theodi/ndl-core-corpus huggingface dataset:
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Dr Danny Chambers:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many and what proportion of payouts from maternity services were rated by Care Quality Commission as (a) outstanding, (b) good, (c) requires improvement and (d) inadequate on safety in 2025. \p Dr Zubir Ahmed: NHS Resolution (NHSR) manages clinical negligence and other claims against the National Health Service in England. NHSR has advised that the information is not held in the format requested.

NHSR does not hold data on the number or proportion of maternity service compensation payouts categorised by Care Quality Commission (CQC) safety ratings.

Clinical negligence payments often relate to incidents that happened many years ago. The legal test for negligence is completely separate from the criteria used by the CQC for safety ratings, which do not assess whether an incident meets the legal definition of negligence.
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Bell Ribeiro-Addy:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he has made a recent assessment of the potential merits of collaboration between UK and Cuban research institutions on (a) public health and (b) genetic medicine. \p Dr Zubir Ahmed: In our ever more interconnected world, international research cooperation is fundamental to driving medical breakthroughs and saving lives. By sharing knowledge, resources, and expertise, international collaborations can overcome limitations faced by individual nations and achieve breakthroughs that benefit patients all over the world.

Whilst no assessment has been undertaken on the specific merits of research collaboration with Cuba, through the Department funded National Institute for Health and Care Research, the Department works internationally to fund, support, and enable high impact research to address national and global health challenges.
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Bell Ribeiro-Addy:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of supporting a formal bilateral exchange of medical expertise between Cuba and the United Kingdom to promote health equity. \p Dr Zubir Ahmed: In our ever more interconnected world, international cooperation is fundamental to driving medical breakthroughs and saving lives. By sharing knowledge, resources, and expertise, international collaborations can overcome limitations faced by individual nations and achieve breakthroughs that benefit patients all over the world.

The Government remains steadfast in its commitment to international collaboration on health and highly values the bilateral relationship between the United Kingdom and Cuba. The Government has a longstanding policy of engagement with Cuba, including positive collaboration in areas of mutual interest.
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Dr Al Pinkerton:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to improve X-ray technology through the use of artificial intelligence within NHS services in Surrey Heath constituency. \p Dr Zubir Ahmed: The National Health Service is using artificial intelligence (AI) in X-rays, with AI tools being deployed in multiple hospitals to act as a "second pair of eyes" for radiologists to catch conditions such as lung cancer sooner. This is part of the Government-backed AI Diagnostic Fund initiative, supported by a £21 million funding boost to 66 trusts across England, to speed up diagnoses and improve efficiency in areas like the detection of lung cancer, infections, and fractures. The Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust, including Frimley Park Hospital which serves the Surrey Heath constituency, is benefitting from this funding.
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Neil Duncan-Jordan:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what will the NHS offline alternative consist of for people who are digitally excluded, in the context of NHS digitalisation. \p Dr Zubir Ahmed: Patients who prefer face-to-face appointments in physical settings will continue to access care through their local National Health Service provider. This is about expanding choice, not replacing traditional services.

We will be working with marginalised groups, including through the Voluntary Community and Social Enterprise Health and Wellbeing Alliance that represents communities who share protected characteristics or that experience health inequalities. Inclusion will be a core priority as the organisation evolves.
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James McMurdock:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many and what proportion of mental health inpatients discharged between 2024 and 2025 were readmitted within (a) 30 and (b) 90 days of discharge, broken down by age group. \p Dr Zubir Ahmed: The following table shows the information requested for inpatients discharged between January 2024 and December 2024 in England:

Age band

Discharges eligible for readmission

Readmissions within 30 days of discharge

Readmissions within 90 days of discharge

Proportion of discharges readmitted within 30 days

Proportion of discharges readmitted within 90 days

0-17

4,134

1,468

1,925

35.5%

46.6%

18-24

10,912

1,868

3,068

17.1%

28.1%

25-34

18,806

2,414

4,156

12.8%

22.1%

35-44

16,742

1,785

3,270

10.7%

19.5%

45-54

12,615

1,177

2,210

9.3%

17.5%

55-64

10,286

910

1,704

8.8%

16.6%

65+

13,273

761

1,417

5.7%

10.7%

Missing/Invalid records

2

0

0

0.0%

0.0%

Total

86,770

10,383

17,750

12.0%

20.5%

Source: Mental Health Services Dataset, NHS England

Notes:
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Helen Maguire:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how the Health Data Research Service will help improve data-sharing practices between healthcare professionals and researchers for tackling (a) pancreatic cancer and (b) other less survivable cancers. \p Dr Zubir Ahmed: I refer the Hon. Member to the answer I gave to the Hon. Member for Sleaford and North Hykeham on 30 October 2025 to Questions 78409 and 78410.
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Dr Luke Evans:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment his Department has made of it's capacity to meet its target to deliver mental health support teams in all schools by the 2029-30 academic year. \p Dr Zubir Ahmed: Building on the progress already made and the ambitions in 10-Year Health Plan, the Medium Term Planning Framework, published on 24 October, sets targets for integrated care boards to expand coverage of mental health support teams in schools and colleges in England to achieve full national coverage by 2029.
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Mr Gregory Campbell:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when does he expect to receive the results of the Generation Study. \p Dr Zubir Ahmed: The 10-Year Health Plan set out an ambition to “implement universal genomic testing” within the next decade. Delivering against this ambition will be subject to evidence gathered through the Generation Study. This research programme is evaluating the effectiveness of using whole genome sequencing to test 100,000 newborns for genetic mutations associated with more than 200 rare genetic conditions. The sequencing of 100,000 newborns through the study will be completed by summer 2027. The evaluation part of the study will then be completed and presented to the UK National Screening Committee who will make a recommendation to Government ministers on whether newborn genomic screening should be offered in the National Health Service or whether more research is required. Subject to this, and appropriate funding being available, genomic testing could be available for all newborns by 2035.
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Bell Ribeiro-Addy:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he has discussions with NHS Blood and Transplant on the potential merits of including Latin American as a monitored ethnicity at the Brixton donation centre. \p Dr Zubir Ahmed: NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) is responsible for blood donation in England. NHSBT does not plan to add 'Latin American' to blood donation forms at this time. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) includes a list of ethnic groups that should be used when defining an individual’s background, and the term Latin America(n) is not used. Further information on the list of ethnic groups that should be used when defining an individual’s background is available at the following link:

https://www.ons.gov.uk/methodology/classificationsandstandards/measuringequality/ethnicgroupnationalidentityandreligion

The heritage of a donor from the Latin American region can be described within mixed white, black, and other groupings. The NHS Digital site also refers to the ONS definitions, and is available at the following link:

https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/data-collections-and-data-sets/data-sets/mental-health-services-data-set/submit-data/data-quality-of-protected-characteristics-and-other-vulnerable-groups/ethnicity

NHSBT uses several initiatives to increase blood donations and in turn improve blood stocks, and this includes marketing and communications campaigns. All activity is planned using data and insights about diverse audiences, including those from ethnic minorities. Central to all decision making is the ability to reach and connect with people from ethnic minority backgrounds. NHSBT consults with a specialist media agency to ensure they are using culturally appropriate and audience specific channels to reach mixed heritage and ethnic minority populations.
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Warinder Juss:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to tackle (a) racism and (b) racial discrimination in the NHS. \p Karin Smyth: Any form of racism or discrimination is unacceptable and has no place in our National Health Service.

Action is being taken to address racism and discrimination in the NHS, including an urgent review of antisemitism, other forms of racism, and the oversight and regulation of healthcare professionals. The NHS is also strengthening mandatory anti-racism training across the NHS.

Additionally, as set out in the 10-Year Health Plan, we will introduce a new set of staff standards for modern employment which will include reducing violence against staff and tackling racism and sexual harassment. They will underpin the NHS Oversight Framework and act as an early warning signal for the Care Quality Commission.
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Dr Caroline Johnson:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many and what proportion of British citizens have have required remedial surgery in the NHS as a result of poor elective overseas surgery. \p Karin Smyth: The data requested is not held centrally by the Department.
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Dr Al Pinkerton:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of unfilled training posts on the (a) efficiency and (b) cost-effectiveness of NHS workforce planning in (i) Surrey and (ii) Surrey Heath constituency. \p Karin Smyth: National Health Service trusts manage their recruitment at a local level ensuring they have the right number of staff in place, with the right skill mix, to deliver safe and effective care.

As set out in our 10-Year Health Plan published on 3 July, we will work across the Government to prioritise United Kingdom medical graduates for foundation training, and to prioritise UK medical graduates and other doctors who have worked in the NHS for a significant period for specialty training. The plan also sets out that over the next three years we will create 1,000 new specialty training posts with a focus on specialties where there is greatest need.

We will set out next steps in due course.
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James Wild:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 7 July 2025 to Question 61217 on Government Departments: Reviews, how many lines of activity in his department were considered as part of the zero based review. \p Karin Smyth: The 2025 Spending Review included a zero-based review of spending. The Department scrutinised every line of spending to ensure that it is delivering value for money. The review covered resource budgets across the full Department Group, defined as the Department and all its arm’s length bodies.
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Tom Gordon:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the 2024 National NHS Staff Survey Results, what data his Department holds on staff wellbeing indicators for (a) consultants, (b) trainees and (c) specialty, associate specialists and specialist doctors in (i) clinical radiology and (ii) clinical oncology, including (A) additional paid hours worked, (B) additional unpaid hours worked, (C) trends in the level of stress and (D) trends in the level of burnout. \p Karin Smyth: As reported in the 2024 NHS Staff Survey, 30.24% of respondents reported having felt burnout because of their work. Data taken from the NHS Staff Survey cannot however be used to identity trends in specialities.
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Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many people have been injured by fireworks in each of the past five years. \p Karin Smyth: The following table shows the number of hospital admissions due to “discharge of firework” in each of the past five financial years:

External causes admissions data:

Financial year

Discharge of firework

2020/21

116

2021/22

132

2022/23

109

2023/24

113

2024/25

123

Source: Hospital Admitted Patient Care Activity, available at the following link: https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/publications/statistical/hospital-admitted-patient-care-activity

These figures do not represent the total number of people injured by fireworks as data is not collected for those who do not attend accident and emergency or are not admitted.
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Noah Law:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to expedite the recruitment of newly qualified midwives (a) nationally and (b) within Cornwall. \p Karin Smyth: On 11 August 2025, the Government announced the Graduate Guarantee for nurses and midwives. The guarantee will ensure that there are enough positions for every newly qualified midwife in England. Vacant maternity support worker posts will be temporarily converted to Band 5 midwifery roles, backed by £8 million to create new opportunities specifically for newly qualified midwives and to further ease the recruitment strain.

Decisions about local recruitment are matters for individual National Health Service trusts. NHS trusts manage their recruitment at a local level, ensuring they have the right number of staff in place, with the right skill mix, to deliver safe and effective care.
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Sarah Dyke:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many injuries were caused due to reindeers in the UK over the past year. \p Karin Smyth: This information is not collected centrally. NHS England does not record hospital admissions specifically caused by reindeer. The closest available data is for admissions with the external cause ‘Bitten or struck by other mammals’. In 2024/25, there were 4,620 such admissions in England. However, this category covers a wide range of animals and is not limited to reindeer. It also does not capture all animal-related injuries such as those coded under ‘Car occupant injured in collision with pedestrian or animal’.

Data on hospital admissions by external cause is published by NHS England and is available at the following link:

https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/publications/statistical/hospital-admitted-patient-care-activity
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Dr Al Pinkerton:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent estimate has been made of the average waiting time for patients requiring MRI scans following initial consultation at NHS hospitals in Surrey Heath constituency. \p Karin Smyth: The Government is committed to putting patients first and is aware of the impact that waiting for diagnostic tests and treatment has for patients. This means making sure that patients are seen on time and ensuring that people have the best possible experience during their care. Earlier access to diagnostic tests is key to supporting earlier diagnosis and earlier treatment if needed.

Acute diagnostic services across the Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust and the Royal Surrey NHS Foundation Trust serve patients in the Surrey Heath constituency. Patients can also access diagnostic tests, including magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans, at the Milford Community Hospital Community Diagnostic Centre (CDC) and at the Godalming and Woking Community Hospital CDC at Woking. Both of these CDCs are open 12 hours a day, seven days a week, and offer a minimum of one diagnostic test in their extended hours.

The Diagnostic Waiting Times and Activity monthly collection (DM01) measures the current waiting times of patients still waiting for 15 key diagnostic tests or procedures at the end of the month. The DM01 publication includes data on the median amount of time a patient is waiting for a diagnostic test at the end of the month. Details on this collection are available at the following link:

https://www.england.nhs.uk/statistics/statistical-work-areas/diagnostics-waiting-times-and-activity/monthly-diagnostics-waiting-times-and-activity/

The following table sets out an estimate of the number and percentage of patients waiting for key diagnostic tests, as per DM01, and the median waiting time following initial consultation for an MRI test specifically as of September 2025, for the Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust, the Royal Surrey NHS Foundation Trust, and for England as a whole:

Name of NHS trust

Number waiting for key diagnostic tests as of September 2025

Number and percentage waiting over six weeks for key diagnostic tests as of September 2025

Median waiting time of those waiting for MRI as of September 2025

Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust

19,214

1,493 (7.8%)

1.3 weeks

Royal Surrey NHS Foundation Trust

7,972

2,591 (32.5%)

1.6 weeks

England

1,717,121

386,849 (22.5%)

2.7 weeks

Note: DM01 median waiting times do not match waiting times for diagnostic tests 'following initial consultation at NHS hospitals' exactly. The full definition of what is included in DM01 can be found in DM01 guidance on NHS England website.
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Alex Brewer:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 17 October 2025 to Question 80524 on Nurses: Training, whether training courses in learning disability nursing will be available in North East Hampshire constituency. \p Karin Smyth: Undergraduate training places for learning disability nursing are not centrally commissioned by the Government. Instead, they are determined by university education providers, who decide the number of learners they admit based on learner demand and provider capacity. The Government is committed to publishing a 10 Year Workforce Plan to set out action to create a workforce ready to deliver the transformed service set out in the 10-Year Health Plan. The 10 Year Workforce Plan will ensure the National Health Service has the right people in the right places, with the right skills to care for patients, when they need it.
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Tom Gordon:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the 2024 National NHS Staff Survey Results, what data his Department holds on whether (a) consultants, (b) trainees and (c) specialty, associate specialists and specialist doctors in (i) clinical radiology and (ii) clinical oncology believe there are enough staff in their organisation for them to do their job properly. \p Karin Smyth: The Department does not hold this data. As reported in the 2024 NHS Staff Survey, 34.01% of respondents said that there are enough staff at their organisation for them to do their job properly. The data from the Staff Survey cannot, however, be used to identity trends in specialities.
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Jim McMahon:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of trends in the level of hospital parking charges for (a) patients and (b) staff by hospital trust in England. \p Karin Smyth: No assessment has been made of the trends in the level of hospital parking charges.

All National Health Service trusts that charge for hospital car parking provide free parking for those ‘in-most need’. This includes frequent outpatient attenders, parents of sick children staying overnight, blue badge disabled holders, and NHS staff working overnight.

NHS trusts are expected to follow the principles set out in the NHS Car Parking Guidance. The guidance makes clear that charges, where they exist, should be reasonable for the area. Further information is available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/nhs-patient-visitor-and-staff-car-parking-principles/nhs-patient-visitor-and-staff-car-parking-principles
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Mr Louie French:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 30 October 2025 to Question 83371 on Abiraterone: Finance, what steps he is taking to secure recurrent budget allocation for abiraterone for use in cases of high-risk non-metastatic prostate cancer. \p Dr Zubir Ahmed: Abiraterone is not licensed for use in the treatment of high-risk, non-metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer, and as such, cannot be evaluated by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) for routine use on the National Health Service. NICE makes recommendations for the NHS in England on the vast majority of new and significant licence indications but does not evaluate medicines that are used outside their marketing authorisations or “off-label”.

These funding decisions are the responsibility of NHS commissioners who are required to make decisions on the basis of the available evidence. For cancer medicines, NHS England is the responsible commissioner and has an established mechanism to do so through its clinical prioritisation process. NHS England considered abiraterone as an off-label treatment for the treatment of hormone sensitive, non-metastatic prostate cancer through its clinical policy development process in 2024/25. Through this process, NHS England confirmed that there was sufficient supporting evidence to support the routine commissioning of abiraterone in this indication and it was ranked as the top priority for routine commissioning. However, it has not been possible to identify the necessary recurrent funding to support the commissioning of abiraterone, or any other treatments within the prioritisation round.

This position takes into account the need to ensure the affordability of introducing any new routine commissioning policies, alongside maintaining existing services for patients, and meeting the NHS’ legal requirement to fund all NICE approved drugs. Abiraterone for the treatment of high-risk, hormone sensitive, non-metastatic prostate cancer remains the top priority for routine commissioning, and its position is being kept under active review.
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Rebecca Smith:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency plans to open its Early Access Service for innovative technologies in areas of unmet clinical need. \p Dr Zubir Ahmed: In July of this year the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency published a statement of policy intent for the development and implementation of an Early Access Service for innovative medical devices. This statement is available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/statement-of-policy-intent-early-access-to-innovative-medical-devices/statement-of-policy-intent-early-access-to-innovative-medical-devices#next-steps

The service aims to speed up safe access to innovative medical devices for patients, supporting the Government’s Life Sciences Sector Plan. The statement set out our intention to work with stakeholders across the life science ecosystem to further develop the policy and to build the internal capability required to deliver the service throughout 2025. Further information on our plans will be provided in early 2026.
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Stuart Anderson:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what guidance his Department has issued to closed mortuaries on family visiting arrangements. \p Dr Zubir Ahmed: The Department has not issued specific guidance to closed mortuaries on family visiting arrangements. The Human Tissue Authority (HTA) is responsible for licensing mortuaries in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland which undertake post-mortem examinations. The Human Tissue Act 2004 and the HTA's Codes of Practice govern the standards in these mortuaries.

HTA licensing standards require establishments to have in place documented policies for the viewing of bodies by family members and others, such as the Police. However, there is no obligation for HTA licensed mortuaries in the post mortem sector to provide viewings for families.

Establishments are required to have controlled access to body storage areas, arrangements to protect against unauthorised access, and must ensure oversight of visitors and contractors. Most post-mortem examinations are conducted under the authority of a coroner. The access to and use of bodies under the authority of HM Coroner by the Police are at the coroner’s discretion.
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Martin Wrigley:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 15 July to Question 65984 on NHS Databases, what assessment he has made of the challenges of hosting the NHS Federated Data Platform on cloud services. \p Dr Zubir Ahmed: The NHS Federated Data Platform (FDP) Programme Team in NHS England have conducted a comprehensive assessment of the technical, operational, regulatory, and public trust considerations associated with hosting the platform on cloud services.

It is a contractual requirement that all processing and storage of patient information take place within the United Kingdom. Data within the FDP and NHS Privacy Enhancing Technology cannot be accessed by provider personnel or contractors based outside the UK. This is stipulated in the overarching FDP Data Protection Impact Assessment and enforced through technical controls. All data is protected through strong encryption, access controls, and audit trails, in compliance with the UK General Data Protection Regulation and the Data Protection Act 2018. These measures ensure that National Health Service data remains fully under UK jurisdiction.

Robust security measures are in place, including firewalls, intrusion detection and prevention systems, regular penetration testing, and vulnerability scanning. Live service teams continuously monitor the platform to identify and address any issues promptly.

The FDP has been designed to be modular and standards-based, enabling integration with multiple systems and avoiding over-reliance on any single cloud provider.

Following national guidance from the National Cyber Security Centre, the NHS has adopted the 14 cloud security principles as its core means of aligning of cloud and internet security throughout the NHS and healthcare providers. All NHS data stored on cloud services in the UK is encrypted, at rest and in transit, using the highest encryption standards.
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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 the enhanced pre-donation testing process pilot on reducing the number of deferrals for low Hb levels. \p Dr Zubir Ahmed: NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) is responsible for blood donation in England. NHSBT tests donors’ haemoglobin (Hb) to ensure they are at sufficient levels to safely donate.

NHSBT has recently changed its testing to include the first line finger prick and blood drop test using copper sulphate that estimates donors’ Hb to be above the threshold for donation. If this test is failed, second line testing with venous HemoCue, a more accurate quantitative test, is carried out. If passed, a donor can donate. If failed, a donor is deferred to ensure they can replenish low iron stores to allow their Hb to improve back to safe donation thresholds.

Earlier in 2025, the peak of low Hb deferrals was greater than 12%. With the rollout of venous HemoCue across the country, this has fallen to 4.5% of donors attending per week and has remained below 5% since 15 September 2025, resulting in improved collections.
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Sir Andrew Mitchell:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what support his Department is providing to NHS trusts to increase (a) crisis support services in the local community (b) mental health inpatient beds in the West Midlands. \p Dr Zubir Ahmed: Local integrated care boards are responsible for commissioning National Health Service mental health crisis services and mental health inpatient beds to meet the needs of people across the West Midlands.

Nationally, progress has been achieved in building more robust crisis care pathways across all ages and in all regions, ensuring that people in a mental health crisis can receive the right care. This includes the introduction of the ‘mental health’ option for NHS 111 and the opening of new mental health crisis centres to provide accessible and responsive care for individuals in a mental health crisis.

The 10-Year Health Plan sets out our ambitions to go further by developing up to 85 dedicated mental health emergency departments so that patients get fast, same-day access to specialist support in an appropriate setting. This expansion builds on a number of early implementer sites that have been established in recent years by local health systems to provide a dedicated therapeutic alternative to emergency departments for individuals in a mental health crisis.

The plan also sets out our plans to transform mental health services to improve access and treatment, and to promote good mental health and wellbeing for the nation. This includes improving assertive outreach, investing in neighbourhood mental health centres, and increasing access to talking therapies and evidence-based digital interventions.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-17)

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Anna Gelderd:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to reduce waiting times for Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services in South East Cornwall constituency. \p Dr Zubir Ahmed: Through our Plan for Change, we’re determined to give children and young people the best start in life, including in the South East Cornwall constituency.

The Government is expanding access to mental health support teams in all schools and colleges to reach all pupils by 2029, ensuring that every pupil has access to early support services.

More widely, we are investing £26 million in new crisis centres, rolling out young futures hubs, and hiring 8,500 more mental health staff to reduce waiting times.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-17)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-17 conversation_265

Anna Gelderd:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to provide support for Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services to improve early intervention for children with emerging mental health difficulties. \p Dr Zubir Ahmed: Through our Plan for Change, we’re determined to give children and young people the best start in life.

The Government is expanding access to mental health support teams in all schools and colleges to reach all pupils by 2029, ensuring that every pupil has access to early support services.

More widely, we are investing £26 million in new crisis centres, rolling out young futures hubs, and hiring 8,500 more mental health staff.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-17)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-17 conversation_266

Jim Shannon:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to increase funding for breast cancer research. \p Dr Zubir Ahmed: Research is crucial in tackling cancer, which is why the Department invests £1.6 billion each year on research through its research delivery arm, the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). Cancer is one of the largest areas of spend at over £141.6 million in 2024/25, reflecting its high priority.

In the period 2020/21 to 2024/25, NIHR Programme and Career Development and Capacity Awards invested approximately £28.6 million into breast cancer research awards. As well as funding cancer research, the Department also invests in centres of excellence, and services and facilities to enable the delivery of cancer research in England. This includes a contribution of £21.6 million over five years to the network of Experimental Cancer Medicine Centres, a United Kingdom-wide network for delivery of early phase cancer trials, and the NIHR’s five-year £29 million investment in Biomedical Research Centres, fostering collaborations between world-leading universities and National Health Service organisations, bringing together academics and clinicians to do translational research, including for all cancer types. The NIHR also works closely with industry to bring innovative research to the UK. This creates a strong portfolio of research and innovation to improve breast cancer outcomes.

The Early Detection using Information Technology in Health trial is another important example of investment. In February 2025 the Department announced that nearly 700,000 women across the country will take part in a world-leading trial to test how cutting-edge artificial intelligence tools can be used in the breast cancer screening pathway. The trial is backed by £11 million of Government support via the NIHR, with further information available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/world-leading-ai-trial-to-tackle-breast-cancer-launched

The NIHR continues to encourage and welcome funding applications for research into any aspect of human health and care, including breast cancer. The forthcoming National Cancer Plan will include further details on how the NHS will improve diagnosis and outcomes for cancer patients in England.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-17)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-17 conversation_267

John Milne:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what information his Department holds on the number of claims for clinical negligence in each NHS Trust in the most recent period for which data is available. \p Dr Zubir Ahmed: NHS Resolution (NHSR) manages clinical negligence and other claims against the National Health Service in England. The table attached shows the number of clinical claims and incidents received in the 2024/25 financial year, broken down by NHS trust.

The table provided sets out the number of clinical negligence claims and incidents notified to NHSR by NHS trusts in the most recent period for which data is available. It should be noted that these figures are based on the financial year in which a claim or incident was notified to NHSR, however, the incident may have occurred in previous financial years.

Additional document 1 (pdf, 257.6KB)
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-17)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-17 conversation_268

Navendu Mishra:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if his Department will take steps to help increase the number of 16-30 year olds who are registered to donate stem cells. \p Dr Zubir Ahmed: The United Kingdom aligned stem cell registry, a national register managed collaboratively by Anthony Nolan, DKMS UK, NHS Blood and Transplant, and the Welsh Bone Marrow Donor Registry, has over 2.3 million potential stem cell donors registered. The Department is taking action to increase the number of 16 to 30 year olds on the UK aligned stem cell registry by funding the Department’s Stem Cell Programme, with £3.2 million invested for the period of 2022 to 2026. The programme, which is delivered by NHS Blood and Transplant and Anthony Nolan, aims to enhance the sustainability, resilience, and equity of the UK's stem cell supply through a targeted recruitment campaign focussed on male donors aged 16 to 30 years old, who are most likely to be recalled to donate, as well as donors from ethnic minorities.

By increasing the pool of potential donors, the programme seeks to improve the availability of matches in the UK, ultimately reducing waiting times and improving outcomes for patients in need of stem cell treatment.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-17)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-17 conversation_269

Adam Jogee:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make a comparative assessment of the adequacy of funding for research and innovation for (a) less survivable cancers and (b) other cancer types. \p Dr Zubir Ahmed: Research is crucial in tackling cancer, which is why the Department invests £1.6 billion each year on research through its research delivery arm, the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). Cancer is one of the largest areas of spend at over £141.6 million in 2024/25, reflecting its high priority.

These investments are pivotal to informing efforts to improve cancer prevention, treatment, and outcomes. An example of this investment is the Imperial College London research on breath tests to detect less survivable cancers, with further information available at the following link:

https://imperialbrc.nihr.ac.uk/2023/06/05/imperial-led-uk-cancer-breath-tests-reach-final-stages/

Another example of Government investment was the launch of the NIHR’s national Brain Tumour Research Consortium in September 2024, which is bringing together researchers from a range of different disciplines and institutions with the aim of making scientific advances in how we prevent, detect, manage, and treat rare and less-survivable brain tumours in adults and children.

The NIHR continues to welcome funding applications for research into less common cancers and other cancer types. The forthcoming National Cancer Plan will include further details on how the National Health Service will improve diagnosis and outcomes for all cancer patients in England, including for less common cancers, and other cancer types.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-17)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-17 conversation_270

James Naish:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to (a) research the causes of ankyloglossia and (b) improve early diagnosis of that condition. \p Dr Zubir Ahmed: The Department funds health and care research through the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). The NIHR funds clinical, public health, and social care research and works in partnership with the National Health Service, universities, local government, other research funders, patients, and the public. The NIHR welcomes proposals for research into a range of conditions, including ankyloglossia, at the following link:

https://www.nihr.ac.uk/get-involved/suggest-a-research-topic
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-17)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-17 conversation_271

Shockat Adam:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to support the use of medical technologies to prevent sight loss. \p Stephen Kinnock: As outlined in the 10-Year Health Plan and the Life Sciences Sector Plan, we want patients to have fast and safe access to the most innovative technology, wherever they live in the country. Improving the adoption and procurement of medical technology will help the National Health Service secure the best outcomes for patients, including patients with sight threatening conditions, whilst also delivering greater value-for-money for the NHS.

The Department invests over £1.6 billion each year on research, including on eye care, through its research delivery arm, the National Institute for Health and Care Research.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) is the independent body responsible for evaluating new medicines, medical devices, and other technologies to determine their clinical and cost-effectiveness before recommending them for NHS use.

Where a NICE technology appraisal recommends a medicine or treatment, the NHS is legally required to fund them. Where NICE guidance is not available on a particular medical technology, we would expect commissioners to take funding decisions on the basis of the available evidence of the clinical benefits.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-17)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-17 conversation_272

Shockat Adam:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking through the NHS 10 Year Health Plan to improve glaucoma care. \p Stephen Kinnock: The 10-Year Health Plan will deliver the three big shifts our National Health Service needs to be fit for the future, from hospital to community, from analogue to digital, and from sickness to prevention. All of these are relevant to preventing and managing conditions such as glaucoma. More tests and scans delivered in the community and better joint working between services will support the management of conditions, including glaucoma, closer to home.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-17)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-17 conversation_273

Shockat Adam:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of (a) trabecular bypass procedures at the time of cataract surgery and (b) other minimally invasive glaucoma surgeries in delaying glaucoma progression. \p Stephen Kinnock: No such assessment has been made.

The best treatment options for any individual patient will be decided by the treating clinician in discussion with the patient, taking into account relevant National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidance.

NICE guidance on trabecular stent bypass microsurgery for open-angle glaucoma sets out that trabecular bypass surgery can be combined with a cataract operation and has shown its ability to reduce intraocular pressure.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-17)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-17 conversation_274

Helen Maguire:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department has taken to help support people with learning difficulties to access eye appointments. \p Stephen Kinnock: All optometrists are expected to be aware of, and comply with, the General Optical Councils standards of practice, which requires optometrists and dispensing opticians to communicate with patients in a way that they can understand. Guidance issued by the College of Optometrists also sets out that when examining patients with learning difficulties, optometrists should use tests that are appropriate to the patient’s needs.

NHS England is also rolling out a Reasonable Adjustment Digital Flag which supports health and care staff to tailor care in line with the specific reasonable adjustment a person needs, including any needs in relation to their learning difficulty. The flag allows health and care staff to easily see and share the adjustments needed for that person to access services equally, such as longer appointments, easier-to-read communication, or different booking methods. This is in addition to the requirement for all National Health Service organisations to comply with the Accessible Information Standard and ensure that people with a disability, impairment, or sensory loss can access information they can easily read and understand.