theodi/ndl-core-corpus huggingface dataset:
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-08)

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Adam Dance:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the time taken for restless leg syndrome to be identified in patients who present relevant symptoms in (a) Yeovil constituency, (b) Somerset, and (c) England. \p Ashley Dalton: We are committed to supporting people with restless leg syndrome and ensuring they receive the support that they need, including referral to specialist services as appropriate.

Once diagnosed, and with a management strategy and care plan in place, the majority of people with restless leg syndrome can be cared for through routine access to primary, secondary, and community care services. Integrated care boards (ICBs), including the Somerset ICB which covers the Yeovil constituency, are responsible for commissioning most services for people with restless leg syndrome. ICBs are best placed to plan the provision of services to meet the needs of their local population.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has published a clinical knowledge summary (CKS) on restless leg syndrome, which is available at the following link:

https://cks.nice.org.uk/topics/restless-legs-syndrome/

CKS’ are designed to collate and summarise all the guidance and evidence on specific topics and they are a source of supporting information mainly for National Health Service staff working in primary care. The CKS for restless leg syndrome recognises that iron deficiency and dysfunction of iron metabolism are likely causes of restless leg syndrome, and states that a full iron assessment, including ferritin, total iron-binding capacity, and percentage transferrin saturation, should be requested for patients with restless leg syndrome. If iron deficiency anaemia is found, or serum ferritin levels are less than 50 to 75 micrograms per litre, clinicians should investigate to identify a cause of iron deficiency and prescribe iron supplements.

We do not hold data on the time taken for patients to receive a diagnosis of restless leg syndrome after first presenting with relevant symptoms.
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Jessica Toale:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to deliver a cross-departmental indoor air quality strategy. \p Ashley Dalton: The Department engages with departments from across the Government on ways to reduce the health impacts of both indoor and outdoor air quality. This includes addressing damp and mould in homes through the Government’s action on social housing standards.
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Sadik Al-Hassan:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate his Department has made of the number of (a) hospitalisations and (b) deaths that have been prevented by RSV vaccines administered through the early adopter community pharmacy sites. \p Ashley Dalton: People are eligible for the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccination if they are pregnant, from 28 weeks onwards, or if they are aged 75 to 79 years old.

Some people aged 75 to 79 years old have been able to receive the RSV vaccine from a small number of community pharmacy pilot sites in the East of England. Approximately 8,000 individuals received their RSV vaccine in these community pharmacies between October and November 2024. The majority of the programme was delivered in general practice.

Overall, the UK Health Security Agency’s (UKHSA) findings indicate that there were 30% fewer hospital admissions in 75 to 79 year olds, who are eligible for the vaccine under the new programme, than there would have been without vaccination. This was seen after approximately 40% of eligible older people took up the vaccine this winter, and the impact is expected to increase with further vaccine uptake.

A UKHSA-led evaluation of the expansion of the community pharmacy RSV vaccination pilot is underway, covering a further 200 sites.
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Clive Jones:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the merits of including PSA testing in routine NHS health checks. \p Ashley Dalton: The UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC) has commissioned a university to carry out a high quality review and cost effectiveness model of the evidence for a national prostate cancer screening programme. This includes considering evidence that looks at targeted screening using prostate-specific antigen (PSA) testing, as well as looking at other screening tests.

The UK NSC’s previous review in 2020 advised against screening because the current best test, the PSA test, is not accurate. As a result, it can lead to some men receiving false reassurance when they do actually have prostate cancer, and others receiving unnecessary further tests when they did not have prostate cancer.

We need a better test, which is why the Government has invested £16 million in the TRANSFORM trial, to look for a better test.
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Jim Shannon:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many hospitals are able to provide aquablation therapy for prostate cancer. \p Ashley Dalton: Improving access to cancer treatment and care are key priorities for the Government for all cancer types, including prostate cancer. Aquablation therapy is not used for prostate cancer and so no hospitals will be offering it for prostate cancer.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) recommends aquablation therapy for treating benign prostatic hyperplasia.

The treatment options available for prostate cancer are dependent on the individual circumstances of the patient, for example whether the cancer is localised. Treatment decisions are made between patients and their clinicians.
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Charlotte Nichols:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what information his Department holds on the impact of (a) diamorphine assisted therapy, (b) safe consumption rooms and (c) needle and syringe exchange services on rates of skin and soft tissue infection. \p Ashley Dalton: The Department does not collect information on the impact of diamorphine assisted therapy (DAT), safe consumption rooms and needle and exchange services on rates of soft skin tissue infections (SSTI). The Department is aware of the dangers of SSTI to people who inject drugs and in 2021 issued guidance for commissioners and providers of drugs services on being ‘wound aware’. This recommends that a range of local services can help prevent SSTIs and stop them getting worse through early identification and treatment.

DAT is an option that remains open to local areas under the existing legal framework, where the relevant licences are obtained from the Home Office. There is good evidence that needle and syringe programmes alongside opioid substitution treatment are associated with reduced rates of HIV and hepatitis C infection in the target population. The review of the evidence is available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/drug-misuse-treatment-in-england-evidence-review-of-outcomes
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Ayoub Khan:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to help support people with asthma in Birmingham Perry Barr constituency. \p Ashley Dalton: The Birmingham and Solihull Integrated Care System (BSol ICS) is working to enhance asthma care, which includes access to diagnostics in the community, across the city and the borough. Improved rates of diagnosis will allow early intervention and prevention, supporting patients to manage their condition more effectively at home or in the community, and preventing emergency hospital admissions.

In primary care, adults, children, and young people can access support from their general practice (GP) for diagnosis and ongoing management of the condition, treatment of mild exacerbations, and asthma annual reviews to optimise treatment and prevent exacerbations.

Adults, children, and young people have access to outpatient reviews by community respiratory specialist nurses through GP referrals to the Birmingham Community Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust. These reviews are for patients requiring specialist support, where their condition is not severe enough to require secondary care.

In December 2024, the BSol ICS’s Community Care Collaborative launched a Respiratory Same Day Emergency Care Service at Washwood Health and Wellbeing Centre. The service is in particular responding to the issue that 40% of those admitted to Birmingham Heartlands Hospital have respiratory illness. The service is for patients aged 17 years old and over from any part of Birmingham and Solihull who have chronic respiratory conditions, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma, pneumonia, respiratory failure, bronchiectasis, and interstitial lung disease. Patients who access the service are then either discharged, followed-up with a GP, admitted to a virtual ward, also known as hospital at home, or referred to a community respiratory service.

For children and young people, the Birmingham Women’s and Children’s NHS Foundation Trust’s Department of Respiratory Medicine and Cystic Fibrosis treats children and young people aged between zero and 18 years old with asthma, including 40 to 50 with difficult asthma, who are receiving specialised treatments.

The BSol ICS has also established a Paediatric Asthma Network which has been leading a number of workstreams focused on improving asthma education, training, post-asthma attack management, and the creation of a novel risk stratification tool to identify children with high risk of asthma attacks. The BSol ICB has also provided funding to support the creation of new asthma clinics, specialist asthma nurses, and asthma-friendly school initiatives. 75% of children who had a second review at these clinics showed significant improvement in their asthma control test, suggesting improved disease control. 100% of children who attended the clinics had a reduction in asthma-related hospital accident and emergency department visits over the subsequent six months.
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Andrew Rosindell:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what progress his Department has made towards Smokefree 2030. \p Ashley Dalton: Smokefree 2030 was Government policy prior to and until the July 2024 General Election. The landmark Tobacco and Vapes Bill will help deliver our current ambition to create a smoke-free generation, gradually ending the sale of tobacco products across the country. Creating a smoke-free generation is expected to help reduce smoking rates of people aged between 14 and 30 years old to near zero by 2050.

To support current smokers, an additional £70 million is also being provided in 2025/26 to support local authority-led Stop Smoking Services in England, and the national Swap to Stop scheme, swapping cigarettes for vapes, and Smoke-free Pregnancy Incentives Scheme are also continuing.
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Clive Jones:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will announce a timeline for the NHS Genomic Medicine Service to establish a public facing dashboard setting out data on (a) turnaround times and (b) volume of testing activity across each genomic laboratory hub. \p Ashley Dalton: Since December 2023, National Health Service genomic testing activity data has been published on the NHS England website, and is available at the following link:

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

This standardised data is collected from all NHS Genomic Laboratory Hubs (GLHs). GLHs and NHS England will continue to publish genomic testing activity data on a quarterly basis. Currently, only activity data is published, however there are plans to add turnaround time data in future publications.
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Mr Andrew Snowden:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether the Government plans to provide financial support to voluntary blood bike charities undertaking urgent medical transport services for the NHS. \p Ashley Dalton: Currently, there are no plans at a national level to provide financial support to voluntary blood bike charities undertaking urgent medical transport services, and NHS Blood and Transplant does not use the service of blood bikes.

Decisions to commission support for local services are taken at an integrated care board and trust level. Hospitals can, on occasion, choose to arrange their own transport for blood using contractors, couriers, or charity volunteers, such as the blood bikes, which currently deliver 2% of the blood products used by hospitals across England.
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Anneliese Dodds:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of training of frontline NHS staff on (a) the definition of domestic abuse, (b) how professionals should respond to immediate and long-term risk and (c) the opportunity of perpetrator incarceration in engaging and safeguarding victims in the long term. \p Ashley Dalton: All National Health Service staff complete mandatory safeguarding training, which includes a focus on domestic abuse. This training gives staff the skills and knowledge to identify and respond to all forms of domestic abuse, as set out in the Domestic Abuse Act 2021, which includes physical or sexual abuse, violent or threatening behaviour, controlling or coercive behaviour, economic abuse, psychological, emotional, or other abuse. All professionals are trained to identify the immediate and long-term risks of domestic abuse using blended learning methods including e-learning, in-person training, and supervision. Patient facing clinicians and staff complete more detailed mandatory safeguarding training, including further domestic abuse training relevant to their role. National mandatory safeguarding training for all NHS staff is being strengthened for launch in early 2026. This will reinforce the safeguarding responsibilities of staff and will support them in identifying and responding to victims of abuse.

We are committed to making sure that those who have experienced violence and abuse can access the support they need, to manage short and long-term risk. We also know that for many survivors, the emotional and psychological aftermath can last long after the abuse itself ends and the perpetrator is incarcerated. Mental health support is one of the vital parts of the road to recovery. Anyone in England experiencing a mental health crisis, including domestic abuse and assault victims, can speak to a trained NHS professional at any time of the day through the mental health option on NHS 111. In addition, the 8,500 mental health workers we are recruiting will be trained to support people experiencing mental health challenges, including those who have experienced violence and abuse. The NHS is also piloting more specialised support and has launched local pathfinder projects for enhanced trauma-informed mental health support for survivors with the most complex needs.
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Preet Kaur Gill:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of (a) trends in the number of and (b) outcomes from type 2 diabetes among Sikh people. \p Ashley Dalton: The Government is committed to ensuring fewer lives are lost to the biggest killers, including cardiovascular disease. That is why our Health Mission sets an ambition to reduce premature death from heart disease and stroke by 25% within a decade.

Currently, no assessment has been made on the trends or outcomes of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease among Sikh people, as we do not collect information on religion.
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Victoria Collins:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he plans to include targets on improving survival for (a) ovarian cancer and (b) other rare and less common cancers in the upcoming national cancer plan. \p Ashley Dalton: The Department is committed to improving survival outcomes for all cancer types, including ovarian cancer and other rare and less common cancers, by catching it early, and treating it faster and more effectively. 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 ensure patients have access to the best treatment for ovarian cancer, NHS England commissioned an audit on ovarian cancer. Using routine data collected on patients diagnosed with ovarian cancer in an NHS setting as part of their care and treatment, the audits bring together information to look at what is being done well, where it’s being done well, and what needs to be improved. The audit published its report in September 2024 and officials across NHS England and the Department are considering its findings.

Further actions on improving the survival of all cancers, including ovarian cancer and other rare and less common 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 experience 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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Luke Myer:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what his Department's planned timetable is for the publication of its forthcoming delivery plan on Myalgic Encephalomyelitis and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. \p Ashley Dalton: The myalgic encephalomyelitis, also known as chronic fatigue syndrome, final delivery plan will be published shortly. The plan will focus on boosting research, improving attitudes and education, and bettering the lives of people with this debilitating disease.
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Mr Richard Holden:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to Cabinet Office FOI disclosure FOI2025/05753 of 12 June 2025, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of cancelling the (a) Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and (b) Help Us Help You: Cancer the communications campaigns on health outcomes. \p Ashley Dalton: The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has not conducted a formal assessment regarding the potential impact of cancelling the Keep Antibiotics Working campaign. UKHSA remains committed to promoting the importance of using antibiotics correctly, and in Spring launched a new pilot campaign to re-engage priority audience groups with the correct behaviors in terms of antibiotic usage. The evaluation of this campaign will support plans to develop the campaign further, if funding becomes available. UKHSA is planning proactive public and system facing activity for World Antimicrobial Awareness Week, from 18 to 24 November 2025, and is using all relevant opportunities to build understanding of antimicrobial resistance and what the public can do to combat it. For these reasons, UKHSA has not conducted a formal assessment regarding the potential impact of cancelling the Keep Antibiotics Working campaign, specifically.

NHS England runs Help Us Help You campaigns to increase knowledge of cancer symptoms and address barriers to acting on them, to encourage people to come forward as soon as possible to see their general practitioner. The campaigns focus 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. The Department has not made a formal assessment of the potential impact of cancelling the Help Us Help You campaigns.
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Mr Lee Dillon:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department plans to take to raise awareness in young children about the health benefits of wearing suncream. \p Ashley Dalton: The Department continues to advise patients to follow National Health Service guidance on sun protection. This advice is available publicly at the following link:

https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/seasonal-health/sunscreen-and-sun-safety/

It includes guidance on the extra care that should be taken for babies and children. As their skin is much more sensitive than adults, guidance advises children under six months old to be kept out of direct sunlight. Additionally, from March to October in the United Kingdom, children should wear suitable clothing, and wear at least SPF30 suncream.

The UK Health Security Agency also provides guidance which includes information on suncream and is available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/looking-after-children-and-those-in-early-years-settings-before-and-during-hot-weather-teachers-and-other-educational-professionals

The toolkit is intended to provide health information and other resources that can be communicated during hot spells.
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Gregory Stafford:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent discussions he has had with Public Health England and the UK Health Security Agency on the use of mercury in dental amalgam fillings. \p Stephen Kinnock: In England, we will continue to review the use of mercury in dental amalgam fillings and restrict and phase down their use. Administrations across the United Kingdom routinely work together to share best practice and to deliver on our common goals for improving patients’ experiences of healthcare services, including access to dentistry.

Following the abolition of Public Health England and the establishment of the UK Health Security Agency, ministers regularly meet with key stakeholders to discuss a range of issues, including but not limited to dentistry.
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Mr Andrew Snowden:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 24 June 2025 to Question 60968 on Insomnia: Lancashire, what data his Department holds on the number of people who accessed NHS Talking Therapies in relation to chronic insomnia in (a) Fylde constituency and (b) Lancashire in the last five years. \p Stephen Kinnock: The following table shows the number if patients referred to NHS Talking Therapies with insomnia in Fylde, and the number of patients referred with insomnia to NHS Talking Therapies in Lancashire, from 2021 to 2025:

Year

Patients referred with insomnia in Fylde

Patients referred with insomnia in Lancashire

2021

*

*

2022

*

*

2023

*

*

2024

*

15

2025

*

5

Source: Talking Therapies Dataset, NHS England

Notes:
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Jim Shannon:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to improve the use of innovative technologies to treat glaucoma through the 10-Year Plan. \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 in all parts of the country. 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.

The 10-Year Health Plan aims to benefit everyone, and eye health will likely benefit from these reforms. The 10-Year Health Plan ensures that the system and framework are in place to support the delivery for people with glaucoma. The plan has been developed through the extensive engagement we have undertaken with the public, patients, and staff, including with the eye care sector.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence will continue to play a crucial role in evaluating new medicines, medical devices, and other technologies to determine their clinical and cost-effectiveness before recommending them for NHS use.
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Jim Shannon:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to help prevent irreversible blindness from glaucoma progression. \p Stephen Kinnock: Regular sight tests play a crucial role in the early detection of glaucoma, which is often symptomless in the early stages. Free National Health Service sight tests are available for many, including individuals diagnosed with glaucoma or those aged 40 years old and over with a close family member with a history of glaucoma. Patients with suspected glaucoma will be referred for further investigation, any clinically necessary treatment, and ongoing monitoring, which can delay its progression.

NHS England has been testing how IT connectivity between primary and secondary eye care services and the development of a single point of access could improve the referral and triage of patients, reducing the time from referral to treatment. It could also allow for more patients to be managed closer to home, within community optometry. This could benefit all patients with eye care needs, including those with suspected or diagnosed glaucoma.
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Sonia Kumar:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department plans to make eye tests mandatory for primary school children. \p Stephen Kinnock: There are currently no plans to make eye tests mandatory for primary school children. The UK National Screening Committee recommends vision screening in school for children aged four to five years old, to look for reduced vision in one or both eyes.

In addition to vision screening, free sight tests are widely available for children under 16 years old and under 19 years old in full time education. Free sight tests are also being made available for children and young people with special educational needs, attending special educational settings across England, where those settings choose to host a service.
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Sarah Gibson:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of education, health and care plans for children with cystic fibrosis in Wiltshire; and what steps he is taking to help support local authorities to improve those plans. \p Ashley Dalton: We are committed to ensuring that people living with cystic fibrosis have access to appropriate support and services, so that they can fulfil their potential and lead happy, healthy and productive lives.

NHS England commissions 47 specialised cystic fibrosis centres for adults and children across England. This includes the children’s specialist cystic fibrosis service based at Southampton Children’s Hospital, which serves patients in Wiltshire. Service specifications published by NHS England clearly define the standards of services, care and outcomes that people can expect from these centres. Those service specifications aim to deliver improvements to life expectancy and quality of life for children with cystic fibrosis.

Where a local authority does not meet its duties, the Department for Education can take action that prioritises children’s needs and supports local areas to bring about rapid improvement. The Department for Education works to monitor, support, and challenge local authorities, working closely with NHS England to tackle weaknesses that sit with health partners.

For this reason, the Department of Health and Social Care has not specifically made a formal assessment of the adequacy of education, health, and care plans for children with cystic fibrosis in Wiltshire.
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Jim Shannon:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of combined cataract and trabecular bypass on glaucoma progression. \p Stephen Kinnock: The best treatment options for any individual patient will be decided by the treating clinician in discussion with the patient, taking into account the 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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Josh Babarinde:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department has taken towards establishing an ARFID pathway for adults living with this condition in (a) Eastbourne and (b) the UK. \p Stephen Kinnock: NHS England is updating the Adult Eating Disorder Inpatient Service Specification to address the gaps and challenges in the current system for those with severe and complex eating disorders, which includes avoidant restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID).

In recognition of the importance of ARFID, NHS England published A Framework for Good Practice in Delivering Support to Adults and Older Adults with Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID), on NHS Futures. It is intended for clinicians working in eating disorder services.

Locally in Sussex, which includes Eastbourne, NHS England is working with system partners to develop a children and young people’s pathway, which will consist of a multi-disciplinary model of care for children and young people with ARFID and complex eating, to more comprehensively support their needs. This learning will be used to explore improvements in the adult pathway as well.

The Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust offers advice and consultation to professionals about ARFID and signposts to other relevant services as required.
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Helen Maguire:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of core funding for general practice. \p Stephen Kinnock: We have invested an additional £889 million in general practice (GP) to reinforce the front door of the National Health Service, bringing total spend on the GP Contract to £13.2 billion in 2025/26. This is the biggest increase in over a decade, and we are pleased that the General Practitioners Committee England is supportive of the contract changes.

The changes to the contract will improve services for patients and make progress towards the Government’s Health Mission, supporting the three key shifts the Government wants to achieve, from analogue to digital, from sickness to prevention, and from hospital to community care.

GP providers are valued independent contractors. Every year we consult with the sector both about what services they provide, and the money providers are entitled to in return under their contract. Operating costs for these providers are taken into account as a part of this process.
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Joe Robertson:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the Deputy Director for 10 Year Health Plan Engagement's Change NHS website blog post, entitled, Ensuring the Plan represents everyone, which groups are classified as inclusion health groups. \p Ashley Dalton: Inclusion health is an umbrella term used to describe people who are socially excluded, who typically experience multiple overlapping risk factors for poor health, such as poverty, violence, and complex trauma.
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Tom Morrison:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps hi Department has taken to support GP practices who have taking on patients coming from private healthcare backgrounds. \p Stephen Kinnock: The National Health Service and general practices (GPs) are free at the point of use, and anyone is entitled to register with an NHS GP regardless of whether they have had private healthcare before.

Under the GP Contract, a contractor must not host private paid-for GP services that fall within the scope of NHS funded primary medical services, and must not themselves, or through another person, advertise the provision of private services using the same written or electronic means used to advertise the NHS funded primary medical services they provide.

This does not prevent individual GPs from offering purely private GP services to non-registered patients, although these services must be outside the agreed medical services and separate to the services provided to their NHS patient list and on alternative premises which are not NHS-funded. This is intended to safeguard the model of comprehensive NHS primary medical care and ensure that the line between NHS and private practice does not become blurred.

The British Medical Association provides guidance to GPs on its website for their responsibility in responding to private health care.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-08)

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Helen Maguire:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to help GPs who are unable to find employment despite workforce shortages. \p Stephen Kinnock: The Government has invested £82 million in the Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme (ARRS), which has enabled the recruitment of more than 1,900 recently qualified general practitioners (GPs) in England since October. This will increase the number of available appointments, secure the future supply of GPs, and alleviate the pressure on those currently working in the system.

Under recently announced changes to the GP Contract in 2025/26, the ARRS will become more flexible to allow primary care networks to respond better to local workforce needs. The two ARRS pots have been combined to create a single pot for reimbursement of patient-facing staff costs. There will be no restrictions on the number or type of staff covered, including GPs and practice nurses.

On 27 February, the Government and the British Medical Association agreed to the changes to the GP Contract to fix the front door of the National Health Service, and to bring back the family doctor. We are investing an additional £889 million in GPs for 2025/26, bringing total spending on the GP Contract to £13.2 billion. This is the largest uplift to GP funding since the beginning of the five-year framework, and means we are reversing recent trends by allocating a rising share of NHS resources to GPs.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-08)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-08 conversation_66

John Glen:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many children with a diagnosis of foetal valproate syndrome also have a diagnosis of (a) spina bifida, (b) neural tube defects, (c) cardiac malformations, (d) kidney malformations and (e) cleft (i) lip and (ii) palate. \p Ashley Dalton: Everyone who has been harmed from sodium valproate has our deepest sympathies. The information requested is not held centrally.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-08)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-08 conversation_67

John Glen:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many children diagnosed with an autistic spectrum disorder also have a diagnosis of foetal valproate syndrome. \p Ashley Dalton: Everyone who has been harmed from sodium valproate has our deepest sympathies. Information on the number of children diagnosed with an autistic spectrum disorder and a diagnosis of foetal valproate syndrome is not collected centrally.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-08)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-08 conversation_68

Daisy Cooper:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 19 May 2025 to Question 51941 on Paraneoplastic Encephalomyelitis: Diagnosis, how many laboratories in England provide testing for KLHL11 antibodies. \p Ashley Dalton: The Department does not collect data on KLHL11 antibody testing in England.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-08)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-08 conversation_69

Cat Smith:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many children with a diagnosis of Foetal Valproate Syndrome also have a diagnosis of (a) Spina Bifida, (b) neural tube defects, (c) Cardiac/heart malformations, (d) Kidney malformations and (e) cleft lip and/or palate. \p Ashley Dalton: Everyone who has been harmed from sodium valproate has our deepest sympathies. The information requested is not held centrally.
wrans/answers2025-07-08 conversation_70
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-08)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-08 conversation_70

Cat Smith:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many children who are diagnosed with having an Autistic Spectrum Disorders also have a diagnosis of Foetal Valproate Syndrome. \p Ashley Dalton: Everyone who has been harmed from sodium valproate has our deepest sympathies. Information about the number of children diagnosed with an autistic spectrum disorder and a diagnosis of foetal valproate syndrome is not collected centrally.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-08)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-08 conversation_71

Fabian Hamilton:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what information his Department holds on whether the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence plans to publish guidelines for the (a) diagnosis and (b) treatment of chronic urinary tract infections. \p Ashley Dalton: The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has an established prioritisation process overseen by a prioritisation board, for the identification of priorities for guidance development. Anyone can suggest a topic through the NICE website at the following link:

https://www.nice.org.uk/forms/topic-suggestion

NICE has no current plans to develop guidance on chronic urinary tract infections (UTIs) at this time and the topic has not been considered by its prioritisation board. However, NICE has produced a clinical guideline on antimicrobial prescribing for recurrent UTIs which provides recommendations on treatments and self-care for the prevention of recurrent UTIs. This guideline is available at the following link:

https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng112
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-08)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-08 conversation_72

Cat Smith:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of introducing mandatory health labelling on alcoholic drinks on public health. \p Ashley Dalton: In ‘Fit for the Future: 10 Year Health Plan for England’, the Government has committed to strengthen and expand on existing voluntary guidelines for alcohol labelling by introducing a mandatory requirement for alcoholic drinks to display consistent nutritional information and health warning messages. The Plan is available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/10-year-health-plan-for-england-fit-for-the-future

Currently there is voluntary guidance on communicating the United Kingdom Chief Medical Officers' low risk drinking guideline, which recommends labels include info that to keep health risks from alcohol to a low level it is safest not to drink more than 14 units a week on a regular basis, and to include a warning against drinking during pregnancy. The Department has commissioned a National Institute for Health and Care Research study on understanding the impact of alcohol calorie labelling on alcohol and calorie selection, purchasing, and consumption. This study is due to report in 2026.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-08)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-08 conversation_73

Andrew Gwynne:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of (a) expanding eligibility for Healthy Start and (b) increasing the payments for Healthy Start recipients on (i) maternal and (ii) child health. \p Ashley Dalton: Under the Health Mission, the Government is committed to prevention and to tackling obesity, creating a fairer, healthier food environment. Pregnant women and children aged under four years old and over one year old each receive £4.25 every week, and children under one year old each receive £8.50 every week. Healthy Start can be used to buy, or be put towards the cost of, fresh, frozen, or tinned fruit and vegetables, fresh, dried, and tinned pulses, milk, and infant formula. Healthy Start beneficiaries are also eligible for free Healthy Start Vitamins.

An evaluation of the Healthy Start scheme in England led by the National Institute for Health and Care Research is due to provide a final report in 2026.

The Healthy Start scheme is kept under continuous review and eligibility aligns closely with other passported benefits across Government.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-08)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-08 conversation_74

David Smith:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking (a) to ensure the provision of Pfizer vaccines to people who cannot take Moderna and (b) with ICBs which have insufficient supplies of the Pfizer vaccine in North Northumberland constituency. \p Ashley Dalton: The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) procures vaccines that have been approved by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency and are advised for use in COVID-19 booster programmes by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI). The make-up of vaccine availability can vary from campaign to campaign based on the latest JCVI and clinical advice and procured stock available.

Published advice in the COVID-19 Green book, chapter 14a recommends that those with known contraindications to COVID-19 vaccination should seek advice from a relevant specialist. This may include an allergy specialist, who can make a clinical assessment of the individual's risks and benefits of vaccination. If suitable, these individuals may be advised to be vaccinated in hospital under medical supervision.

During the 2025 Spring COVID-19 vaccination campaign, UKHSA did not receive any reports of supply issues in North Northumberland.

Vaccine deployment is managed by NHS England which works with the regional teams and integrated care boards to ensure the vaccine is readily available for those eligible, as per the JCVI advice. UKHSA has worked and continues to work with all deployment partners to ensure the supply and provision of vaccines.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-08)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-08 conversation_75

Alison Bennett:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make an estimate of the number of hours spent by (a) his Department and (b) Baroness Casey’s review team on the review since (a) 5 July 2024 and (b) 3 January 2025. \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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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-08)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-08 conversation_76

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: 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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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-08)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-08 conversation_77

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: 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.