theodi/ndl-core-corpus huggingface dataset:
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-10)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-10 conversation_78

Ian Sollom:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that healthcare professionals are given training on ensuring that the needs of (a) minority and (b) LGBTQ+ groups are met in healthcare settings; and if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of creating a national regulatory body to (i) oversee training for those groups and (ii) ensure consistency of provision across the healthcare sector. \p Karin Smyth: Employers in the health system are responsible for ensuring that their staff are trained to the required standards to deliver safe and effective treatment for all patients, and to deploy them in the best way to ensure the delivery of health services to their proximal populations. All National Health Service staff are required to undertake mandatory Equality, Diversity and Inclusion e-Learning upon taking up roles in the NHS, which is then refreshed once every three years. This training is produced at a national level to ensure consistency of understanding across all NHS staff.

There are no plans to assess the potential merits of creating a national regulatory body to oversee training and ensure consistency of provision in relation to minority and LGBTQ+ groups. Professional regulators are subject to the Public Sector Equality Duty and other legislation which places on them a legal duty to ensure that those from minority groups are treated equally. The Professional Standards Authority for Health and Social Care, which oversees the performance of the professional regulators, assesses their performance against its 18 standards of good regulation which includes standard 3 concerning equality, diversity and inclusion.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-10)

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Stephen Gethins:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the UK leaving the EU on medicine shortages in the UK. \p Karin Smyth: The United Kingdom left the European Union on 31 January 2020. The Department has not made a specific assessment of the potential impact on medicine shortages in the UK.

Medicine supply chains are complex, global, and highly regulated, and there are a number of reasons why supply can be disrupted, many of which are not specific to the UK and outside of Government control, including manufacturing difficulties, access to raw materials, sudden demand spikes or distribution issues, and regulatory issues. We have drawn on up-to-date intelligence and data on the root causes of medicine supply issues, with manufacturing problems being the most dominant root cause. The Department works closely with industry, the National Health Service, manufacturers, and other partners across the supply chain to make sure patients across the UK can access the medicines they need.

The resilience of UK supply chains is a key priority, and we are continually learning and seeking to improve the way we work to both manage and help prevent supply issues and avoid shortages. The Department, working closely with NHS England, is taking forward a range of actions to improve our ability to mitigate and manage shortages and to 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. We have plans underway to increase the awareness of our work.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-10)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-10 conversation_80

Mr Peter Bedford:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the availability of specialist training contracts for junior doctors. \p Karin Smyth: We are committed to training the staff we need to ensure that patients are cared for by the right professional, when and where they need it.

We will ensure that the number of medical specialty training places meets the demands of the National Health Service in the future. NHS England will work with stakeholders to ensure that any growth is sustainable and focused in the service areas where need is greatest.

To reform the NHS and make it fit for the future, we have launched a 10-Year Health Plan as part of the Government’s five long-term missions. Ensuring we have the right people, in the right places, with the right skills will be central to this vision. We will publish a refreshed workforce plan to deliver the transformed health service we will build over the next decade, and treat patients on time again.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-10)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-10 conversation_81

Helen Morgan:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether NHS England has (a) issued and (b) waived guidance to integrated care boards on redundancy policies since 1 April 2025. \p Karin Smyth: NHS England expects integrated care boards (ICBs) to manage any change programmes within their local policies. Where two or more ICBs come together, we will expect them to apply a consistent change policy approach, as agreed with local unions.
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Edward Morello:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what guidance his Department has provided to Integrated Care Boards on levels of redundancies due by the end of May 2025. \p Karin Smyth: Integrated care boards have been asked to submit plans about how they will reduce their operating costs throughout this financial year. These are currently being assessed. The process of implementing any reductions will follow local employment change processes which will occur over several months. This will include local trade union involvement.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-10)

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Helen Morgan:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether NHS England has provided guidance to integrated care boards on sequencing cost reduction to avoid operational disruption. \p Karin Smyth: NHS England provided guidance to integrated care boards (ICBs), National Health Service trusts, and NHS foundation trusts in a letter on 1 April 2025, where ICBs were tasked with developing plans setting out how they will manage their resources to deliver across their priorities. 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/

NHS England has also circulated a draft of The Model ICB - blueprint document to all ICBs to assist them in shaping their future plans, including which functions they should focus on.

These ICB reforms are not about reductions to front line services. We are clarifying the role of ICBs to focus on strategic commissioning and reduce duplication. ICBs have submitted their plans to deliver these changes, and NHS England is currently reviewing these plans, including implementation.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-10)

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Jo Platt:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, to make an assessment of the capacity to deliver Early Access Programmes for people with motor neurone disease. \p Karin Smyth: Companies may put in place Early Access Programmes (EAPs) to allow early access to new medicines that do not yet have a marketing authorisation. Participation in EAPs is decided at an individual National Health Service trust level and under these programmes, the cost of the drug is free to both the patients taking part in it, and to the NHS, although NHS trusts must still cover administration costs and provide clinical resources to deliver the EAP.

NHS England does not undertake any initiatives to encourage participation in EAPs, which are the responsibility of individual pharmaceutical companies and subject to decision-making by individual NHS trusts.

There are no common clinical, data, or regulatory standards for company-sponsored EAPs, meaning each one demands a new protocol to be devised and delivered by each participating trust, which can create significant pressures on clinical and financial resources. Companies providing a sponsored EAP also reserve the right to limit or to close registration of new patients at any time, meaning that any financial and clinical investment made by trusts to establish an EAP could be undermined by a commercial decision that would most likely happen in the event of a negative decision by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence.

NHS England has published guidance for integrated care systems (ICS) on free of charge (FoC) medicine schemes, including EAPs, providing advice on potential financial, resourcing, and clinical risks.

ICSs should use the guidance to help determine whether to implement any FoC scheme, including assessing suitability and any risks in the short, medium, and long term. The guidance is available at the following link:

https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/free-of-charge-foc-medicines-schemes-national-policy-recommendations-for-local-systems/
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-10)

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Edward Morello:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate he has made of the number of redundancies there will be as a result of the reorganisation of integrated care boards in Dorset. \p Karin Smyth: Proposed changes to integrated care board (ICB) functions and geography are being discussed as part of a wider National Health Service reform programme, to reduce management costs and focus more money on the front line.

All ICBs in England are being asked to significantly reduce running costs and shift to a more strategic role, with different responsibilities. Specifically, ICBs have been asked to reduce pay costs by approximately 50%.

It is too early to predict the impact of potential redundancy numbers. The Dorset ICB is discussing proposals to form a wider ICB “cluster” with neighbouring colleagues at the NHS Somerset ICB and the NHS Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon, and Wiltshire ICB.

Clustering will allow the ICBs to realise efficiencies, releasing resources for frontline care, while maintaining teams of sufficient size in order to be resilient and specialised.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-10)

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Jim Shannon:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to tackle the misuse of weight-loss medications; and what discussions he has had with his counterparts in (a) Northern Ireland, (b) Wales and (c) Scotland on this issue. \p Karin Smyth: When prescribing weight-loss drugs, prescribers, whether National Health Service or private, are accountable for their prescribing decisions, and are expected to take account of appropriate national guidance. In addition to the duty of the prescriber, patients themselves must be honest when providing information to a prescriber so that they receive advice and medicines which are appropriate for them

In response to concerns of unsafe prescribing online, the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) published updated guidance for online pharmacies. The GPhC, the Care Quality Commission, and the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency have the powers to investigate and take action against rogue prescribers, products, and suppliers, and we are clear they have our full support to crack down on services that putting people in danger.

We are committed to continuing to work with the devolved administrations to ensure that medicine regulation is keeping patients safe across the United Kingdom. No discussions specific to the misuse of weight loss drugs have been held between my Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care and his counterparts in the devolved administrations thus far.
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Clive Jones:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to ensure that projects delivered through the Primary Care Utilisation and Modernisation Fund support net zero objectives. \p Karin Smyth: The Government is committed to delivering a National Health Service that is fit for the future and that recognises the importance of strategic, value for money investments in capital projects, such as new facilities, significant upgrades, or other targeted capital investments, to ensure we have world class infrastructure across the entire National Health Service estate.

The £102 million Primary Care Utilisation and Modernisation Fund will deliver upgrades this financial year to more than a thousand general practice surgeries across England. The schemes will create additional clinical space within existing building footprints to enable practices to see more patients, boost productivity, and improve patient care.

The NHS has set a clear target of 2040 for achieving Net Zero across the estate, and all capital investment is expected to work toward this ambition where possible. This is supported by a raft of documents and standards, including the Estates Net Zero Carbon Delivery Plan, and the NHS Net Zero Building Standard, which applies to all investments in new buildings and upgrades to existing facilities that are subject to HM Treasury business case approval processes.
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Clive Jones:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether NICE (a) is reviewing and (b) plans to review available vaccines for Urinary Tract Infection for use in the UK. \p Karin Smyth: The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) is not currently reviewing vaccines for urinary tract infections.

Prophylactic vaccinations are considered by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation. However, therapeutic vaccinations, for example, for cancer or another condition, are considered by NICE.
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Kate Osborne:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent estimate he has made of the legal costs of implementing the EHRC’s proposed Code of Practise for GPs. \p Karin Smyth: No assessment has been made of the cost, including any associated legal costs, of implementing the Code of Practice. The Equality and Human Rights Commission is currently consulting on text for an updated statutory Code of Practice. The English language version closes on 30 June. The Welsh language survey closes on 15 July.

The Supreme Court’s ruling gives clarity to service providers, and we expect all providers to follow the clarity it provides.
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Pippa Heylings:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department has made an estimate of the real-terms value of the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence’s £30,000 Quality-Adjusted Life Year threshold since its introduction in 1999. \p Karin Smyth: The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) considers the overall resources available to the National Health Service when determining whether an intervention represents value for money. Therefore, decisions about a new technology must consider the implications for healthcare programmes for other patient groups that may be displaced by the adoption of the new technology, and the opportunity cost, including those programmes or technologies not evaluated by NICE. NICE’s threshold represents the opportunity cost to the NHS of recommending a new technology. Empirical evidence suggests that the actual opportunity cost is closer to £15,000 per Quality Adjusted Life Year gained. Considering the real terms value of the NICE’s threshold is therefore not directly relevant because it represents the opportunity cost to the NHS.
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Dr Caroline Johnson:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate he has made of average cost per activity under the NHS and Care Volunteer Responders service, in the context of value-for-money references during the Urgent Question on the NHS Volunteer and Care service on 19 May 2025. \p Karin Smyth: The National NHS and Care Volunteer Responders programme was first established as part of the COVID-19 response and then adapted to respond to other organisational pressures. However, a model that worked well in a national crisis is no longer the most cost-effective way of facilitating the important contribution of our much-valued volunteers, and NHS England has recently taken the decision to close the programme.

The following table shows the cost to the public purse of the NHS and Care Volunteer Responders programme, for 2023/24 and 2024/25:

Financial year

Total

2023/24

£6,360,598

2024/25

£4,330,652

Note: NHS England is awaiting final invoices for 2024/25 so this figure may change, although the total cost for 2024/25 is expected to be no more than £4,330,652, excluding VAT.

The monthly and quarterly breakdown of costs varies based on invoicing schedules rather than by use of the programme, and therefore only annual figures have been provided. The average cost per task for 2024/25 was £40.74, based on the estimated programme cost of £4,330,652 in 2024/25 and delivery of 106,297 completed tasks, as per figures provided by the Royal Voluntary Service.

Providing a volunteer-based programme will always incur costs as there is a need to provide a supportive infrastructure including recruitment and management of volunteers, appropriate safeguarding support, the digital infrastructure and overall management of the scheme, as well as practical support for volunteers such as payment of expenses. However, the current cost per task is not considered value for money.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-10)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-10 conversation_92

Freddie van Mierlo:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to return the dementia diagnosis rate to its target level. \p Stephen Kinnock: To support recovery of the dementia diagnosis rates, we have developed a memory service dashboard to support commissioners and providers with appropriate data and enable targeted support where needed.

We have funded an evidence-based improvement project to fund two trusts in each region, totalling 14 sites, to pilot the Diagnosing Advanced Dementia Mandate protocol. Learning is currently being shared and promoted with regional and local partners following an impact assessment of the pilots.

The Office for Health Improvement and Disparities’ Dementia Intelligence Network has developed a tool for local systems to enable investigation into local variation in diagnosis and take informed action to enhance diagnosis rates.

We have also published the D100: Assessment Tool Pathway programme, which brings together multiple resources into a single, consolidated tool. The tool continues the work of the Dementia Care Pathway, covering all elements of the Well Pathway, including Diagnosing Well.

The D100: Pathway Assessment Tool launched in April 2025 and is available at the following link:

https://www.rcpsych.ac.uk/improving-care/nccmh/service-design-and-development/dementia-100-pathway-assessment-tool
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-10)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-10 conversation_93

Edward Morello:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he plans to introduce targeted incentives for dentists treating low-income patients privately due to levels of NHS provision in West Dorset. \p Stephen Kinnock: The Government plans to tackle the challenges for patients trying to access National Health Service dental care with a rescue plan to provide 700,000 more urgent dental appointments and recruit new dentists to areas that need them most. To rebuild dentistry in the long term, we will reform the dental contract with the sector, with a shift to focus on prevention and the retention of NHS dentists.

The responsibility for commissioning primary care services, including NHS dentistry, to meet the needs of the local population has been delegated to integrated care boards (ICBs) across England. For the West Dorset constituency, this is the Dorset ICB.

ICBs have started to advertise posts through the Golden Hello scheme. This recruitment incentive will see up to 240 dentists receiving payments of £20,000 to work in those areas that need them most for three years. As of 10 April 2025, in England, there are 53 dentists in post with a further 44 dentists who have been recruited but are yet to start in post under this scheme. Another 256 posts are currently advertised.

The NHS contracts with independent dental providers, to deliver NHS dental treatment in primary care settings. NHS dentists can offer private treatments in addition to NHS services. Dentists must make clear which treatments can be provided on the NHS and which can only be provided on a private basis, and the costs associated for each. The Government does not control the cost of private dental or orthodontic treatment and patients cannot claim back the expense from the NHS.

Free NHS dental care is available for patients who qualify for certain exemptions. Support is also available through the NHS Low Income Scheme for those patients who are not eligible for exemption or full remission of dental patient charges. Further information can be found at the following link:

https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/dentists/who-is-entitled-to-free-nhs-dental-treatment-in-england/
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Neil Coyle:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what role neighbourhood mental health centre pilot schemes will play in improving (a) care and (b) support for people living with bipolar disorder; and whether these centres will provide specialist support to help reduce delays to diagnosis and treatment. \p Stephen Kinnock: Adults with mild to severe mental health needs, including bipolar disorder, can receive open access and as you arrive support, signposting and treatment at Neighbourhood Mental Health Centres, which will be available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. These centres will be in the heart of the community and are firmly connected to both primary and specialist services.

Neighbourhood Mental Health Centres promote continuity of care with one team managing the mental health pathway and transitions between hospital and community. These centres will support the improvement of patient safety and clinical outcomes and reduce waiting times and hospitalisation.

NHS England has launched six pilot Neighbourhood Mental Health Centres in Tower Hamlets, Lewisham, Sheffield, York, Birmingham and Whitehaven with a further 16 associate sites planned. The six pilot sites will be independently evaluated with findings expected in summer 2026. Evaluation will inform future roll out of the centres.
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Ian Byrne:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate he has made of the the amount of money that has been paid to private clinics for delivering NHS cataract surgery in each of the last six years; and how much of the amount identified represented profit for the companies involved. \p Stephen Kinnock: Independent providers play an important role supporting the National Health Service to deliver eyecare services, ensuring patients receive the treatment and care they need.

The data is not held in the format requested.
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Saqib Bhatti:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to ensure that the NHS follows guidance on the minimum age for gender dysphoria. \p Karin Smyth: On 7 August 2024, NHS England published a new service specification that describes the pathway onto the waiting list for NHS Children and Young People's Gender Services in line with the recommendations of the Cass Review. The service specification was agreed following a process of public consultation, respondents to which included medical bodies such as royal colleges of medicine. I would like to assure you that this service specification is followed by all commissioned providers of NHS Children and Young People’s Gender Services.
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Saqib Bhatti:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many children under the age of seven have been treated for gender dysphoria since 1 April 2024. \p Karin Smyth: No children under the age of seven have been treated for gender dysphoria since 1 April 2024.
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Sir John Hayes:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to reduce the number of NHS letters regarding (a) appointments and (b) test results received late by patients in Lincolnshire. \p Karin Smyth: The Government is putting patients first, making sure they are seen as quickly as possible and have the best possible experience, which includes receiving timely communication regarding appointments and test results.

We are reforming the digital landscape to improve productivity, communication, and to offer greater convenience for National Health Service users, including changing the NHS App to make it easier and more helpful for patients to access information about their appointments. 87% of acute trusts in England now allow patients to view appointment information via the NHS App if they wish, reducing reliance on physical letters. Expanding the use of the NHS App has prevented over 1.5 million missed hospital appointments since July 2024. It also saves staff time, so they can focus on providing high quality, non-digital communication for those who want or need it.

We will also build on the success of digitising appointment letters by making more types of content about patients’ treatment available on the NHS App, such as discharge letters, by December 2025.

We do not hold data on the number of NHS letters for appointments and test results that have been received late by patients in Lincolnshire in 2024 and 2025.

NHS providers in Lincolnshire are working towards a patient engagement portal which allows patients to access correspondence electronically. If patients enable this function, notifications are sent to patients to allow them to log in to see any information in real time.

There is also a process in place to telephone all patients that have had an appointment booked less than two weeks in advance, to ensure they have received sufficient notice of their appointments.
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Neil Coyle:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what his policy is on the use of police vehicles as places of safety for people with mental heath conditions, in the context of police and prison cells no longer being used to place people experiencing a mental health crisis. \p Stephen Kinnock: The Mental Health Act’s Code of Practice states that local organisations are expected to have clear arrangements in place to support individuals experiencing a mental health crisis. This includes the development of a policy which identifies specific places of safety.

These places of safety should be hospitals or health-based facilities where appropriate mental health services are provided.

Other options might, however, be appropriate, such as the home of a relative or of a friend of the person who is willing to accept them, or a residential care home. These settings might provide a more immediate and more suitable setting for the individual.

A police vehicle would not be an appropriate place to hold a person who is in need of specialist mental health support.
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Helen Morgan:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to ensure that the full budget available to community pharmacies in 2025-26 is spent on the sector. \p Stephen Kinnock: For 2025/26, funding for the core community pharmacy contractual framework has been increased to £3.073 billion. This represents the largest uplift in funding of any part of the National Health Service, at over 19% across 2024/25 and 2025/26. This increased funding envelope is fully guaranteed for the sector.

The funding allocated to Pharmacy First in 2025/26 reflects the growth of the service to date, with up to £215 million available to be earned by contractors in 2025/26. It is expected that changes to the remuneration arrangements, continued work on improving referral systems, and promotions to increase public awareness and knowledge around accessing community pharmacy services will ensure levels of activity that will see this funding fully utilised.
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Calum Miller:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the Answer of 14 October 2024 to Question 7208, what steps his Department has taken to help recruit 8,500 new mental health workers. \p Stephen Kinnock: As part of our mission to build a National Health Service that is fit for the future and that is there when people need it, we are recruiting 8,500 mental health workers across child and adult mental health services to help ease pressure on busy services.

We continue to work with NHS England to consider options to deliver this commitment alongside publishing a refreshed workforce plan to deliver the transformed health service we will build over the next decade. There are a wide range of factors that will affect this future growth of the NHS mental health workforce, and we will provide an update in due course.

In addition, targeted retention work has been undertaken through the NHS Retention Programme which works with trusts to help them understand why staff have left. This has focused on better support for line managers and improved support for new joiners.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-10)

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Helen Morgan:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when he plans to set out a timeline for negotiations with community pharmacies for the 2026-27 Contractual Framework. \p Stephen Kinnock: There is currently no set timeline for commencing consultations on the future community pharmacy contractual framework beyond 2025/26. Departmental budgets beyond 2025/26 will be set through Phase 2 of the Spending Review, which will conclude in June.

A mandate for the consultation will then be sought when internal departmental budgets have been set.
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Neil Duncan-Jordan:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will publish monthly reports from each of the 15 local partnerships on re-matching social care workers to new employers. \p Stephen Kinnock: There are no plans to publish monthly reports on the international recruitment regional fund.
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Anna Sabine:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether she has made an assessment of the effectiveness of in-community support for children with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder. \p Stephen Kinnock: It is the responsibility of the integrated care boards in England to make appropriate provision to meet the health and care needs of their local population, including treatment pathways and support for foetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD), in line with relevant National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidelines. The Department asked the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence to produce a quality standard in England for FASD to help providers and commissioners improve both diagnosis and support for people affected by FASD. This includes guidance on individualised management plans, which help to coordinate care across a range of healthcare professionals, as well as education and social services, to improve outcomes. The quality standard also covers support during pregnancy to improve awareness and prevent the disorder. The quality standard was published in March 2022, and is available at the following link:

https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/qs204
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Helen Maguire:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many referrals there have been to (a) Operation Courage and (b) Operation Restore in each year since 2016; and how many of those referrals were reviewed by multi-disciplinary teams within 8 weeks. \p Stephen Kinnock: On 13 March 2025, it was announced that NHS England will be brought into the Department to form a new joint centre. We are assessing the full range of current functions across both organisations and options for future allocation. At this stage, it is too early to say what precise changes in personnel and organisational design will be.

The following table shows the actual spend on Op COURAGE and Op RESTORE for 2020/21 to 2024/25 and the budget for 2025/26:

Financial Year

Op COURAGE (£ mil)

OP RESTORE (£ mil)

2020/21

17.9

0.3

2021/22

18.5

0.2

2022/23

23.0

0.6

2023/24

23.8

0.5

2024/25

24.4

0.9

2025/26

24.9

0.9

Source: NHS England

The following tables show the referral numbers for Op COURAGE and Op RESTORE since 2017/18 and 2018/19, respectively, as well as the percentage of referrals for Op COURAGE met within relevant targets since 2023/24 and for Op RESTORE since 2021/22:

Financial Year

Referrals to Op COURAGE

% of urgent referrals assessed within one week

% of routine referrals assessed within 2 weeks

2017/18

2879

-

-

2018/19

4561

-

-

2019/20

5374

-

-

2020/21

4903

-

-

2021/22

5970

-

-

2022/23

6272

-

-

2023/24

6817

75

49.5

2024/25

7251

76

44.3

Source: NHS England

Financial Year

Referrals to Op RESTORE

% assessed by multi-disciplinary team within 8 weeks

2018/19

50

-

2019/20

50

-

2020/21

41

-

2021/22

149

100

2022/23

265

98.4

2023/24

371

99.7

2024/25

350

97.7

Source: NHS England
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Mr Will Forster:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans he has for new specialist mental health crisis centres in Surrey. \p Stephen Kinnock: Individuals experiencing a mental health crisis in Surrey can access support 24/7 through the Mental Health Crisis Helpline, operated by the Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Foundation Trust. The service is staffed by trained professionals who provide immediate advice, support, and signposting to a range of community services.

There are five Safe Havens across Surrey that provide out-of-hours help and support to individuals who are experiencing a mental health crisis or emotional distress. Each Safe Haven is staffed by a mental health practitioner from the Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, and two trained Safe Haven workers. Peer support from people with lived experience of mental health issues is also increasingly available.

At a national level, substantial progress has been achieved in building more robust crisis care pathways across all ages and in all regions, ensuring that people in a mental health crisis can receive the right care.

As part of this, the Government has committed £26 million in capital investment to support people in a mental health crisis, including opening new mental health crisis centres across England, which aim to provide accessible and responsive care for individuals in a mental health crisis. In addition, we are piloting six 24/7 neighbourhood mental health centres which provide support to individuals with severe mental illness, without needing to book an appointment.

People of all ages in England experiencing a mental health crisis can speak to a trained NHS professional at any time of the day via the NHS 111 service. This service gives people the chance to be listened to by a trained member of staff who can help direct them to the right place.
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Joe Robertson:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to reduce the number of people with (a) a learning disability and (b) autism in mental health hospitals. \p Stephen Kinnock: The latest National Health Service planning guidance, from 30 January 2025, includes a focus on improving mental health and learning disability care and contains the objective to deliver a minimum 10% reduction in the use of mental health inpatient care for people with a learning disability and autistic people in 2025/26.

For 2025/26, there is continued funding within integrated care board (ICB) baselines for support for people with a learning disability and autistic people. ICBs should prioritise continuing to invest in reducing reliance on inpatient care for people with a learning disability and autistic people, in line with the 2025/26 NHS operating planning guidance.

The Mental Health Bill has reached Committee stage in the House of Commons, following its recent passage through the House of Lords. Through the bill, we propose taking forward a package of measures to improve care and keep people out of hospitals. Subject to parliamentary agreement, statutory Dynamic Support Registers, Care (Education) and Treatment Reviews, and new duties on commissioners will help to ensure appropriate community support in the future.
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Warinder Juss:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will take steps to include the voices of patients in the ongoing NHS England consultation on ADHD assessments; and if he will ensure all patients have the Right to Choose. \p Stephen Kinnock: Earlier in 2025, NHS England ran a consultation on the 2025/26 NHS Payment Scheme. This consultation was not specific to attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) assessment services, but some concerns were raised about a perceived potential impact on ADHD services, particularly in respect of the impact on the right to choose. No changes to the legal right to choose were proposed as part of this. Following consultation, the original proposals have not been implemented.

NHS England has established an ADHD taskforce which is bringing 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 timely and equitable access to services and support, with the report expected in summer 2025.

The Government is also committed to patients’ legal right to choose their provider when referred to consultant-led treatment, or to a mental health professional, for their first appointment as an outpatient. This commitment is reflected in the NHS Constitution for England and the NHS Standing Rules, and is explained in the NHS Choice Framework. In addition to this, NHS England has regulatory oversight responsibilities to ensure patient choice operates effectively in the NHS.
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Josh Babarinde:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department has taken to engage with mental health service users on the development of mental health policy. \p Stephen Kinnock: A significant number of mental health service users have taken part in our 10-Year Health Plan engagement. 28% of participants on the Change NHS website reported waiting to access mental health services as a challenge they have experienced, while one in six said they had accessed mental health services in the last 12 months. Over 100 people with a mental health condition attended our public and staff deliberative events and 170 mental health organisations contributed to the Change NHS website, in addition to the organisations who attended our national partners council meetings and other meetings. The 10-Year Health Plan will be published shortly, and this will set out how the overall health system will run.

The Mental Health Bill, which is currently making its way through Parliament, will modernise the Mental Health Act so that it is fit for the 21st century, ensuring that people with the most severe mental health conditions get better, more personalised care. The bill reflects the recommendations of Professor Sir Simon Wessely’s Independent Review into the Mental Health Act of 2018. The review’s advisory panel comprised of individuals with lived experience, advocacy organisations, professionals and representative bodies, and representatives from the statutory system. The Government ran an extensive public consultation on the proposals in the Mental Health Act White Paper, which received over 1,700 total responses and more than 1,119 individual responses. Since July 2024, we have further engaged with a range of key stakeholders and we will continue to engage, and consult widely, on the development of the Mental Health Act Code of Practice, the statutory guidance which will inform practice under the bill.

In addition, ministers and officials meet regularly with a range of stakeholders who represent the interests of mental health service users, about future plans for mental health services.
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Sir John Hayes:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department plans to take to improve outcomes for dementia patients in Lincolnshire. \p Stephen Kinnock: Integrated care boards (ICBs) are responsible for the provision of dementia health care services, and we expect ICBs to commission services based on local population need, taking account of the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence’s guidelines. Lincolnshire is above the national ambition for dementia diagnosis rates, because of prioritising improvements in diagnosis rates. As a system, Lincolnshire is committed to continuing to improve its offer to support the local population following a diagnosis of dementia. This includes developing plans for a dedicated standalone service which will increase its capacity to offer support before, during, and after diagnosis.

The Dementia Home Treatment Team provides a countywide, community-based ‘hospital at home’ service seven day a week, for those whose needs are escalating beyond the care of existing community mental health teams.
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Vikki Slade:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to (a) include support for adults with autism and (b) help support (i) Integrated Care Boards and (ii) local hospital trusts with supporting adults with autism through the NHS 10 year plan. \p Stephen Kinnock: The 10-Year Health Plan will deliver the three big shifts the National Health Service needs to be fit for the future: from hospital to community; from analogue to digital; and from sickness to prevention. All of these are relevant to supporting people with a range of conditions such as autism, in all parts of the country.
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Julia Lopez:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to help ensure the continuation of the NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme following the abolition of NHS England. \p Ashley Dalton: A central mission of the Government is to build a health and care system fit for the future. To achieve this, it is crucial that we tackle preventable ill health, such as type 2 diabetes.

The highly effective NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme continues to be delivered. Ministers and senior Department officials will work with the new executive team at the top of NHS England, led by Sir Jim Mackey, to lead the formation of a new joint centre. As we work to bring the two organisations together, we will ensure that we continue to evaluate impacts of all kinds and put plans in place to ensure continuity of care.
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Dr Luke Evans:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential causes of trends in the number of people being diagnosed with melanoma. \p Ashley Dalton: Diagnoses of skin cancers, including melanoma, have been increasing. 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 melanoma. This information can be found at sources such as the NHS.UK website.

As well as raising awareness, there have been changes in the way skin cancers, including melanoma, are diagnosed. NHS England’s Getting It Right First Time national report provided recommendations to encourage the wider use of technology to ensure skin cancer patients get faster and more equitable access to care.

NHS England has been rolling out teledermatology services, which allow a virtual review of dermoscopic images to identify skin cancers. In providers where this has been fully implemented, improvements in workforce capacity have enabled up to double the number of patients to be reviewed per clinic. This has also resulted in an improved performance for the Faster Diagnosis Standard.