theodi/ndl-core-corpus huggingface dataset:
wrans/answers2025-11-25 conversation_43
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-25)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-25 conversation_43

Charlotte Cane:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 17 November 2025 to Question 77307, on Cancer: Health Services, how his Department intends to support businesses and organisations based in the Ely and East Cambridgeshire constituency to develop cancer research programmes. \p Dr Zubir Ahmed: Research is crucial in tackling cancer, which is why the Department invests £1.6 billion each year on research through its research delivery arm, the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), with cancer research as one of the largest areas of spend, at over £141.6 million in 2024/25, signalling its high priority.

The NIHR Research Support Service (RSS) provides expert support and advice to applied health, public health, and social care researchers on the design and delivery of research and the development of research funding applications. This is a national service and researchers based in the Ely and East Cambridgeshire constituency who are applying to national, open and peer-reviewed research programmes, including all domestic NIHR funding programmes, UK Research Councils, and national health and care charities, can access this support. Further information on the RSS is available at the following link:

https://www.nihr.ac.uk/support-and-services/research-support-service

The NIHR continues to welcome funding applications for research into any aspect of human health and care, including all cancer types. Applications are subject to peer review and judged in open competition.
wrans/answers2025-11-25 conversation_44
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-25)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-25 conversation_44

Freddie van Mierlo:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will (a) provide an official NHS definition of dyscalculia and (b) whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of including dyscalculia in NHS A-Z conditions. \p Dr Zubir Ahmed: The International Classification of Diseases (ICD) is used to classify diseases and other health conditions and is set by the World Health Organisation. ICD-11 classifies dyscalculia as a developmental learning disorder with impairment in mathematics. We want all children who struggle with maths or any other subject to be able to receive the appropriate support so they can succeed in their education. The Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Code of Practice is clear that meeting the needs of a child or young person with Special Educational Needs and Disability does not require a diagnostic label or test.

NHS England advises that the NHS.UK website is not intended to cover every condition, treatment, or service the National Health Service provides. If something is not currently covered, it does not mean the NHS does not recognise it. The key factors considered include:

NHS England appreciates the importance of providing information for conditions like dyscalculia and will continue to review and assess requests to ensure the NHS.UK website best serves the needs of the public.
wrans/answers2025-11-25 conversation_45
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-25)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-25 conversation_45

Manuela Perteghella:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many NHS GP practices in (a) England, (b) Coventry & Warwickshire, and (c) Stratford-on-Avon have declined to enter into shared care arrangements for ADHD medication prescribed by private providers in each integrated care board area in the most recent 12-month period for which data is available. \p Dr Zubir Ahmed: The data requested is not held centrally. The Coventry and Warwickshire Integrated Care Board has also confirmed that it does not hold the relevant data.

The General Medical Council (GMC), which regulates and sets standards for doctors in the United Kingdom, has issued guidance on prescribing and managing medicines, which helps general practitioners (GPs) decide whether to accept shared care responsibilities. In deciding whether to enter into a shared care agreement, a GP will need to consider a number of factors such as whether the proposed activity is within their sphere of competence, and therefore safe and suitable for their patient’s needs. This includes the GP being satisfied that any prescriptions or referrals for treatment are clinically appropriate.

The GMC has made it clear that GPs cannot be compelled to enter into a shared care agreement. GPs may decline such requests on clinical or capacity grounds. If a shared care arrangement cannot be put in place after the treatment has been initiated, the responsibility for continued prescribing falls upon the specialist clinician, which applies to both National Health Service and private medical care.
wrans/answers2025-11-25 conversation_46
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-25)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-25 conversation_46

Navendu Mishra:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to stop the illicit (a) manufacturing, (b) importation and (c) sale of (i) counterfeit and (ii) unlicensed weight-loss drugs. \p Dr Zubir Ahmed: The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is responsible for the regulation of medicines for human use, medical devices, and blood products for transfusion in the United Kingdom. This includes applying the legal controls on the retail sale, supply, and advertising of medicines which are set out in the Human Medicines Regulations 2012.

Many authorised weight loss medicines are prescription-only, meaning that a consultation with a doctor or qualified healthcare professional is needed to assess the patient's suitability for the treatment and to consider any potential risks. Usually, such products should only be obtained from a registered pharmacy against a valid prescription.

Sourcing weight loss medicines from unregulated suppliers significantly increases the risk of getting a product which is either falsified or not authorised for use. Products purchased in this way will not meet the MHRA’s strict quality and safety standards and could expose patients to incorrect dosages or dangerous ingredients.

Public safety is the number one priority for the MHRA, and its Criminal Enforcement Unit works hard to prevent, detect, and investigate illegal activity involving medicines and medical devices, and it takes robust enforcement action where necessary. It works closely with other health regulators, customs authorities, law enforcement agencies, and private sector partners, including e-commerce and the internet industry, to identify, remove, and block online content promoting the illegal sale of medicines and medical devices.

The MHRA seeks to identify and, where appropriate, prosecute online sellers responsible for putting public health at risk. Last year, the MHRA and its partners seized more than 17 million doses of illegally traded medicines, including those usually issued on prescription. A recent example of our enforcement activity is available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/mhra-smashes-majorillicitweight-loss-medicine-production-facility-in-record-seizure

Additionally, the MHRA has also disrupted thousands of links to websites and social media pages selling medical products to the public illegally.

The MHRA’s FakeMeds campaign provides advice to people in the UK who are considering buying medication online, outlining how products can be accessed from safe and legitimate source. Further information on the FakeMeds campaign is available at the following link:

https://fakemeds.campaign.gov.uk/

Anyone who believes they’ve had a side effect from a medicine, or think they’ve received falsified stock, can report it to the MHRA’s Yellow Card scheme, with further information available at the following link:

https://yellowcard.mhra.gov.uk/
wrans/answers2025-11-25 conversation_47
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-25)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-25 conversation_47

Sarah Hall:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the NHS 10 year plan commitment to carry out DNA mapping on all new born babies, what steps he is taking to protect personal health data. \p Dr Zubir Ahmed: The 10-Year Health Plan set out an ambition to “implement universal genomic testing” within the next decade. Delivering against this ambition will be subject to evidence gathered through the Generation Study, delivered by Genomics England and the National Health Service. This research programme is evaluating the effectiveness of using whole genome sequencing to test 100,000 newborns for genetic mutations associated with more than 200 rare genetic conditions. The study is asking parents for consent to securely store their baby’s genomic and health data, with strict safeguards to protect identities. With consent, data is stored securely in the National Genomic Research Library, run by Genomics England, to support research on the causes of genetic conditions. Access is tightly controlled, overseen by an independent committee, and only permitted within a secure environment.
wrans/answers2025-11-25 conversation_48
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-25)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-25 conversation_48

Jenny Riddell-Carpenter:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, (a) what the total amount spent by the Government on cancer research was in the financial year 2024/25; and (b) if he will provide a breakdown of this expenditure by cancer type where available. \p Dr Zubir Ahmed: The Department invests over £1.6 billion each year on research through its research delivery arm, the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). In the financial year 2024/25, the NIHR’s reported spend on cancer research was over £141.6 million through its research programmes and infrastructure, reflecting cancer’s high priority.

A breakdown of total reported spend on cancer research by cancer type is not available. This is because much of the NIHR’s investments are for cross-cutting cancer research delivery within the National Health Service and wider health and care system, including research facilities and workforce, known as NIHR infrastructure. In addition, the NIHR cancer research portfolio contains non-specific cancer research projects, such as research which explores the use of artificial intelligence to support cancer early diagnosis in general practice.
wrans/answers2025-11-25 conversation_49
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-25)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-25 conversation_49

Sarah Hall:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the potential benefits of allowing men who require Hormone Replacement Therapy in the form of testosterone to be added to the HRT Prescription Prepayment Certificate. \p Dr Zubir Ahmed: The hormone replacement therapy prescription prepayment certificate (HRT PPC) was introduced to support women in accessing hormone replacement therapy medicines on the National Health Service as part of their care during menopause. The equalities impact assessment is available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/hormone-replacement-therapy-prescription-prepayment-certificate-equality-impact-assessment/introducing-the-hrt-ppc-equality-impact-assessment#:~:text=The%20policy%20intention%20is%20that,benefit%20from%20the%20HRT%20PPC%20

Testosterone products are not in scope for the HRT PPC because, even though they can be used "off-label" to treat menopause symptoms, they are not licensed for this purpose. No United Kingdom licensed testosterone products for the treatment of menopause symptoms have been launched in the UK.

Anyone can purchase the HRT PPC if they feel that it is the most appropriate product for them. The three-month or 12-month PPC, which cover all medicines prescribed on the NHS, may be more appropriate for patients who are prescribed medicines not covered by the HRT PPC.
wrans/answers2025-11-25 conversation_50
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-25)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-25 conversation_50

Peter Dowd:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to support and fund clinical trials aimed at achieving licensing and NHS access for complex, cannabis-based medicines used in the treatment of severe, drug-resistant epilepsy in children. \p Dr Zubir Ahmed: The Department commissions research through the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). The NIHR is funding two trials to investigate the safety and efficacy of cannabinoid treatments for drug-resistant epilepsy in both adults and children. Further detail on the trials can be found on the NIHR’s website, at the following link:

https://fundingawards.nihr.ac.uk/award/NIHR131309

The Department is committed to ensuring that all patients, including those with epilepsy, have access to cutting-edge clinical trials and innovative, lifesaving treatments. We are working to fast-track clinical trials to drive global investment into life sciences, improve health outcomes, and accelerate the development of the medicines and therapies of the future, including treatments for epilepsy.
wrans/answers2025-11-25 conversation_51
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-25)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-25 conversation_51

Steve Darling:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate he has made of the (a) number of patients in Torbay NHS Foundation Trust who had no criteria to reside but who were not discharged by the end of the day and (b) what proportion of acute day beds this entails in each of the last seven days. \p Dr Zubir Ahmed: Data on the daily number of patients who no longer meet the criteria to reside is published monthly by NHS England, and is available at the following link:

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

In addition, monthly average figures for the number of general and acute beds are published by NHS England, and are available at the following link:

https://www.england.nhs.uk/statistics/statistical-work-areas/bed-availability-and-occupancy/critical-care-and-general-acute-beds-urgent-and-emergency-care-daily-situation-reports/

For the Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust, there were on average 34 adult patients each day in October 2025 who had no criteria to reside but who were not discharged by the end of the day.

The following table shows the proportion of acute beds occupied by patients with no criteria to reside but who had not been discharged for the last seven days of October 2025, during which time there were an average of 385 adult general and acute beds available, for the Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust:

Date

Number of patients remaining in hospital who no longer meet criteria to reside

Proportion of adult general and acute beds occupied by patients with no criteria to reside

25/10/2025

29

8%

26/10/2025

27

7%

27/10/2025

37

10%

28/10/2025

31

8%

29/10/2025

34

9%

30/10/2025

39

10%

31/10/2025

33

9%
wrans/answers2025-11-25 conversation_52
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-25)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-25 conversation_52

Andy MacNae:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what discussions his Department has had with the Civil Procedure Rule Committee on the implementation of fixed recoverable costs in clinical negligence claims valued up to £25,000. \p Dr Zubir Ahmed: The rising costs of clinical negligence claims against the National Health Service in England are of great concern to the Government. Costs have more than doubled in the last 10 years and are forecast to continue rising, putting further pressure on NHS finances.

As announced in the recently published 10-Year Health Plan for England, David Lock KC will be providing expert policy advice on the rising legal costs of clinical negligence and how we can improve patients’ experience of claims, ahead of a review by the Department in the autumn.

The results of David Lock’s work will inform future policy making in this area. No decisions on policy have been taken at this point, and the Government will provide an update on the work done and next steps in due course.
wrans/answers2025-11-25 conversation_53
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-25)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-25 conversation_53

Gideon Amos:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to ensure seamless patient care for communities living on county boundaries, such as those between Somerset and Devon; and if he will take steps to (a) ensure interoperability of clinical records between NHS trusts and (b) issue guidance to Integrated Care Boards to prevent treatment restrictions based on administrative boundaries. \p Dr Zubir Ahmed: The Government's 10-Year Health Plan includes the objective of delivering a single patient record. This will allow staff, wherever they deliver care, to access the key information they need, from all of an individual’s medical records. Mandatory information standards, which all providers have to follow, will ensure the interoperability of systems within the National Health Service.

NHS England’s Who Pays? guidance sets out a framework for establishing which NHS organisation has responsibility for commissioning an individual’s care and which has responsibility for paying for that care. It came into effect from 1 August 2025 and can be found at the following link:

https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/who-pays-determining-which-nhs-commissioner-is-responsible-for-commissioning-healthcare-services-and-making-payments-to-providers/

The Strategic Commissioning Framework for integrated care boards (ICBs) seeks to ensure that ICBs take a consistent approach to commissioning services, to secure the best outcomes for their population. It can be found at the following link:

https://www.england.nhs.uk/long-read/strategic-commissioning-framework/

ICBs are responsible for undertaking health needs assessments to understand the health and wellbeing needs of their local population, including identifying inequalities and planning services accordingly.
wrans/answers2025-11-25 conversation_54
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-25)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-25 conversation_54

Bradley Thomas:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential impact on of not offering prescriptions longer than the standard 28-day cycle to patients with long-term, stable conditions on both GP practices and patients of GPs; and whether he plans to amend the NHS standard prescription cycle guidance for GPs. \p Dr Zubir Ahmed: Prescribing durations are typically 28, 56, or 84 day intervals. There are no current national contract requirements, standards, criteria or guidance as to optimal prescription length from NHS England. Currently, prescription duration is guided by local prescribing policies, guidance from professional regulators, the General Medical Council, and professional bodies, including the British Medical Association. These indicate that determining the optimal prescription duration in any individual case requires consideration of many factors including clinical appropriateness, patient safety, patient compliance, types of medicines, and required monitoring frequency.
wrans/answers2025-11-25 conversation_56
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-25)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-25 conversation_56

Wendy Morton:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of discharges late on Friday evenings on the safeguarding and wellbeing of patients. \p Dr Zubir Ahmed: Every acute hospital has access to a multi-disciplinary care transfer hub, where National Health Service and social care professionals manage discharges and arrange appropriate support packages for patients, so they receive the services they need upon their discharge. As set out in the statutory guidance on hospital discharge and community support, these teams should ensure that any safeguarding concerns have been considered alongside other support needs.
wrans/answers2025-11-25 conversation_57
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-25)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-25 conversation_57

Jim Allister:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of how major pharmaceutical companies’ pricing strategies affect the VPAG’s ability to control NHS spending; and what steps are being taken to prevent higher drug costs. \p Dr Zubir Ahmed: The Voluntary Scheme for Branded Medicines Pricing, Access and Growth (VPAG) controls the cost of sales of branded medicines to the National Health Service. The VPAG has a variable headline payment percentage, which accounts for changes to the cost of medicine sales to the NHS. The VPAG also contains a mechanism for allowing price increases for specific medicines. No scheme member may increase the NHS list price of any medicine without the Department’s prior approval.

Investing in the newest medicines so that patients can get access to life saving treatments is a critical part of a modern health care system and one that many charities and patient groups frequently call for. As part of our Life Sciences Sector Plan, we've committed to working with industry to accelerate growth in net spend on innovative medicines compared to the previous decade.

The resilience of United Kingdom supply chains is a key priority, and the Department and NHS England are committed to helping to build long term supply chain resilience for medicines. We are continually learning and seeking to improve the way we work to both manage and help prevent supply issues and avoid shortages. The Department, working closely with NHS England, is taking forward a range of actions to improve our ability to mitigate and manage shortages and strengthen our resilience. As part of that work, we continue to engage with industry, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, and other colleagues across the supply chain as we progress work to co-design and deliver solutions. However, medicine shortages are a complex and global issue and everyone in the supply chain has a role to play in addressing them, with any action requiring a collaborative approach.
wrans/answers2025-11-25 conversation_58
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-25)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-25 conversation_58

Manuela Perteghella:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of issuing new guidance to integrated care boards on ensuring that children with Education, Health and Care Plans receive equitable access to ADHD medication regardless of whether their initial assessment was provided (a) privately or (b) through the NHS. \p Dr Zubir Ahmed: It is the responsibility of the integrated care boards in England to make available appropriate provision to meet the health and care needs of their local population, including providing access to attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and autism assessment and support services, in line with relevant National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidelines.

Shared care with the National Health Service refers to an arrangement whereby a specialist doctor formally transfers responsibility for all or some aspects of their patient’s care, such as the prescription of medication, over to the patient’s general practitioner (GP).

The General Medical Council (GMC), which regulates and sets standards for doctors in the United Kingdom, has made it clear that GPs cannot be compelled to enter into a shared care agreement. GPs may decline such requests on clinical or capacity grounds.

The GMC has issued guidance on prescribing and managing medicines, which helps GPs decide whether to accept shared care responsibilities. In deciding whether to enter into a shared care agreement, a GP will need to consider a number of factors such as whether the proposed activity is within their sphere of competence, and therefore safe and suitable for their patient’s needs. This includes the GP being satisfied that any prescriptions or referrals for treatment are clinically appropriate.

If a shared care arrangement cannot be put in place after the treatment has been initiated, the responsibility for continued prescribing falls upon the specialist clinician, and this applies to both NHS and private medical care.
wrans/answers2025-11-25 conversation_59
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-25)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-25 conversation_59

Sir John Hayes:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how much the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency has spent on translation and interpretation services in each of the last five years. \p Dr Zubir Ahmed: The Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is an executive agency of the Department which regulates medicine, medical devices, and blood components for transfusion in the United Kingdom, with responsibility for ensuring medicines meet appropriate standards of safety, quality, and efficacy. The following table shows how much the MHRA has spent on translation and interpretation services in each of the last five years:

Year

Translation

Sign language

Total

2020/21

£521.86

£1,554.00

£2,075.86

2021/22

£9,725.01

£648.00

£10,373.01

2022/23

£796.24

£1,050.00

£1,846.24

2023/24

-

£3,138.00

£3,138.00

2024/25

£355.60

£2,275.20

£2,630.80

Total

£11,398.71

£8,665.20

£20,063.91
wrans/answers2025-11-25 conversation_60
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-25)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-25 conversation_60

Manuela Perteghella:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of permanently removing in-patient beds from the Ellen Badger Hospital in Shipston on Stour on acute hospital discharges. \p Dr Zubir Ahmed: This is a matter for the Coventry and Warwickshire Integrated Care Board (ICB). That is because it is for ICBs to consider, working in partnership with local National Health Service providers and adult social care services, the right configuration of capacity locally to minimise delayed discharges from acute hospitals. In doing so, ICBs must consider the interests of their whole population and value for the taxpayer.
wrans/answers2025-11-25 conversation_61
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-25)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-25 conversation_61

Jim Shannon:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many people have received liver transplants in each of the last 3 years in each region. \p Dr Zubir Ahmed: NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) is the organisation responsible for organ donation in the United Kingdom, they also manage the NHS Organ Donor Register and National Transplant Register.

NHSBT publishes an annual Organ and Tissue Donation and Transplantation Activity Report which gives a comprehensive update about organ donors, transplant waiting lists, and transplant activity for the UK for the latest financial year. Section 8.4 of the report details liver transplant activity, data on transplants by country/National Health Service region of residence, in Table 8.8, and by transplant centre, in Table 8.9. NHSBT Annual Activity reports are available at the following link:

https://www.odt.nhs.uk/statistics-and-reports/annual-activity-report/
wrans/answers2025-11-25 conversation_62
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-25)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-25 conversation_62

Helen Morgan:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to improve helipad access at hospitals in the Midlands Air Ambulance region. \p Karin Smyth: Air ambulances form a vital part of the emergency response to patients in critical need. The Department of Health and Social Care continues to work closely with NHS England and the Department for Transport on helipad accessibility for air ambulances across the country including the Midlands.
wrans/answers2025-11-25 conversation_63
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-25)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-25 conversation_63

Mary Glindon:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that Integrated Care Boards support improved early identification of young carers. \p Stephen Kinnock: NHS England and the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) are currently supporting a cross-Government project, in collaboration with the Department for Education (DfE), which looks at the inequitable experience of and outcomes for young carers in both health and education. This project, co-produced with young carers, other Government departments and voluntary sector organisations, aims to improve rates of identification of young carers and improve pathways of support in a joined-up approach across schools, health services and local Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise organisations.

Additionally, I have established, and now chair, a regular cross-Government meeting of ministers from DHSC, DfE, the Department for Work and Pensions and the Department for Business and Trade to drive coordinated action and to ensure unpaid carers receive the recognition and support they deserve.

Early next month NHS England will be hosting an engagement workshop led by their patient and public voice partners, to hear directly about the challenges facing young carers. Their feedback will inform a Young Carers Cross-Government Summit, due to be held in November, to help develop improved approaches across the system.
wrans/answers2025-11-25 conversation_64
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-25)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-25 conversation_64

Dr Caroline Johnson:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the Big Brush Club on rates of dental decay among children who participated in that scheme. \p Stephen Kinnock: No assessment has been made of this locally commissioned scheme. However, supervised toothbrushing is evidence based and cost effective, with a five-year return on investment of £3.06 for every £1 spent. Further information is available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/improving-oral-health-supervised-tooth-brushing-programme-toolkit/commissioning-and-delivering-supervised-toothbrushing-schemes-in-early-years-and-school-settings

The national supervised toothbrushing programme currently underway is targeting up to 600,000 three- to five-year-olds in the most deprived areas of England. This is backed with investment of £11 million in 202525/26 and a five-year collaboration with Colgate-Palmolive. The National Institute of Health and Care Research will evaluate effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of the national targeted supervised toothbrushing programme, where we expect an impact on population outcomes from two years of implementation. Further information is available at the following link:

https://www.nihr.ac.uk/funding/evaluation-national-targeted-supervised-toothbrushing-programme-england/2025435
wrans/answers2025-11-25 conversation_65
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-25)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-25 conversation_65

Juliet Campbell:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether the Government plans to implement the recommendations of the Independent ADHD Taskforce; and what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of those recommendations on ADHD waiting times, support to people with ADHD and the quality of ADHD services. \p Dr Zubir Ahmed: NHS England established an attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (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 timely and equitable access to services and support. We are pleased that the taskforce’s final report was published on 6 November, and we are carefully considering its recommendations.
wrans/answers2025-11-25 conversation_66
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-25)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-25 conversation_66

Freddie van Mierlo:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the recent FDA advisory committee discussion on the risks and benefits of HRT, on (a) product labelling and (b) patient information; and whether the MHRA plans to conduct a similar review in the UK. \p Dr Zubir Ahmed: The Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is an executive agency of the Department which regulates medicine, medical devices, and blood components for transfusion in the United Kingdom, with responsibility for ensuring that medicines meet appropriate standards of safety, quality, and efficacy.

Patient safety is our top priority. The MHRA keeps the safety and effectiveness of all medicines under continuous review, drawing on the latest scientific and clinical evidence.

Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is an important treatment that helps many women manage menopause symptoms. We continually review emerging data on HRT to ensure that information and guidance in the UK reflects the latest evidence. The MHRA is currently reviewing the available evidence on HRT risks and considering whether updates to the product information are warranted for certain HRT products. This review remains ongoing, and we are currently determining the appropriate next steps based on the evidence.

Women should not make any changes to their treatment plan without first speaking to their general practitioner or healthcare professional, who can provide advice tailored to their individual circumstances.
wrans/answers2025-11-25 conversation_67
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-25)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-25 conversation_67

Helen Maguire:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how much the time taken to discharge patients costs the NHS each year. \p Dr Zubir Ahmed: The Department does not hold data on the annual cost of discharge delays. However, from September 2025, NHS England has started to publish data on the cost of discharge. This information is available at the following link:

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

The following table shows the total cost of delays to bed days for September and October of 2025:

Month

Total cost of delayed bed days

September 2025

£219,719,520

October 2025

£230,824,078

This estimates that the unit cost of a bed day is £562, which is derived from the £527 2023/25 bed day cost, and which has been uplifted by 6.65% to estimate bed day costs for 2025/26 using the NHS Cumulative Uplift Factor to account for inflation, resulting in a unit cost of £562.

This analysis does not include wider costs, such as the opportunity cost of care foregone by not being able to admit other patients, or the cost to the patient themselves of being in an inappropriate setting. The estimates do not consider the alternative cost of providing health and care support to patients outside of the acute hospital setting if these patients were not delayed in hospital.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-25)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-25 conversation_68

Helen Maguire:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to improve and accelerate the hospital discharge process. \p Dr Zubir Ahmed: The Government is committed to improving hospital discharge processes and tackling discharge delays.

The Urgent and Emergency Care plan for 2025/26 sets as a priority that hospitals should tackle the delays in patients waiting to be discharged. They should eliminate discharge delays of more than 48 hours caused by in-hospital issues, and work with local authorities to tackle the longest delays, starting with those over 21 days, and to profile discharges by pathway to support local planning.

In January 2025, we published a new policy framework for the £9 billion Better Care Fund. This gives the National Health Service and local authorities accountability for setting and achieving joint goals for reducing discharge delays and preventing avoidable emergency admissions and care home admissions.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-25)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-25 conversation_69

Rebecca Paul:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the average waiting time is for routine mental health appointments across the prison estate in England. \p Dr Zubir Ahmed: The information requested is not held centrally. As part of the formal prisoner induction process, all prisoners undergo health screening that incorporates a mental health assessment. The secondary care mental health assessment is carried out by a mental health professional. Routine assessments are carried out within five working days. Where an individual is in a state of mental health crisis, presents with rapidly escalating needs, or is at risk of immediate harm to themselves or others, an urgent assessment should be undertaken within 48 hours.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-25)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-25 conversation_70

Dr Al Pinkerton:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department has considered the potential merits of commissioning research on the long-term health impact associated with occupational exposure to higher-risk medicines within the NHS workforce. \p Dr Zubir Ahmed: The Department supports health and social care research through the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). The NIHR invites funding applications for research into any area of human health and care, including the long-term health effects of occupational exposure to higher-risk medicines within the National Health Service workforce. All applications are assessed through peer review and open competition, with awards granted based on the importance of the topic to patients and health and care services, value for money, and scientific quality. By welcoming proposals on this topic across all NIHR programmes, the Department ensures maximum flexibility in both the level of funding available and the type of research that may be supported. The Government has not specifically commissioned any research into the long-term health impact of occupational exposure to higher-risk medicines within the NHS workforce.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-25)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-25 conversation_71

Victoria Collins:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many children with drug-resistant epilepsy have been prescribed cannabis-based medicinal products through private prescriptions in each of the last three years; and what assessment his Department has made of trends in the level of access to cannabis-based medicinal products for children with severe epilepsy unable to afford private prescriptions. \p Dr Zubir Ahmed: The NHS Business Services Authority does not hold the information in the form requested. National Health Service or private controlled drug prescription forms to do contain information on the condition being treated, or why a medicine has been prescribed.

No assessment has been made of trends in the level of access to cannabis-based medicinal products for children with severe epilepsy unable to afford private prescriptions.

The Department does not make provision for the funding of medicines outside of the NHS’ commissioning systems and it remains that the cost of treatments sought privately are the responsibility of patients.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-25)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-25 conversation_72

Peter Dowd:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he plans to bring responsibility for medical cannabis policy and governance to his Department in line with Schedule 2 medicines. \p Dr Zubir Ahmed: The Home Office is the lead department for controlled drug legislation, whilst the Department of Health and Social Care and its Arm's Length Bodies lead on healthcare and the regulation of medicines. This framework applies to all drugs under Schedules 1 to 5 of the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2001, including cannabis-based products for medicinal use. The Government has no plans to change this.

The Department of Health and Social Care and the Home Office work closely with other system partners in developing and reviewing the policy on controlled drugs in healthcare, including cannabis-based products for medicinal use.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-25)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-25 conversation_73

Cat Smith:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when he plans to respond to the letter dated 21 July 2025 and re-sent on 7 October 2025 from the hon. Member for Lancaster and Wyre and nine other hon. Members on Sodium Valproate. \p Dr Zubir Ahmed: We received the Hon. Member’s correspondence of 21 July 2025 and responded on 20 November 2025.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-25)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-25 conversation_74

Mark Sewards:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of waiting times for children and young people accessing Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services. \p Dr Zubir Ahmed: We know too many children and young people are waiting too long for mental health support, and through our Plan for Change, we’re determined to give children and young people the best start in life.

The Government is expanding access to mental health support teams in all schools and colleges to reach all pupils by 2029, ensuring that every pupil has access to early support services. This expansion will ensure that up to 900,000 more children and young people will have access to support from trained education mental health practitioners in 2025/26.

More widely, we are, rolling out young futures hubs. The Government’s first 50 young futures hubs will bring together services at a local level to support children and young people, helping to ensure that young people can access early advice and wellbeing intervention. We will work to ensure there is no wrong door for young people who need support with their mental health.

We have also committed to hiring 8,500 more mental health staff to reduce waiting times. Thus far, we have hired almost 7,000 extra mental health workers since July 2024.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-25)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-25 conversation_75

Dr Caroline Johnson:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans he has to help reduce suicides in men. \p Dr Zubir Ahmed: On 19 November, we published the Men’s Health Strategy. The strategy includes tangible actions to improve access to healthcare, provide the right support to enable men to make healthier choices, develop healthy living and working conditions, foster strong social, community and family networks and address societal norms. It also considers how to prevent and tackle the biggest health problems affecting men of all ages, which include mental health and suicide prevention, respiratory illness, prostate cancer, and heart disease.

Through the Men’s Health Strategy, we are launching a groundbreaking partnership with the Premier League to tackle male suicide and improve mental health literacy, by embedding health messaging into the matchday experience.

We also announced the Suicide Prevention Support Pathfinders programme for middle-aged men. This program will invest up to £3.6 million over three years in areas of England where middle-aged men are at most risk taking their own lives and will tackle the barriers that they face in seeking support.

The 10-Year Health Plan sets out ambitious plans to boost mental health support across the country. This includes transforming mental health services into 24/7 neighbourhood mental health centres, improving assertive outreach, expanding talking therapies, and giving patients better access to 24/7 support directly through the NHS App.

We are expanding NHS Talking Therapies so that 915,000 people, including men, complete a course of treatment by March 2029, with improved effectiveness and quality of services. We will also expand Individual Placement and Support for severe mental illness so that 73,500 people receive access by March 2028.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-25)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-25 conversation_76

Dr Danny Chambers:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate he has made of the number of patients who no longer meet the criteria to reside in hospital in the Royal Hampshire County Hospital. \p Dr Zubir Ahmed: The Department does not hold data on the number of patients who no longer meet the criteria to reside at a hospital level. However, figures by trust are published monthly by NHS England, and are available at the following link:

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

For the Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, which includes the Royal Hampshire County Hospital, there were on average 159 adult patients, occupying 19.9% of adult acute beds, who had no criteria to reside but were not discharged by the end of the day in October 2025. This was 5.9% higher than the England average of 14% for October 2025.

To support trusts to tackle discharge delays, the Government published a new policy framework for the £9 billion Better Care Fund (BCF) in January 2025. This gives the National Health Service and local authorities accountability for setting and achieving joint goals for reducing discharge delays and preventing avoidable emergency admissions and care home admissions. Some areas are receiving targeted support from the BCF support programme.