Written questions by Dance.

What steps his Department is taking to ensure people are able to access timely diagnoses for (a) arthritis and (b) musculoskeletal conditions in Yeovil constituency.

Awaiting answer.

What assessment he has made of the risk of Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals to people in (a) Yeovil constituency, (b) Somerset and (c) England.

Awaiting answer.

What steps he is taking to support palliative care providers in (a) Yeovil constituency, (b) Somerset and (c) the United Kingdom.

Awaiting answer.

When he plans to launch the public consultation on reform of the NHS dental contract.

Awaiting answer.

What assessment he has made of trends in the number of cases of Lyme disease in (a) Yeovil constituency, (b) Somerset and (c) the United Kingdom.

Awaiting answer.

What steps he is taking to strengthen preventative care for skin cancer in (a) Yeovil constituency (b), Somerset and (c) England.

Awaiting answer.

What recent discussions he has had with NHS England on improving diagnosis of Primary Progressive Aphasia.

Awaiting answer.

What assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of time-bound, measurable targets to reduce the time taken for diagnosis of (a) endometriosis and (b) adenomyosis.

Awaiting answer.

What steps his Department is taking to improve public awareness of the symptoms of Crohn’s and Colitis in (a) Yeovil constituency, (b) Somerset and (c) England.

Awaiting answer.

What steps he is taking to support GP surgeries in Yeovil constituency to process appointment requests.

Awaiting answer.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of Food Standards Agency official control charges on costs faced by medium-sized abattoirs in (a) Yeovil constituency, (b) Somerset and (c) England.

Awaiting answer.

What steps he is taking to help reduce the number of avoidable severe allergic reactions in (a) Yeovil constituency, (b) Somerset and (c) England.

Last year, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence approved two sublingual immunotherapy treatments for moderate to severe allergic rhinitis.National Health Service partners in Somerset encourage all patients with a diagnosis of severe allergy to have prescribed and to carry with them an adrenaline injection device which when used early enough in a severe allergy response can prevent patient harm and admission.Over the past five years, the Food Standards Agency (FSA) has delivered a substantial programme of work to improve allergy safety in restaurants and food businesses, including in Yeovil. The FSA published new best practice guidance in March 2025 to improve allergen information when eating out. The FSA has also expanded its free online allergen training, which has now been taken by over one million people since 2020. Through this work, the FSA is aiming to enable people with food allergies to make informed and safe choices and trust the food that they receive.The Department for Education is developing new statutory guidance which will significantly strengthen how schools support pupils with allergy. The Government has also amended the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill to place a new statutory duty on schools to develop and publish an allergy safety policy, and to give powers to my Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education, to make regulations relating to allergy safety, including requiring schools to stock adrenaline devices, to secure allergy awareness training, and to record and report incidents of near misses. These measures should help to prevent instances of children experiencing severe allergic reactions while at school.

What steps he is taking to help improve data on the (a) severity of, (b) functional impact of and (c) outcomes among those diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

NHS England does not currently collect data on the severity and functional impact of and outcomes for people diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). NHS England first published management information on ADHD waits nationally in May 2025 as part of the ADHD data improvement plan. Additionally, technical guidance has been released to integrated care boards (ICBs) to enhance the recording of ADHD data, aiming to improve the quality of ADHD waits data and enable more localised reporting. We are currently refreshing the ADHD data improvement plan and remain committed to publishing data at ICB level, which is currently planned for the May 2026 publication. NHS England has also captured examples from ICBs who are trialling innovative ways of delivering ADHD services and is using this information to support systems to tackle ADHD waiting lists and provide support to address people’s needs. Through the Medium-term planning framework, published 24 October, NHS England has set clear expectations for local ICBs and trusts to improve access, experience, and outcomes for ADHD services over the next three years, focusing on improving quality and productivity.

What steps his Department is taking to help address variations in access to care for people with atrial fibrillation in England.

NHS England commissions the CVDPREVENT audit, which publishes routinely held general practice data to support planning and tackle unwarranted variation at national, regional, integrated care board, primary care network, and practice level. This includes information on atrial fibrillation treatment.

What improvements he anticipates to stroke services as part of the forthcoming Modern Service Framework for cardiovascular disease.

The cardiovascular disease Modern Service Framework (MSF) will prioritise ambitious, evidence-led and clinically informed approaches to reducing premature mortality from heart disease and stroke by 25% within the next decade. The MSF will be published in spring.

What steps he is taking to help reduce waiting times for atrial fibrillation ablation procedures in (a) Yeovil constituency, (b) Somerset and (c) England.

Catheter ablation for paroxysmal and persistent atrial fibrillation for adults is a prescribed specialised service commissioned in accordance with a published national clinical commissioning policy. Consequently, NHS England’s regional specialised commissioning teams and integrated care boards (ICBs), including the Somerset ICB, are responsible for monitoring activity, reviewing equity of access for their populations, and addressing unwarranted variation through local oversight arrangements and clinical networks.

What assessment he has made of the level of need to improve access to mechanical thrombectomy for stroke patients, particularly in rural areas such as Somerset.

NHS England continues to support the improvement of stroke pathways through Integrated Stroke Delivery Networks, including strengthening pre-hospital triage, inter-hospital transfer pathways, and emergency referral arrangements.These actions are intended to reduce unwarranted variation and improve equitable access to mechanical thrombectomy for stroke patients, including those living in rural areas such as Somerset, while ensuring services remain clinically safe and sustainable.Mechanical thrombectomy is an evidence-based treatment for eligible patients with large vessel occlusion stroke and is recognised as a national clinical priority.The service is commissioned by NHS England as a specialised service, with aspects of planning and delivery supported locally through specialised commissioning delegated arrangements, working closely with integrated care boards and systems.NHS England has assessed the need to improve access to mechanical thrombectomy through national clinical policy, audit, and service monitoring. NHS England routinely monitors access and outcomes through the Sentinel Stroke National Audit Programme, which has demonstrated variation in access across England, including challenges related to geography and travel times.In response to this assessed need, work continues to develop and strengthen services. In addition to NHS England’s aforementioned improvement of stroke pathways through Integrated Stroke Delivery Networks, work is also ongoing to support the expansion and sustainability of thrombectomy capable services where clinically and operationally appropriate, within the framework of specialised commissioning delegated services. For instance, 24/7 services to serve stroke patients are available at Bristol and Plymouth.

What assessment he has made of the potential merits of rolling out lateral flow tests to detect large-vessel occlusion (LVO) strokes nationally, particularly in rural areas such as Somerset.

There has not been a specific national assessment of the roll out of lateral flow tests to detect large-vessel-occlusion.The Government is committed to achieving a 25% reduction in premature mortality due to cardiovascular disease (CVD) and stroke across England. To accelerate progress and tackle variation across the country, a new CVD Modern Service Framework will be published in 2026. This framework will support improvement, reduce inequalities and foster innovation where it is needed most.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of trail riding on people's health and wellbeing through active recreation.

The Department has not made a specific assessment of the potential impact of trail riding on people's health and wellbeing through active recreation. The Department recognises that participation in outdoor activities using trails, such as cycling, walking, wheeling, and running, can have a range of physical and mental health benefits through movement, social engagement, and access to green and blue spaces.The Government and the National Health Service recognise that reducing physical inactivity in people of all ages is important in helping people live longer, healthier lives. As committed to in the 10-Year Health Plan, we will address physically inactivity and help build movement into everyday lives through investing in grassroots sports, developing a new Physical Education and school sports partnership network to support children reap the benefits of movement, and supporting cycling and walking infrastructure.

What steps he is taking to help (a) reduce regional disparities in access in access to left atrial appendage closure and (b) the potential impact of such disparities on Yeovil constituents.

NHS England has not undertaken a formal national assessment of regional variation in access to left atrial appendage occlusion (LAAO). LAAO is a prescribed specialised service and is commissioned in accordance with NHS England’s published national clinical commissioning policy, with further information available at the following link: https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/clinical-commissioning-policy-left-atrial-appendage-occlusion-for-patients-with-atrial-fibrillation-and-relative-or-absolute-contraindications-to-anticoagulation-adults/ NHS England’s regional specialised commissioners and integrated care boards are responsible for the monitoring of activity, the reviewing of equity of access for their populations, and for addressing variation through local oversight and clinical networks.