theodi/ndl-core-corpus huggingface dataset:
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Calum Miller:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions he has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on seizing the interest that has accrued on Roman Abramovich’s assets associated with the sale of Chelsea Football Club. \p Stephen Doughty: In a statement announcing the sale of Chelsea FC, Roman Abramovich stated the proceeds would be used to establish a foundation for the benefit of all the victims of the war in Ukraine. The Government is determined to see the proceeds reach humanitarian causes in Ukraine as quickly as possible, and we are exploring all options to bring that about.
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Jim Shannon:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has had discussions with his European counterparts on (a) religiously motivated hate crimes and (b) hostility toward religious (i) figures and (ii) communities in Europe. \p Stephen Doughty: The UK condemns incitement to discrimination, hostility or violence, wherever this occurs, and we denounce hatred on the basis of religion or belief. We are committed to freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) for all. No one should live in fear because of what they do or do not believe in. We continue to address FoRB violations and protect the right to FoRB through our strong relationships with European counterparts, multilateral engagement - including through the UN, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), and Article 18 Alliance - and through our bilateral work. Ministers and FCDO officials regularly raise cases of concern. The appointment of David Smith MP, as the Special Envoy for FoRB, is a clear signal of the UK's ongoing commitment to these efforts.
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Priti Patel:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, when he will respond to the letter of 27 February 2025 from the House of Lords International Agreements Committee on the Review of Treaty Scrutiny. \p Stephen Doughty: A response was sent on 25 March 2025 and has now been published.
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Abtisam Mohamed:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what progress he has made on the Development Review; and how he plans to use that review to inform the planned reduction in UK aid spending. \p Stephen Doughty: The Development Review considered how to maximise the UK's combined diplomatic and development expertise in its international development work. Reducing the overall size of our Official Development Assistance (ODA) budget will necessarily have an impact on the scale and shape of the work we do. The recommendations of the Development Review, alongside the Global Impact and Economic Diplomacy reviews, are now being considered as part of the Foreign Secretary's wider work to reform the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, and will also inform decisions on the ODA budget.
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Martin Wrigley:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to his Oral Statement of 24 February 2025 on Ukraine, Official Report, columns 513 to 515, what diplomatic steps he is taking with his international counterparts to help end the war in Ukraine. \p Stephen Doughty: We remain in close contact with the United States, our European partners, and Ukraine on how to achieve a just and lasting peace that safeguards Ukraine's security and sovereignty. The UK, alongside France, is leading efforts to build a 'Coalition of the Willing' to defend any peace deal and support Ukraine's future security. The Prime Minister recently hosted over 200 military planners from 30 countries in London and attended the subsequent leaders meeting in Paris on 27 March. The Foreign Secretary took forward these discussions with Weimar+ Foreign Ministers on 31 March, and the Defence Secretary will chair the next meeting of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group on 11 April.
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Stuart Anderson:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to help increase opportunities for cultural exchange across the Commonwealth. \p Stephen Doughty: The UK works closely with the Commonwealth, its institutions and with our Commonwealth family through our network of High Commissions. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office supports a range of pan-Commonwealth initiatives, including through its annual contribution of over £1 million to the Commonwealth Youth Programme to promote cultural exchange by showcasing and celebrating the achievements of young people across the 56 member countries. The UK's broader financial contribution to the Commonwealth complements strong bilateral partnerships, trade relationships, supports initiatives like Commonwealth Scholarships and promotes cultural exchange through events including the Glasgow Commonwealth Games in 2026.
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Wendy Morton:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of the UN Secretary General’s UN80 Initiative. \p Stephen Doughty: In its 80th year, the need for an effective UN remains clear; however, the organization needs major reform if it is to meet the complex challenges of the future.

The UK welcomes the UN Secretary-General's decision to launch a UN80 Task Force on reform, to ensure that the UN focuses once again on core tasks and maximum impact. If done right, a reformed UN will serve as a multiplier for UK interests and priorities, as we work to build a safer, more prosperous and equitable world. Therefore, we will encourage the Secretary-General's reform initiative to be as ambitious and far-reaching as possible.

I was able to convey our support in person when I recently met with the Secretary General in Geneva.
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Wendy Morton:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking to help support efforts to promote conflict prevention in (a) the United Nations and (b) other multilateral fora. \p Stephen Doughty: As the Prime Minister said in New York in September 2024, we must put new energy and creativity into conflict prevention, reverse the trend towards ever-greater violence, make the institutions of peace fit for purpose.

The UK remains a steadfast supporter of United Nations' peacebuilding efforts, including as a top donor to the UN Peacebuilding Fund.

We continue to support the UN's Complex Risk Analytics Fund, investing in better data and analysis to strengthen global risk foresight and enable earlier response.

We will use this year's UN Peacebuilding Architecture Review to press for more systematic focus on early warning and conflict prevention across the UN system, encouraging national prevention approaches that are supported by affected communities, including women and youth.

We promote conflict prevention across our engagement with multilateral fora, including the G7, G20, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, the African Union, and advocate for scaled up, targeted support in fragile settings from the World Bank and other international financial institutions.
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Dr Neil Shastri-Hurst:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to ensure (a) data protection and (b) privacy during the transfer of NHS England's functions. \p Karin Smyth: Ministers and senior Department officials will work with the new transformation team at the top of NHS England, led by Sir Jim Mackey, to lead this transformation. As we work to return many of NHS England’s current functions to the Department, we will ensure that we continue to evaluate impacts of all kinds.

It will remain the policy of the Department and NHS England before, during, and after this transition that information relating to people’s identifiable health and care is shared appropriately, lawfully, and in line with their reasonable expectations.
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Lee Anderson:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what diversity, equality and inclusion targets his Department has for staff recruitment. \p Karin Smyth: The Department does not have any diversity, equality, or inclusion targets for recruitment. The Department does, however, aim to ensure that its staff are drawn from all walks of life and are representative of the public it serves.
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Edward Argar:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate he has made of the proportion of NHS England's staff who will be retained in a new roles within government or other public services when NHS England is abolished. \p Karin Smyth: Ministers and senior Department officials will work with the new transformation team at the top of NHS England, led by Sir Jim Mackey, to determine the structure and requirements needed to support the creation of a new centre for health and care. The transition team will work across NHS England and the Department, bringing together the expertise and experience of both organisations.

As part of these changes, we intend to reduce the headcount across the Department and NHS England by 50%, which will deliver hundreds of millions of pounds of savings. At this stage, while we are scoping the programme, it is too early to say what the precise changes in personnel and organisational design will be.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-04)

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Helen Morgan:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the average cost to the public purse is of one band 5 nursing hour supplied by (a) On-framework staffing agencies and (b) Off-framework staffing agencies to the NHS in each year since 2019. \p Karin Smyth: The Department does not hold the data requested.

The Government is committed to reducing off-framework agency use, the cost of which is at a premium, above the agreed framework rates. Additionally, staff hired through off-framework agencies are not subject to the same pre-employment checks as those carried out by on-framework agencies. Off-framework use is actively monitored through NHS England’s governance mechanisms, with additional oversight applied to trusts with recurring non-compliance.

The NHS Planning Guidance 2025/26 states that trusts should reduce their agency spend by a minimum of 30%, and the accompanying Revenue Finance and Contracting Guidance sets the ambition that agency spend should be eliminated in the coming years.
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Chi Onwurah:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he has made an assessment of the potential implications for his policies on the role women's health hubs in the 10-year health plan of the guidance by his Department entitled Women's health hubs: cost benefit analysis, published on 21 March 2024. \p Karin Smyth: We are committed to improving women’s health. This will be taken forward as an important part of the 10 Year Plan. The plan will draw on a range of evidence and analyses when establishing our priorities for rebuilding and reforming our health system over the next ten years.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-04)

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Markus Campbell-Savours:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the average time taken to diagnose endometriosis was in each of the last five years. \p Karin Smyth: This data is not held centrally. The Government is committed to prioritising women’s health and improving the care for gynaecological conditions, including endometriosis.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) published an update to the guideline on endometriosis diagnosis and management in November 2024. This makes firmer recommendations for healthcare professionals on referrals and investigations for women with suspected endometriosis, which will help women receive a diagnosis and treatment more quickly.

For many women with symptoms of endometriosis, the initial pharmacological treatment takes place in primary care and can be in parallel with a referral for further investigations. As a result, looking at diagnosis times alone is unlikely to be the only measure of whether women are receiving care for endometriosis in a timely matter. NHS England is looking into metrics that best reflect the timely access to care and outcomes for women, including for endometriosis. This work will explore whether time to diagnosis is the optimum measure.

An ongoing Office for National Statistics investigation is looking into the impact of endometriosis on women's labour market outcomes. One component of this study is linking primary and secondary care data to better understand diagnosis times for endometriosis.
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Daisy Cooper:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 12 February 2025 to Question 28599 on Doctors: Training, if he will conduct a review of the selection process for medical specialty training places with a view to giving priority to UK medical graduates, in the context of that being the case in Canada, the US and Australia. \p Karin Smyth: Working with NHS England, we continue to keep the selection process for all applicants to medical speciality training under review.

NHS England launched an extensive engagement and listening exercise to help shape the future of postgraduate medical training in February 2025. This engagement exercise will run through to June, with findings evaluated and reported in the summer.
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Tom Morrison:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what mechanisms his Department has put in place to hold the British Acupuncture Council to account for (a) injuries and (b) illnesses from acupuncture treatment. \p Karin Smyth: Acupuncturists are not statutorily regulated in the United Kingdom. The Professional Standards Authority for Health and Social Care (PSA) operates a voluntary registers programme, which provides a proportionate means of assurance for unregulated professions and which sits between employer controls and statutory regulation by setting standards for organisations holding voluntary registers for unregulated health and social care occupations.

The British Acupuncture Council (BAcC) holds a register of acupuncturists, which is accredited by the PSA. To gain accreditation from the PSA, organisations must meet its nine Standards for Accredited Registers. These standards require organisations: to have a focus on public protection; to have processes for handling complaints against practitioners; to set appropriate levels of education and training for entry to the register; to require registrants to undertake continuing professional development; and to understand and monitor the risks associated with the practices of registrants.

The BAcC is an independent, representative body and as such, does not fall under Government oversight. Therefore, any decisions about the practice requirements for the professions it represents are a matter for the organisation and its members.

The Government would encourage anyone accessing acupuncture services to establish whether their practitioner is registered with a voluntary register accredited by the PSA, such as that held by the BAcC.
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Jessica Toale:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to help reduce waiting times for NHS services in Bournemouth West constituency. \p Karin Smyth: We have wasted no time in getting to work cutting National Health Service waiting lists and ensuring people have the best possible experience during their care, including in the Bournemouth West constituency. We promised change, and we’ve delivered early, with a reduction in the list of over 190,000 pathways, and two million extra appointments provided.

The Elective Reform Plan, published in January 2025, sets out a whole system approach to hitting the 18-week referral to treatment target by March 2029, a standard which has not been met consistently since September 2015.

The newly published Planning Guidance for 2025/26 sets a target that 65% of patients wait for 18 weeks or less by March 2026, with every trust expected to deliver a minimum 5% improvement on current performance over that period.
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Sir John Hayes:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to support access to phlebotomists in Lincolnshire. \p Karin Smyth: The Government is committed to putting patients first, including in Lincolnshire. This means making sure that patients, including those waiting to see a phlebotomist, are seen on time, and ensuring that people have the best possible experience during their care.

The Government recognises that care, including phlebotomy, needs to be easily accessible, and in locations convenient to patients, in order to support the shift towards greater care being provided in the community.

That is why in January 2025, we published the Elective Reform Plan. The plan sets out the productivity and reform efforts needed to return to the 18-week constitutional standard by the end of this Parliament. The Elective Reform Plan commits to transforming and expanding diagnostic services and speeding up waiting times for tests, a crucial part of reducing overall waiting times and returning to the 18-week constitutional standard.

Community diagnostic centres, including those in Lincolnshire, are supporting one of the Government’s key strategic shifts, moving care from the hospital to the community. They offer local populations a wide range of diagnostic tests, including those related to phlebotomy, closer to home, as well as greater choice on where and how they are undertaken, reducing the need for hospital visits and speeding up diagnosis, whilst also reducing pressure on hospitals.
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Navendu Mishra:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many physician associates were employed by the NHS in England in each of the last 10 years; and if he will make an assessment of the potential implications for his policies of trends in the number of physician associates employed by the NHS in England in the last 10 years. \p Karin Smyth: We do not hold data on physician associate (PA) numbers for each of the last ten years, but the table below provides figures for the number of full time equivalent (FTE) PAs employed in both National Health Service trusts and primary care from 2017 to 2024.

Physician Associates in NHS trusts and other core organisations in England - FTE

Physician Associates in Primary Care in England - FTE

Of which, Physician Associates employed by General Practices in England - FTE

December 2017

Not Available

Not Available

55

December 2018

Not Available

Not Available

116

December 2019

Not Available

Not Available

268

December 2020

973

Not Available

378

December 2021

1,136

1,041

477

December 2022

1,384

1,541

628

December 2023

1,624

2,009

763

December 2024

1,616

2,068

830

Sources: NHS Workforce Statistics, NHS England; General Practice Workforce Statistics, NHS England; Primary Care Quarterly Workforce Update, NHS England

Notes:

The Government has commissioned Professor Gillian Leng CBE to lead an independent review of physician and anaesthesia associate professions. It will consider the safety of the roles and their contribution to multidisciplinary healthcare teams. The conclusions of the review will inform the workforce plan to deliver the 10-Year Health Plan.

The review will consider the approach that was adopted in England to support the safe introduction, employment and deployment of these new roles.
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Bell Ribeiro-Addy:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he plans to take to ensure that (a) all and (b) ethnic minority women have effective access to (i) postnatal care, (ii) mental health support and (iii) support for new mothers. \p Karin Smyth: The National Health Service’s Three-Year Delivery Plan for Maternity and Neonatal Services sets national measures to improve maternity and neonatal services through all stages of pregnancy and beyond. Measures include making care more personalised and equitable, covering both physical and mental health, and extending postnatal care and support for new mothers.

There is now a range of postnatal and mental health support, as well as broader support available for new mothers. For example, all women who have given birth should be offered a check-up with their general practitioner (GP) six to eight weeks after giving birth. The check-up will cover a range of topics such as mental health, physical recovery, breastfeeding, and support with family planning. This check provides an important opportunity for women to be listened to by their GP in a discreet, supportive environment, to provide personalised postnatal care for their physical and mental health.

NHS England is also rolling out perinatal pelvic health services and maternal mental health services to support women with the physical and mental impact of birth. Bespoke mental health pathways support women who experience mental health difficulties as a result of labour. These services are provided through specialist perinatal mental health services, maternal mental health services, and mother and baby units.

As part of the plan, all local areas have now also published Equity and Equality Action Plans, setting out tailored interventions that will tackle inequalities for women and babies from ethnic backgrounds and those living in the most deprived areas.
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Clive Jones:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of the abolition of NHS England on funding for integrated care boards. \p Karin Smyth: Ministers and senior Department officials will work with the new transformation team at the top of NHS England, led by Sir Jim Mackey, as we undertake the integration of NHS England and the Department, to ensure that the expected savings will be reinvested in frontline services to deliver better care for patients.

As part of the necessary changes to support the National Health Service to recover, NHS England has also indicated that integrated care boards (ICBs) should reduce in size. We will work with the NHS to make the necessary choices that are needed to get the NHS back on its feet.

In a letter from Sir Jim Mackey to all ICBs and NHS trusts and foundation trusts on 1 April 2025, NHS England published further detail on the future of the ICBs. This letter is available at the following link:

https://www.england.nhs.uk/long-read/working-together-in-2025-26-to-lay-the-foundations-for-reform/
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Sorcha Eastwood:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans he has to meet young people with cancer to discuss their experiences during Teenage and Young Adult Cancer Awareness Month in April 2025. \p Ashley Dalton: NHS England and other National Health Service organisations, nationally and locally, publish information on the signs and symptoms of many different types of cancer, including those that are most common in teenagers and young adults. Further information on cancer signs and symptoms is available on the NHS.UK website.

The Department is committed to improving outcomes for teenagers and young adults with cancer. That’s why we have relaunched the Children and Young People Cancer Taskforce. The taskforce will explore opportunities for improvement in England, including detection and diagnosis, genomic testing and treatment, research and innovation, and patient experience. The taskforce will ensure that the unique needs of children and young people, including teenagers with cancer, are carefully considered as part of the National Cancer Plan for England, due to be published later this year.

As part of this work, the Department is committed to directly engaging with patients and their families to discuss their experiences. We are working with taskforce members to assemble a Patient Experience Panel, made up of young people with lived experience of cancer and their families, which will feed directly into the work of the taskforce.
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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 impact of implementing nurse-led mobile PSA blood testing clinics in deprived communities on (a) costs to and (b) staff productivity in the NHS. \p Ashley Dalton: Tackling health inequalities is a priority for the Government. Men aged 50 years old or over can ask their general practitioner for a Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) test, even if they do not have symptoms. This applies to anyone aged 50 years old or over in any part of England.

Screening for prostate cancer is currently not recommended in the United Kingdom. This is because of the inaccuracy of the current best test. Whilst it is recognised that the PSA test can be a valuable diagnostic tool in certain contexts, such as for men who present with symptoms, its limitations mean it is not currently recommended for population-level screening.

We are finding the best way to test for prostate cancer, which is why we are investing £16 million towards the Prostate Cancer UK led TRANSFORM screening trial, which is seeking to find better ways of catching prostate cancer in men.

The UK National Screening Committee, an independent scientific committee which advises ministers on screening, is also currently reviewing the evidence for both population wide screening and targeted prostate cancer screening. If the UK National Screening Committee makes a positive recommendation regarding screening for prostate cancer, an impact assessment will be produced using the HM Treasury Green Book methodology, which considers wider social and economic impacts.
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Dr Al Pinkerton:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to support people impacted by Long Covid in Surrey Heath constituency. \p Ashley Dalton: Integrated care boards (ICBs) are responsible for commissioning services for people with long COVID. ICBs are allocated funding by NHS England to meet local need and priorities, and to improve outcomes.

Due to the very low numbers of patients with long COVID now being referred for treatment, NHS Frimley has taken the decision to no longer operate dedicated long COVID services. As of 18 March 2025, patients presenting with symptoms that may be linked to long COVID will be referred, depending on their symptoms, to other available services, including chronic fatigue services, occupational therapy, physiotherapy, and mental health services such as talking therapies.

Every effort will be made to ensure that patients who are currently accessing the long COVID services complete their therapy and are transferred to other services specific to their need, if appropriate.

NHS Frimley recognises that this decision may cause concern for people who have been receiving care from its long COVID services. However, patients will continue to receive support and advice, and NHS Frimley is working with the providers of long COVID services to ensure that current patients complete their care treatment.

Anyone who has a long-term symptom following COVID-19 and needs assistance should speak to their general practitioner.
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Bell Ribeiro-Addy:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking with (a) NHS England and (b) healthcare professionals to ensure that patients from ethnic minority backgrounds are able to discuss any concerns they may have on the potential impact of (i) cultural and (ii) racial bias; and what steps he is taking to improve the experiences of patients who raise those concerns. \p Ashley Dalton: The Government recognises that racial health inequalities are linked to broader socioeconomic factors. Tackling these inequalities is central to building a fairer health system where outcomes are not dictated by race or background.

Community-led approaches, including peer support and culturally sensitive social prescribing, are integral to preventing poor health outcomes and improving self-management. These will be key features of the upcoming 10-Year Health Plan.

The NHS Framework for Action on Inclusion Health is advancing improvements in culturally competent and trauma-informed care, ensuring services are responsive to the needs of ethnic minority groups and other marginalised populations.

As raised in last year’s health inequalities public board report, the National Health Service has also established the NHS Race and Health Observatory to better understand and address the stark health inequalities experienced by black and minority ethnic communities. Further information on last year’s health inequalities public board report and the NHS Race and Health Observatory is available, respectively, at the following two links:

https://www.england.nhs.uk/long-read/annual-report-on-nhs-englands-work-on-healthcare-inequalities-and-the-nhs-race-and-health-observatory-2/

https://www.nhsrho.org/about-us/
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Danny Beales:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that the review of Part IX of the Drug Tariff supports the NHS 10 Year Plan in shifting care from (a) hospital to the community, (b) treatment to prevention and (c) analogue to digital. \p Ashley Dalton: Part IX of the Drug Tariff covers medical technology products prescribed in the community. In 2025, the Department is updating the product categorisation and listing process, following extensive engagement with patient groups, the National Health Service, and industry. The updated categorisation will support the NHS to prescribe the right products for patients. The new listing process will, for the first time, include the patient’s voice and clinical subject matter experts in the decision-making process, and a new temporary listing process will support early access for patients of innovative products able to support the three big shifts.
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Danny Beales:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he has made an assessment of the potential impact of NICE’s Late Stage Assessments on the attractiveness of the UK for inward investment from medtech companies. \p Ashley Dalton: The Department commissioned the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) to undertake Late-Stage Assessments (LSAs) to help commissioners, clinicians, and patients identify the most effective products that offer the best value for the National Health Service. LSAs benefit health technology manufacturers by giving all manufacturers a transparent, robust, and evidence-based process for demonstrating the added value of their products.
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Danny Beales:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that the review of Part IX of the Drug Tariff does not adversely impact investment by the medtech sector. \p Ashley Dalton: The Department is working closely with industry through the Drug Tariff Committee to finalise the detail of the update to the product categorisation and listing process of Part IX of the Drug Tariff. The Department remains committed to ensuring that the reforms represent a positive change for patients, the National Health Service, and the medical technology sector. For example, to support innovation and inward investment, a new two-year temporary listing mechanism will be introduced so that innovative products can be made available for patients more quickly.
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UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-04 conversation_99

Danny Beales:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the NICE Late Stage Assessment on intermittent catheters on the ambition to move more healthcare out of hospitals and into the community. \p Ashley Dalton: The Department commissions the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) to undertake Late-Stage Assessments (LSAs) to help commissioners, clinicians, and patients identify the most effective products that offer the best value for the National Health Service.

The NICE’s LSA of intermittent urethral catheters for chronic incomplete bladder emptying focuses on urethral catheters used in primary care and community settings. This will ensure that as more healthcare is delivered in community settings, commissioners, clinicians, and patients will be better informed when identifying the most effective and best value for money intermittent catheters in a crowded market.
wrans/answers2025-04-04 conversation_100
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-04)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-04 conversation_100

Dr Al Pinkerton:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of establishing a centre of excellence for the (a) care and (b) research of (i) post-viral and (ii) infection-associated conditions. \p Ashley Dalton: We do not anticipate setting up a new centre of excellence for care and research specifically for post-viral or infection-associated conditions. The Department funds research on post-viral conditions through the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). The NIHR and the Medical Research Council (MRC) remain committed to funding high-quality research to understand the causes, consequences, and treatment of post-viral and infection-associated conditions such as myalgic encephalomyelitis, also known as chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS), and long COVID, and are actively exploring next steps for stimulating further research in this area. The MRC and NIHR currently fund research through a variety of routes, including infrastructure, research programmes, capacity building, for example with research fellowships, and in the case of the NIHR, research delivery to support recruitment to studies. Funding is available for post-viral and infection-associated research.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-04)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-04 conversation_101

Dr Al Pinkerton:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to support people impacted by myalgic encephalomyelitis in Surrey Heath constituency. \p Ashley Dalton: NHS Frimley does not currently have contracted support for myalgic encephalomyelitis, also known as chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS). Patients who require support are offered services within neighbouring systems.

At a national level, the responses to the Department’s Improving the experiences of people with ME/CFS: interim delivery plan consultation, along with continued close engagement with stakeholders, will inform the development of the final ME/CFS delivery plan, which we aim to publish by the end of June 2025. The plan will focus on boosting research, improving attitudes and education, and bettering the lives of people with this debilitating disease, including those in the Surrey Heath constituency.

We also intend to provide additional support to ME/CFS researchers to develop high quality funding applications and access existing National Institute for Health and Care Research and Medical Research Council research funding. All research funding applications are subject to peer review and judged in open competition, with awards being made on the basis of the importance of the topic to patients and health and care services, value for money, and scientific quality. Our forthcoming ME/CFS delivery plan will outline the additional support we will offer to the research community to increase the volume and quality of applications and, therefore, increase the allocation of funding to this area.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-04)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-04 conversation_102

Daisy Cooper:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of adopting intelligent booking systems to maximise the utilisation of the NHS property estate. \p Karin Smyth: No assessment has been made of the potential merits of adopting intelligent booking systems to maximise the utilisation of the National Health Service’s property estate. NHS trusts decide locally how best to manage their estate.

Data for the occupancy and utilisation rates of clinical rooms in the NHS estate for the latest period, from 2023 to 2024, published in December 2024, is available at the following link:

https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/publications/statistical/estates-returns-information-collection/summary-page-and-dataset-for-eric-2023-24

No estimate has been made of the cost to the NHS of unused and underused clinical buildings and rooms.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-04)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-04 conversation_103

Damien Egan:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of the (a) availability and (b) eligibility requirements for NHS hernia operations. \p Karin Smyth: No specific assessment has been made of the adequacy of the availability of hernia operations. Integrated care boards are responsible for commissioning services, considering the needs of their local population and national guidance, such as that from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence.

There are several types of hernia and therefore decisions about the eligibility to treat will be based on guidelines and clinical judgement appropriate to the individual circumstances.
wrans/answers2025-04-04 conversation_104
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-04)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-04 conversation_104

Bambos Charalambous:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking within current NHS workforce planning to improve uptake of digital consultations for Parkinson’s patients as a mechanism to reduce neurology waiting times and reduce the backlog in accessing a neurologist. \p Karin Smyth: We have delivered an additional two million appointments, seven months ahead of schedule. This includes operations, consultations, diagnostic tests, and treatments. These additional appointments have taken place across a number of specialities, including neurology.

Whilst no specific assessment has been made of how workforce shortages are impacting the delivery of care, there are a number of initiatives supporting service improvement and better care for patients with Parkinson’s disease in England, including the Getting It Right First Time Programme for Neurology, the RightCare Progressive Neurological Conditions Toolkit, and the Neurology Transformation Programme.

We have launched a 10-Year Health Plan to reform the National Health Service. The plan will set out a bold agenda to deliver on the three big shifts needed, to move healthcare from hospital to the community, from analogue to digital, and from treatment to prevention.

A central and core part of the 10-Year Health Plan will be our workforce and how we ensure we train and provide the staff, technology, and infrastructure the NHS needs to care for patients across our communities.
wrans/answers2025-04-04 conversation_105
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-04)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-04 conversation_105

Markus Campbell-Savours:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what proportion of patients waiting for gynaecological surgery are waiting for surgery for thoracic endometriosis. \p Karin Smyth: This data is not held in the format requested. As set out in the Plan for Change, we will ensure that 92% of patients return to waiting no longer than 18 weeks from referral to treatment by March 2029, a standard which has not been met consistently since September 2015.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-04)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-04 conversation_106

Andrew Rosindell:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how much his department has spent on private emergency ambulance service companies in each of the last three years for which figures are available. \p Karin Smyth: The information requested is not held. Decisions on the use of private ambulance companies to increase capacity are taken at a local level by the relevant ambulance trust.

At a national level, the Government and NHS England are committed to improving ambulance services. The National Health Service’s 2025/26 priorities and operational planning guidance set national priorities, which include improving accident and emergency waiting times and ambulance response times compared to 2024/25.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-04)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-04 conversation_107

Andrew Rosindell:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how much funding his Department is providing the London Ambulance Service. \p Karin Smyth: Responsibility for commissioning ambulance services is a matter for the local integrated care board. The London Ambulance Service received £704.2 million in the financial year 2024/25.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-04)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-04 conversation_108

Dr Neil Shastri-Hurst:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the abolition of NHS England on the implementation of the NHS 10 year plan. \p Karin Smyth: We do not envisage that the changes set out by the Prime Minister on 13 March 2025 will affect the implementation of the 10-Year Health Plan. We still intend to publish the plan in spring 2025.

The changes will set the National Health Service up to deliver on the three big shifts needed to make the service fit for the future: from hospital to community; from analogue to digital; and from sickness to prevention.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-04)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-04 conversation_109

Edward Argar:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, which of NHS England's responsibility will not be brought into the Department of Health and Social Care, following NHS England's abolition. \p Karin Smyth: Ministers and senior Department officials will work with the new transformation team at the top of NHS England, led by Sir Jim Mackey, to determine the structure and requirements needed to support the creation of a new centre for health and care.

At this stage, while we are scoping the programme, it is too early to say what the precise changes in organisational design will be.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-04)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-04 conversation_110

Anneliese Dodds:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to paragraph 17.7 of the NHS Standard Contract 2024/25 Service Conditions, published in February 2024, what steps her Department is taking to offer reusable period products. \p Karin Smyth: The Government recognises the importance of women and girls being able to access the care they need for their reproductive health, including period products.

Since 2019 it has been a requirement in the NHS Standard Contract that the National Health Service must offer period products to every hospital patient who needs them.

Paragraph 17.7 places an obligation on providers to ensure that supplies of appropriate sanitary products are available and are, on request, provided promptly to inpatient service users free of charge. It is for individual providers to decide what products to provide and how best to meet their obligations.