theodi/ndl-core-corpus huggingface dataset:
wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_26
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-23)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_26

Dr Luke Evans:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of the delays in issuing (a) remedial pension savings statements and (b) remedial service statements on patient care. \p Karin Smyth: The delays related to remediable service statements should have no direct impact on patient care. The members facing immediate financial consequences from their remedy benefit choice are retired members of the NHS Pension Scheme.

We understand from regular conversations with staff representatives that the highest-earning NHS Pension Scheme members have expressed concerns about predicting the tax consequences of taking on overtime prior to receiving a remedial pension savings statement (RPSS). Whilst no assessment has been made of the potential impact of RPSS delays specifically on patient care, there is no clear evidence from National Health Service payroll data that the annual allowance pension tax regime, to which RPSS’ relate, constrains the activity of the consultant workforce in aggregate. A range of factors may influence personal decisions around intentions to take on extra work, making it difficult to measure the unique impact of tax measures or statement delays.

From 6 April 2023, the standard annual allowance threshold increased from £40,000 to £60,000, giving individuals scope for greater tax-free pension growth. The tapered annual allowance further restricts the amount of tax-free pension saving available to the very wealthiest in society. The taper applies when taxable earnings reach £200,000.

Where NHS Pension Scheme members do incur annual allowance pension tax charges, these do not have to be met in the current tax year. The NHS Pension Scheme offers a Scheme Pays facility through which individuals can ask the scheme to pay the tax on their behalf in exchange for a fair reduction in the generous pension benefits paid at retirement.

The NHS Business Services Authority is continuing work to deliver outstanding statements as quickly as possible, and a process is in place for members to self-identify for a prioritised statement.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-23)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_27

Ben Coleman:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to ensure national-level (a) strategic planning and 9b) quality assurance for highly specialised services following the abolition of NHS England. \p Karin Smyth: Work is progressing at pace to develop the design and operating model for the new integrated organisation, and to plan for the smooth transfer of people, functions, and responsibilities, including specialised commissioning.

It is only right that with such significant reform, we commit to carefully assessing and understanding the potential impacts, as is due process. These ongoing assessments will inform our programme as appropriate, and associated announcements will be made at the earliest opportunity.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-23)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_28

Dr Luke Evans:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many and what proportion of remedial pension savings statements (a) remain outstanding and (b) have been issued. \p Karin Smyth: As of 22 July 2025, 108,742 remedial pension savings statements have been issued to NHS Pension Scheme members. 34,404 members either have a statement outstanding or require further calculations to determine whether a statement is needed.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-23)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_29

Edward Morello:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department has produced an impact assessment into the potential impact of (a) removing and (b) reducing levels of safeguard functions provided by integrated care boards. \p Karin Smyth: Ministers and the Department are working with the new transformation team at the top of NHS England, led by Sir Jim Mackey, to ensure that integrated care boards (ICBs) continue to fulfil their functions effectively within the running costs cap, and we expect ICBs to still deliver on their duties. NHS England has stressed that any cuts should be made without compromising statutory responsibilities, and protecting frontline staff from cuts remains a priority for the Government.

No changes are taking place to statutory safeguarding responsibilities. The Model ICB Blueprint starts to map out the purpose and core functions of ICBs going forward, and the functions that may transfer over time.

NHS England is actively engaging with safeguarding professionals across the system, including those in local government, ICBs, and provider organisations, to ensure that safeguarding responsibilities are not compromised. This engagement is being supported by the NHS Safeguarding Accountability and Assurance Framework 2024 and the National Safeguarding Steering Group’s Integrated Care Board Safeguarding Protocols.

For the areas which will be reviewed for transfer, there is recognition that further work and engagement is required. Responsibility for some of these functions may ultimately need comprehensive resolution through legislative change.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-23)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_31

Richard Tice:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to increase the number of consultants in (a) Lincolnshire NHS Trust and (b) other (i) rural and (ii) semi-rural areas; and if he will review (A) funding allocations and (B) workforce planning to ensure urgent cases are seen in a clinically appropriate timeframe. \p Karin Smyth: We will publish a 10 Year Workforce Plan to create a workforce ready to deliver a transformed service. They will be more empowered, more flexible, and more fulfilled. We will ensure the National Health Service has the right people in the right places, with the right skills to deliver the best care for patients, when they need it.

Doctors are more likely to settle and practice in the areas they train. We will work with the university and college sector to ensure we train and provide the staff, technology, and infrastructure the NHS needs to care for patients across our communities, including in rural and semi-rural areas such as Lincolnshire.

NHS England regularly keeps its funding allocations under review, and as set out in our recently published 10-Year Health Plan, we will break the old, short-term cycle of planning, and will ask all organisations to prepare robust and realistic five-year plans. Every organisation will be required to continue to refresh their plans over the medium term.

Decisions about recruitment in individual NHS trusts are a matter for those trusts, who manage this at a local level to ensure they have the staff they need to deliver safe and effective care.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-23)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_32

Helen Morgan:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 7 July 2025 to Question 61929 on Integrated Care Boards: Redundancy, whether he is providing new funding to integrated care boards to cover the cost of redundancies. \p Karin Smyth: The Department continues to work with NHS England to manage all financial risk, including the best way to manage cost pressures arising from any redundancy schemes once realised.
wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_33
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-23)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_33

Dr Caroline Johnson:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to page 10 of the 10 Year Health Plan for England: fit for the future, published on 3 July 2025, who will decide whether patients require same day GP appointments. \p Stephen Kinnock: General practices operate as independent businesses with the autonomy to decide how they manage and triage patients. This enables them to adopt operational approaches that best meet the needs of their practice and patient population, as they are best placed to make those decisions. However, we are clear that we expect that decisions related to patient care are made using appropriate clinical processes and informed by medical professionals.

The Government is determined to work with the National Health Service to fix the front door of our health service and ensure that everyone can access general practice (GP) appointments and services when they most need it. Through our 10-Year Health Plan, it will be easier and faster to see a GP. The 8:00am scramble will end, we will train more doctors, and we will guarantee digital consultations within 24 hours.
wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_34
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-23)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_34

Preet Kaur Gill:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many GP practices (a) opened and (b) closed in (i) Birmingham Edgbaston constituency, (ii) Birmingham and (iii) the West Midlands between May 2010 and June 2024. \p Stephen Kinnock: The tables in the document attached show the number of general practices (GPs) which have opened and closed between January 2014 and May 2025 in the Birmingham Edgbaston constituency, in Birmingham, and in the West Midlands, as this is the furthest the data goes back to the most recently published.

This analysis only considers head practices and ignores branch practices. If a practice ceases to be a main practice and becomes a branch practice of another, this will count as a “closure” in this data, while in reality GP provision at the site may well have continued under the new head practice.

Practices close for a variety of reasons, including mergers or retirement, and so do not necessarily indicate a reduction in the quality of care. When a practice does close, patients are informed of the closure and advised to register at another local practice of their choice within their area.

Additional document (xlsx, 31.6KB)
wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_35
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-23)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_35

Ben Coleman:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will publish a full list of specialised services currently commissioned by NHS England. \p Karin Smyth: The list of specialised services currently commissioned by NHS England is available on the NHS England website, in the worksheet entitled Service Code, with column M indicating whether the service is commissioned by NHS England or an integrated care board (ICB), with the word GREEN indicating an ICB and RED indicating NHS England, at the following link:

https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/nhs-england-service-codes/

Further information on each of the services is available on the NHS England website via the Prescribed Specialised Services Manual, at the following link:   https://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/PRN00115-prescribed-specialised-services-manual-v6.pdf
wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_36
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-23)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_36

Sir John Hayes:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how much the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency has spent on equipment to enable staff to work from home in each of the last three years. \p Karin Smyth: Answering the question raised by the Rt. Hon. Member would unfortunately require the Medicines and Healthcare Products Agency’s staff to go through a large volume of data manually, thereby exceeding the disproportionate cost threshold. This is because the information is not held in such a way to be able to filter by the requested category.

The Guide to Parliamentary Work sets here out that there is an advisory cost limit known as the disproportionate cost threshold, which is the level above which departments can decide not to answer a written question. The current disproportionate cost threshold is £850, although the limit does not apply to oral questions. The Guide to Parliamentary Work is published online and is available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guide-to-parliamentary-work

The threshold is pegged at 140% of the Freedom of Information Act cost limit, currently £600, to the nearest £50. Where a change in the Freedom of Information cost limit occurs, the Cabinet Office will make a written statement to advise Parliament of the new disproportionate cost threshold.
wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_37
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-23)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_37

Danny Beales:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 15 July 2025 to Question 64682 on Prostate Cancer: Hormone Treatments, if his Department will publish the Equality and Health Inequalities Impact Assessment for abiraterone acetate plus prednisone for hormone-sensitive non-metastatic prostate cancer. \p Karin Smyth: The Equality and Health Inequalities Impact Assessment for abiraterone acetate plus prednisone for hormone-sensitive non-metastatic prostate cancer can be found in the attached document.

PQ68687 Attachment  (docx, 60.5KB)
wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_38
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-23)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_38

Ben Coleman:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will list all the highly specialised services that are currently commissioned nationally by NHS England. \p Karin Smyth: All highly specialised services are commissioned nationally by NHS England. The list of specialised services currently commissioned by NHS England is available on the NHS England website, in the worksheet entitled Service Code, with column F indicating whether the service is classified as a highly specialised, at the following link:

https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/nhs-england-service-codes/

Further information on each of the services is available on the NHS England website via the Prescribed Specialised Services Manual, at the following link:   https://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/PRN00115-prescribed-specialised-services-manual-v6.pdf
wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_39
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-23)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_39

Esther McVey:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the FOI request 2024/00205, when the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency plans to publish (a) details of its investigation into the advertising activities of the company Zoe and (b) for what reason the conclusion of the investigation has been delayed. \p Karin Smyth: The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) investigates allegations of non-compliance with medical device regulations. Where appropriate, they can use their enforcement powers to ensure action is taken against devices that pose a serious risk to public health. All investigations are handled in a timely manner.

Information about allegations of non-compliance, investigations, and outcomes are generally exempt from disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act, therefore the MHRA does not routinely publish the outcomes of their investigations, including those within the Freedom of Information request referenced. However, where there are concerns about the safety of a medical device, the MHRA will warn the public, for example through National Patient Safety Alerts.
wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_40
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-23)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_40

Connor Naismith:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he has made an assessment of the potential impact of changes in funding for (a) fifth year medical students and (b) above on the NHS. \p Karin Smyth: The Government reviews and updates the NHS Bursary rules annually and keeps the funding arrangements for all medical students under close review to ensure they meet the needs of students and the National Health Service.

As set out in our 10-Year Health Plan, we will explore options to improve financial support for students from the lowest socioeconomic background so that they are able to thrive at medical school.
wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_41
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-23)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_41

Munira Wilson:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 26 March 2025 to Question 39290 on Coronavirus: Drugs, whether his Department has had recent discussions with the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence on the potential use of PEMGARDA to help protect clinically vulnerable people against covid-19 in emergency situations. \p Karin Smyth: Ministers and Department officials have regular discussions with the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) on a range of issues, including topics for new or updated guidance.

Pemivibart, also known under the brand name Pemgarda, for use in the prophylaxis of COVID-19, does not have a marketing authorisation in the United Kingdom issued by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). It is the responsibility of the company to apply to the MHRA for the relevant marketing authorisation. Should an application for it be received, the MHRA will consider the product for its benefits and risks in relation to quality, safety, and efficacy.

In England, NICE evaluates all newly licenced medicines to determine whether they represent a clinically and cost-effective use of National Health Service resources. If the manufacturer of Pemgarda seeks a licence from the MHRA, then NICE may consider it through its technology appraisal programme.
wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_42
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-23)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_42

Tom Morrison:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many MRI scans have to be repeated because of errors made in the initial scan each year; and what the cost to the NHS is of each MRI scan performed. \p Karin Smyth: Data on the number of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans that have had to be repeated due to errors made in the initial scan is not held centrally. The following table shows the cost of MRI scans in the National Health Service broken down by Healthcare Resource Group (HRG) code and name, for 2025/26:

HRG code

HRG name

Price, including cost of reporting

Cost of reporting

RD01A

Magnetic Resonance Imaging Scan of One Area, without Contrast, 19 years and over

£130

£26

RD01B

Magnetic Resonance Imaging Scan of One Area, without Contrast, between 6 and 18 years

£218

£26

RD01C

Magnetic Resonance Imaging Scan of One Area, without Contrast, 5 years and under

£311

£26

RD02A

Magnetic Resonance Imaging Scan of One Area, with Post-Contrast Only, 19 years and over

£189

£26

RD02B

Magnetic Resonance Imaging Scan of One Area, with Post-Contrast Only, between 6 and 18 years

£331

£26

RD02C

Magnetic Resonance Imaging Scan of One Area, with Post-Contrast Only, 5 years and under

£473

£26

RD03Z

Magnetic Resonance Imaging Scan of One Area, with Pre- and Post-Contrast

£199

£26

RD04Z

Magnetic Resonance Imaging Scan of Two or Three Areas, without Contrast

£156

£26

RD05Z

Magnetic Resonance Imaging Scan of Two or Three Areas, with Contrast

£224

£35

RD06Z

Magnetic Resonance Imaging Scan of more than Three Areas

£224

£35

RD07Z

Magnetic Resonance Imaging Scan Requiring Extensive Patient Repositioning

£263

£35

RD08Z

Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging Scan without Contrast

£450

£26

RD09Z

Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging Scan with Post-Contrast Only

£499

£26

RD10Z

Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging Scan with Pre- and Post-Contrast

£643

£26

Source: the 2025/26 NHS Payment Scheme, available at the following link under the ‘25/26 pay award prices’ section:  https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/2025-26-nhs-payment-scheme/
wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_43
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-23)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_43

Jim Shannon:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many people have been admitted to hospital for detached retinas in the last six months. \p Karin Smyth: NHS England publishes data on hospital admissions and related diagnosis information, including finished admission episodes due to detached retinas.

The total number of finished admission episodes in England relating to retinal detachments and breaks in 2023/24 was 21,466. Further data is available at the following link:

https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/publications/statistical/hospital-admitted-patient-care-activity/2023-24
wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_44
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-23)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_44

Jim Shannon:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many people across the UK have been hospitalised for opioid overdoses. \p Karin Smyth: NHS England publishes data on hospital admissions and related diagnosis information, including finished admission episodes due to opioid overdoses.

The total number of finished admission episodes in England relating to opium, heroin, or other opioids in 2023/24 was 6,582. Further data is available at the following link:

https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/publications/statistical/hospital-admitted-patient-care-activity/2023-24
wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_45
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-23)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_45

John Glen:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 9 July 2025 to Question HL9069 on Epilepsy and Pregnancy: Sodium Valproate, how many women prescribed Valproate (a) received the pregnancy prevention programme and (b) signed the acknowledgement of risk form. \p Karin Smyth: There is no central record of the number of women who have ‘received’ the Pregnancy Prevention Programme, nor whether they have signed the Annual Risk Acknowledgement Form.

Responsibility for the implementation of the new regulatory measures relating to valproate was assigned to integrated care boards (ICBs) in November 2023, via a National Patient Safety alert, which is available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/drug-device-alerts/national-patient-safety-alert-valproate-organisations-to-prepare-for-new-regulatory-measures-for-oversight-of-prescribing-to-new-patients-and-existing-female-patients-natpsa-slash-2023-slash-013-slash-mhra

ICBs across the country have taken action in response to this alert. The Cheshire and Mersey ICB is a particular exemplar. NHS England monitors primary care prescribing and the exposure to valproate during pregnancy using the Medicines in Pregnancy Registry, with further information available at the following link:

https://tabanalytics.data.england.nhs.uk/t/Public/views/MedsPreg/TitlePage?%3Aembed=y&%3Aiid=1&%3AisGuestRedirectFromVizportal=y

This shows a significant reduction in the number of pregnancies during which valproate may have been taken. In the last six-month reporting period, the data indicates that there were up to 11 pregnancies during which valproate may have been prescribed. This is across a population of approximately 15,000 women between the ages of 13 to 54 years old who are prescribed valproate each month.
wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_46
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-23)

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Ben Coleman:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will list all the highly specialised services that are currently commissioned (a) regionally and (b) locally by NHS England. \p Karin Smyth: Highly specialised services are commissioned by NHS England as part of its responsibilities for prescribed specialised services. This function is undertaken by NHS England’s national highly specialised services team which is supported by regional commissioners covering each area of the country. The responsibility for highly specialised services has not been delegated to integrated care boards as part of the programme of delegation of specialised services.
wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_47
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-23)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_47

Ben Coleman:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the merits of highly specialised services being commissioned directly by individual hospital trusts. \p Karin Smyth: In preparation for the merger of the Department and NHS England and the integration of their functions under one organisation, and alongside the 10 Year Plan's ambitions to establish integrated care boards as strategic commissioners of local health services that are responsible for all but the most specialised commissioning, the NHS England Executive is undertaking a review of all of its commissioning functions to make recommendations on the most appropriate future arrangements. This work is ongoing and includes consideration of highly specialised services and the need to commission these services at the most appropriate scale in the future, in accordance with the Government’s ambitions in this area.
wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_48
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-23)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_48

Jim Shannon:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what progress he has made on approving new drugs for Alzheimer's disease. \p Karin Smyth: The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) makes recommendations for the National Health Service in England on whether new medicines should be routinely funded based on an assessment of their costs and benefits. NICE evaluates all new medicines, including medicines for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease, and aims to publish guidance for the NHS as close as possible to licensing. The NHS in England is legally required to fund recommended treatments, normally within three months of the publication of final guidance.

NICE published its final draft guidance on the disease-modifying treatments lecanemab and donanemab, for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease, in June. NICE concluded that the evidence presented so far shows that neither donanemab nor lecanemab provide enough benefit to justify the substantial resources the NHS would need to commit to implement access to them. NICE has received appeals against its draft recommendations which are scheduled to be heard by an independent panel in October 2025.
wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_49
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-23)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_49

Afzal Khan:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to ensure access to new medicines for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in England. \p Karin Smyth: The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) is the independent body responsible for developing authoritative, evidence-based recommendations for the National Health Service on whether new medicines represent a clinically and cost-effective use of resources. NICE aims, wherever possible, to issue recommendations on new medicines close to the time of licensing. The NHS in England is legally required to fund medicines recommended by NICE, normally within three months of the publication of final guidance.

NICE is currently evaluating dupilumab for treating moderate to severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and itepekimab as an add-on maintenance treatment for moderate to severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_50
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-23)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_50

Edward Morello:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what discussions he has had with the (a) nursing and (b) safeguarding workforce on system-wide NHS reforms. \p Karin Smyth: Ministers and Department officials regularly meet with staff side representatives to discuss the implications of policy changes, including system-wide reforms, for the workforce. The national Social Partnership Forum (SPF) is the primary forum for collective discussions with trade unions and employers on such matters, and meetings are chaired by a health minister. All recent SPF meetings have featured discussions on the system-wide National Health Service reforms.
wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_51
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-23)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_51

Lee Anderson:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how much their Department has spent on translating documents into languages other than (a) English and (b) other native UK languages in each year since 2023; and what these languages were. \p Karin Smyth: There has been no expenditure by the Department on translating documents into any languages other than English and other languages native to the United Kingdom since 2023.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-23)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_52

Jim Shannon:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to help prevent bullying amongst staff in health settings. \p Karin Smyth: Bullying is unacceptable in any workplace and has no place in the National Health Service. All employers across the NHS should have a robust policy on bullying outlining how it should be handled and the support available to staff.

As set out in the 10-Year Health Plan, the Government is committed to making the NHS the best place to work. We will publish a 10 Year Workforce Plan this autumn setting out how we will ensure all NHS staff are better treated, have better training, more fulfilling roles, and hope for the future, so they can achieve more.
wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_53
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-23)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_53

Adam Jogee:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he plans to take steps to publish a women's health strategy. \p Karin Smyth: The Government is committed to prioritising women’s health. We are turning the commitments in the existing Women's Health Strategy into tangible action, such as: providing emergency hormonal contraception free of charge at pharmacies on the National Health Service from October 2025; setting out how we will eliminate cervical cancer by 2040 through the new cervical cancer plan; and taking urgent action to tackle gynaecology waiting lists through the Elective Reform Plan.

Through our 10-Year Health Plan, we are delivering our commitment that never again will women’s health be neglected. The three shifts will improve the care women receive. Hospital to community will mean women can access convenient, coordinated care closer to home through Neighbourhood Health Centres, building on best practice examples such as Tower Hamlets women’s health hub. Analogue to digital will put more power and data in women’s hands, which will make it easier to get more personalised support, book appointments, and stay healthy. Treatment to prevention will mean faster and fairer access to life-saving prevention through human papillomavirus (HPV) self-sampling kits, and access to the HPV vaccine through community pharmacies.
wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_54
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-23)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_54

Ayoub Khan:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 11 July 2025 to Question 65186 on Asthma: Medical Equipment, which pharmaceutical companies are registered as marketing authorisation holders for (a) dry powder inhalers containing (i) salbutamol and (ii) terbutaline and (b) pressurised metered dose inhalers containing salbutamol. \p Karin Smyth: The following table shows the four market authorisation holders (MAH) for dry power inhalers (DPIs) containing salbutamol and terbutaline, along with the three MAHs for pressurised metered dose inhalers (pMDIs):

Pharmaceutical company

Inhaler type

Medicine

Glaxo Wellcome UK Ltd

DPI

Salbutamol

Orion Corp

DPI

Salbutamol

Maylan Products Ltd

DPI

Salbutamol

Astrazeneca UK Ltd Pharmacovigilance

DPI

Terbutaline

Sandoz B.V.

pMDI

Salbutamol

Kent Pharma UK Ltd

pMDI

Salbutamol

Cipla (EU) Ltd

pMDI

Salbutamol
wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_55
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-23)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_55

Susan Murray:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of the availability of Liraglutide for patients with type 2 diabetes; and what steps his Department is taking to ensure that patients with a clinical need for GLP-1 agonists are able to access appropriate treatment when first-line options are unsuitable. \p Karin Smyth: One brand of liraglutide, Victoza, was discontinued in December 2024, although liraglutide injections remain available from other suppliers, who can support the full demand of the United Kingdom.

The Department was aware of supply issues with GLP-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs), including liraglutide, which have now been resolved. During this time, the Department worked intensively with the pharmaceutical industry, NHS England, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, and others in the supply chain to resolve these issues. We continue to monitor the supply of GLP-1 RAs closely to ensure these medicines remain available for patients.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-23)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_56

Tom Morrison:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many contracts his Department has awarded to private nursing companies to supplement NHS nurses in hospitals; and what the cost to his Department is of those contracts. \p Karin Smyth: The Department does not hold contracts with companies for the supply of temporary nursing staff into the NHS (i.e. to NHS Trusts). NHS Trusts contract directly with private nursing companies to meet their requirements or call off work from such companies on national and NHS regional contract framework agreements.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-23)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_57

Afzal Khan:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps she is taking to reduce waiting times for autism (a) diagnosis and (b) support for (i) adults and (ii) children in Manchester Rusholme constituency. \p Stephen Kinnock: The Government has recognised that, nationally, demand for assessments for autism has grown significantly in recent years, and that people are experiencing severe delays for accessing such assessments. The Government’s 10-Year Health Plan will make the National Health Service fit for the future, including early intervention and support without the need for diagnosis.

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

On 5 April 2023, NHS England published a national framework and operational guidance to help ICBs and the National Health Service to deliver improved outcomes for people referred to an autism assessment service. The guidance also sets out what support should be available before an assessment and following a recent diagnosis of autism. Since publication, NHS England has been supporting systems and services to identify where there are challenges for implementation and how they might overcome these.

The Government is also supporting inclusive environments and earlier intervention for children through the Early Language Support for Every Child and the Partnerships for Inclusion of Neurodiversity in Schools programmes.

The NHS Greater Manchester ICB, shaped by engagement with over 15,000 people, has developed a new model of care to improve the outcomes of children and young people with neurodiverse needs. The model supports:

- local neurodevelopmental hubs to provide a single point of access for help, each with specialist teams to provide tailored support for individuals and families;

- triage and prioritisation, where children who are most vulnerable and in need of support are seen first; and

- standardising core services across Greater Manchester to reduce regional inequalities.

The NHS Greater Manchester ICB has also prioritised alignment with the adoption of the GM Children and Young People and Adult Autism Standards for all commissioned services, with further information available at the following link:

https://autismgm.org.uk/resources/gm-autism-post-diagnosis-standards/
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-23)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_58

James MacCleary:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the availability of (a) child psychologists and (b) other qualified specialists to assess severely disabled children for (i) ADHD and (ii) other neurodevelopmental conditions in (A) cases where a lack of assessment prevents access to appropriate (1) medication and (2) other support and (B) other cases. \p Stephen Kinnock: It is the responsibility of integrated care boards to make appropriate provision to meet the health and care needs of their local population, including access to attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism assessments and support, in line with relevant National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidelines.

NHS England has established an ADHD taskforce which is bringing together those with lived experience with experts from the National Health Service, education, charity, and justice sectors to get a better understanding of the challenges affecting those with ADHD, including in accessing services and support. An interim report was published on 20 June, with the final report expected to be published later in the year, and we will carefully consider its recommendations.

The 10-Year Health Plan, published on 3 July 2025, sets out the core principle of early intervention and support, without the need for diagnosis, including specifically for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). In the autumn, the Government will bring forward a schools white paper, which will detail the Government’s approach to SEND reform, ensuring joined-up support for children and young people, including education and healthcare providers working together with other local services to plan and deliver evidence-based early interventions for children.

The 10-Year Health Plan also sets out plans for new neighbourhood health services to work in partnership with family hubs, schools, nurseries, and colleges to offer timely support to children, young people, and their families, including those with SEND.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-23)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_59

Edward Morello:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he has had recent discussions with the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology on the potential merits of implementing a digital strategy to enable care users to use technology. \p Stephen Kinnock: My rt. Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, regularly meets with other Ministers to discuss shared priorities and cross-cutting policy areas. While there is no single cross-government digital strategy focused specifically on care users, the Department for Health and Social Care regularly engages with the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology and other departments on the importance of digital inclusion, infrastructure, and technology adoption in social care. These discussions inform our joint efforts to promote access to technology and digital services across the sector, ensuring that care settings are equipped with the digital infrastructure needed to support people who draw on care to access and use connected technologies in their day to day lives.

Officials from both Departments are in regular contact to align on shared priorities, including the digital switchover, infrastructure investment, and support for innovation in care technology. An example of this joint working can be seen in the Telecare National Action Plan, published in February 2025.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-23)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_60

Alison Bennett:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many people are in Baroness Casey’s review team. \p Stephen Kinnock: There are 10 officials currently assigned to work in the secretariat of the independent commission into adult social care, chaired by Baroness Louise Casey. We expect that the secretariat will expand as the commission carries out its work, and as Baroness Casey considers what further skills and expertise she needs.

In addition to this, there is a small sponsorship function of four officials based in the Department.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-23)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_61

Alison Bennett:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many meetings officials in his Department have had with (a) Baroness Casey and (b) her team (i) before and (ii) after 2 January 2025. \p Stephen Kinnock: This information is not held in the format requested and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-23)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_62

Ian Roome:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to increase intake numbers at dental schools (a) for dental (i) hygienists and (ii) therapists and (b) in general. \p Stephen Kinnock: We will publish a refreshed workforce plan to ensure the National Health Service has the right people, in the right places, with the right skills to deliver the care patients need when they need it.

According to the Higher Education Students Early Statistics survey, the number of student starters in dental hygiene courses increased to 150 in the 2024/25 academic year, compared to 140 in 2023/24. Similarly, the number of student starters in dental therapy courses increased to 335 in 2024/25, up from 315 in the previous year.

We want to remove the barriers to training in clinical roles, which is why eligible dental hygiene and dental therapy students can access the NHS Learning Support Fund. This includes a non-repayable grant of £5,000 per academic year, and further support is available for childcare, dual accommodation costs, and travel. The funding arrangements are reviewed annually at the start of each academic year.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-23)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_63

James Naish:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether the forthcoming 10 Year Health Plan will include measures to integrate (a) welfare and (b) debt advice provision into primary care settings. \p Stephen Kinnock: As part of the 10-Year Health Plan, Neighbourhood Health Centres will co-locate National Health Service, local authority and voluntary sector services, to help create an offer that meets population need holistically. Examples of this include providing debt advice and employment support services.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-23)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_64

Sarah Gibson:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of GP premises in Wiltshire; and what recent estimate he has made of the number of practices operating in buildings considered unfit for purpose. \p Stephen Kinnock: The Government is committed to delivering a National Health Service that is fit for the future, with world class infrastructure across the entire NHS estate and confronting the challenges posed by historic underinvestment in primary care.

There are 8,500 buildings that form the general practice (GP) estate nationally and we have worked with integrated care systems to develop infrastructure strategies which create a long-term plan for future estate requirements and investment for each local area and its specific needs. These strategies bring together planning for the existing and future primary care and secondary estate when considering how best to improve local service delivery.

Bath, Northeast Somerset, Swindon & Wiltshire Integrated Care Board is responsible for commissioning, planning, securing, and monitoring GP services within Wiltshire through delegated responsibility from NHS England and works with local practices to ensure that the community continues to receive world class health services.

We recently announced over 1,000 GP schemes which will benefit from this year's £102 million Primary Care Utilisation and Modernisation Fund, supporting GPs to improve the use of their existing buildings and space, boosting productivity and enabling delivery of more appointments. However, GPs are independent contractors who should routinely fund investment in maintaining their estate by utilising their own funds, borrowing, or through partnerships with third party developers.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-23)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_65

Steve Darling:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to support dementia carers. \p Stephen Kinnock: The 10-Year Health Plan reaffirms our commitment to improve the lives of people drawing on care, unpaid carers, and the social care workforce through the first ever Fair Pay Agreement for the sector, as well as our commitment to the creation of a National Care Service, informed by Baroness Louise Casey’s independent commission into adult social care.

The commission will build national consensus on how to create a National Care Service and will produce tangible, pragmatic recommendations that make adult social care more productive and preventative, giving people who draw on care, and their families and carers, more power in the system.

In the meantime, to support unpaid carers, the Government has increased the Carer's Allowance weekly earnings limit from £151 a week to £196, the equivalent of 16 hours at the National Living Wage. This represents the largest increase in the earnings limit since the Carer’s Allowance was introduced in 1976, and the highest percentage increase since 2001. We are also committed to reviewing the implementation of Carer’s Leave and examining the benefits of introducing paid Carer’s Leave.