theodi/ndl-core-corpus huggingface dataset:
wrans/answers2025-11-06 conversation_40
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-06)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-06 conversation_40

Charlotte Cane:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of dementia care provision in Ely and East Cambridgeshire constituency. \p Stephen Kinnock: The Government is empowering local leaders with the autonomy they need to provide the best services to their local community, including for those with dementia.

That is why we have published the D100: Assessment Tool Pathway programme, which brings together multiple resources into a single, consolidated tool. This will help simplify best practice for system leaders and help create communities and services where the best possible care and support is available to those with dementia. The tool is available at the following link:

https://www.rcpsych.ac.uk/improving-care/nccmh/service-design-and-development/dementia-100-pathway-assessment-tool

We will also deliver the first ever Frailty and Dementia Modern Service Framework to deliver rapid and significant improvements in quality of care and productivity. This will be informed by phase one of the independent commission into adult social care, expected in 2026.

The Frailty and Dementia Modern Service Framework will seek to reduce unwarranted variation and narrow inequality for those living with dementia, and will set national standards for dementia care and redirect National Health Service priorities to provide the best possible care and support.
wrans/answers2025-11-06 conversation_41
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-06)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-06 conversation_41

Sir John Hayes:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to improve children's palliative care services in Lincolnshire. \p Stephen Kinnock: Palliative care services, including children’s palliative care services, are included in the list of services an integrated care board (ICB) must commission. To support ICBs, including the Lincolnshire ICB, in this duty, NHS England has published statutory guidance and a service specification for children and young people. The statutory guidance states that ICBs must work to ensure that there is sufficient provision of care services to meet the needs of their local populations.

The Department and NHS England are currently working at pace to develop plans on how best to improve the access, quality, and sustainability of all-age palliative care and end of life care in line with the 10-Year Health Plan.

Whilst the majority of palliative care and end of life care is provided by National Health Service staff and services, we recognise the vital part charitable hospices play as well. This is why we are supporting the hospice sector with a £100 million capital funding boost for eligible adult and children’s hospices in England to ensure they have the best physical environment for care. St Andrew’s Hospice, which serves children in Lincolnshire, is receiving £370,356 from this funding.

We are also providing £26 million in revenue funding to support children and young people’s hospices for 2025/26. St Andrew’s Hospice is receiving £372,000 from this funding.

I am pleased to confirm the continuation of approximately £26 million, adjusted for inflation, for the next three financial years, from 2026/27 to 2028/29 inclusive, to be distributed again via ICBs. This amounts to approximately £80 million over the next three years.
wrans/answers2025-11-06 conversation_42
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-06)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-06 conversation_42

Jess Brown-Fuller:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to help ensure that patients who are digitally excluded can retain (a) telephone and (b) in-person routes to book GP appointments. \p Stephen Kinnock: We know that some patients may struggle or prefer not to use digital options. We are committed to ensuring that patients who are digitally excluded can retain telephone and in-person routes to book general practice (GP) appointments, by mandating that GPs must maintain these traditional access methods, alongside digital options. The move to digital-first access is designed to free up phone lines for those who want and need them, not replace them.
wrans/answers2025-11-06 conversation_43
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-06)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-06 conversation_43

Andrew Rosindell:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make it his Department’s policy to introduce a ban on mercury dental fillings in England. \p Stephen Kinnock: Dental amalgam is a well-established, safe, and effective dental filling material. Current Department policy is to restrict and phase down the use of dental amalgam to reduce any environmental impacts. This includes regulations to ban the use of amalgam in baby teeth, pregnant and breastfeeding women, and children under 15 years old, except when deemed strictly necessary for specific medical needs. This has been in place since 2018.

The United Kingdom is party to the Minamata Convention on Mercury, a global treaty to protect human health and the environment from the adverse effects of mercury. The Minamata Convention has recommended that those party to the convention phase down the use of dental amalgam, which the UK does, for example, by restricting its use in under 15-year-olds.

The sixth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Minamata Convention is taking place from 3 November to 7 November 2025, where a ban on mercury dental amalgam will be discussed.
wrans/answers2025-11-06 conversation_44
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-06)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-06 conversation_44

Helen Maguire:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to recruit dentists into the NHS. \p Stephen Kinnock: We are determined to rebuild National Health Service dentistry, but it will take time and there are no quick fixes. Strengthening the workforce is key to our ambitions.

To rebuild dentistry in the long term, we will reform the dental contract, with a shift to focus on prevention and the retention of NHS dentists. The Government’s ambition is to deliver fundamental contract reform before the end of this Parliament.

Integrated care boards are recruiting more dentists through the Golden Hello scheme. This recruitment incentive will see dentists receiving payments of £20,000 to work in those areas that need them most for three years.

As announced in our 10-Year Health Plan, the Government will make it a requirement for newly qualified dentists to practice in the NHS for a minimum period, intended to be at least three years. That will mean more NHS dentists and more NHS appointments.

We will also publish a 10 Year Workforce Plan and ensure the NHS has the right people in the right places, with the right skills to deliver the best care for patients, when they need it.
wrans/answers2025-11-06 conversation_45
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-06)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-06 conversation_45

Andrew Rosindell:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent steps he has taken with local authorities to help improve food hygiene ratings of catering businesses. \p Ashley Dalton: The Food Hygiene Rating Scheme (FHRS) is a consumer information scheme operated by the Food Standards Agency (FSA) in partnership with local authorities across England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. Ultimately, it is the responsibility of businesses to comply with food hygiene law at all times. However, the FSA provides Safer Food Better Business guidance to help small businesses manage food hygiene, and there is an information pack specifically for caterers at the following link:

https://www.food.gov.uk/business-guidance/safer-food-better-business-for-caterers

The FSA also publishes guidance on inspections, the FHRS, and how to achieve the top rating. This guidance is available at the following link:

https://www.food.gov.uk/business-guidance/preparing-for-your-first-food-hygiene-inspection

Businesses with low ratings will continue to receive follow up action or visits by local authorities to ensure that non-compliances are addressed. If the local authority officer finds that a business’s hygiene standards are very poor and food may be unsafe to eat, they must act to protect consumers. This could result in stopping part of the business or closing it down completely until it is safe to reopen it.
wrans/answers2025-11-06 conversation_46
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-06)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-06 conversation_46

Martin Wrigley:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to improve breast cancer screening rates in Devon. \p Ashley Dalton: The Government is taking a range of actions to improve participation in breast screening in Devon, through the NHS Breast Screening Programme. These actions include:
wrans/answers2025-11-06 conversation_47
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-06)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-06 conversation_47

Mr Andrew Snowden:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what information his Department holds on the (a) demography and (b) regional locations of new diagnoses of (i) HIV, (ii) hepatitis B and (iii) hepatitis C. \p Ashley Dalton: The UK Health Security Agency undertakes monitoring and surveillance of HIV and hepatitis B and C viral infections, including new diagnoses. This includes regional and demographic information that is published through a series of surveillance reports.

A regional breakdown of new HIV diagnoses can be accessed in the HIV diagnoses, AIDS, deaths and people in care: country and region tables, United Kingdom, 2015 to 2024 table, a copy of which is attached. In addition, demographic data is available in the HIV diagnoses, AIDS, deaths and people in care: key population HIV tables, England, 2015 to 2024 table, a copy of which is also attached.

Acute hepatitis B surveillance reports can be accessed at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/acute-hepatitis-b-england-enhanced-surveillance-reports

Hepatitis C laboratory reports are published annually at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/hepatitis-c-england-and-wales-2024/laboratory-reports-of-hepatitis-c-infections-in-england-and-wales-april-to-june-2024

The Department’s Fingertips tool also provides publicly accessible geographical information on hepatitis B and C and HIV, and is available at the following link:

https://fingertips.phe.org.uk/search/hepatitis

Additional document 1 (xlsx, 536.3KB)

Additional document 2 (xlsx, 453.9KB)
wrans/answers2025-11-06 conversation_48
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-06)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-06 conversation_48

Perran Moon:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to improve outcomes for patients with (a) strokes and (b) transient ischaemic attacks in Camborne and Redruth constituency. \p Ashley Dalton: The National Health Service operates an Integrated Community Stroke Service at Camborne Redruth Community Hospital. This service provides specialist therapy, advice, and support for people, their families, and carers following stroke and transient ischaemic attack or mini stroke.

To improve outcomes for patients with stroke and transient ischaemic attacks, the Government will publish a cardiovascular disease modern service framework. This will identify and set standards for the best evidenced interventions, drive innovation in stroke prevention and management, and reduce unwarranted variation in healthcare.
wrans/answers2025-11-06 conversation_49
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-06)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-06 conversation_49

Jim Shannon:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of integrating psychological support into care pathways for people with rare diseases. \p Ashley Dalton: The Government is committed to improving the lives of those living with rare diseases and continues to make progress under the UK Rare Diseases Framework. Mental health and psychological support has featured as a focus area under England’s rare diseases action plans, the most recent of which was published in February 2025. Access to psychological support for people with rare diseases is underpinned by National Health Service service specifications. In addition, the NHS National Genomics Education Programme provides information to health care professionals, including on mental health and rare disease. This includes setting out how the mental health of rare disease patients requires assessment, and that monitoring should be an integral part of care plans, considered equally as important as physical health.

More widely, the 10-Year Health Plan sets out ambitious plans to transform mental health services to improve access and treatment, and to promote good mental health and wellbeing for the nation. This includes improving assertive outreach, investing in mental health emergency departments and neighbourhood mental health centres, and increasing access to talking therapies and evidence-based digital interventions.
wrans/answers2025-11-06 conversation_50
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-06)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-06 conversation_50

James MacCleary:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps is his Department taking to support people (a) injured or (b) bereaved by AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccinations, including those with vaccine-induced thrombocytopenia and thrombosis. \p Ashley Dalton: In the very rare event where someone may have suffered a severe adverse reaction to a vaccine, care and treatment will be best managed by local National Health Service specialist services, augmented as appropriate by national specialist advice. Individuals will be treated and managed through existing healthcare services, with treatment dependent on the individual’s clinical needs.

Individuals can also apply to the Vaccine Damage Payment Scheme (VDPS) which provides a one-off, tax-free payment of £120,000 to claimants who have been found, on the balance of probabilities, to have been severely disabled as a result of vaccinations against certain diseases listed in the Vaccine Damage Payments Act 1979.

Outside of the VDPS, other Government support remains available for those with a disability or long-term health condition, including Statutory Sick Pay, Universal Credit, Employment and Support Allowance, Attendance Allowance, and Personal Independence Payments. Further information is available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/browse/benefits/disability
wrans/answers2025-11-06 conversation_51
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-06)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-06 conversation_51

Claire Hazelgrove:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate the Government has made of the prevalence of ketamine addiction among under 25s; what steps the Government is taking to address ketamine addiction among young people; and what tailored addiction support the Government is providing for young people. \p Ashley Dalton: The Department takes seriously the risk of ketamine and other drugs to our young people and is working with partners from across the Government to respond to existing and new drug threats and to reduce and prevent the health harms.

Ketamine use among children and young people has 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. Data from the Smoking, Drinking and Drugs 2023 survey shows that, although relatively low, the prevalence of ketamine use among school children doubled in the last decade, from 0.4% in 2014 to 0.9% in 2023. We also know that the proportion of young people aged under 18 years old who are in treatment for ketamine problems has increased from 1.3% in 2016/17, to 8.4% in 2023/24.

The Government is committed to ensuring that anyone with a drug problem can access the help and support they need, and we recognise the need for evidence-based, high-quality treatment. In addition to the Public Health Grant, in 2025/26, the Department is providing £310 million in additional targeted grants to improve drug and alcohol treatment services and recovery support in England, including for housing and employment.

Furthermore, on 16 October 2025, the Department launched a campaign to alert young people to the dangers of ketamine, as well as synthetic opioids in counterfeit medicines and adulterated THC vapes. Resources have been made available to schools, universities, and local public health teams with content available on FRANK, the Government’s drug information and advice website. Influencer content has been posted on social media platforms such as Instagram, TikTok, and Snapchat. 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
wrans/answers2025-11-06 conversation_52
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-06)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-06 conversation_52

Stuart Andrew:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what discussions his Department has had with the Motor Neurone Disease Association on patient access to Tofersen. \p Dr Zubir Ahmed: Department officials recently met with the Motor Neurone Disease Association to discuss a range of issues, including patient access to tofersen.
wrans/answers2025-11-06 conversation_53
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-06)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-06 conversation_53

Jessica Toale:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department holds data on the number of women prescribed diethylstilbestrol in (a) England, (b) Scotland, (c) Wales and (d) Northern Ireland between 1939 and 1978. \p Dr Zubir Ahmed: This historical information is not held by the Department.
wrans/answers2025-11-06 conversation_54
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-06)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-06 conversation_54

Daisy Cooper:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what discussions his Department has had discussions with (a) NICE and (b) Servier on the barriers to approving Vorasidenib for use by the NHS for the treatment of low glade glioma. \p Dr Zubir Ahmed: Department officials regularly speak with colleagues in the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) to discuss a range of issues, including the status of individual appraisals. As NICE is an independent body, it would not be appropriate for the Department to interfere in the development of NICE’s recommendations on specific medicines. The Department has had no discussions about the appraisal of vorasidenib with Servier.

NICE recently published draft guidance for consultation on the use of vorasidenib for treating astrocytoma or oligodendroglioma with IDH1 or IDH2 mutations after surgery in people aged 12 years and over. The consultation closed on 4 November 2025 and NICE’s independent appraisal committee is scheduled to meet on 20 November 2025 to consider its recommendations in light of the consultation responses.

It is important that we have a system in place for making evidence-based decisions on whether new medicines should be routinely funded by the National Health Service, based on an objective assessment of their costs and benefits.
wrans/answers2025-11-06 conversation_55
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-06)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-06 conversation_55

Suella Braverman:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to reform the (a) procurement and (b) supply chain of medications to (i) ensure timely availability and (ii) reduce shortages at community pharmacies. \p Dr Zubir Ahmed: The resilience of UK supply chains is a key priority, and we are continually learning and seeking to improve the way we work to both manage and help prevent supply issues and avoid shortages.

As outlined in our recently published policy paper, ‘Managing a robust and resilient supply of medicines’, the Government is committed to building on the important actions already underway across the system to minimise disruption for patients and enhance resilience in our supply chains. The publication includes a number of actions, including:

We will continue to engage with community pharmacy, industry, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, and other colleagues across the supply chain as we progress work to co-design and deliver these actions.
wrans/answers2025-11-06 conversation_56
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-06)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-06 conversation_56

Esther McVey:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to FOI request 24/015 to the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, if he will publish the responses received from the Swedish Medical Products Agency following their offer to contact (a) children and (b) teenager psychiatrists. \p Dr Zubir Ahmed: The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency have confirmed that the response received from the Swedish Medical Products Agency in relation to the 2008 assessment of preclinical data published within FOI 24/015 did not contain an offer to contact psychiatrists responsible for the care of children and teenagers.
wrans/answers2025-11-06 conversation_57
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-06)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-06 conversation_57

Mr Joshua Reynolds:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence not having updated its methods on evaluating the wider societal costs of rare diseases since 2017. \p Dr Zubir Ahmed: There are no plans to introduce a separate evaluation process for orphan medicines. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) makes recommendations for the National Health Service on whether all new licensed medicines, including medicines for rare diseases, should be routinely funded by the NHS based on an assessment of their costs and benefits. NICE operates a separate highly specialised technologies programme for the evaluation of a small number of treatments for very rare, very severe diseases which uses a much higher cost-effectiveness threshold that recognises the challenges of bringing treatments for very rare diseases to market.

NICE’s methods have been proven to be suitable for the evaluation of rare disease medicines, where companies are willing to price their medicines fairly. NICE’s approval rate for medicines for rare diseases is in line with its overall approval rate for new medicines, and from April 2024 to April 2025, NICE recommended all 15 of the rare disease drugs that it evaluated through its standard technology appraisal programme.
wrans/answers2025-11-06 conversation_58
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-06)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-06 conversation_58

Damian Hinds:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of seasonality patterns in the numbers of people leaving hospital on (a) discharge pathway 0 (b) discharge pathway 1 (c) discharge pathway 2 and (d) discharge pathway 3 in each of the last three years. \p Dr Zubir Ahmed: Hospital discharge and the numbers of people discharged on pathways 0-3 are monitored on a regular basis and figures are published monthly by NHS England via the Acute Discharge Situation Report. The reports are available at the following link:

https://www.england.nhs.uk/statistics/statistical-work-areas/discharge-delays/acute-discharge-situation-report/

Data from 2022/23 and 2023/24 shows a general increase in discharges over the two years, but the proportion of people being discharged to each pathway remain relatively stable between the summer period, from April to September, and winter periods, from October to March. Definitions for data collected on discharge pathways changed from 27 May 2024 onwards, and figures from before and after this date are therefore not directly comparable.

To support areas to achieve timely hospital discharge, this Government published a new policy framework in January 2025 for the £9 billion Better Care Fund, which provides the National Health Service and local authorities accountability for setting and achieving joint goals for reducing discharge delays, preventing avoidable emergency admissions and care home admission. Some challenged systems in need of additional support are also receiving a programme of improvement support.
wrans/answers2025-11-06 conversation_59
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-06)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-06 conversation_59

Mr Toby Perkins:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to ensure that weight loss drugs are available on the NHS for (a) women with (i) polycystic ovary syndrome and (ii) other fertility issues and (b) everyone. \p Dr Zubir Ahmed: The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has recommended a number of weight-loss medicines for use on the National Health Service, which the NHS is now required to fund for eligible patients in line with NICE’s recommendations, including for women with polycystic ovary syndrome and fertility problems.

The product information for weight loss medicines state that all individuals of child-bearing potential, who are able to become pregnant, using GLP-1 medications should take steps to ensure they do not become pregnant. GLP-1 medicines should not be taken during pregnancy or just before trying to get pregnant.

The NHS is currently rolling out tirzepatide for obesity in primary care, using a phased approach based on clinical need to manage NHS resources. Around 220,000 individuals are expected to be eligible over the next three years. NHS England 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, 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/

At the current time, patients will be eligible for treatment in primary care if they have a body mass index of at least forty, and four or more out of five ‘qualifying' conditions. The qualifying conditions are cardiovascular disease, hypertension, dyslipidaemia, obstructive sleep apnoea, and type 2 diabetes mellitus.
wrans/answers2025-11-06 conversation_60
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-06)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-06 conversation_60

Mr Andrew Snowden:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the link between untreated Urinary Tract infections and (a) mental confusion and (b) aggression in patients with neurological injuries. \p Dr Zubir Ahmed: Through the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), the Department has funded and supported multiple studies investigating urinary tract infections (UTIs), with some funded studies studying the link between UTIs and cognitive outcomes. For example, NIHR has funded the ‘IntraVESical Preparations for REcurrent Urinary Tract Infection Prevention’ (VESPER) study. This study aims to determine whether in-bladder treatments are more effective and cost-efficient than second-line oral antibiotics in reducing recurrent UTIs in women who have not responded to first-line preventative antibiotics. It will connect clinical outcomes with quality-adjusted life year (QALY)-based evaluations that take cognitive changes into account.

NIHR infrastructure is also conducting relevant research that is investigating UTIs and considering cognitive outcomes. The NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research Centre, is leading the ‘DIagnoSing Care hOme UTI’ (DISCO UTI) study which is investigating new ways to accurately diagnose and treat UTIs in care homes, as UTIs can cause symptoms like confusion, resulting in difficulties when diagnosing UTIs in care home residents.
wrans/answers2025-11-06 conversation_61
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-06)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-06 conversation_61

Stuart Andrew:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department plans to publish data on the number of patients receiving Tofersen through NHS services. \p Dr Zubir Ahmed: I am aware that the marketing authorisation holder has established an early access programme (EAP) through which some NHS patients are currently accessing tofersen. This is a company-led EAP and therefore the Department nor NHS England centrally hold prospective information regarding the exact number of patients receiving tofersen.
wrans/answers2025-11-06 conversation_62
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-06)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-06 conversation_62

James McMurdock:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate he has made of the number of new referrals for ADHD assessments in the past month. \p Dr Zubir Ahmed: For the first time, NHS England published management information on attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) assessment waiting times at a national level on 29 May 2025 as part of its ADHD data improvement plan. It has also released technical guidance to integrated care boards (ICBs) to improve recording of ADHD data, with a view to improving the quality of ADHD waits and diagnosis data as well as publishing more localised data in future.

The most recent data was published in August 2025 and is available at the following link:

https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/publications/statistical/mi-adhd/august-2025

Data in this publication is sourced from a number of existing NHS England datasets and the publication is known to contain a number of data quality issues, more details about which are available at the following link:

https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/publications/statistical/mi-adhd/supporting-information

NHS England established an ADHD taskforce which brought together those with lived experience with experts from the National Health Service, education, charity and justice sectors to get a better understanding of the challenges affecting those with ADHD, including in accessing services and support. An interim report was published on 20 June, with the final report expected later this year, and we will carefully consider its recommendations.
wrans/answers2025-11-06 conversation_63
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-06)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-06 conversation_63

Steff Aquarone:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make an assessment of the potential implications for his policies of the availability of research into less survivable cancers; and what steps his Department is taking to incentivise people to undertake research into this area. \p Dr Zubir Ahmed: The Department invests £1.6 billion each year on research through its research delivery arm, the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR).

The Government is investing in new lifesaving and life-improving research to support those diagnosed with less survivable cancers. An example of this is the announcement of the NIHR’s new national Brain Tumour Research Consortium, which will bring together researchers from a range of different disciplines and institutions with the aim of making scientific advances in how we prevent, detect, manage and treat rarer but less-survivable cancers in adults and children.

The NIHR continue to welcome further high-quality proposals from researchers to inform approaches to prevention, treatment and care in relation to less survivable cancers.

Furthermore, the Department is committed to ensuring that all patients, including those with rare cancers, have access to cutting-edge clinical trials and innovative, lifesaving treatments. The forthcoming National Cancer Plan will include further details on how the National Health Service will improve diagnosis and outcomes for all cancer patients in England, including for rare and less common cancers.
wrans/answers2025-11-06 conversation_64
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-06)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-06 conversation_64

Sarah Gibson:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of the evidence base underpinning the Good Choice badge criteria in the NHS Food Scanner app. \p Ashley Dalton: The Department has a series of digital tools to support adults and families to eat better and move more, including the food scanner app and the National Health Service weight loss plan app, email programmes, and websites. These tools are evidence-based and regularly reviewed to ensure alignment with current Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition guidance, including recommendations on non-sugar sweeteners and ultra-processed foods. Updates are ongoing to reflect the latest Government advice.

We are always looking to improve the app experience, including extending and personalising messaging, and we welcome feedback from parents as well as organisations to aid us in this process.
wrans/answers2025-11-06 conversation_65
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-06)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-06 conversation_65

Emma Lewell:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many and what proportion of families are eligible to participate in the Healthy Start scheme. \p Ashley Dalton: The NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) operates the Healthy Start Scheme on behalf of the Department. Monthly figures for the number of people on the digital Healthy Start Scheme and the latest uptake figures, where data is available, are published on the NHS Healthy Start website, at the following link:

https://www.healthystart.nhs.uk/healthcare-professionals/

This data is based on individual people and is not the same as the number of families or households as there could be multiple beneficiaries living within one household. In September 2025, Healthy Start supported over 356,000 people.

The latest uptake figures, where data is available, are from March 2022. These figures represent the uptake across both the paper based and digital scheme. The paper based scheme closed at the end of March 2022.

Due to an issue that was identified with the source data that is used to calculate the uptake of the Healthy Start Scheme, the uptake percentage is not currently being published. Officials from the Department of Health and Social Care continue to work with the Department for Work and Pensions and the NHSBSA to resolve this issue. The issue has only affected the data on the number of people eligible for the scheme. It has not prevented anyone from joining the scheme or continuing to access the scheme if they were eligible.
wrans/answers2025-11-06 conversation_66
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-06)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-06 conversation_66

Perran Moon:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to improve outcomes for patients with peripheral arterial disease in Camborne and Redruth constituency. \p Ashley Dalton: To improve outcomes for patients with coronary heart disease, including those in the Camborne and Redruth constituency, the Government will publish a cardiovascular disease modern service framework. This will identify and set standards for the best evidenced interventions, drive innovation in cardiovascular disease prevention and management, and reduce unwarranted variation in healthcare.
wrans/answers2025-11-06 conversation_67
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-06)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-06 conversation_67

Liz Jarvis:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of support services for eating disorders; and what steps his Department is taking to help prevent eating disorder deaths. \p Dr Zubir Ahmed: The Government recognises that the earlier that treatment is provided, the better the chance of short-term recovery.

As part of our mission to build a National Health Service fit for the future, there is a critical need to shift treatment of eating disorders from hospital to the community. Improved care in the community will give young people early access to evidence-based treatment involving families and carers, improving outcomes and preventing relapse.

NHS England have established 15 Provider Collaboratives focusing on adult eating disorders. These collaboratives are working to redesign care pathways and focus resources on community services. By providing treatment earlier and closer to home, we will see better outcomes for adults with eating disorders and their families.

The Department is committed to learning from deaths in order to prevent future tragedies and improve quality of care. The Department receives and responds to prevention of future death reports relating to eating disorders and uses this work to inform practice. For example, the Medical Emergencies in Eating Disorders guidance was created following a coroner’s report and has since been rolled out nationwide.
wrans/answers2025-11-06 conversation_68
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-06)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-06 conversation_68

Mr Andrew Snowden:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to ensure that the results of research funded through the Mental Health Goals programme are rapidly translated into frontline NHS mental health services. \p Dr Zubir Ahmed: The Government is investing £50 million through the Mental Health Goals programme to speed up the translation of research into frontline NHS services. Funding will support a 20,000-person research cohort, improved access to mental health data, and an Industry Alliance Team to fast-track clinical trials. A new Lived Experience Partnership will ensure innovations reflect real patient needs. These steps will help deliver more effective, personalised treatments for people struggling with mental health conditions and ensure that breakthroughs reach NHS patients faster, supporting a National Health Service fit for the future.
wrans/answers2025-11-06 conversation_69
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-06)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-06 conversation_69

Jessica Toale:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if his Department will make an assessment of the potential merits of launching a public information campaign to inform individuals born between 1940 and 1980 of the potential risks associated with in utero exposure to Diethylstilbestrol. \p Dr Zubir Ahmed: We recognise the consequences for those who were exposed to diethylstilbestrol (DES) and are sorry that women and their families have suffered for far too long.

The Department has not made an assessment of the merits of launching a public information campaign relating to DES and has no plans to do so at this time.

The Government will keep listening to all those who are affected through exposure to DES and consider what more we can do to improve the situation for them.

The Government is committed to advancing patient safety and a learning culture within the National Health Service so that we can avoid harmful events happening to patients in the first place. This includes continued implementation of key measures under the NHS Patient Safety Strategy. The changes we are making as part of the 10-Year Health Plan and Dr Penny Dash’s report on the patient safety landscape will improve quality and safety by making it clear where responsibility and accountability sit at all levels of the system.
wrans/answers2025-11-06 conversation_70
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-06)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-06 conversation_70

Fleur Anderson:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what information his Department holds on the availability of Sleepio as a treatment for insomnia in different Integrated Care Board areas; and whether he plans to increase access to Sleepio in (a) South West London ICB and (b) others across the UK where it is not available. \p Dr Zubir Ahmed: The Department does not hold information relating to the availability of Sleepio at integrated care board (ICB) level or information on the plans to increase access to Sleepio in the NHS South West London ICB. The decision to commission Sleepio and other digital health technologies is currently determined at local level, by National Health Service organisations.

The Department is committed to exploring options to make digital tools, supporting people living with insomnia, nationally available. As set out in the 10-Year Health Plan, the Department has committed to piloting a HealthStore app marketplace. The store will explore options to support the availability of digital health technologies across multiple condition areas.

NHS England are currently running an open process to secure equitable national access to digital Cognitive Behavioural Therapies for Insomnia and has recently published a Request For Information and questionnaire. This creates an opportunity for all suppliers in this market to engage in a fair and transparent commercial process.
wrans/answers2025-11-06 conversation_71
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-06)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-06 conversation_71

Mr Andrew Snowden:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if his Department will make an assessment of the potential impact of the introduction of digital ID on levels of registration for the organ donors' register. \p Dr Zubir Ahmed: NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) is the organ donation organisation for the UK responsible for the NHS Organ Donor Register (ODR), which is available at the following link:

https://www.organdonation.nhs.uk/register-your-decision/

For the purposes of this response, Digital ID has been assumed to refer to the potential introduction of a citizen ID as recently announced by the UK Government.

Presently, NHSBT has made no formal assessment on the potential impact of the introduction of Digital ID on levels of ODR registration. The appropriateness of this will be monitored going forward.
wrans/answers2025-11-06 conversation_72
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-06)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-06 conversation_72

Jim Shannon:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many active legal cases are open against the NHS. \p Dr Zubir Ahmed: NHS Resolution (NHSR) manages clinical negligence and other claims against the National Health Service in England.

NHSR handles negligence claims on behalf of the members of their indemnity schemes. The indemnity schemes are divided into clinical and non-clinical negligence schemes.

Clinical negligence schemes:

Non clinical negligence schemes:

NHSR has provided the attached information:

Table 1: Number of Clinical and Non-Clinical Claims received between Financial Years '2006/07' and '2024/25' where the status of the claim was open as at 31/03/2025. Broken down by Scheme (as noted above).

Table 2: Number of Clinical and Non-Clinical Claims and Incidents received between Financial Years '2006/07' and '2024/25' where the status was 'Open' or 'Incident' as at 31/03/2025. Broken down by Scheme (as noted above).

Note: NHSR defines an ‘open’ claim as one where NHSR is yet to settle or claims that have settled but remain open, where NHSR are yet to agree costs. NHSR has not included cases which are settled but remain open due to ongoing periodical order payments.

The distinction between Table 1 and Table 2 is that Table 2 includes incidents reported to NHSR that have not yet progressed to a formal notification of claim. NHSR encourages its members and beneficiaries to report such incidents directly, even prior to the receipt of a claim.

PQ81295 - Tables (pdf, 146.6KB)
wrans/answers2025-11-06 conversation_73
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-06)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-06 conversation_73

Dame Chi Onwurah:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, who is responsible for the (a) national and (b) regional (i) adoption and (ii) spread of health innovation within the NHS; and what role the Health Innovation Network and Integrated Care Systems play in this process. \p Dr Zubir Ahmed: Under the NHS Act 2006, NHS England has a statutory duty to promote innovation in the provision of health services. The Health and Care Act 2022 extends this duty to each integrated care board (ICB), requiring them to promote innovation as part of their planning and commissioning responsibilities.

Nationally, NHS England supports the adoption and spread of innovation through programmes such as the NHS Innovation Service, Clinical Entrepreneurs Programme, and the NHS Innovation Accelerator. NHS England also works alongside the Department and the Office for Life Sciences (OLS) to develop national policy and coordinate action to strengthen the health innovation ecosystem.

Innovation is a central theme of both the 10-Year Health Plan and the Life Sciences Sector Plan. The latter sets out specific actions and assigns senior responsible officers across NHS England, the Department, OLS, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, and the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, reflecting the shared national responsibility for supporting innovation.

Regionally, Health Innovation Networks (HINs), commissioned by NHS England and OLS, support the adoption and spread of innovations across England through, but not limited to, building capacity to serve integrated care system (ICS) needs, supporting ICSs with the roll-out of national innovation programmes, real-world evaluation, and supporting local-to-national adoption. Each HIN serves its local population but also works as part of a network to share learning and support the spread of innovation across England.

Ultimately, ICBs and National Health Service providers are the commissioners of services. They decide whether to procure new products, services, or technologies based on local priorities, evidence of benefit, affordability, and alignment with system plans.
wrans/answers2025-11-06 conversation_74
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-06)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-06 conversation_74

Mr Andrew Snowden:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many patients in England are receiving treatment with the Optune Tumour Treating Fields device; and at which NHS Trusts such treatment is available. \p Dr Zubir Ahmed: The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) considered the use of tumour treating fields (TTF) in its guideline on brain tumours, reference code NG99, published in 2018 and recommended that the treatment should not be offered by the National Health Service for the management of newly diagnosed glioblastoma or recurrent high-grade glioma, based on an assessment of the evidence available at the time.

Decisions on whether guidelines should be updated in light of new evidence are taken by the NICE prioritisation board, chaired by NICE’s Chief Medical Officer, in line with its published prioritisation framework. NICE’s prioritisation board considered TTF for glioblastoma in July 2024, where they agreed the topic should not be prioritised but reconsidered when relevant key trials have completed.

At the meeting on 15 September 2025, the topic was reconsidered. The prioritisation board noted that some trials are ongoing, including a key trial that is likely to be published in 2026, and consequently agreed that the topic should still not be prioritised at this time, but revisited once those trials have been published.