theodi/ndl-core-corpus huggingface dataset:
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-18)

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Charlotte Nichols:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what comparative assessment he has made of approval rates for covid-19 vaccine injury claims in (a) the UK and (b) other jurisdictions for which figures are available. \p Ashley Dalton: No specific assessment has been made. All claims made through the Vaccine Damage Payment Scheme are assessed on a case-by-case basis by independent medical assessors. Medical assessors must be General Medical Council registered doctors with a licence to practise and at least five years’ experience and must have undertaken specialised training in vaccine damage and disability assessment.

Medical assessors will consider the claim form, the clinical research, the epidemiological evidence, the current consensus of expert medical opinion, and the claimant’s full medical records. The assessment, once complete, will then undergo assurance review.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-18)

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Charlotte Nichols:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the medical experience requirements are for caseworkers handling vaccine damage payment claims. \p Ashley Dalton: Caseworkers supporting the Vaccine Damage Payment Scheme (VDPS) are administrative staff who are not involved in the assessment of claims. Their role is to provide claimants with a consistent point of contact, manage the administrative progress of claims, communicate updates, and ensure all necessary documentation is gathered. No medical experience is required for this supportive administrative function.

All clinical assessments under the VDPS are conducted solely by medical assessors. Medical assessors are General Medical Council registered doctors who have licences to practise and at least five years' experience and must have undertaken specialised training in vaccine damage and disability assessment.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-18)

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Charlotte Nichols:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department is undertaking research into (a) damage and (b) lasting effects from the AstraZeneca vaccine. \p Ashley Dalton: Vaccines are only authorised once they have met robust standards of effectiveness, safety, and quality set by the independent medicines’ regulator, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).

The monitoring of vaccine safety does not stop once a vaccine has been approved. The MHRA continuously monitors safety data from a range of sources to ensure that the benefits continue to outweigh any risks. This includes reports of adverse events and rare side effects retrieved from the MHRA’s Yellow Card Database, interim and final study reports for clinical trials, post-authorisation safety studies, and data from scientific literature. A dedicated team of assessors reviews this information on a weekly basis to look for safety issues or unexpected, rare events.

The Department also commissions research through the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) and continues to welcome funding applications for research into any aspect of human health, including for vaccine side effects.

Since the start of the pandemic, the NIHR has allocated more than £110 million of funding for COVID-19 vaccine research, including consideration of issues around vaccine safety. As part of this, the Department commissioned a £1.6 million programme of work through the NIHR to understand the mechanisms underlying the occurrence of COVID-19 vaccine-induced thrombotic thrombocytopenia syndrome, a rare condition of blood clotting with low platelets following vaccination for COVID-19. This research was published in July 2025 and is available in the NIHR Journals Library.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-18)

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Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what was the outcome of the national exercise for pandemic preparedness conducted in 2025. \p Ashley Dalton: The national pandemic preparedness exercise, Exercise PEGASUS, which focused on the emergence, containment, and mitigation phases of a pandemic, concluded live participation on 5 November 2025. Evaluation of these three phases is underway, and a fourth phase, focussed on recovery, is planned to be exercised in 2026. The Government has committed to communicating the findings and lessons of the exercise as recommended by the COVID-19 inquiry and a post-exercise report will be delivered in due course.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-18)

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Charlie Dewhirst:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will set (a) the role of Integrated Health Organisations (IHOs) and (b) how IHOs will align with (i) integrated care boards and (ii) neighbourhood health plans. \p Karin Smyth: As set out in the 10-Year Health Plan, the very best foundation trusts will have the opportunity to be eligible for designation as integrated health organisations (IHOs).

An IHO will hold the whole health budget for a local population. IHOs will be required to support integration, shift resources from hospital to community, focus on population health and tackle inequalities.

Guidance for providers on IHO designation is available at the following link:

https://www.england.nhs.uk/long-read/advanced-foundation-trust-programme-guide-for-applicants-annex-2/

Further guidance on the implementation of IHOs will be published by NHS England shortly.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-18)

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Mr Andrew Snowden:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many staff previously employed in Commissioning Support Units are without allocated work but continue to receive full pay. \p Karin Smyth: The Department recognises that the current process of transition for Commissioning Support Units (CSUs) directly impacts staff. NHS England is working to support CSUs as part of the change process, and the Department and NHS England are committed to treating people with the care, respect, and fairness they are owed throughout this process.

The Government is committed to the modernisation of the National Health Service as set out in the 10-Year Health Plan, including abolishing CSUs as part of the refocussing of the role of integrated care boards on strategic commissioning. This will help support delivery of the three shifts, from hospital to community, from analogue to digital, and from sickness to prevention, that are needed to build a health service fit for the future.

No formal assessment has yet been made about the number of staff employed in CSUs without allocated work.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-18)

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Dr Al Pinkerton:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment his Department has made of the long-term workforce planning implications of medical graduates seeking employment overseas due to lack of NHS opportunities. \p Karin Smyth: Data from the General Medical Council shows that approximately 7% of doctors in England do not hold a licence to practice five years after they have completed the foundation programme (the work-based training programme that bridges the gap between medical school and specialty or general practice training). This is equivalent to around 520 doctors – a relatively small number. Although some doctors do work overseas, most moves are temporary, and the overall loss is small.

We will publish a new 10-Year Workforce Plan 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 (2025-11-18)

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Warinder Juss:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to impose penalties on NHS Trusts who fail to tackle (a) racism and (b) racial discrimination. \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 review will consider how regulators address complaints of antisemitism and other forms of racism from a complaint being raised, to investigation and fitness to practice proceedings. The review will also consider how greater transparency can be brought to regulatory processes, including General Medical Council investigations and Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service decision making on antisemitism and other racism complaints.

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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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-18)

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Helen Maguire:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to improve (a) planning and (b) training to help staff to enable supported home births. \p Karin Smyth: The Department and NHS England fully support women to make informed choices about their care, including the choice to give birth at home. We expect local services to work collaboratively to ensure the provision of safe, personalised care in all settings.

The Core Competency Framework, which sets out the essential training for staff to address variations in the quality of support provided, outlines that training should be tailored to specific staff groups, for example, home birth, or birth centre teams. Staff should also receive training in the management of emergencies, using clinical simulation at the point of care and across a range of settings, including in the community.

Integrated care boards are responsible for commissioning maternity services and for determining how those services are configured to meet local needs. There may be occasions when home birth services need to be temporarily suspended or interrupted for safety reasons. When this occurs, trusts are required to re-open services as soon as it is safe to do so and report it nationally through the Maternity and Neonatal SitRep reporting tool, which collects essential data to monitor the performance of maternity and neonatal services.

NHS England will be writing to all services and systems asking them to review their service provision.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-18)

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Martin Wrigley:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department are taking to ensure retired NHS staff do not suffer financial hardship due to late pension payments. \p Karin Smyth: The Department regularly meets with the NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA), which is responsible for administering the NHS Pension Scheme, to discuss performance levels. These discussions include the current increase in processing times for initial pension payments to retired National Health Service staff.

The NHSBSA is working in partnership with the Department to ensure robust measures are in place to improve performance as a matter of urgency. The NHSBSA has reallocated internal resources, is actively recruiting and training new staff, and has enhanced communications with members and employers to help them plan accordingly. The Department is committed to supporting the NHSBSA in taking all necessary steps to ensure pension benefits return to being paid on-time.

To minimise the risk of financial hardship, the NHSBSA is proactively contacting and prioritising cases involving vulnerable members and those experiencing ill health. A member whose first pension payment is delayed beyond 30 days will automatically receive interest on the overdue amount. Up-to-date information on processing times is made available to members via the NHSBSA website which is available at the following link:

https://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/current-processing-times-nhs-pensions.

The NHSBSA remains dedicated to providing the highest possible standard of service to retiring and retired NHS staff and will continue to keep members updated on progress.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-18)

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Dr Al Pinkerton:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department has made an assessment of the number of doctors seeking work in (a) non-training and (b) locum posts in Surrey Heath constituency. \p Karin Smyth: No specific assessment has been made.

As set out in the 10-Year Health Plan, published in July 2025, over the next three years 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.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-18)

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Mr Andrew Snowden:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of the Greener NHS project on (a) patients and (b) staff. \p Karin Smyth: NHS England’s “Five years of a greener NHS: progress and forward look 2025” report clearly sets out that all Greener National Health Service initiatives focus on delivering better value for money for the taxpayer and better care for patients. These initiatives are also strongly supported by NHS staff, with nine in ten supporting the NHS’s Net Zero ambitions.

Every pound the health service spends on energy bills is money that cannot be spent on cutting waiting times and improving care, and this Government is taking action to ensure every penny is saved where possible in the NHS. Ongoing examples of this include:
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-18)

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Callum Anderson:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of home-based NHS care on hospital admissions. \p Karin Smyth: Whilst no comprehensive quantitative assessment has been made, we recognise that home and community-based National Health Services play a crucial role in preventing admissions for people with conditions that can be safely managed in the community, thereby helping to manage demand pressures on accident and emergency departments, and improving patient experience.

Key features of home and community based services include: anticipating and preventing exacerbations using personalised care plans delivered through neighbourhood health teams for people with long-term conditions and frailty; directing people to the most appropriate service at first contact using clearly established routes for clinical advice supported by digital tools and neighbourhood teams; and delivering integrated community based services including Urgent Community Response, Hospital at Home, and therapy-led intermediate care.

Our Urgent and Emergency Care Delivery Plan, published in June 2025, commits to increasing the number of patients receiving urgent care in the community by expanding these services.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-18)

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Gareth Thomas:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will require NHS Trusts to offer payroll savings schemes for staff. \p Karin Smyth: Local employers across the National Health Service are best placed to understand their staff’s needs and circumstances. NHS staff have access to a range of support for financial wellbeing including credit union membership, savings schemes, and access to discount schemes such as the ‘Blue Light Card’.

NHS Employers has also published guidance for employers on salary sacrifice arrangements and tax-free childcare, which is available at the following link:

https://www.nhsemployers.org/articles/salary-sacrifice-schemes
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-18)

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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 potential merits of making symptomatic faecal immunochemical testing available in community pharmacies for people with bowel cancer symptoms. \p Ashley Dalton: The United Kingdom Bowel Cancer Screening Programme is undergoing several updates to its standards aimed at improving coverage, accessibility, and early detection. This includes updated performance thresholds, and improved accessibility of bowel cancer screening faecal immunochemical test kits for people who are blind or partially sighted.

It is recognised that pharmacies frequently serve as the initial point of contact for individuals presenting with non-specific bowel symptoms. We recommend that individuals maintain a dialogue with pharmacists; however, those exhibiting potential signs of cancer are strongly advised to contact their GP practice to support earlier diagnosis. Therefore, no assessment has been made.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-18)

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Bob Blackman:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he has made an estimate of the number of illegal vape imports that do not comply with the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency’s notification and testing regime which have entered the UK market in the most recent period for which data is available. \p Ashley Dalton: Before a nicotine vape can be placed on the United Kingdom consumer market, producers or manufacturers must first submit a notification to the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), in accordance with the Tobacco and Related Products Regulations 2016. If the notification data is compliant, the notification will be published on the MHRA portal.

However, under the current system, there is no requirement to check a product against its notification. There is also no current testing regime for nicotine vapes – this is done on an ad hoc basis where there is concern a product does not meet regulations. Therefore, no estimate has been made.

Powers in the Tobacco and Vapes Bill will enable us to establish a new registration scheme and more rigorous testing regime for tobacco, vaping and nicotine products.

Enforcement agencies continue to take action to ensure that illegal vapes do not reach consumers. In 2024/25, over one million illicit vapes were seized inland, and over 1.2 million illicit vapes were detained at ports by Trading Standards in England.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-18)

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Mr Andrew Snowden:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to page 64 of the 10 Year Health Plan for England: fit for the future, published on 3 July 2025, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of complying with mandatory targets to increase the healthiness of sales in communities on businesses. \p Ashley Dalton: As set out in our 10-Year Health Plan, we will take decisive action on the obesity crisis, easing the strain on our National Health Service and creating the healthiest generation of children ever.

With measures like mandatory business reporting and targets, we are moving to a more strategic, outcomes-based approach focussing on reducing less healthy food consumption, in line with United Kingdom dietary guidelines. Businesses will have the freedom to decide how to achieve the targets, through improving products, changing shop layouts, and introducing new healthy products or changing incentive/loyalty schemes to make healthy products available to all.

The Government will collaborate with industry to minimise the impact of the regulatory burden on businesses, from clarity of policy design to sufficient lead in time for implementation of both mandatory reporting and targets.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-18)

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Andrew Cooper:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to ensure equitable access to multidisciplinary rehabilitation services for people with functional neurological disorder across Integrated Care Boards (a) in general and (b) for people under 18. \p Ashley Dalton: The National Institute for Care Excellence’s (NICE) guideline on rehabilitation for chronic neurological disorders, including acquired brain injury, was published in October 2025 and with the code NG252, includes functional neurological disorder within its scope. The guideline, which covers rehabilitation in all settings for children, young people, and adults with a chronic neurological disorder, neurological impairment, or disabling neurological symptoms, recommends a holistic, multidisciplinary approach to rehabilitation. The guideline emphasises the need for personalised care plans that address physical, cognitive, and psychological needs.

We expect integrated care boards to take NICE guidelines fully into account when designing and commissioning services to meet the needs of their local populations. NICE guidelines represent authoritative, evidence-based recommendations on best practice, including clinical and cost-effectiveness considerations. This approach ensures consistency, quality, and equity in service provision across the National Health Service. The guideline is available at the following link:

https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng252
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-18)

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Charlie Dewhirst:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans he has to introduce a modern service framework for cancer. \p Ashley Dalton: Everyone in the National Health Service is responsible for delivering high-quality care. As announced in the 10-Year Health Plan, as well as an overall quality strategy, the National Quality Board will oversee the development of a new series of service frameworks.

Between 1997 and 2010, National Service Frameworks were a clinically-led approach to developing guidance that supported sustained improvement in major condition outcomes, including by narrowing inequality and reducing unwarranted variation. As set out in the 10-Year Health Plan, we will reintroduce and modernise this approach. These Modern Service Frameworks will define an aspirational, long-term outcome goal for a major condition and then identify the best evidenced interventions and the support for delivery.

Early priorities will include cardiovascular disease, severe mental illness and the first ever service framework for frailty and dementia. The Government will consider other long-term conditions for future waves of Modern Service Frameworks. The criteria for determining other conditions for future Modern Service Frameworks will be based on where there is potential for rapid and significant improvements in quality of care and productivity.

Plans to introduce a modern service framework for cancer will be considered as part of the development of the National Cancer Plan.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-18)

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Helen Maguire:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to support people with early stages of Type 1 Diabetes. \p Ashley Dalton: The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) is developing guidance on the use of Teplizumab for delaying the onset of stage 3 type 1 diabetes in people eight years and over with stage 2 type 1 diabetes. Further information can be found on NICE’s website, and is available at the following link:

https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/indevelopment/gid-ta10981.

The expected publication date of the guidance is 26 November 2025.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-18)

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Grahame Morris:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of the availability of specialist residential drug and alcohol treatment in (a) England and (b) the North East. \p Ashley Dalton: Local authorities are responsible for assessing local need for alcohol and drug prevention and treatment in their area, including residential treatment, and commissioning services to meet these needs. The Department set an ambition that 2% of the drug and alcohol treatment population should be accessing residential treatment. We remain committed to this ambition and continue to work with the sector to achieve this.

Earlier this year, the Department launched the self-assessment toolkit to help local areas to improve the residential drug and alcohol treatment that they commission, which is available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/residential-drug-and-alcohol-treatment-self-assessment-toolkit

The Department facilitates a residential treatment provider forum and engages in annual planning for local authorities and partners, including target-setting for residential episodes. The Department also maintains regular engagement with the English Substance Use Commissioners Group and holds joint meetings with the Ministry of Justice to explore improved pathways from the criminal justice system into residential treatment.

In addition to the Public Health Grant, in 2025/26 the Government is providing the North East with £29,432,782 in further targeted grants to improve drug and alcohol treatment and recovery services. This additional funding has provided opportunity for local authorities in the North East to enhance access to out of area facilities and bolster community models of drug and alcohol treatment and recovery support, including quasi residential rehabilitation and dayhab models.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-18)

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Grahame Morris:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the potential implications for his policies of the report by the Drugs, Alcohol & Justice APPG entitled Action on Alcohol Harm – Priorities for Policymakers, published on 10 July 2025. \p Ashley Dalton: The Department has noted the publication of the Drugs, Alcohol & Justice APPG report, ‘Action on alcohol harm: prioritise for policymakers’.

The Government is committed to taking action to prevent the harms caused by alcohol and illicit drugs, and work is underway to progress several of the priorities highlighted.

To support better outcomes for people experiencing harmful and dependent drinking, we will shortly publish the first ever United Kingdom clinical guidelines on alcohol treatment. Furthermore, in 2025/26, in addition to the Public Health Grant, the Department is providing a total of £310 million in targeted grants to improve drug and alcohol treatment services and recovery support, including housing, employment and inpatient detoxification. Our 10-Year Health Plan commits to continued expansion of Individual Placement and Support schemes for people with alcohol addiction to find good work.

The Government is also progressing plan to introducing a mandatory requirement for alcoholic drinks to display consistent nutritional information and health warning messages.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-18)

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Mr Andrew Snowden:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of trends in the levels of ketamine-related (a) hospital admissions and (b) emergency call-outs in the last ten years. \p Ashley Dalton: Data on trends in the levels of ketamine-related hospital admissions and emergency call-outs in the last ten years is not collected centrally.

There was an increase in the proportion of adults entering treatment in 2023 to 2024 with ketamine problems, from 1.6% in 2022/23 to 2.3% this year. The number of ketamine users starting treatment (3,609) is now over eight times higher than it was in 2014/15, when the number was 426. Ketamine use among children and young people has also increased in recent years. According to the Crime Survey for England and Wales, the prevalence of ketamine use among 16- to 24-year-olds was 2.9% in 2023/24. This is an increase from 1.3% in 2018/19, but a decrease from 3.8% in 2022/23 which was the highest on record.

The Department is taking seriously the threat of ketamine, its increased prevalence, and its associated harms. We are working with partners across Government to respond to existing and new drug threats and to reduce and prevent the health harms they cause.

The Department has recently launched a media campaign to raise awareness of the risks posed by new drug trends and products. Ketamine is one of its main focuses. The campaign, which includes online films, targets 16- to 24-year-olds and social media users. Experts will highlight particular risks, including the potentially irreparable damage ketamine can cause to the bladder. The full press notice is available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/young-people-given-stark-warning-on-deadly-risks-of-taking-drugs

In addition to this, the Department also cascaded a briefing to local authorities and treatment systems which included data on ketamine use and guidance on prevention, harm reduction, and treatment interventions. The briefing also included advice on how to develop system-wide healthcare responses, focusing on pathways to and from mental health and urology services to respond to ketamine related bladder damage.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-18)

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Helen Maguire:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department has considered shortening the diagnostic pathway for ovarian cancer. \p Ashley Dalton: The Department has not considered shortening the diagnostic pathway for ovarian cancer. It is, however, a priority for the Government to support the National Health Service to diagnose cancer, including ovarian cancer, as quickly as possible, to treat it faster, and to improve outcomes. This is supported by NHS England’s key ambition on cancer to meet the faster diagnosis standard, which sets a target of 28 days from urgent referral by a GP or screening programme to patients being told that they have cancer, or that cancer is ruled out.

NHS England is supporting general practitioners in diagnosing ovarian cancer earlier in various ways. This includes encouraging GP direct access to tests for patients who fall outside of urgent suspected cancer referrals and sharing evidence-based assessments of where cancer recognition and referral guidance could be improved with the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, to inform referral updates. NHS England also funds Gateway-C, an early diagnosis education platform aimed at primary care, which includes a module on ovarian cancer.

Furthermore, the National Cancer Plan will include further details on how we will improve outcomes for cancer patients, as well as speeding up diagnosis and treatment, ensuring patients have access to the latest treatments and technology, and ultimately drive up this country’s cancer survival rates.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-18)

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Helen Maguire:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to increase access to clinical trials for patients with (a) pancreatic cancer and (b) other less survivable cancers. \p Ashley Dalton: The Department is committed to ensuring that all patients, including those with pancreatic cancer and other less survivable cancers, have access to cutting-edge clinical trials and innovative, lifesaving treatments.

The Department funds research and research infrastructure through the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), which supports National Health Service patients, the public, and NHS organisations across England to participate in high-quality research, including clinical trials into cancers.

NIHR provides an online service called 'Be Part of Research', which promotes participation in health and social care research by allowing users to search for relevant studies and register their interest.

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

The Government is also supporting the Rare Cancers Private Members Bill. The Bill will make it easier for clinical trials, on for example pancreatic cancer, to take place in England, by ensuring the patient population can be more easily contacted by researchers.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-18)

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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 protect vulnerable residents from flu during winter months in Surrey Heath constituency. \p Ashley Dalton: Vaccination is our best defence against flu viruses. The aim of the vaccination programme is to provide direct protection to those at higher risk of flu associated morbidity and mortality, including older people, pregnant women, and those in clinical risk groups, and is based on the advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI). Flu vaccines are free to those at greatest risk, with vaccination available via general practices, community pharmacies, maternity services, and in schools and other community clinics, including in the Surrey Health constituency. The NHS National Booking System is open for eligible individuals to book their winter flu vaccine.

The Department is working with the UK Health Security Agency and NHS England to encourage flu vaccine uptake via the national Stay Winter Strong campaign. This uses both mainstream and specialist, highly targeted media and stakeholder channels to engage priority cohorts. Campaign messaging is supported by comprehensive information materials and guidance, ensuring healthcare professions and the public are empowered to guide patients, or make an informed choice.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-18)

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Mohammad Yasin:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that patients with multiple weight-related health conditions who fall below the current NHS eligibility threshold for tirzepatide, also called Mounjaro, are not excluded from other forms of treatment. \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 NHS on whether new medicines represent a clinically and cost-effective use of resources. NICE estimated that approximately 3.4 million people are eligible for tirzepatide to treat obesity.

The National Health Service is currently rolling out tirzepatide in primary care, prioritising those with the highest clinical need first. NHS England has worked with clinical experts, integrated care boards, patient and public representatives, healthcare professionals, charities and royal colleges on its prioritisation approach, which it set out in its interim commissioning guidance. This is available at the following link:

https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/interim-commissioning-guidance-implementation-of-the-nice-technology-appraisal-ta1026-and-the-nice-funding-variation-for-tirzepatide-mounjaro-for-the-management-of-obesity/

As part of the rollout plans, the NHS will look at different service models, including digital and community options and will speed up roll out if possible. Progress on the NHS rollout of tirzepatide will be reviewed by NICE in three years.

For those not currently eligible for tirzepatide, there are a variety of weight management services provided by the NHS and local government. These range from multi-component behavioural programmes to specialist services for those living with severe obesity and associated co-morbidities. All weight management services will have some form of eligibility criteria to ensure that they are targeted at those most likely to benefit. For example, the NHS Digital Weight Management Programme is a behavioural programme primarily aimed at adults living with obesity who also have type 2 diabetes and/or hypertension.
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Darren Paffey:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the cost effectiveness of the XYLA-provided NHS diabetes prevention programme. \p Ashley Dalton: The NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme (NHS DPP) has been commissioned since 2016, and as of the end of September 2025, there have been over two million referrals into the programme and over 980,000 programme starts.

An independent evaluation of the NHS DPP published in 2024 demonstrated that the programme is cost effective and estimated a cost saving of £71.4 million based on the number of participants to March 2020.

The evaluation states that the NHS DPP is highly effective and continues to deliver positive outcomes, and that individuals who attended have a 46% lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes than those who do not attend.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-18)

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Alex Easton:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to help improve access to (a) specialist healthcare, (b) information at diagnosis and (c) financial support for people living with Parkinson’s disease. \p Ashley Dalton: Integrated care boards (ICBs) are responsible for commissioning services that meet the needs of their population, including for Parkinson’s. In doing so, the Government expects ICBs to take account of the relevant guidelines and best practice in designing their local services. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence’s guideline on Parkinson’s disease, code NG71, states that people with Parkinson’s should have an accessible point of contact with specialist services, which can be provided by a Parkinson’s nurse specialist, and that all individuals should be offered access to the services provided by these specialist nurses to support ongoing care and advice

NHS England has established a Neurology Transformation Programme, a multi-year, clinically led programme, which has developed a new model of integrated care to support ICBs to deliver the right service, at the right time for all neurology patients, including for those with Parkinson’s. This focuses on providing access equitably across the country, care as close to home as possible, and early intervention to prevent illness and deterioration in patients with long-term neurological conditions. A toolkit is being developed to support ICBs to understand and implement this new model, which will include components on delivering acute neurology services, improving health equity in neurology, and improving community neurology services.

NHS England’s Getting It Right First Time Programme for Neurology and RightCare Toolkit for Progressive Neurological Conditions aim to improve care for patients with Parkinson’s disease.

Parkinson’s Connect allows healthcare professionals to refer patients at the point of diagnosis directly to support that Parkinson’s UK offers, such as local support groups, a confidential helpline, and online learning resources.

The Diagnosis Connect service will directly refer patients to specialist charities at the point of diagnosis for personalised advice, information, guidance, and support.

The Department for Work and Pensions offers Personal Independence Payments (PIP) to individuals with health conditions or disabilities. However, there is currently no automatic entitlement to PIP in relation to a specific health condition, except in cases of people nearing the end of life.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-18)

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Dr Scott Arthur:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the report by Sarcoma UK entitled Unique Among Cancers: A state of the nation review of sarcoma care, published on 11 June 2025, what steps he plans to take to help tackle issues noted in that report relating to sarcoma (a) diagnosis, (b) treatment and (c) care. \p Ashley Dalton: The Department has received, and relevant officials are currently considering, Sarcoma UK’s report reviewing sarcoma care across the United Kingdom.

The Department will get the National Health Service diagnosing cancer earlier and treating it faster, including sarcoma. To achieve this, the NHS in England has delivered an extra 40,000 operations, scans, and appointments each week as the first step to ensuring early diagnosis and faster treatment.

NHS England has published a national service specification, covering both bone and soft tissue sarcomas. The specification requires close working between sarcoma services and other NHS partners, co-ordinated by Sarcoma Advisory Groups, to improve care pathways.

The National Cancer Plan for England will have patients at its heart and will cover the entirety of the cancer pathway, from referral and diagnosis to treatment and ongoing care, as well as research and innovation. The plan will seek to improve every aspect of cancer care to better the experience and outcomes for all patient groups, including sarcoma patients.
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Carolyn Harris:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make it his policy to recognise obesity as a disease. \p Ashley Dalton: The Department does not recognise obesity as a disease.

Guidelines from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), which the Government accepts and works to, focus on obesity as a complex but preventable public health issue. NICE does not classify obesity as a disease but recognises that it increases the risks of a range of adverse health outcomes including type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke and some cancers. NICE provides robust, evidence-based guidance on the identification, prevention and treatment of obesity. NICE guidelines stress the importance of clinical judgement, including considering whether someone is living with another health condition alongside obesity that may be relevant.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-18)

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Mr Andrew Snowden:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of including fruit and nut bars under the restrictions for high fat, sugar and salt products on the health of consumers. \p Ashley Dalton: As set out in the 10-Year Health Plan, we will take decisive action on the obesity crisis to ease the strain on our National Health Service and create the healthiest generation of children ever.

There are restrictions on high fat, sugar and salt products in relation to advertising and promotions. These restrictions apply to categories of products of most concern for childhood obesity, which were chosen following public consultation. The Nutrient Profiling Model is then applied to products within each category to determine which products are ‘less healthy’ and therefore subject to the restrictions, based on the balance of positive and negative nutrients. This means that, while products that are not high in saturated fat, salt or sugar are unaffected, fruit and nut bars that are high in saturated fat, salt or sugar are in scope of the restrictions.

We have not quantified the impact of specific products within the advertising or promotions restrictions. However, we have published detailed impact assessments on costs and benefits of these policies on GOV.UK.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-18)

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Nick Timothy:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he plans to include targets to improve the diagnosis times for myeloma in the forthcoming National Cancer Plan for England. \p Ashley Dalton: Early diagnosis is a key focus of the National Cancer Plan, which will be published in the new year. It is a priority for the Government to support the National Health Service to diagnose cancer, including myeloma and other blood cancers, as early and quickly as possible, and to treat it faster, to improve outcomes.

To tackle late diagnoses of blood cancers, the NHS is implementing non-specific symptom pathways for patients who present with symptoms such as weight loss and fatigue, which do not clearly align to a tumour type. Blood cancers are one of the most common cancer types diagnosed through these pathways.

We will get the NHS diagnosing blood cancers earlier and treating it faster, and we will support the NHS to increase capacity to meet the demand for diagnostic services through investment, including for magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography scanners.

The National Cancer Plan will include further details on how we will improve outcomes for cancer patients, including speeding up diagnosis and treatment, ensuring patients have access to the latest treatments and technology, and ultimately drive up this country’s cancer survival rates.