theodi/ndl-core-corpus huggingface dataset:
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Tom Hayes:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to support research into the health needs of trans young people. \p Ashley Dalton: In line with the findings of the recent Cass Review, the Government is committed to supporting the development of research that delivers a robust, evidence-based understanding of gender dysphoria and transgender issues, especially where these issues relate to children and young people. The programme of research includes investments in research capacity to enable National Health Service clinicians to dedicate time to research and ongoing service evaluation, and a living systematic review that will provide a regularly updated review of the latest international evidence to inform policy and frontline and clinical practice. These may produce new evidence to help safeguard and improve the health of children and young people who are questioning their gender identity or experiencing gender dysphoria.

The Department, through the National Institute for Health Research, welcomes funding applications for research into any aspect of human health and care, including research into the health needs of young people. These applications are subject to peer review and judged in open competition, with awards being made on the basis of the importance of the topic to patients and health and care services, value for money, and scientific quality.
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Esther McVey:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to page 94 of his Department's policy paper entitled Fit for the future: 10 year health plan for England, published in July 2025, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of transferring the hosting arrangement for the Patient Safety Commissioner to the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency on the level of independence of that post. \p Ashley Dalton: Dr Dash’s review of patient safety across the health and care landscape was published in July 2025. The review sets out a broad aim to streamline, simplify, and consolidate functions across the patient safety landscape. Dr Dash made nine recommendations which the Government has accepted in full and fed into the 10-Year Health Plan.

The review specifically recommends that the patient safety commissioner is hosted by the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency. The office of the patient safety commissioner remains accountable to the Department, as it is now.

The Patient Safety Commissioner will play an important role in holding the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency to account for its work on patient safety and in ensuring that patient safety and the voice of patients remains a core priority in the agency’s work.
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James Naish:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to his Department's policy paper entitled Fit for the future: 10 year health plan for England, published in July 2025, when he expects David Lock KC’s review of clinical-negligence costs to (a) commence and (b) publish its findings. \p Ashley Dalton: David Lock KC was appointed on 30 June 2025 to provide expert advice on the rising legal costs of clinical negligence, and on how to improve patients’ experiences of claims, ahead of a review by the Department in the autumn. He has commenced work on this review and expects to be in a position to provide advice to ministers in the early autumn. No decisions have yet been made as to whether any review will be published.

Details of the outcome of the Department’s review will be announced at the earliest opportunity.
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Jessica Toale:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to increase (a) vaccination and (b) screening rates in areas with high health disparities. \p Ashley Dalton: The Department is working with NHS England and the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) to encourage high uptake of all immunisation and screening programmes, including in areas where coverage has historically been low.

The National Health Service is building on what is already working well to drive vaccination and screening uptake and coverage, focussing on five cross-cutting themes: increasing access; raising awareness; reducing inequalities; improving digital capabilities; and strengthening workforce capacity.

The NHS is also continuing to build on the understanding of barriers to and perceptions of vaccinations and screenings, identifying groups who may be at higher risk from diseases such as cervical cancer using national and local data, and developing inclusive material to better reach underserved communities through trusted voices.

The rates of uptake for many of our pre-school programmes have either increased or stabilised in the period of January to March 2025, compared to the previous quarter. Most notably, maternal pertussis vaccination rates have increased from 59% in May 2024 to nearly 73% in March 2025, in England. Uptake rates for maternal pertussis are now higher than at the start of the programme in October 2012.

However, while this is positive news that will provide more protection for our children in the future, there is clearly much more to do to stabilise and improve uptake. That is why we have set out actions to improve uptake in our 10-Year Health Plan for England and our strategy for Giving Every Child the Best Start in Life.

The UKHSA is also refreshing its immunisation inequalities strategy to provide a framework for action to ensure improved uptake in under vaccinated and underserved populations

Our Cervical cancer elimination plan by 2040 – plan for England, sets out how the NHS will improve equitable uptake and coverage across human papilloma virus vaccination and cervical screening, to meet the goal to eliminate cervical cancer by 2040. The NHS is also planning to publish a Breast Screening Programme Uptake Improvement Plan to help address inequalities. Further information on the Cervical cancer elimination plan by 2040 – plan for England is available at the following link:

https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/cervical-cancer-elimination-by-2040-plan-for-england/
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Mark Pritchard:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, in what way he plans to protect NHS whistleblowers, following the closure of the National Guardian's Office. \p Ashley Dalton: Dr Dash’s review of patient safety across the health and care landscape was published in July 2025. The review’s recommendations aim to streamline, simplify, and consolidate functions across the patient safety landscape by removing duplication and overlap.

The review specifically recommends that staff voice functions should be strengthened, by incorporating the responsibilities of the National Guardian’s Office directly into the new Department of Health and Social Care structure and providers. The network of Freedom to Speak Up Guardians will continue. These changes reinforce our commitment to ensuring that National Health Service staff have the confidence to come forward and speak out if they have concerns.
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Andrew Gwynne:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what information his Department holds on the number of children who received a diagnosis of Foetal Valproate Spectrum Disorder between (a) January 2010 to 2015, (b) January 2015 to 2020 and (c) January 2020 to 2025. \p Ashley Dalton: Everyone who has been harmed from sodium valproate has our deepest sympathies. The information requested is not collected centrally.

The National Disease Registration Service in NHS England, which collects and quality assures data about people with congenital anomalies and rare diseases across the whole of England, is assessing the feasibility and reliability of better ascertainment of foetal sodium valproate syndrome by linking data in the congenital anomaly register to primary care prescription data. Further information on the National Disease Registration Service is available at the following link:

https://digital.nhs.uk/ndrs
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Sarah Owen:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how much funding his Department has (a) allocated to and (b) spent on the treatment and care of individuals subject to female genital mutilation in each financial year since 2014-15. \p Ashley Dalton: Clinical services for women affected by female genital mutilation (FGM) are locally commissioned and include standard National Health Service delivery, for example in obstetrics and gynaecology, as well as maternity FGM clinics for pregnant women and FGM support clinics. The Department does not directly commission FGM support services and does not hold information on local spend on FGM services.
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Mr Clive Betts:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to improve the (a0 monitoring and (b) management of individuals diagnosed with Monoclonal Gammopathy of an Undetermined Significance. \p Ashley Dalton: It is a priority for the Government to support the National Health Service to diagnose cancer as early and quickly as possible, and to treat it faster, to improve outcomes for all patients across England. This includes the monitoring of patients with pre-cancerous conditions like monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) who carry a small risk of progressing to multiple myeloma or other related cancers.

My Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care announced that a National Cancer Plan for England will be published this year, supporting the Prime Minister’s mission to build an NHS fit for the future and reduce the number of lives lost to cancer. As part of the National Cancer Plan, we are committed to working closely with partners and patient groups to shape the long-term vision for cancer.

Patients diagnosed with MGUS must be appropriately and effectively monitored both in primary care and secondary care, with regular blood tests to check for any change in their condition and to ensure that any need for treatment can be met as soon as possible.

Our 10 year plan commits to shifting care from the hospital to the community, including diagnostic tests, and to ensuring care is more integrated across primary and secondary care. Diagnostic tests, such as blood tests, should be more easily accessible and located in the community where possible, which is more convenient for patients than going to hospital. In addition to diagnostic capacity in traditional settings such as general practices and hospitals, we have committed to build upon the current 170 community diagnostic centres that are open across the country by expanding a number of these and by building up to five new ones, as well as expanding the number that are open 12 hours a day, seven days a week.

Our Elective Reform Plan commits to more integrated working between primary and secondary care, including diagnostics. Further investment and improvement of the NHS electronic referral service will support effective joint clinical decision making and improve the quality of information shared between primary and secondary care.

Healthcare services provided by general practice, including phlebotomy and blood tests, are commissioned locally by integrated care boards based on population need.
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Helen Morgan:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether the NHS 10 Year Plan includes a budget for the (a) use and (b) procurement of GLP-1 receptor agonists. \p Ashley Dalton: 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. The NHS in England is legally required to fund medicines recommended in a NICE appraisal, including GLP-1 receptor agonists, usually within three months of final guidance.

NICE has recommended the GLP-1 receptor agonists liraglutide, semaglutide, and tirzepatide as clinically and cost-effective treatment options on the NHS for obesity. Liraglutide, brand name Saxenda, and semaglutide, brand name Wegovy, can currently only be accessed on the NHS via specialist weight management services, which are primarily based in hospital settings. In June 2025, the NHS began making tirzepatide, brand name Mounjaro, available through primary care. Approximately 220,000 adults will be considered for Mounjaro in the first three years, with access prioritised by clinical need.

The 10‑Year Health Plan is backed by an extra £29 billion in investment to fund the reforms, service improvements, and new technology required to deliver an NHS fit for the future. Through its implementation we are committed to further exploring how we can build on the current plans for the roll out of medicine like GLP-1 receptor agonists by working with industry to trial innovative approaches to treating obesity, as part of a rounded package of care. Additionally, we will explore a range of innovative commercial models that aim to increase patient access, whilst ensuring improved health outcomes and value for money.
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Lee Anderson:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what was the vaccine coverage rate of the HPV vaccine in Ashfield Constituency in the most recent period for which data is available. \p Ashley Dalton: The human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine coverage is presented for England at national, National Health Service commissioning region, and local authority levels. Data is not gathered at constituency level.

Vaccine coverage data for the routine school-aged HPV immunisation programme in England, including for the 2023 to 2024 academic year, is available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/vaccine-uptake#hpv-vaccine-uptake
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Mr Clive Betts:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to improve the (a) collection, (b) analysis and (c) reporting of blood cancer data to ensure it is comprehensive and consistent across England. \p Ashley Dalton: The Department remains committed to ensuring that the cancer workforce and healthcare professionals collect and have access to the most up-to-date data available. Cancer data collection is crucial in identifying areas of variation and disparity within cancer services, informing health strategies, and improving patient care.

The National Cancer Plan will include further details on how we will improve outcomes for cancer patients in England, as well as speeding up diagnosis and treatment. It will ensure patients, including those with blood cancer, have access to the latest treatments and technology. It will consider all aspects of cancer care, including data collection.
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Sorcha Eastwood:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether the forthcoming national cancer plan will introduce new targets for reducing late-diagnosis of cancer. \p Ashley Dalton: Reducing late diagnosis of cancer is a priority for the Department. As a first step, the National Health Service is now delivering an extra 40,000 operations, scans, and appointments each week, to support early diagnosis and faster treatment.

NHS England is continuing the roll out of community diagnostic centres to ensure that patients can access the diagnostic tests they need as quickly as possible. The NHS is also improving pathways to get people diagnosed faster once they are referred, including non-specific symptom pathways for patients who do not fit clearly into a single urgent cancer referral pathway.

To further improve early intervention and reduce mortality rates, NHS England’s Help Us, Help You campaigns seek to address the barriers that are deterring patients from accessing the care they need. The campaign encourages people to come forward as soon as possible to see their general practitioner, focusing on a range of symptoms, as well as encouraging ‘body awareness’ to help people spot symptoms across a wide range of cancers at an earlier point.

Further actions on reducing late-diagnosis and improving survival for all cancers will be outlined in the forthcoming National Cancer Plan, which will be published later this year. It will seek to improve every aspect of cancer care to better the experiences and outcomes for people with cancer. The goal is to reduce the number of lives lost to cancer over the next ten years, and the ambition will be set out as part of the National Cancer Plan.
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Clive Jones:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to increase the number of patients with (a) suspected and (b) confirmed rare cancers who have access to treatments through clinical trials of medications currently approved for other indications. \p Ashley Dalton: The Department is committed to ensuring that all patients, including those with rare cancers, have access to cutting-edge clinical trials, including trials where medicines are repurposed, as well as innovative, lifesaving treatments.

The Department is working to fast-track clinical trials to drive global investment into life sciences, improve health outcomes, and accelerate the development of medicines and therapies of the future, including for rare cancers. The Department invests £1.6 billion each year on research through its research delivery arm, the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). NIHR research expenditure for all cancers was £133 million in 2023/24, reflecting its high priority.

The forthcoming National Cancer Plan will include further details on how we will improve outcomes for cancer patients across the country, including patients with rare cancers. It will ensure that more patients have access to the latest treatments and technology, and to clinical trials.

The Government also supports the Rare Cancers Bill and its ambitions to incentivise clinical trials and access to innovative treatments for rare cancers.
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Clive Jones:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to improve turnaround times for genomic and biomarker testing of suspected cancers in (a) Berkshire and (b) the UK. \p Ashley Dalton: Genomic testing in the National Health Service in England is delivered by a network of seven NHS Genomic Laboratory Hubs (GLHs), with the South-East GLH serving Berkshire. Genomic testing is one element of the cancer pathway, with other dependencies on overall turnaround times. NHS England captures Patient Level Contract Monitoring data across the GLHs, and performance data is published quarterly on the NHS England website, with further information available at the following link:

https://www.england.nhs.uk/statistics/statistical-work-areas/genomic-testing-activity/

NHS England has developed a Cancer Genomic Improvement Programme to support the equitable delivery of services for cancer patients. The Cancer Genomic Improvement Programme engages representatives from across the entire sample pathway. The programme also includes establishing Cellular Pathology Genomic Centres to streamline diagnostic sample pathways and support the timely return of genomic test results.

NHS England is not responsible for NHS turnaround times in Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland.
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Mr Andrew Snowden:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment his Department has made of trends in the level of regional variation for access to treatment for pancreatic cancer. \p Ashley Dalton: The Government recognises that pancreatic cancer is one of the most difficult cancers to diagnose early. Its symptoms are often vague and non-specific, meaning many patients are diagnosed at a late stage, when treatment options are limited and outcomes are poor. This underlines the critical importance of improving routes to earlier diagnosis.

To address this challenge, the National Health Service has implemented non-specific symptom (NSS) pathways across England. These services support faster and more accurate diagnosis for patients who present with symptoms that do not clearly indicate a specific type of cancer, including those often seen in pancreatic cancer. There are currently 115 NSS services operating in England, ensuring more patients benefit from quicker access to the right investigations.

The NHS has launched a £2 million initiative, funding 300 general practices (GPs) to identify pancreatic cancer early by screening high-risk patients over 60 years old with new diabetes diagnoses and unexplained weight loss for urgent testing. More than 300 GPs across England will begin using the initiative, with dozens rolling it out now, and the rest to be up and running in the autumn.

Reducing inequalities and variation in cancer care, including for pancreatic cancer, is a priority for the Government. The NHS England Cancer Programme commissions clinical cancer audits, which provide timely evidence for cancer service providers of where patterns of care in England may vary, increase the consistency of access to treatments, and help stimulate improvements in cancer treatment and outcomes for patients. Rather than a single audit, NHS England commissions ten audits, by tumour type, including for pancreatic cancer. On 12 September 2024, the National Cancer Audit Collaborating Centre published its State of the Nation Report on Pancreatic Cancer, and the initial recommendations are informing improvements in treatment and care.
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James MacCleary:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of issuing national prescribing guidance to Integrated Care Boards to ensure the availability of Xonvea. \p Karin Smyth: The Department recognises that hyperemesis gravidarum is a debilitating condition that can have a devastating impact on women and their families.

Decisions about what medicines to prescribe are made by the doctor or healthcare professional responsible for that part of the patient’s care. Prescribers are accountable for their prescribing decisions.

Prescribers must always satisfy themselves that the medicines they consider appropriate for their patients can be safely prescribed and that they take account of appropriate national guidance on clinical effectiveness, as well as the local commissioning decisions of their respective integrated care boards.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence’s guideline on antenatal care includes guidance on the advantages and disadvantages of different pharmacological treatments, including Xonvea, for nausea and vomiting in pregnancy to support shared decision making.
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Navendu Mishra:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 7 July 2025 to Question 62269 on IVF: Finance, whether his Department has had discussions with NHS Greater Manchester on the proposed reduction in the number of NHS-funded IVF cycles. \p Karin Smyth: No such discussions have taken place.

Funding decisions for health services in England are made by integrated care boards, and are based on the clinical needs of their local population. We expect these organisations to commission fertility services in line with National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidelines, ensuring equal access to fertility treatment across England.
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Jonathan Davies:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he has made an assessment with Cabinet colleagues of the potential merits of treating post traumatic stress disorder in veterans with (a) medical cannabis and (b) MDMA assisted therapy. \p Karin Smyth: We recognise that the use of cannabis-based medicines and psychedelic-assisted psychotherapies, such as MDMA to treat mental illness, is gaining attention both within the medical and scientific communities as well as within the public more broadly. The licensing regime for controlled drugs allows legitimate medical research to take place with an appropriate licence and safeguards. A number of clinical studies are already being conducted, although no such substance has yet been licensed as safe and effective in the treatment of mental health conditions.

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and the National Institute for Health and Care Research supports the safe and scientifically sound conduct of clinical trials in this area and provides regulatory and scientific advice to companies at all stages of developing medicines. Any application for a marketing authorisation, otherwise known as a product licence, will be determined by the MHRA.

In line with the development of all medicines, as the evidence base grows and medicinal products are licensed, we will make sure that they are made available to patients, including through the National Health Service, if they are recommended by the National Institute of Health and Care Excellence.
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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 where (A) a lack of assessment prevents access to appropriate medication and support and (B) in other circumstances. \p Stephen Kinnock: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.
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Helen Morgan:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate his Department has made of the potential cost to the public purse for the digital transformation outlined in the NHS 10 Year Plan. \p Karin Smyth: In advance of the 10-Year Health Plan’s publication, the Government confirmed an allocation of up to £10 billion for National Health Service digital, data, and technology through the Spending Review. This is a nearly 50% uplift on current investment, with a 3% real terms uplift overall.

That investment will support delivery of the 10-Year Health Plan, while yielding substantial improvements in the public experience of using the NHS, and in the experience of staff working for it. It will also make a material contribution to achieving the 2% productivity target and wider efficiency targets.
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Shaun Davies:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, which (a) wards and (b) super output areas in Telford constituency are within the top (i) 10%, (ii) 5% and (iii) 1% in England for (A) life expectancy inequality, (B) health outcomes, (C) deprivation, (D) child poverty and (E) other factors used to determine health investment into (1) primary care and (2) hubs. \p Stephen Kinnock: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.
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Neil O'Brien:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many medical school places he expects there to be in each year up to 2031. \p Karin Smyth: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.
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Mr Andrew Snowden:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking consult men’s mental health organisations on the men’s health strategy In Lancashire. \p Stephen Kinnock: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.
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Bell Ribeiro-Addy:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of immigration salary thresholds on the number of overseas NHS staff on band three Agenda for Change pay. \p Karin Smyth: From 9 April 2025, the minimum salary for Health and Care Worker Visa holders increased to £25,000 per year. This applies to new Certificates of Sponsorship assigned on or after that date. Entry level National Health Service Agenda for Change band 3 roles do not meet the new minimum salary threshold for a Health and Care Worker visa.

NHS Agenda for Change pay band 3 staff currently on the Health and Care Worker visa are not required to meet the new minimum salary threshold until the point at which they need to renew their visa. At this point, we expect the majority of staff to have accrued two or more years experience, and therefore be at the top of pay band 3, which is above the new minimum salary threshold.

Whilst we hugely value our international workforce and the skills and experience they bring, we are also committed to growing homegrown talent and giving opportunities to more people across the country to join our NHS. The 10 Year Workforce Plan will outline strategies for improving retention, productivity, training, and reducing attrition, thereby enhancing conditions for all staff while gradually reducing reliance on international recruitment, without diminishing the value of their contributions.
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Tristan Osborne:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what data his Department holds on the number of patients waiting to start treatment at Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust in (a) July 2024 and (b) June 2025. \p Karin Smyth: Referral to Treatment data published by NHS England shows that the waiting list at the Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust was 45,074 at the end of July 2024.

Official statistics have not yet been released for June 2025, though the latest published data shows the waiting list was 46,988 at the end of May 2025. This marks an increase of 1,914 from July 2024.

Provisional management information published by NHS England estimates the waiting list to be 48,944 in the week ending 29 June 2025.
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Dr Simon Opher:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many midwives were working in the NHS in England at the most-recent point for which figures are available; how many of those qualified (a) in the UK and (b) outside of the UK, by country; and what estimate he has made of the number that will be working in the NHS in future years from each of these categories. \p Karin Smyth: NHS England publishes Hospital and Community Health Services workforce statistics for England. This covers staff working for hospital trusts and in integrated care in England. This data is drawn from the Electronic Staff Record, the human resources system for the National Health Service. This data shows that as of April 2025, there are 24,959 full time equivalent midwives working in NHS trusts and other core organisations in England. Further information is available at the following link:

https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/publications/statistical/nhs-workforce-statistics

The Department does not hold information on how many NHS midwifes qualified in the United Kingdom and outside of the UK, by country. However, NHS England publishes data on the nationality of its staff, which may be of interest as context. The latest information on the nationality of NHS staff by staff group is available at the following link, in tab 14 of the file named Preliminary – NHS HCHS Workforce Statistics, Trusts and core organisations – data tables, April 2025:

https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/publications/statistical/nhs-workforce-statistics/march-2025

The Department has made no specific estimate of the number of UK and non-UK qualified midwives who will be working in the NHS in future years. 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.
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Katie Lam:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of topical steroid creams on (a) physical dependency and (b) withdrawal effects among users. \p Karin Smyth: The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has reviewed topical steroid withdrawal (TSW) reactions, and first communicated about these reactions in September 2021 through our Drug Safety Update, which is widely disseminated among health care professionals. This communication is available at the following link:

www.gov.uk/drug-safety-update/topical-corticosteroids-information-on-the-risk-of-topical-steroid-withdrawal-reactions.

The MHRA has continued to monitor reports of TSW and undertook an additional review in 2024, which can be found at the following link:

www.gov.uk/drug-safety-update/topical-steroids-introduction-of-new-labelling-and-a-reminder-of-the-possibility-of-severe-side-effects-including-topical-steroid-withdrawal-reactions.

During this review, further advice was sought from dermatologists, the National Eczema Society, and the Commission on Human Medicines. Consequently, the MHRA took forward a number of actions, including ensuring that there are updated warnings in the product information that is supplied with the creams, and the inclusion of information regarding the potency of topical steroids on the packaging. The British National Formulary (BNF) has updated their topical steroids potency information in line with the outcomes of the MHRA’s review. The BNF’s treatment summary for topical corticosteroids is available at the following link:

https://bnf.nice.org.uk/treatment-summaries/topical-corticosteroids/

Furthermore, the MHRA engaged with the British Association of Dermatologists who have released an updated statement that is available at the following link:

https://cdn.bad.org.uk/uploads/2024/02/22095550/Topical-Steroid-Withdrawal-Joint-Statement.pdf

Following these discussions, the British Association of Dermatologists has formed a Topical Steroid Withdrawal Working Party Group (TSW WP) in collaboration with National Eczema Society, Scratch That, the Primary Care Dermatology Society, and the British Dermatological Nursing Group. The objective of the TSW WPG is to develop expert consensus guidance on supporting people with concerns about TSW, including a Patient Information Leaflet, and any revision to the above joint statement, as appropriate. Further information on the TSW Working Party Group is available at the following link:

https://www.bad.org.uk/topical-steroid-withdrawal-joint-statement/
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-18)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-18 conversation_141

Lee Anderson:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will take steps to ensure UK graduates are prioritised in applications for specialty medical training spaces. \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. The plan also set out that we will create 1,000 new specialty training posts with a focus on specialties where there is the greatest need. We will set out next steps in due course.

We have made progress over the past year to improve the working lives of resident doctors. This includes: agreeing to an improved exception reporting system which should ensure doctors are working a safe number of hours and are compensated fairly for additional work; reviewing how resident doctors rotate through their training; and reforming and rationalising statutory and mandatory training to reduce unnecessary burden and repetition.

We will publish a new 10 Year Workforce Plan later this year to deliver the transformed health service we will build over the next decade and treat patients on time again.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-18)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-18 conversation_142

Andrew Gwynne:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he has taken to ensure the provisions of (a) education and (b) training to help midwives support pregnant women who have been diagnosed with epilepsy. \p Karin Smyth: It is the responsibility of approved education institutions and practice partners to develop the specific content and design of midwifery programmes to meet standards set by the midwifery regulator, the Nursing and Midwifery Council.

Employers in the health system are responsible for ensuring that their staff are trained to the required standards to deliver appropriate treatment for patients, including for pregnant women who have been diagnosed with epilepsy.

Guidance produced by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) on epilepsies in children, young people, and adults, last updated in January 2025, has a number of recommendations for supporting pregnant women with epilepsy. The NICE guidance states that women and girls with epilepsy who are planning pregnancy or who are pregnant should be referred to an epilepsy specialist team for a review of their antiseizure medication options. Information should be shared between the epilepsy specialist team, a specialist obstetric team, and primary care professionals. Discussions should take place about the relative benefits and risks of adjusting medication, including discussing the balance between the risks of poorly controlled seizures and the risks to the baby when antiseizure medicines are taken during pregnancy, so that an informed decision can be made.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-18)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-18 conversation_143

Jim Allister:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many (a) pregnancies and (b) abortions involving girls under the age of 16 have been reported by (i) NHS and (ii) independent abortion providers to (A) the police and (B) local authority safeguarding teams in each of the past five years; and what steps his Department is taking to help ensure that all such cases involving potential (1) rape and (2) sexual exploitation are being (a) referred, (b) investigated, and (c) prosecuted. \p Karin Smyth: Information on the number of pregnancies and abortions involving girls under the age of 16 years old that have been reported by National Health Service and independent abortion providers is held by the police and local authority safeguarding teams.

We recognise the devastating impact sexual violence can have. The Government is committed to tackling rape and sexual offences and achieving the best possible outcome for victims. We expect every sexual offence to be treated seriously from the point of disclosure, every victim to be treated with dignity, and every investigation and prosecution to be conducted thoroughly and professionally.

The Tackling Child Sexual Abuse Progress, published in April 2025, set out clearly the actions the Government is taking to respond to the final recommendations of the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse’s report. This includes the introduction of mandatory reporting, requiring individuals working with children, including health professionals, to report child sexual abuse when they are made aware of it.

National mandatory safeguarding training for all NHS staff is being strengthened for launch in early 2026. This will reinforce to staff their safeguarding responsibilities and support them in identifying and responding to victims of abuse.

Safeguarding is an essential aspect of abortion care, and abortion providers are required to have effective arrangements in place to safeguard children accessing their services. Providers must ensure that all staff are trained to recognise the signs of potential abuse and coercion and to know how to respond. In addition, the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health has published national safeguarding guidance for children under 18 years old accessing early medical abortion services, which aims to ensure that robust safeguarding processes are embedded in all services. We expect all providers to have due regard to this guidance.

Decisions to investigate and bring prosecutions in England and Wales are for the police and Crown Prosecution Service respectively.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-18)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-18 conversation_144

Bradley Thomas:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what provisions his Department has put in place to monitor the quality-of-care patients receive in NHS-funded treatments at private hospitals. \p Karin Smyth: Throughout its history, the National Health Service has always worked with non-NHS healthcare providers to deliver essential services to patients. The Independent Sector Partnership Agreement, signed in January 2025, extends how the NHS and independent sector can work together to deliver more non-urgent care, free at the point of use.

The safety of all NHS funded patients, whether they are treated in the NHS or in an independent sector provider (ISP), is a top priority for the Government. Private providers are commissioned and managed by integrated care boards under the terms of the NHS Standard Contract, which applies the same standards of oversight and regulation as are applied to NHS providers.

All providers of healthcare, including ISPs, are regulated by the Care Quality Commission and follow a set of fundamental standards of safety and quality, below which care should never fall. Most independent sector care is rated as high quality by the Care Quality Commission, with 92% of providers rated as good or outstanding.

Independent provider licensing and oversight was established in 2014 under the Health and Social Care Act 2012 to licence and regulate independent providers of NHS services. The oversight approach was originally focused on the financial oversight of independent providers but in 2023, in line with continuously improving the oversight of NHS-funded care at private providers, the Hard to Replace policy and the requirement to maintain standards of quality governance were introduced, giving NHS England powers to intervene with some providers where there was a risk to service continuity. Further details on these developments are available at the following link:

https://www.england.nhs.uk/licensing-and-oversight-of-independent-providers/
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-18)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-18 conversation_145

Dr Luke Evans:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to ensure that updates made to NHS England guidance help inform the NHS 10 Year Health Plan; and which stakeholders in the eating disorders sector have provided views in his Department's consultation processes. \p Stephen Kinnock: The 10-Year Health Plan was developed jointly between the Department and NHS England. All relevant NHS England guidance has been considered as part of the development of the plan.

We received 1,650 submissions to the 10-Year Health Plan from partner organisations. This included responses from the Faculty of Eating Disorders and BEAT, the eating disorder charity. We also received responses from 120 mental health organisations who may have an interest in eating disorders. However, this information is not held in a format that allows this interest to be identified separately.