the independent body that develops evidence-based recommendations on whether new licensed medicines should be routinely funded by the National Health Service. The NHS in England is legally required to fund medicines recommended by NICE. NICE has recommended several medicines licensed for weight loss for use on the NHS for patients meeting specified clinical criteria. People with prediabetes may be eligible for treatment with weight loss medicines if they meet the other criteria specified in NICE’s guidance.
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Leigh Ingham:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of introducing mandatory follow-up ultrasounds after surgery related to miscarriage in (a) general and (b) cases of pregnancy being over 10 weeks gestation. \p Karin Smyth: Experiencing pregnancy or baby loss can be extremely difficult and traumatic and we are determined to make sure all women receive the right care.

An assessment has not been made of the potential merits of introducing mandatory follow-up ultrasounds after surgery related to miscarriage in (a) general and (b) cases of pregnancy being over 10 weeks gestation.

Best practice guidance for the care of women following surgical management of miscarriage is based on evidence about what will give the best outcomes of care. Ultrasound following the procedure is only clinically indicated in a small proportion of cases. Performance of ultrasound post procedure is determined by clinical need and judged on a case-by-case basis both before and after 10 weeks gestation.
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Sarah Bool:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 17 July 2025 to Question 67788 on Prescriptions: Terminal Illnesses, how much revenue was raised from the 50,330 Penalty Charge Notices. \p Karin Smyth: Between 1 June 2024 and 1 July 2025, a total of £980,266.02 was recovered from the 50,330 people who were issued Penalty Charge Notices for incorrectly claiming a medical exemption from prescription charges.
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Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 6 June 2025 to Question 56675 on Hinchingbrooke Hospital: Roads, what discussions he has had with North-West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust on issues delaying construction of the new Hinchingbrooke Hospital. \p Karin Smyth: There are currently no delays to the construction for the scheme commencing as set out in the New Hospital Programme Plan for Implementation, which is between 2027 to 2028. The final construction dates will be confirmed once the main scheme’s Full Business Case is reviewed and approved.

The New Hospital Programme team in the Department and NHS England continue to support the North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust in the development of its scheme, including support with discussions the trust is having with the Cambridge Constabulary on the potential acquisition of land for a new access road.
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Sarah Bool:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 17 July 2025 to Question 67788 on Prescriptions: Terminal Illnesses,, how many enquiry letters were to individuals regarding incorrectly claiming medical exemption from NHS prescription charges in this period. \p Karin Smyth: Between 1 June 2024 and 30 June 2025, a total of 67,777 enquiry letters were issued in relation to National Health Service prescriptions for which a medical exemption certificate had been claimed.
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Tom Hayes:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of NHS cost recovery. \p Karin Smyth: No formal assessment has been made. However, we continue to work with NHS England to ensure that the system works as effectively and fairly as possible.
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Anneliese Midgley:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will bring forward the removal of requirements for same-sex female couples to self-fund intrauterine insemination cycles before becoming eligible for NHS-funded IVF treatment. \p Karin Smyth: The Government recognises that fertility treatment across the National Health Service in England is subject to variation in access. Work continues between the Department and NHS England to better understand the offer around NHS-funded fertility services including the issue for female same sex couples.

Funding decisions for health services in England are made by integrated care boards (ICBs) and are based on the clinical needs of their populations. We expect ICBs to commission fertility services in line with National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines, which are currently under review and will take into consideration whether the current recommendations for access to fertility guidelines are still appropriate.

In the light of broader pressures on the NHS and on ongoing changes within NHS England we have been looking at achievable ambitions to improve access to fertility services and fairness for all affected couples.

The Government is committed to prioritising women’s health as we build an NHS fit for the future. Through our 10 Year Health Plan, we are delivering our manifesto commitment that never again will women’s health be neglected.
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Blake Stephenson:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of reducing funding for Level 7 Apprenticeships on the NHS and Social Care workforce plan. \p Karin Smyth: While funding arrangements for Level 7 apprenticeships are changing, we recognise the important role apprenticeships play in the training and development of the NHS and social care workforce. This Government is committed to developing homegrown talent and ensuring the NHS has the right people in the right places, with the right skills to deliver the best care for patients, when they need it.

That is why the Department of Health and Social Care will be funding ongoing provision of Level 7 apprenticeships in five professions. This will support the delivery of our 10-Year Health Plan and help to ensure staff in health and social care have access to development opportunities.
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Blake Stephenson:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the press release entitled Patients and pupils to benefit from school and hospital repairs, published on 30 May 2025, whether any hospitals in Bedfordshire will be included. \p Karin Smyth: The £750 million Estates Safety Fund announced in the press release entitled ‘Patients and pupils to benefit from school and hospital repairs’ is part of the overall 2025/26 capital allocation announced by the Chancellor at the Autumn Budget in 2024.

Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has been provided with £10.5 million from the Estates Safety Fund with £9.3 million for Bedford Hospital and £1.2 million for Luton and Dunstable Hospital.

Allocations from the 2025/26 Estates Safety Fund are in addition to system operational capital, of which £62 million (including Primary Care Business as Usual Capital) has been provisionally allocated to Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes Integrated Care Board in 2025/26 for addressing local priorities, including investment in maintenance and repairs at hospitals in Bedfordshire.
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Bell Ribeiro-Addy:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether it is NHS policy to carry out an inquest if a patient dies within 48 hours of being admitted to hospital. \p Karin Smyth: Inquests are not NHS policy but are instead a matter for coroners. All deaths in England (and Wales) that are not referred to a coroner are considered by an independent Medical Examiner. Where there are any concerns about healthcare provided to the deceased in the run up to the death, Medical Examiners can refer the case for further consideration via local clinical governance processes.

The NHS’ approach to Learning from Deaths is set out in the National Guidance on Learning from Deaths. This is available at the following link:

https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/national-guidance-on-learning-from-deaths/.
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James Cartlidge:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to help tackle regional differences in access to specialist care. \p Karin Smyth: We are committed to returning to the NHS constitutional standard that 92% of patients wait no longer than 18 weeks from referral to consultant-led treatment by March 2029. Our ‘Reforming elective care for patients’ plan, published in January, sets out how the NHS will reform elective care services equitably and inclusively for all patients.

As an interim goal, NHS England’s Operational Planning Guidance 2025/26 has set the national ambition for 65% of patients waiting no longer than 18 weeks for treatment, with every trust expected to deliver a minimum 5 percentage point improvement in performance.

To support this improvement across all trusts, there is a robust performance management process in place. The new NHS Oversight Framework 2025/26 ensures that there is public accountability for performance and NHS England works with systems and providers to support improvement.

There is a specific process in place to identify, intervene and support the providers whose performance on elective waiting lists is most challenged, led by NHS England national and regional teams.

NHS England is also providing further targeted support through the Further Faster 20 programme, working with 20 trusts in areas of high economic inactivity to help rapidly reduce waiting times and support people returning to the workforce.
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James Cartlidge:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the adequacy NHS investment to combat waiting lists in (a) Suffolk and (b) nationally. \p Karin Smyth: The Elective Reform Plan, published in January 2025, set an overall ambition to deliver on the commitment that 92% of patients will wait no longer than 18 weeks from referral to consultant-led treatment – in line with the NHS constitutional standard – by March 2029.

We are funding the activity needed to meet this ambition, which included an additional £1.8 billion funding for additional activity delivered in 2024/25, all within a record £25.6 billion increase in funding for the NHS.

As a result of this, good progress has already been seen on the waiting list. As of June 2025, the waiting list had reduced nationally by over 250,000 compared to July 2024.

NHS England’s Planning Guidance for 2025/26 sets a target that 65% of patients wait for 18 weeks or less by March 2026, with every trust, including those in Suffolk, expected to deliver a minimum five percentage point improvement over that period.

As set out in our Elective Reform Plan, we are providing the NHS with the resources it needs to continue to deliver this activity, but with the clear expectation that reforms are implemented in an affordable way.
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Mr Gregory Campbell:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when he expects to receive the report of the latest review of prostate cancer diagnosis from from the UK National Screening Committee. \p Ashley Dalton: The UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC) received two evidence review reports about screening for prostate cancer and is considering them alongside experts. Subject to no further revisions being required, a public consultation will start this calendar year. This will run for three months as usual, and the UK NSC will then make a recommendation on prostate cancer screening. Once the recommendation is made, ministers will consider whether to accept it or not.
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Dan Tomlinson:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he plans to take to help (a) improve pay and conditions for frontline social care workers and (b) ensure that social care policy adequately addresses the requirements of people with severe disabilities. \p Stephen Kinnock: We are introducing the first ever Fair Pay Agreement to the adult social care sector so that care professionals are recognised and rewarded for the important work that they do. Fair Pay Agreements will empower worker representatives, employers, and others to negotiate pay, and terms and conditions in a responsible manner. This will help to address the recruitment and retention crisis in the sector, in turn supporting the delivery of high-quality care.

We are making immediate improvements to improve the lives of people with severe disabilities, such as providing £711 million of funding to the Disabled Facilities Grant in 2024/25 and 2025/26, as we lay the foundations for a National Care Service.

We will ensure that the needs and experiences of disabled people are at the heart of our future plans.
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Bell Ribeiro-Addy:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department plans to increase the use of capacity in local private hospitals to reduce NHS waiting times for surgical procedures. \p Karin Smyth: As set out in the Plan for Change, we have committed to return to the National Health Service constitutional standard that 92% of patients wait no longer than 18 weeks from referral to treatment by March 2029.

Independent sector providers have a role to play in supporting the NHS as trusted partners to deliver elective services by using additional capacity to tackle the backlog whilst delivering value for money, delivering more than 100,000 elective appointment and procedures every week for the NHS.

Patients have a legal right to choose where they go for their first appointment when referred to consultant-led care as an outpatient. This includes the independent sector who hold contracts with integrated care boards across the country to deliver services for the NHS.

The NHS and the independent sector have established a partnership agreement, the first of its kind for 25 years, setting out how we will work together to reduce the elective care waiting list (including that for surgical procedures). This will see more NHS patients able to choose to be treated in a private hospital where there is capacity, at no cost to patients.
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Sarah Hall:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he has made an assessment of the adequacy of advertising standards for fertility clinics recruiting egg donors. \p Karin Smyth: The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA), the United Kingdom’s fertility sector regulator, sets out strict requirements in its Licence Conditions and Code of Practice in relation to the recruitment of donors and the information that must be given to egg donors in advance of donating at United Kingdom licensed fertility clinics. This includes information about the potential immediate or longer-term health risks and the psychological consequences of being a donor, as well as offering counselling to everyone involved.

The HFEA’s Code of Practice states that advertising should be designed with regard to the sensitive issues involved in recruiting donors and should follow the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) codes. This includes that advertising or publicity aimed at recruiting gamete or embryo donors, or encouraging donation, should not refer to the possibility of financial gain or similar advantage, although it may refer to compensation permitted under relevant HFEA Directions.

The ASA and HFEA issued a joint enforcement notice in 2021 to ensure fertility clinics and others are aware of the advertising rules, which remains in place.
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Mr Andrew Snowden:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to enhance transparency on the data used in the approval process for weight loss drugs. \p Karin Smyth: The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is an executive agency of the Department of Health and Social Care and regulates medicine, medical devices and blood components for transfusion in the UK, with responsibility for ensuring medicines meet appropriate standards of safety, quality, and efficacy.

If a drug is assessed to have a positive benefit-risk ratio, it will be approved. Following approval, the Summary of Product Characteristics (SmPC) and Patient Information Leaflet (PIL) will be made available, which includes details such as the patient population and conditions the drug is approved for treating. The PIL containing this information in lay language and a patient-friendly format. In addition, a Public Assessment Report will be made available which contains the non-confidential parts of the MHRA's assessment report for that particular marketing authorisation.

We continue to review practices to ensure that transparency is delivered as a key priority of the agency.
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Ian Roome:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of the Compassionate Clinical Care Kits distributed by the Dignity Care Network. \p Karin Smyth: No assessment has been made of the potential implications of the Compassionate Clinical Care Kits.

One of the 20 recommendations taken forward by the Government in response to the Pregnancy Loss Review of 2023 recommended that the NHS, in partnership with the Pregnancy Loss Review leads, should develop and deliver an appropriate and sensitive receptacle to collect baby loss remains when a person miscarries.

We recognise that an appropriate receptacle for baby loss remains is a basic requirement. The Department of Health and Social Care chaired a working group which created a draft product specification for a bespoke receptacle to ensure foetal remains can be collected and stored with dignity. The Department is currently exploring next steps for implementing this recommendation with NHS England.
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John Glen:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 23 July 2025 to Question 68387 on Epilepsy and Pregnancy: Sodium Valproate, whether his Department is taking steps to guarantee that every female valproate patient aged 13-54 received documented counselling and signs the annual risk form before continuing treatment. \p Karin Smyth: NHS England has worked collaboratively with the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) on the safer use of valproate containing medicines.

The Medicines and Pregnancy Registry monitors prescribing of valproate and highlights the number of pregnancies potentially exposed to valproate. The Registry is available at the following link: https://tabanalytics.data.england.nhs.uk/t/Public/views/MedsPreg/TitlePage?%3Aembed=y&%3Aiid=1&%3AisGuestRedirectFromVizportal=y.

This data demonstrates a reduction in prescribing valproate to women and girls as well as a reduction in the number of possible exposed pregnancies since the Pregnancy Prevention Programme (PPP) was introduced in 2018. Analysis shows the implementation of the PPP by ICBs is consistent across the country.

No such guarantee is being pursued. The existing measures described above including the regulatory position is a strong statement of the expected quality of care which is monitored through the Medicines and Pregnancy Registry.
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John Glen:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 23 July 2025 to Question 68387 on Epilepsy and Pregnancy: Sodium Valproate, whether his Department plans to (a) mandate central tracking and annual reporting on how many women (i) received the Pregnancy Protection Porgramme and (ii) signed the risk acknowledgement form. \p Karin Smyth: NHS England has worked collaboratively with the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) on the safer use of valproate containing medicines.

There are no plans to mandate central tracking and annual reporting on how many women (i) received the Pregnancy Protection Programme and (ii) signed the risk acknowledgement form.

This is because such a measure would not be helpful, at an aggregated and anonymised level without a holistic review of each patient’s clinical and social circumstances. This could only be achieved with a national clinical audit. Such audits are expensive and can only be justified when there is significant room for improvement in outcomes, which is not the case in this instance.
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Shaun Davies:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the average length of stay for a baby in neonatal care was in each of the last five years. \p Karin Smyth: This information is available from Imperial College London’s National Neonatal Research Database, at the following link:

https://www.imperial.ac.uk/neonatal-data-analysis-unit/neonatal-data-analysis-unit/nnrd-data-visualisations/
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Matt Vickers:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what support is available for people with coeliac disease in areas where gluten-free prescriptions have been reduced or withdrawn. \p Karin Smyth: Decisions about the commissioning and funding of local health services are the responsibility of local integrated care boards (ICBs). It is the responsibility of ICBs, working with clinicians, service users, and patient groups, to develop local services and care pathways that meet patients’ needs. The Government expects ICBs to take account of relevant guidelines and best practice in designing their local services, to ensure consistency of approaches between ICBs. 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 practices.

NHS England’s guidance on Prescribing Gluten-Free Foods in Primary Care states that commissioners restrict the prescribing of gluten free (GF) foods to bread and mixes only. Under the current legislation, ICBs may choose to further restrict product choice, or end the prescribing of GF foods altogether, if they feel this is appropriate for their population, whilst taking account of their legal duties to advance equality and having regard to reducing health inequalities.

The national prescribing position in England remains that GF 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 prescriber and patient, while also being mindful of local and national guidance.
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Blake Stephenson:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of utilising chiropractors to reduce NHS waiting lists. \p Karin Smyth: As set out in the Plan for Change, we have committed to return to the NHS constitutional standard that 92% of patients, including those waiting for musculoskeletal treatment, wait no longer than 18 weeks from referral to treatment by March 2029.

The Elective Reform Plan, published in January 2025, set out the productivity and reform efforts we will undertake to return to the 18-week standard, and ensure patients have the best possible experience while they wait.

NHS England does not nationally commission chiropractic care as it is a complementary and alternative medicine. Independent care boards are able to make independent decisions on which health professionals they employ and may commission a limited amount of such treatment.

There are currently no plans to review the categorisation of chiropractic care as a complementary and alternative medicine. Where musculoskeletal treatment is required, referrals will be made to physiotherapists where appropriate.
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James Cartlidge:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what support he is providing to (a) NHS trusts and (b) pharmacies to manage supply disruptions of pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy. \p Karin Smyth: The Department is continuing to work with all suppliers of pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy (PERT) to help resolve the supply issues in the short and longer term. This includes asking that they expedite deliveries, source stock from other markets, and increase production. Through these discussions we have managed to secure additional volumes for 2025 for the United Kingdom. The Department has also reached out to specialist importers who have sourced unlicensed stock to assist in covering the remaining gap in the market.

We have widely disseminated comprehensive guidance to healthcare professionals, including National Health Service trusts, general practices, and pharmacies, about these supply issues, which provide advice on how to manage patients whilst there is disruption to supply. The Department has issued additional management advice to healthcare professionals which directs clinicians to consider unlicensed imports when licensed stock is unavailable, and which includes actions for integrated care boards to have local mitigation plans in place and implemented to ensure that no patient is left without PERT.

The Department will continue to work closely with the manufacturers to resolve the issues as soon as possible, to ensure patients have continuous access to medicines. The Department also meets regularly with the affected patient advocacy groups and charities, clinicians, and other relevant stakeholders, to ensure they are kept informed on the latest supply picture and any communications issued. If any patient is concerned about their treatment, they should discuss this with their clinician at the earliest opportunity.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-08)

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Blake Stephenson:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the press release entitled World-first AI system to warn of NHS patient safety concerns of 30 June 2025, whether this will (a) augment and (b) replace human oversight. \p Karin Smyth: The 10-Year Health Plan will bring our analogue health service into the digital age. It will make artificial intelligence (AI) every nurse’s and doctor’s trusted assistant, saving them time and supporting them in decision making.

The Plan also focuses on supporting hospitals to prioritise safe deployment of AI and harness new technology to bring the very best of cutting-edge care to all patients, whilst ensuring data is used safely, ethically, and securely.

AI technologies are not designed to replace our NHS and care staff. Instead, they will augment human expertise by supporting healthcare staff with routine administrative tasks and clinical decision making. This will save staff time and allow them to spend more time with patients. AI tools are to be used to support NHS staff, and their findings will be reviewed before decisions are made.

Over the next three years, we will overhaul education and training curricula to future-proof the NHS workforce. We will make sure that NHS staff know how to work with AI and ensure that AI tools do not replace human oversight and expertise.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-08)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-08 conversation_325

Matt Vickers:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to monitor the affordability of gluten-free staple foods for people with coeliac disease. \p Karin Smyth: The Department carried out an analysis of this issue as part of its Equalities Impact Assessment, which was published as part of the consultation on the availability of gluten-free (GF) foods on prescription in primary care, launched in March 2017. A copy of the Equality Impact Assessment following this consultation is available on the consultation page, at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/availability-of-gluten-free-foods-on-nhs-prescription

We looked at the equality impact assessment and the consultation responses, and as a result made the decision to retain GF bread and mixes on National Health Service prescription services. This will help coeliacs to obtain their basic food needs and will mitigate the risk that those on lower incomes are not able to purchase their own GF foods from retail outlets, where evidence shows that the price is often higher and availability more limited.

In England, NHS prescription charge exemptions are in place to help those with the greatest need. 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.

We have frozen NHS prescription charges in England for the first time in three years, keeping the cost of a prescription below £10. This decision will help with the cost of living for millions of patients who regularly pay for prescriptions.

Consumer food prices depend on a range of factors, including import prices, domestic agricultural prices, domestic labour and manufacturing costs, and exchange rates. The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs regularly engages with supermarkets and producers on a range of food supply matters. However, it is not for the Government to set retail food prices or to comment on day-to-day commercial decisions taken by businesses.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-08)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-08 conversation_326

James Cartlidge:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of long ambulance transfer times for cardiac emergencies on (a) Suffolk and (b) nationally. \p Karin Smyth: Cardiac emergencies include a range of potentially life-threatening conditions, such as cardiac arrest, which requires a Category 1 ambulance response, and heart attacks, which require a Category 2 ambulance response. These classifications come from the Ambulance Response Programme, designed to ensure the sickest patients receive the fastest response and that all patients get the right response the first time. Delays in response times are known to have impacts on patient outcomes.

The Government is determined to improve response times, and we have already seen improvements in both Suffolk and nationally. In the East of England, the latest figures show that Category 1 incidents were responded to in, on average, 8 minutes 37 seconds and Category 2 incidents in 32 minutes 35 seconds. This is faster than 9 minutes 1 second and 38 minutes 42 seconds, in July 2024. Nationally, the latest figures show that Category 1 incidents were responded to in, on average, 7 minutes 56 seconds and Category 2 in 28 minutes 40 seconds. This is faster than 8 minutes 15 seconds and 33 minutes 24 seconds, in July 2024.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-08)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-08 conversation_327

Mr James Frith:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to support the use of evidence-based off-label medicines where there is no commercial incentive for a pharmaceutical company to seek a marketing authorisation. \p Karin Smyth: The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is an executive agency of the Department of Health and Social Care and regulates medicine, medical devices and blood components for transfusion in the UK. The MHRA is responsible for ensuring medicines meet appropriate standards of safety, quality, and efficacy.

In the UK, off-label prescribing refers to the use of a licensed medicine outside the terms of its marketing authorisation, such as for a different condition, dose, or age group. The MHRA regulates the licensing, safety and quality of medicines and monitors adverse effects but does not control medical practice. Responsibility for off-label prescribing lies with the prescriber, who must ensure it is in the patient’s best interests, supported by evidence, and discussed with the patient.

The General Medical Council (GMC) provides professional standards, while NHS trusts and the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) may set local or national policies to guide safe and appropriate use.

Where there is no commercial incentive for a pharmaceutical company to seek a marketing authorisation, the use of independent, evidence-based guidelines (such as those developed by NICE, professional bodies, or specialist societies) can support clinical decision-making and standardise safe practice. Published research, systematic reviews, and expert consensus also provide a foundation for justifying off-label use in areas such as paediatrics, oncology, and rare diseases.

Thus, the MHRA oversees the medicine itself, while prescribers, the GMC, and the NHS govern how off-label prescribing is carried out in practice, supported by independent clinical evidence and guidelines when licensing is not pursued.

The MHRA encourages Marketing Authorisation Holders to vary their licences when there is sufficient evidence to change the indication approved. The MHRA will reach out to ask companies to assess when appropriate. This does not indicate that the MHRA will approve the licence, but are prepared to assess the evidence provided.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-08)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-08 conversation_328

Lisa Smart:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether NHS hospital trusts are fully funded to recruit all locally trained nursing graduates. \p Karin Smyth: The Government is committed to supporting nursing graduates. On 11 August 2025, the Government announced the Graduate Guarantee for nurses and midwives. The guarantee will ensure that there are enough positions for every newly qualified nurse in England. The package of measures will unlock thousands of jobs and will ensure that thousands of new posts are easier to access by removing barriers for National Health Service trusts, creating opportunities for graduates and ensuring a seamless transition from training to employment.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-08)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-08 conversation_329

James Naish:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will commission a review of emergency department staffing models to determine the (a) feasibility and (b) cost-effectiveness of embedding neurology teams in all major trauma centres. \p Karin Smyth: The Department of Health and Social Care has no plans to commission such a review.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-08)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-08 conversation_330

Bradley Thomas:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many Community Diagnostic Centres there are in Bromsgrove constituency; and how many appointments were delivered across those centres in the last 12 months. \p Karin Smyth: No community diagnostic centres (CDCs) are currently located in the Bromsgrove constituency. The nearest CDC is the Kidderminster Treatment Centre CDC, which general practitioners in Bromsgrove may refer patients to. Bromsgrove patients can also access diagnostic services from the Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust.

We do not hold data on the number of appointments delivered in CDCs but do publish monthly activity figures. The Kidderminster Treatment Centre CDC delivered 30,853 tests, checks, and scans in the last 12 months, from June 2024 to June 2025.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-08)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-08 conversation_331

Jess Brown-Fuller:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the provision is for manual lymphatic drainage on the NHS for patients following breast cancer treatment; and whether such treatment is routinely available. \p Karin Smyth: Manual lymphatic drainage following breast cancer treatment-related lymphoedema is available through the National Health Service via referral from the healthcare team to a lymphoedema specialist or physiotherapist. Decisions regarding patient treatments are typically made by clinicians, considering all aspects of a patient's health and circumstances when recommending treatment options.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-08)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-08 conversation_332

Sarah Owen:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether British citizens who receive undergraduate medical training overseas will be considered as part of plans to prioritise UK medical graduates for foundation postgraduate training. \p Karin Smyth: As set out in our 10-Year Health Plan published on 3 July, we will work across Government to prioritise United Kingdom medical graduates for foundation training, and to prioritise UK medical graduates and other doctors who have worked in the National Health Service for a significant period for specialty training. We will set out next steps in due course.

Internationally educated staff remain an important part of the NHS workforce, and we recognise the valuable role that British citizens who studied medicine abroad play in our NHS.