Written questions by Ramsay.

With reference to the debate on the Draft Anaesthesia Associates and Physician Associates Order 2024, on Wednesday 17 January 2024, if he will make an assessment of the potential implications for his Department's policies of the report by the Kings Fund entitled Royal College of Physicians Independent learning review following the Royal College of Physicians’ Extraordinary General Meeting 2024.

The Royal College of Physicians is an independent organisation, and they have responded to the review by The Kings Fund that they commissioned, with further information available at the following link:https://www.rcp.ac.uk/news-and-media/news-and-opinion/rcp-responds-to-the-king-s-fund-learning-review/The legislation to introduce statutory regulation for Physician Associates (PAs) and Anaesthesia Associates (AAs) was subject to debate in the Scottish Parliament and in both Houses of Parliament earlier this year. Regulation of PAs and AAs by the General Medical Council (GMC) will begin in December 2024. The GMC will set standards of practice, education, and training, and operate fitness-to-practice procedures to ensure that PAs and AAs can be held to account if serious concerns are raised.

With reference to the Answer of 16 September 2024 to Question HL786 on Pharmacy: Closures, what he plans to conclude the consultation with Community Pharmacy England on the national funding and contractual framework arrangements for 2024/25.

Pharmacies play a vital role in our healthcare system. Previous plans did not go far enough and we are looking at what changes we can introduce. The Government has set out its ambition to expand the role of pharmacies and to better utilise the skills of pharmacists and pharmacy technicians. That includes making prescribing part of the services delivered by community pharmacists.Departmental officials are working at pace to conclude the consultation on the community pharmacy contractual framework arrangements for 2024/25 as quickly as possible. We are unable to provide further details until the consultation with the Community Pharmacy England is concluded. The outcome will be published and communicated to all contractors at that time.Pharmacies are private business and decisions to close are made for a range of reasons, as in any other provider market. The Department continues to monitor patient access to all pharmaceutical services closely. Despite pharmacy closures in recent years, access remains good and four in five people in England live within in a 20-minute walk from a pharmacy, and this proportion is higher in the most deprived areas. Patients can also choose to access medicines and services through any of the nearly 400 National Health Service online pharmacies that are contractually required to deliver medicines free of charge to patients.

What assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of the causes of community pharmacy closures since 2016; and what steps he is taking to support community pharmacies in (a) Waveney Valley constituency and (b) England

Pharmacies play a vital role in our healthcare system. Previous plans did not go far enough and we are looking at what changes we can introduce. The Government has set out its ambition to expand the role of pharmacies and to better utilise the skills of pharmacists and pharmacy technicians. That includes making prescribing part of the services delivered by community pharmacists.Departmental officials are working at pace to conclude the consultation on the community pharmacy contractual framework arrangements for 2024/25 as quickly as possible. We are unable to provide further details until the consultation with the Community Pharmacy England is concluded. The outcome will be published and communicated to all contractors at that time.Pharmacies are private business and decisions to close are made for a range of reasons, as in any other provider market. The Department continues to monitor patient access to all pharmaceutical services closely. Despite pharmacy closures in recent years, access remains good and four in five people in England live within in a 20-minute walk from a pharmacy, and this proportion is higher in the most deprived areas. Patients can also choose to access medicines and services through any of the nearly 400 National Health Service online pharmacies that are contractually required to deliver medicines free of charge to patients.

What assessment he has made of the adequacy of access to NHS dentistry for (a) children and (b) adults in Waveney Valley constituency; and what discussions he has had with stakeholders on the potential impact of publishing a timeframe to reform the dental contract on retention of NHS dentists.

Dental Statistics - England 2023-24, published by the NHS Business Services Authority on 22 August 2024, is available at the following link:https://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/statistical-collections/dental-england/dental-statistics-england-202324The data for the NHS Norfolk and Waveney Integrated Care Board, which includes the Waveney Valley constituency, shows that 36% of adults were seen by a National Health Service dentist in the previous 12 months, compared to 40% in England, and that 48% of children were seen by an NHS dentist in the previous 24 months, compared to 56% in England.To rebuild dentistry in the long term and increase access to NHS dental care, the Government will reform the dental contract, with a shift to focus on prevention and the retention of NHS dentists. We are continuing to work with the British Dental Association and other representatives of the dental sector to deliver our shared ambition to improve access to treatments for NHS dental patients.

What assessment he has made of the adequacy of optometry aftercare following (a) cataract and (b) other optometry surgeries; and if he will take steps to ensure that private providers deliver adequate aftercare after those surgeries.

Integrated care boards (ICBs) are responsible for commissioning primary and secondary eye care services in their areas, including those provided by National Health Service trusts and the independent sector.ICBs are responsible for managing their contracts with local providers, which may include suitably qualified and equipped optometrists, and ensuring that all services are provided in line with those contracts.NHS England produced cataract guidance in 2022, which reminded providers about their duty of care to patients undergoing eye surgery, including the requirements for post-operative care.

What steps he is taking to (a) improve access to hospital services in rural constituencies and (b) encourage cross-county border working in rural health services.

The Department supports statutory integrated care systems (ICSs) in delivering National Health Services across England. ICSs are partnerships of organisations which come together to plan and deliver joined up health and care services, and to improve the lives of the people who live and work in their area. This includes considering access to hospitals in rural areas, and looking at opportunities for collaborative working across different administrative footprints, including local councils.The organisations within an ICS include the NHS, local government, social care providers, charities, and other organisations working together to provide more joined up care for people, and to improve the outcomes for their populations.

Whether he has had discussions with NHS leaders on (a) the adequacy of funding for existing provision and (b) support for a wider range of services at Hartismere hospital in Eye.

My Rt. Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, has regular conversations with senior National Health Service leaders. The Suffolk and North East Essex Integrated Care Board is responsible for commissioning services at the hospital, and I am advised that they are working with the property owner, NHS Property Services about the future service delivery requirements from the site on this particular issue.It is the responsibility of the integrated care board to decide whether there is a need for a wider range of services at the hospital based on the needs of the local population. In terms of the adequacy of funding for existing provision, providers of NHS services can discuss with their commissioner appropriate levels of funding for the services they provide.