Written questions by Jogee.

If he will make an assessment of the potential implications for his policies of the report by Asthma Lung UK entitled Lung conditions kill more people in the UK than anywhere in Western Europe, published on 28 February 2022.

The report from Asthma + Lung UK highlights the relatively high mortality rate in the United Kingdom from lung conditions such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma. It asks for better and faster diagnosis, new treatments, new technology, and more action on prevention. These are consistent with the Government’s policies and priorities.The Government has committed to delivering three big shifts that 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 improving respiratory health in all parts of the country.This will support earlier diagnosis, better joint working between services, and greater use of apps and wearable technology will all help people manage their long-term conditions, including respiratory conditions, closer to home. Earlier diagnosis of conditions will help prevent deterioration and improve survival rates. Taking action to reduce the causes of the biggest killers, such as enabling a smoke free generation through the Tobacco and Vapes Bill, can further help prevent lung conditions.On COPD and asthma specifically, the NHS is investing in the provision of more and better rehabilitation services for respiratory patients. This has the objective of improving outcomes through early diagnosis including via spirometry tests, and through increased access to treatments.The NHS RightCare COPD pathway has been rolled out nationally and defines the optimal service for people with COPD. Furthermore, the National Respiratory Audit Programme aims to improve quality of care, services, and clinical outcomes for patients with asthma and COPD, by collecting and providing data on a range of indicators and pulmonary rehabilitation activity. A national programme of work is underway to support systems with improving access to Pulmonary Rehabilitation for the eligible population. Pulmonary rehabilitation is effective for people with COPD, improving exercise capacity or increased quality of life in 90% of patients who complete a programme.

What estimate she has made of the number of people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in (a) Newcastle-under-Lyme constituency and (b) Staffordshire.

The House of Commons Library has published estimates at a constituency level for a variety of health conditions, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), with further information available at the following link: https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/constituency-data-how-healthy-is-your-area/ For the Newcastle-under-Lyme constituency, this data shows an estimated prevalence of 2.45% for COPD. This is higher than the estimated prevalence for the West Midlands and England, with both having a prevalence of 1.85%. These figures are based on modelled estimates, derived from data published by NHS Digital in the Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF) 2022/23. Integrated care board (ICB) level QOF data for the same 2022/23 period is available at the following link: https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/publications/statistical/quality-and-outcomes-framework-achievement-prevalence-and-exceptions-data/2022-23 This shows that for the NHS Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent ICB, the COPD register consists of 26,564 patients, and has a prevalence rate of 2.24%. The latest QOF data that has been published by NHS England is for the 2023/24 period, and is available at the following link: https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/publications/statistical/quality-and-outcomes-framework-achievement-prevalence-and-exceptions-data/2023-24This shows that for the NHS Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent ICB, the COPD register consists of 27,019 patients, and has a prevalence rate of 2.26%.

What assessment he has made of the link between lung health and the adequacy of smoking cessation services in (a) Newcastle-under-Lyme constituency and (b) Staffordshire.

We are increasing our efforts to support smokers to quit and have invested an additional £70 million, this year and last, for local stop smoking services, in England. It is for local authorities to determine and commission the most appropriate stop smoking services for their area.No specific assessment has been made of the impact of stop smoking services on lung health in these areas. However, we have commissioned an independent evaluation of the impact of our additional funding to stop smoking services, in which we look at partnerships with health providers.There is also an established referral pathway between the NHS Targeted Lung Health Programme in University Hospital North Midlands and the local stop smoking service. The local NHS Targeted Lunch Health Check Programme also previously ran a pilot to offer smoking cessation support to patients through community pharmacies.

What estimate he has made of the potential cost to the public purse of the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill.

I refer the hon. Member to the impact assessment.

Whether he has discussed the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill with his counterpart in the Welsh Government.

The Government remains neutral on the matter of assisted dying and the passage of the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill. The Bill remains a matter for the hon. Member for Spen Valley who, as its sponsor, leads on policy and engagement in relation to the Bill.Ministers in the Department have had no discussions about the Bill with counterparts in the Welsh Government.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill on the NHS budget.

I refer the hon. Member to the impact assessment.

If he will support the aims of Age Without Limits Day.

Age Without Limits Day is the Centre for Healthy Aging’s event which aims to challenge ageism across the country through community and workplace activities. More information is available at the following link:https://www.agewithoutlimits.org/about-the-campaignThe Department is committed to improving outcomes for older people through a range of cross-cutting strategies and initiatives. It is embedding a focus on health inequalities across its work, including through the Core20PLUS5 approach in the National Health Service, which includes older age-related conditions such as dementia. It is also supporting improvements in adult social care to promote choice and to help people live as independent and fulfilling lives as possible.

Whether his Department is taking steps to help tackle ageism in healthcare services.

The Department is committed to improving outcomes for older people through a range of cross-cutting strategies and initiatives.Addressing healthcare inequalities is a fundamental part of the Health Mission and the 10-Year Health Plan, to ensure the National Health Service is there for anyone who needs it, whenever they need it. The Plan will be published in summer 2025 and aims to deliver on the three big shifts needed to move healthcare from hospital to the community, analogue to digital, sickness to prevention. This includes how services can be better integrated and tailored to improve quality of life and reduce inequalities in later life.The Department is embedding a focus on health inequalities across its work, including through the Core20PLUS5 approach in the NHS, which includes older age-related conditions such as dementia. It is also supporting improvements in adult social care to promote choice and to help people live as independent and fulfilling lives as possible.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of levels of deprivation on lung health in (a) Newcastle-under-Lyme constituency, (b) Staffordshire and (c) England.

The 10-Year Health Plan will deliver the three big shifts our 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 improving respiratory health in all parts of the country.More tests and scans delivered in the community will allow for earlier diagnosis, better joint working between services, and greater use of apps and wearable technology will all help people manage their long-term conditions, including respiratory conditions, closer to home. Earlier diagnosis of conditions will help prevent deterioration and improve survival rates.The prevalence of smoking in adults, current smokers who are 18 years old and over, in Newcastle under Lyme and Staffordshire is lower than the overall England average, at 8.8% and 9.0% respectively, compared to the overall England average of 12.4%.Urgent cancer referrals for suspected lung cancer in the Staffordshire and Stoke Integrated Care Board are much higher than the England average. However, the mortality rate from lung cancer, chronic obstructive airways disease, heart disease, and stroke associated with smoking in Staffordshire is similar to the England average.We are taking action to reduce the causes of the biggest killers, for instance by enabling a smoke free generation to further help prevent lung conditions.It is the most disadvantaged who suffer the most from the financial and health burden of smoking, with 230,000 households living in smoking induced poverty and with smoking being the number one preventable cause of death, disability, and ill health, claiming the lives of approximately 80,000 people a year in the United Kingdom, and being the leading cause of lung cancer. The landmark Tobacco and Vapes Bill will create the first smoke-free generation, ending the cycle of addiction and disadvantage and putting us on track to a smoke-free UK.

Whether the national cancer plan will include mechanisms for supporting the NHS to adopt upcoming innovations in cancer treatment.

The National Cancer Plan will include further details on how we will improve outcomes for cancer patients, as well as speeding up diagnosis and treatment, ensuring patients have access to the latest treatments and technology, and ultimately bringing this country’s cancer survival rates back up to the standards of the best in the world.The plan will look at how we can maximise our impact through the most up-to-date technology and innovations. It will ensure that we continue to maximise the access to, and the impact of, clinical trials in diagnostics and treatments, building on the success of projects such as the NHS Cancer Vaccine Launch Pad. The plan will also consider mechanisms to accelerate the adoption of innovative diagnostics and treatments into the National Health Service, and will seek to ensure that high quality care is available to patients across the country.Furthermore, reducing barriers of entry to care and improving the efficiency of patient pathways are essential to improving cancer outcomes and experiences. The plan will explore how we can improve data collection, sharing, and analysis, to help identify variation and blockages in the pathway and develop solutions with the NHS.

Whether the national cancer plan will include policies on improving the (a) collection, (b) sharing and (c) analysis of data for all cancer types to help (i) identify (A) variation and (B) blockages in the pathway and (ii) develop solutions with the NHS.

The National Cancer Plan will include further details on how we will improve outcomes for cancer patients, as well as speeding up diagnosis and treatment, ensuring patients have access to the latest treatments and technology, and ultimately bringing this country’s cancer survival rates back up to the standards of the best in the world.The plan will look at how we can maximise our impact through the most up-to-date technology and innovations. It will ensure that we continue to maximise the access to, and the impact of, clinical trials in diagnostics and treatments, building on the success of projects such as the NHS Cancer Vaccine Launch Pad. The plan will also consider mechanisms to accelerate the adoption of innovative diagnostics and treatments into the National Health Service, and will seek to ensure that high quality care is available to patients across the country.Furthermore, reducing barriers of entry to care and improving the efficiency of patient pathways are essential to improving cancer outcomes and experiences. The plan will explore how we can improve data collection, sharing, and analysis, to help identify variation and blockages in the pathway and develop solutions with the NHS.

Whether the national cancer plan will include policies on equitable access to companion diagnostics for all (a) regions and (b) patient groups.

The National Cancer Plan will include further details on how we will improve outcomes for cancer patients, as well as speeding up diagnosis and treatment, ensuring patients have access to the latest treatments and technology, and ultimately bringing this country’s cancer survival rates back up to the standards of the best in the world.The plan will look at how we can maximise our impact through the most up-to-date technology and innovations. It will ensure that we continue to maximise the access to, and the impact of, clinical trials in diagnostics and treatments, building on the success of projects such as the NHS Cancer Vaccine Launch Pad. The plan will also consider mechanisms to accelerate the adoption of innovative diagnostics and treatments into the National Health Service, and will seek to ensure that high quality care is available to patients across the country.Furthermore, reducing barriers of entry to care and improving the efficiency of patient pathways are essential to improving cancer outcomes and experiences. The plan will explore how we can improve data collection, sharing, and analysis, to help identify variation and blockages in the pathway and develop solutions with the NHS.

What steps his Department is taking to streamline diagnostics pathways for (a) companion and (b) other diagnostics.

The Elective Reform Plan, published in January 2025, announced that the integrated care boards (ICBs) will make optimal use of the new diagnostic capacity by implementing the new standards for community diagnostic centres (CDCs) and hospital-based diagnostic services, in particular increasing direct referrals and rolling out at least 10 straight-to-test pathways by March 2026.To date, NHS England has agreed three national CDC diagnostic pathways which ICBs will be expected to implement by March 2026. These are: breathlessness; children and young people’s asthma; and unscheduled bleeding on hormone replacement therapy.NHS England is working with clinicians to best determine other priority straight to test pathways, including in CDCs. Implementation of these pathways will deliver the expectations in the Elective Reform Plan for significant elective care reform to be delivered in at least five specialties, those being: ear nose and throat; gastroenterology; respiratory; urology; and cardiology. Wider clinical pathway optimisation work will also centre around these specialities.The National Cancer Plan will include further details on how we will improve outcomes for cancer patients, as well as speeding up diagnosis and treatment, ensuring patients have access to the latest treatments and technology, and ultimately bringing this country’s cancer survival rates back up to the standards of the best in the world.  The plan will also look at how we can maximise our impact through the most up-to-date technology and innovations. It will ensure that we continue to maximise the access to, and the impact of, clinical trials in diagnostics and treatments.

If she will have discussions with the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on the research entitled The Impact of Chiropractors on Workplace Productivity in NHS MSK Pathways, published on 19 March 2025, on the potential impact of the use of chiropractors on waiting lists for musculoskeletal conditions, in the context of increasing levels of people in employment.

There are no current plans to have discussions with my Rt Hon. Friend, Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on the research specified, or for the Department for Health and Social Care to assess the use of chiropractors to reduce waiting times in Newcastle-under-Lyme. Cutting waiting lists forms a key part of the Government’s mission to reform the National Health Service.

What steps he is taking to reduce musculoskeletal condition waiting times in Newcastle-under-Lyme constituency; and if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of using chiropractors as regulated and qualified healthcare professionals already embedded in (a) Newcastle-under-Lyme and (b) other constituencies to help reduce reduce those waiting times.

There are no current plans to have discussions with my Rt Hon. Friend, Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on the research specified, or for the Department for Health and Social Care to assess the use of chiropractors to reduce waiting times in Newcastle-under-Lyme. Cutting waiting lists forms a key part of the Government’s mission to reform the National Health Service.

When he plans to make the morning-after pill free at pharmacies in (a) Staffordshire and (b) England.

The Department is currently planning to expand the Pharmacy Contraception Service to include the supply of emergency hormonal contraception from October 2025. This means women will have access to the ‘morning-after pill’ free of charge at pharmacies on the National Health Service, which will ensure a consistent offer across the country.

What steps he is taking to improve early (a) detection and (b) diagnosis of (ii) high blood pressure and (ii) raised cholesterol levels in (A) Newcastle-under-Lyme and (B) Staffordshire.

The NHS Health check, England’s cardiovascular disease prevention programme, engages over 1.3 million people a year, and through behavioural and clinical interventions, such as managing patients’ elevated cholesterol levels, prevents approximately 500 heart attacks or strokes a year.In addition to this, the Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Integrated Care Board (ICB) is investing £100,000 into Newcastle-under-Lyme through a Locality Improvement Framework that brings together partners from primary care, Newcastle Borough Council, and the voluntary sector to encourage healthy lifestyle choices, to prevent cardiovascular disease. The framework will adopt a CORE20 approach, targeting the 20% most deprived communities.The ICB is also rolling out BEAT networking events that will encourage people to come forward for the early detection and diagnosis of heart disease. BEAT aims to raise awareness of common early warning signs of potential heart disease and what to do, namely Breathlessness, Exhaustion, Ankle swelling, and Time to tell your general practitioner or nurse.National Health Service community pharmacy teams across the Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent ICB, including those in Newcastle-under-Lyme, have measured the blood pressure of 61,798 citizens between April and December 2024. They have confirmed high blood pressure using ambulatory monitoring in 3,895 of these patients, so their high blood pressure can be managed. Assuming these patients comply with management for the next five years, data averages suggest that approximately 31 deaths, 58 strokes, and 39 myocardial infarctions would be prevented.

If his Department will make an assessment of the potential merits of providing chiropractors to people with musculoskeletal conditions to help increase the number of people in work.

NHS England does not currently support or nationally commission chiropractic care in the National Health Service. Integrated care boards are able to make independent decisions on which health professionals they employ and may commission a limited amount of chiropractic services.There are no current plans in the Department or NHS England to review the categorisation of chiropractic care as a complementary and alternative medicine. The Government has no plans to conduct further research into the potential merits of integrating chiropractic care into the national musculoskeletal health strategy.

If his Department will (a) reevaluate the categorisation of chiropractic care as a complementary and alternative medicine and (b) conduct further research into the potential merits of integrating chiropractic into the national musculoskeletal health strategy.

NHS England does not currently support or nationally commission chiropractic care in the National Health Service. Integrated care boards are able to make independent decisions on which health professionals they employ and may commission a limited amount of chiropractic services.There are no current plans in the Department or NHS England to review the categorisation of chiropractic care as a complementary and alternative medicine. The Government has no plans to conduct further research into the potential merits of integrating chiropractic care into the national musculoskeletal health strategy.

What assessment he has made of the adequacy of the changes to death certification process support in (a) Newcastle-under-Lyme constituency, (b) Staffordshire and (c) England.

The Government is monitoring the impact of the death certification reforms, which came into legal effect on 9 September 2024, but has not made a specific assessment of the impact of the reforms in the Newcastle-under-Lyme constituency or Staffordshire.The median time taken to register a death since the introduction of the reforms in England and Wales has typically been eight days. This figure is for all deaths, as it includes those certified by a doctor and those investigated by a coroner. The median time taken to register a death varies depending on the type of certification. Deaths certified by a doctor, that comprise approximately 80% of deaths registered each week, have typically had a median time to registration of seven days. It is important to note that the medical examiner system was active on a non-statutory basis before the introduction of the statutory system on 9 September, and this makes direct before and after comparisons challenging to draw conclusions from.The core purposes of the death certification reforms are to introduce scrutiny of the cause of death to detect and deter malpractice, to improve reporting, and crucially to put the bereaved at the centre of the process by offering a conversation with the medical examiner about the cause of death. The expectation on doctors and medical examiners is clear, that they should complete certification as quickly and efficiently as possible, and the Government is working with all stakeholders to make sure this is the case.