Written questions by Pinkerton.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of corridor care on patient (a) safety and (b) dignity in (i) Surrey and (ii) Surrey Heath constituency.

The Government is determined to get the National Health Service back on its feet so patients can be treated with dignity. We recognise that the provision of clinical care in corridors or other non-designated clinical areas is unacceptable and we are committed to eradicating it from our NHS.Our Urgent and Emergency Care Plan, published in June 2025, set out steps we are taking to ensure that patients will receive better, faster, and more appropriate emergency care this winter, backed by a total of nearly £450 million of funding. This includes a commitment to publish data on the prevalence of corridor care, which will be published shortly.We are also introducing new clinical operational standards for the first 72 hours of care, setting clear expectations for timely reviews and specialist input, further supporting our efforts to eliminate corridor care and improve patient experience.In December, NHS England published updated guidance on providing care in corridors to support trusts with making decisions on corridor care transparently, with clear governance and oversight to reduce impacts on patients and staff and to ensure the safety and dignity of patients.

What steps he is taking with the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care to help tackle health inequalities affecting women in Surrey.

The Government is committed to building a fairer Britain, to ensure people can live well for longer. Our reimagined National Health Service will tackle inequalities in both access and outcomes, as well as give women, no matter who they are or where they come from, the means to engage with the NHS on their own terms.This financial year the Department has invested approximately £53 million in direct awards on research to support the health of women. This includes conditions that are unique to women, such as endometriosis, and health topics that are relevant to women such as violence and abuse.Significant progress has been made towards delivering the ambitions in the 2022 Women’s Health Strategy, for example improving women and girls’ awareness and access to services as well as driving research to benefit women’s health, but we know there is more to do.That is why we are renewing the Women’s Health Strategy, to assess the progress that has been made so far and to continue progressing delivery.The renewed strategy will update on the delivery of the 2022 Women’s Health Strategy and set out how the Government is taking further steps to improve women’s health as we deliver the 10-Year Health Plan. It will also address gaps from the 2022 strategy and drive further change on enduring challenges such as creating a system that listens to women and tackling health inequalities.

What recent assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of domestic wood burning in residential areas on public health.

The Chief Medical Officer’s 2022 Annual Report highlighted that domestic wood burning is a significant source of harmful fine particulate matter, particularly in residential areas.The UK Health Security Agency’s (UKHSA’s) systematic reviews of the association between outdoor and indoor exposure to solid fuel burning and respiratory diseases have shown that burning solid fuels can contribute to the risk of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and lung cancer in adults. The UKHSA’s reviews are available at the following two links:https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35149281/ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33017761/ Our 10-Year Health Plan for England sets out how the Government will improve the public's health, including action to reduce the health harms of air pollution, and in particular on domestic burning.

What assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of access to appropriate health and mental health support for families affected by violent behaviour from children in Surrey Heath constituency.

Whilst no such specific assessment has been made, we recognise that healthcare is often the first, and sometimes only, point of contact for victims of violence and abuse. Integrated care boards should commission services in response to locally identified need, which could include access to trauma-informed care for families affected by violence.We have already taken significant steps to stabilise and improve access to National Health Service mental health services, but there is much more to do. The 10-Year Health Plan sets out ambitious plans to boost mental health support across the country. As part of this we will accelerate the rollout of Mental Health Support Teams to reach full national coverage by 2029 and will expand NHS Talking Therapies so that 915,000 people complete a course of treatment by March 2029, with improved effectiveness and quality of services.All NHS staff must complete safeguarding training which includes a focus on violence and abuse. The training is being strengthened for launch in late 2026. This will reinforce to staff their safeguarding responsibilities and support them in identifying and responding to victims and perpetrators of violence and abuse.In addition, the Domestic Abuse Act 2021 Statutory Guidance provides information for frontline professionals on the presentation of violent behaviour by a child towards parents and caregivers. In addition, Working Together to Safeguard Children 2023 provides guidance on the multi-agency response to support and safeguard children, including those who are violent.

What consideration he has given to improving information for parents and carers on the early symptoms of Type 1 Diabetes in young children.

The National Health Service publishes information for patients and the public to support the understanding of the four key symptoms of type 1 diabetes. These are known as the four Ts: toilet, or frequent urination; thirsty, or constant thirst; tired, or low energy; and thinner, or unexplained weight loss. Further information on the symptoms is avaiable at the following link:https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/type-1-diabetes/symptoms/#:~:text=Children%20may%20have%20heavier%20nappies,blurred%20visionNHS England also hosts information provided by Diabetes UK about the symptoms of type 1 diabetes, which is avaiable at the following link:https://www.england.nhs.uk/midlands/wp-content/uploads/sites/46/2021/02/CH_DIABETES-UK-4TS-links-and-resources.pdfNHS England is undertaking a review of options for improving information for parents and carers on the early symptoms of type 1 diabetes in young children and this will include engagement with relevant national organisations and partners.

What steps are being taken to ensure (a) early intervention and (b) continuity of care for children diagnosed with dyspraxia in Surrey Heath constituency.

It is the responsibility of integrated care boards (ICBs) to make available appropriate provision to meet the health and care needs of their local population.Children with developmental coordination disorder, commonly known as dyspraxia, access support through local National Health Service occupational therapy, paediatrics, physiotherapy, and educational services.NHS guidance sets out a referral process which typically begins with a general practitioner, health visitor, or a Special Educational Needs Coordinator, who may refer the child to paediatric occupational therapy and physiotherapist for assessment and support. The NHS guidance is available at the following link:https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/developmental-coordination-disorder-dyspraxia/For the first time, we have set a target for systems to work to reduce long waits for community health services. By 2028/29 at least 80% of community health services activity should take place within 18 weeks, bringing community health services in line with targets for elective care. Surrey Health provides occupational therapy support for children with dyspraxia of all ages. They provide speech and language therapy support for children under five years old who have verbal dyspraxia and a school aged speech and language therapy service for children over five years old. Referrals for continence, occupational therapy, speech and language therapy and physiotherapy can be made directly by parents/carers as well as the child’s health visitor, general practitioner, therapist, early years’ service, hospital paediatricians, audiology service, Mindworks Surrey, and other agencies. This is for speech and language therapy support for those under five years old, and therefore not in a school setting, and for occupational therapy of all ages. If a child is in school and requires speech and language therapy, the referral is through the school as the service is a school-based service.

Whether he has made an assessment of the potential implications for his policies of regional variations in access to occupational therapy services for children with dyspraxia.

It is the responsibility of integrated care boards (ICBs) to make available appropriate provision to meet the health and care needs of their local population.Children with developmental coordination disorder, commonly known as dyspraxia, access support through local National Health Service occupational therapy, paediatrics, physiotherapy, and educational services.NHS guidance sets out a referral process which typically begins with a general practitioner, health visitor, or a Special Educational Needs Coordinator, who may refer the child to paediatric occupational therapy and physiotherapist for assessment and support. The NHS guidance is available at the following link:https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/developmental-coordination-disorder-dyspraxia/For the first time, we have set a target for systems to work to reduce long waits for community health services. By 2028/29 at least 80% of community health services activity should take place within 18 weeks, bringing community health services in line with targets for elective care. Surrey Health provides occupational therapy support for children with dyspraxia of all ages. They provide speech and language therapy support for children under five years old who have verbal dyspraxia and a school aged speech and language therapy service for children over five years old. Referrals for continence, occupational therapy, speech and language therapy and physiotherapy can be made directly by parents/carers as well as the child’s health visitor, general practitioner, therapist, early years’ service, hospital paediatricians, audiology service, Mindworks Surrey, and other agencies. This is for speech and language therapy support for those under five years old, and therefore not in a school setting, and for occupational therapy of all ages. If a child is in school and requires speech and language therapy, the referral is through the school as the service is a school-based service.

What assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of the level of NHS provision on families seeking private (a) assessments and (b) therapies for children with dyspraxia in Surrey.

It is the responsibility of integrated care boards (ICBs) to make available appropriate provision to meet the health and care needs of their local population.Children with developmental coordination disorder, commonly known as dyspraxia, access support through local National Health Service occupational therapy, paediatrics, physiotherapy, and educational services.NHS guidance sets out a referral process which typically begins with a general practitioner, health visitor, or a Special Educational Needs Coordinator, who may refer the child to paediatric occupational therapy and physiotherapist for assessment and support. The NHS guidance is available at the following link:https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/developmental-coordination-disorder-dyspraxia/For the first time, we have set a target for systems to work to reduce long waits for community health services. By 2028/29 at least 80% of community health services activity should take place within 18 weeks, bringing community health services in line with targets for elective care. Surrey Health provides occupational therapy support for children with dyspraxia of all ages. They provide speech and language therapy support for children under five years old who have verbal dyspraxia and a school aged speech and language therapy service for children over five years old. Referrals for continence, occupational therapy, speech and language therapy and physiotherapy can be made directly by parents/carers as well as the child’s health visitor, general practitioner, therapist, early years’ service, hospital paediatricians, audiology service, Mindworks Surrey, and other agencies. This is for speech and language therapy support for those under five years old, and therefore not in a school setting, and for occupational therapy of all ages. If a child is in school and requires speech and language therapy, the referral is through the school as the service is a school-based service.

What assessment he has made of the adequacy of the consistency with which existing clinical guidance on Type 1 Diabetes is applied across primary care settings in Surrey.

Local health commissioners and providers in Surrey are responsible for assessing how existing clinical guidance is being applied across primary care settings. NHS England is undertaking a review of options for supporting primary care services in the identification of acute onset Type 1 diabetes in babies and children and in doing so will engage with relevant national organisations and partners. As set out in the 10-Year Health Plan for England, we will continue to support people living with diabetes, including through the rollout of new wearable technologies such as hybrid closed loop (HCL) systems. The rollout of HCL systems is backed by £107 million in 2026/27 and has been made available to over 23,000 additional people since 2023/24.

What steps his Department is taking to support earlier diagnosis of Type 1 Diabetes in babies, toddlers and children presenting with symptoms in primary care in Surrey Heath constituency.

Local health commissioners and providers in Surrey are responsible for assessing how existing clinical guidance is being applied across primary care settings. NHS England is undertaking a review of options for supporting primary care services in the identification of acute onset Type 1 diabetes in babies and children and in doing so will engage with relevant national organisations and partners. As set out in the 10-Year Health Plan for England, we will continue to support people living with diabetes, including through the rollout of new wearable technologies such as hybrid closed loop (HCL) systems. The rollout of HCL systems is backed by £107 million in 2026/27 and has been made available to over 23,000 additional people since 2023/24.

What oversight arrangements are in place to safeguard people with learning disabilities in local care settings in Surrey Heath constituency.

In the statutory guidance of the Care Act 2014, it states that local authorities must ensure that the services they commission are safe, effective, and of high quality.Each integrated care board must have an executive lead for learning disability and autism who will support the board in addressing health inequalities, thereby supporting equal access to care across all health services and improving overall health outcomes.Under the Health and Care Act 2022, Care Quality Commission registered providers are required to ensure their staff receive specific training on learning disability and autism appropriate to their role, to provide safe and informed care.A Reasonable Adjustment Digital Flag is being rolled out across health and care services to ensure that disabled people’s reasonable adjustments are recorded and shared, to enable tailoring of appropriate support. This is aided by e-learning for health and social care staff.

What assessment his Department has made of the (a) quality and (b) accessibility of health and care services for people with learning disabilities in Surrey Heath constituency.

Significant action is underway to improve the quality and accessibility of health and care services for people with a learning disability at a local level, helping to deliver the shift from treatment to prevention, outlined in our 10-Year Health Plan, which is available at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/10-year-health-plan-for-england-fit-for-the-futureThe national Learning Disabilities Health Check Scheme is designed to encourage general practices to identify all patients aged 14 years old and over with a learning disability, and to offer them an annual health check and health action plan. Further information on the Learning Disabilities Health Check Scheme is available at the following link:https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/publications/statistical/learning-disabilities-health-check-schemeThe latest published data for Surrey Heath shows that 82.78% of people with a learning disability in the area had completed a health check, and that 80.19% of learning disability patients in Surrey Heath had a completed health action plan. The latest published data for Surrey Heath is available at the following link:https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/publications/statistical/learning-disabilities-health-check-scheme/england-march-2025According to recently published data on Health and Care of People with Learning Disabilities, 81.5% of people with a learning disability had completed an annual health check in England. Further information on the recently published data on Health and Care of People with Learning Disabilities is available at the following link:https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/publications/statistical/health-and-care-of-people-with-learning-disabilities/experimental-statistics-2024-to-2025The Surrey All Ages Mental Health, Learning Disabilities and Autism Oversight Committee routinely monitors the following:- admissions and discharges for adults, and children and young people with a learning disability and any barriers to timely discharge;- mandatory training on learning disability and autism;- performance on Care (Education) and Treatment Reviews and commissioner oversight visits;- Dynamic Support Register governance; and- implementation of the Reasonable Adjustments Digital Flag.

What estimate his Department has made of the ambulance costs from road collisions in Surrey in the past five years.

No specific estimation has been made. Data on the number of road traffic collisions is collected and published by the Department for Transport.Ambulance services do not routinely report costs at the level of individual incident types. However, the most recent National Cost Collection indicates that the average cost of an ambulance ‘see, treat and convey’ response is approximately £489.

What steps his Department is taking to ensure the accessibility of regular NHS dental check-up appointments in Surrey Heath constituency.

We are aware of the challenges faced in accessing a National Health Service dentist, particularly in areas such as Surrey, and are taking steps to address this.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 Surrey Heath constituency, this is the Surrey Heartlands ICB.We have asked ICBs to commission extra urgent dental appointments to make sure that patients with urgent dental needs can get the treatment they require. These extra appointments have been made available from April 2025.We are committed to delivering fundamental reform of the dental contract before the end of this Parliament. As a first step, on 16 December we published the Government’s response to the public consultation on quality and payment reforms to the NHS dental contract. The changes will be introduced from April 2026. These reforms will put patients with the greatest need first, incentivising urgent care and complex treatments. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidance on recall intervals state that a healthy adult with good oral health needs to see a dentist once every two years, and a child once every year. Further information is available at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/nhs-dentistry-contract-quality-and-payment-reforms/outcome/government-response-to-consultation-on-nhs-dentistry-contract-quality-and-payment-reforms

What assessment his Department has made of the (a) transparency and (b) consistency of site selection processes used under the New Hospital Programme for Frimley Park Hospital.

I can confirm that since August 2024, the New Hospital Programme (NHP) has been supporting the trust with their site selection process to ensure it is transparent and robust. This has included broadening search criteria and “blind scoring” of sites to establish a short-list of options for further consideration. No decision has yet been made on the location of the new Frimley Park Hospital, part of Wave 1 of the NHP. Any final decision on location will require a business case to be assured and approved through the standard business case process.Following Government guidance, all trusts are required to undertake appropriate levels of due diligence on potential sites as part of a site selection process. The selection process is designed to allow trusts to identify a smaller number of sites to investigate further and therefore it is expected that trusts will complete additional work on short-listed sites as part of the business case process to assess infrastructure deliverability including transport, utilities, and access.

Whether his Department has data on the average waiting times for (a) ADHD and (b) Autism assessments for young people in the (i) South East, (ii) Surrey, and (iii) Surrey Heath constituency.

The Government has recognised that, nationally, demand for assessments for autism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) has grown significantly in recent years and that people are experiencing severe delays for accessing such assessments. The Government’s 10-Year Health Plan will make the National Health Service fit for the future and recognises the need for early intervention and support. It is the responsibility of integrated care boards (ICBs) to make available appropriate provision to meet the health and care needs of their local population, including provision of autism and ADHD services, in line with relevant National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines.The NICE guidance for the assessment of autism recommends that the length between referral and first appointment should be no more than 13 weeks. We know that this is not happening routinely across the country. In respect of ADHD, the NICE guideline on ADHD does not recommend a maximum waiting time for people to receive an assessment for ADHD or a diagnosis, however it sets out best practice on providing a diagnosis.There is, at present, no single, established dataset that can be used to monitor waiting times for assessment and diagnosis for ADHD for individual organisations or geographies in England. Although the data requested is not held centrally, it may be held locally by individual NHS trusts or commissioners. NHS England published management information on ADHD waits at a national level for the first time on 29 May 2025 as part of its ADHD data improvement plan, which is avaiable at the following link:https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/publications/statistical/mi-adhd/november-2025 In respect of autism, the most recent data, published on 13 November 2025, is available on the NHS England website at the following link:https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/publications/statistical/autism-statistics/october-2024-to-september-2025Through the NHS Medium-term planning framework, published 24 October 2025, NHS England has set clear expectations for local ICBs and trusts to improve access, experience, and outcomes for autism and ADHD services over the next three years, focusing on improving quality and productivity.My Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, announced on 4 December 2025 the launch of an Independent Review into Prevalence and Support for Mental Health Conditions, ADHD, and Autism. This independent review will inform our approach to enabling people with ADHD and autistic people to have the right support in place to enable them to live well in their communities.

What guidance is issued to NHS Continuing Healthcare decision-makers on assessing complex and high-intensity care needs for people with (a) progressive and (b) degenerative conditions in Surrey.

The Department has provided detailed statutory guidance, the National Framework for NHS Continuing Healthcare, and National Health Service-funded Nursing Care (the National Framework), on the process for determining eligibility for NHS Continuing Healthcare (CHC) which all integrated care boards (ICBs), including the Surrey Heartlands ICB, must follow. It sets out that all arrangements should place the individual at the centre of the assessment and care-planning process. The National Framework supports practitioners across health and social care to undertake assessments and deliver CHC appropriately. It should be read alongside the national assessment tools. This includes the decision support tool, which aids consistent decision making and supports a multidisciplinary team of professionals to assess an individual’s needs. The National Framework sets out that it is best practice for someone with specialist knowledge of the individual’s condition to be involved in the assessment process. To support practitioners to apply the National Framework, NHS England has developed and published a comprehensive set of online learning resources.

What consideration is given to infrastructure deliverability, including transport links, utilities, and local road capacity, when selecting sites for new hospitals under the New Hospital Programme.

I can confirm that since August 2024, the New Hospital Programme (NHP) has been supporting the trust with their site selection process to ensure it is transparent and robust. This has included broadening search criteria and “blind scoring” of sites to establish a short-list of options for further consideration. No decision has yet been made on the location of the new Frimley Park Hospital, part of Wave 1 of the NHP. Any final decision on location will require a business case to be assured and approved through the standard business case process.Following Government guidance, all trusts are required to undertake appropriate levels of due diligence on potential sites as part of a site selection process. The selection process is designed to allow trusts to identify a smaller number of sites to investigate further and therefore it is expected that trusts will complete additional work on short-listed sites as part of the business case process to assess infrastructure deliverability including transport, utilities, and access.

What steps his Department is taking to ensure that NHS staff are not overstretched and are able to take sufficient rest breaks during their working hours in Surrey Heath constituency.

The Department is committed to ensuring that National Health Service staff in Surrey Heath, and across the country more widely, are able to take sufficient rest breaks during their working hours in compliance with the Working Time Regulations 1998. The NHS staff terms and conditions of service set out clear entitlements for staff rest breaks with provisions stating that any member of staff working a shift of more than six hours is entitled to have a minimum of one 20-minute rest break, and for this break to be uninterrupted. Where possible, local policies may provide for longer or additional breaks, and employers are encouraged to support flexible working arrangements to enable staff to take appropriate rest and manage workload pressures.Employers are responsible for ensuring rotas and staffing levels take account of statutory and contractual break entitlements, and that staff are able to take these breaks safely and without detriment to patient care. The Department continues to work with NHS organisations to promote staff wellbeing, recognising that adequate rest is essential for both effective patient care and staff health.

What steps his Department is taking to reduce waiting times for (a) ADHD and (b) autism assessments for children and young people in Surrey Heath constituency.

The Government has recognised that, nationally, demand for assessments for autism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) has grown significantly in recent years and that people are experiencing severe delays for accessing such assessments. The Government’s 10-Year Health Plan will make the National Health Service fit for the future and recognises the need for early intervention and support. It is the responsibility of integrated care boards (ICBs) to make available appropriate provision to meet the health and care needs of their local population, including provision of autism and ADHD services, in line with relevant National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines.The NICE guidance for the assessment of autism recommends that the length between referral and first appointment should be no more than 13 weeks. We know that this is not happening routinely across the country. In respect of ADHD, the NICE guideline on ADHD does not recommend a maximum waiting time for people to receive an assessment for ADHD or a diagnosis, however it sets out best practice on providing a diagnosis.There is, at present, no single, established dataset that can be used to monitor waiting times for assessment and diagnosis for ADHD for individual organisations or geographies in England. Although the data requested is not held centrally, it may be held locally by individual NHS trusts or commissioners. NHS England published management information on ADHD waits at a national level for the first time on 29 May 2025 as part of its ADHD data improvement plan, which is avaiable at the following link:https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/publications/statistical/mi-adhd/november-2025 In respect of autism, the most recent data, published on 13 November 2025, is available on the NHS England website at the following link:https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/publications/statistical/autism-statistics/october-2024-to-september-2025Through the NHS Medium-term planning framework, published 24 October 2025, NHS England has set clear expectations for local ICBs and trusts to improve access, experience, and outcomes for autism and ADHD services over the next three years, focusing on improving quality and productivity.My Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, announced on 4 December 2025 the launch of an Independent Review into Prevalence and Support for Mental Health Conditions, ADHD, and Autism. This independent review will inform our approach to enabling people with ADHD and autistic people to have the right support in place to enable them to live well in their communities.