Written questions by Pinkerton.

What recent assessment his Department has made of the employment prospects for doctors completing foundation training in Surrey Heath constituency.

National Health Service trusts manage their recruitment at a local level ensuring they have the right number of staff in place, with the right skill mix, to deliver safe and effective care.As set out in our 10-Year Health Plan published on 3 July, we will work across the Government to prioritise United Kingdom medical graduates for foundation training, and to prioritise UK medical graduates and other doctors who have worked in the NHS for a significant period for specialty training. The plan also sets out that over the next three years we will create 1,000 new specialty training posts with a focus on specialties where there is greatest need.We will set out next steps in due course.

What recent assessment has been made of (a) waiting times for diagnostic tests and (b) their impact on patient outcomes in Surrey Heath constituency.

The Government is committed to putting patients first and is aware of the impact that waiting for diagnostic tests and treatment has for patients. This means making sure that patients are seen on time and ensuring that people have the best possible experience during their care. Earlier access to diagnostic tests is key to supporting earlier diagnosis and earlier treatment if needed.Acute diagnostic services across the Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust and the Royal Surrey NHS Foundation Trust serve patients in the Surrey Heath constituency. Patients can also access diagnostic tests, including magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans, at the Milford Community Hospital Community Diagnostic Centre (CDC) and at the Godalming and Woking Community Hospital CDC at Woking. Both of these CDCs are open 12 hours a day, seven days a week, and offer a minimum of one diagnostic test in their extended hours.The Diagnostic Waiting Times and Activity monthly collection (DM01) measures the current waiting times of patients still waiting for 15 key diagnostic tests or procedures at the end of the month. The DM01 publication includes data on the median amount of time a patient is waiting for a diagnostic test at the end of the month. Details on this collection are available at the following link:https://www.england.nhs.uk/statistics/statistical-work-areas/diagnostics-waiting-times-and-activity/monthly-diagnostics-waiting-times-and-activity/The following table sets out an estimate of the number and percentage of patients waiting for key diagnostic tests, as per DM01, and the median waiting time following initial consultation for an MRI test specifically as of September 2025, for the Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust, the Royal Surrey NHS Foundation Trust, and for England as a whole:Name of NHS trustNumber waiting for key diagnostic tests as of September 2025Number and percentage waiting over six weeks for key diagnostic tests as of September 2025Median waiting time of those waiting for MRI as of September 2025Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust19,2141,493 (7.8%)1.3 weeksRoyal Surrey NHS Foundation Trust7,9722,591 (32.5%)1.6 weeksEngland1,717,121386,849 (22.5%)2.7 weeksNote: DM01 median waiting times do not match waiting times for diagnostic tests 'following initial consultation at NHS hospitals' exactly. The full definition of what is included in DM01 can be found in DM01 guidance on NHS England website.

What assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of unfilled training posts on the (a) efficiency and (b) cost-effectiveness of NHS workforce planning in (i) Surrey and (ii) Surrey Heath constituency.

National Health Service trusts manage their recruitment at a local level ensuring they have the right number of staff in place, with the right skill mix, to deliver safe and effective care.As set out in our 10-Year Health Plan published on 3 July, we will work across the Government to prioritise United Kingdom medical graduates for foundation training, and to prioritise UK medical graduates and other doctors who have worked in the NHS for a significant period for specialty training. The plan also sets out that over the next three years we will create 1,000 new specialty training posts with a focus on specialties where there is greatest need.We will set out next steps in due course.

Whether his Department has made an assessment of the number of doctors seeking work in (a) non-training and (b) locum posts in Surrey Heath constituency.

No specific assessment has been made.As set out in the 10-Year Health Plan, published in July 2025, over the next three years we will create 1,000 new specialty training posts with a focus on specialties where there is the greatest need. We will set out next steps in due course.

What recent assessment his Department has made of the long-term workforce planning implications of medical graduates seeking employment overseas due to lack of NHS opportunities.

Data from the General Medical Council shows that approximately 7% of doctors in England do not hold a licence to practice five years after they have completed the foundation programme (the work-based training programme that bridges the gap between medical school and specialty or general practice training). This is equivalent to around 520 doctors – a relatively small number. Although some doctors do work overseas, most moves are temporary, and the overall loss is small.We will publish a new 10-Year Workforce Plan to deliver the transformed health service we will build over the next decade and treat patients on time again.

What assessment his Department has made of the (a) efficiency and (b) clinical safety of automated online systems for managing GP appointment requests.

All digital tools used in primary care must meet minimum functionality standards set by NHS England, ensuring a consistent and high-quality user experience. NHS England provides commercial and procurement support to guarantee that all digital solutions comply with nationally specified clinical safety and technical standards Online consultation tools offer patients an option to contact their general practice (GP) digitally, allowing them to manage appointments, view and request repeat prescriptions, and register electronically with GP surgeries. They are specifically designed to simplify administrative processes Experience suggests that extending online access provides significant benefits to both patients and practices. With more patients using online options, phone lines are less busy, which increases availability for those who need additional help or more urgent care It remains the responsibility of the practice and clinicians to ensure that all patient requests are dealt with appropriately, and that urgent cases are identified and managed safely.

Whether his Department has received complaints on the use of automated GP booking systems leading to (a) administrative and (b) clinical errors in Surrey Heath constituency.

All digital tools used in primary care must meet minimum functionality standards set by NHS England, ensuring a consistent and high-quality user experience. NHS England provides commercial and procurement support to guarantee that all digital solutions comply with nationally specified clinical safety and technical standards Online consultation tools offer patients an option to contact their general practice (GP) digitally, allowing them to manage appointments, view and request repeat prescriptions, and register electronically with GP surgeries. They are specifically designed to simplify administrative processes Experience suggests that extending online access provides significant benefits to both patients and practices. With more patients using online options, phone lines are less busy, which increases availability for those who need additional help or more urgent care It remains the responsibility of the practice and clinicians to ensure that all patient requests are dealt with appropriately, and that urgent cases are identified and managed safely.

What steps his Department is taking to increase the number of specialist paediatric palliative medicine consultants within Frimley Integrated Care Board.

Palliative care and end of life care is wide-ranging, provided by generalist as well as specialist healthcare professionals, and is not disease or diagnosis specific. A large proportion of palliative and end of life care is not provided by palliative care specialists and, therefore, it is difficult to quantify the totality of the NHS workforce providing palliative and end of life care.This Government is committed to publishing a 10-Year Workforce Plan to set out action to create a workforce ready to deliver the transformed service set out in the 10-Year Health Plan. The 10-Year Workforce Plan will ensure that the National Health Service has the right people in the right places, with the right skills to care for patients, when they need it.The Department and NHS England are currently working at pace to develop plans on how best to improve the access, quality and sustainability of all-age palliative care and end of life care in line with the 10-Year Health Plan.

What steps his Department is taking to improve children's palliative care services in Surrey Heath constituency.

Palliative care services, including children’s palliative care services, are included in the list of services an integrated care board (ICB) must commission. To support ICBs, including Frimley ICB and Surrey Heartlands ICB which cover the Surrey Heath constituency, in this duty, NHS England has published statutory guidance and a service specification for children and young people.The Department and NHS England are currently working at pace to develop plans on how best to improve the access, quality and sustainability of all-age palliative care and end of life care in line with the 10-Year Health Plan.We are supporting the hospice sector with a £100 million capital funding boost for eligible adult and children’s hospices in England to ensure they have the best physical environment for care. Shooting Star Children’s Hospice and Alexander Devine Children’s Hospice, which serve children in the Surrey Heath constituency, are receiving £679,148 and £191,824 respectively from this funding.We are also providing £26 million in revenue funding to support children and young people’s hospices for 2025/26. Shooting Star Children’s Hospice and Alexander Devine Children’s Hospice have received £1,879,000 and £300,000 respectively from this funding.We are also committing £80 million for children’s and young people’s hospices over the next three financial years, giving them stability to plan ahead.

What steps his Department is taking to ensure that palliative care services are equally accessible to all ethnic groups in Surrey Heath constituency.

Palliative care services are included in the list of services an integrated care board (ICB) must commission. To support ICBs in this duty, NHS England has published statutory guidance and service specifications.  The statutory guidance states that ICBs, including the Hertfordshire and West Essex ICB, the Surrey Heartlands ICB, and the Frimley ICB, must work to ensure that there is sufficient provision of care services to meet the needs of their local populations.NHS England has also developed a palliative care and end of life care dashboard. The dashboard helps commissioners understand the palliative care and end of life care needs of their local population, including the ability to filter the available information, such as by deprivation or ethnicity, enabling ICBs to put plans in place to address and track the improvement of health inequalities, and ensure that funding is distributed fairly, based on prevalence.The Department and NHS England are currently working at pace to develop plans on how best to improve the access, quality, and sustainability of all-age palliative care and end of life care in line with the 10-Year Health Plan.Additionally, through the National Institute for Health and Care Research, the Department has invested £3 million in a Policy Research Unit in Palliative and End of Life Care. This unit is building the evidence base on palliative care and end of life care, with a specific focus on inequalities.

What data his Department holds on the number of men treated for prostate cancer in Surrey Heath constituency in 2024.

The Department is committed to getting the National Health Service diagnosing prostate cancer earlier and treating it faster, so that more patients survive.NHS England partners with Cancer Alliances, charities, and local representatives to reach people through projects in the heart of their communities, to help raise awareness of prostate cancer, including in Surrey Heath. Cancer Alliances have also been undertaking action to alert at risk groups about prostate cancer, and this is determined at a local level and therefore will vary depending on local needs and priorities.In January 2025, NHS England re-launched its ‘abdominal and urological symptoms of cancer’ phase of the Help Us Help You campaigns to increase knowledge of cancer symptoms and address barriers to acting on them, to encourage people to come forward as soon as possible to see their general practitioner. The campaigns focus on a range of symptoms, including symptoms of prostate cancer.In the Surrey Heath constituency, the Department holds information for two trusts. In 2024, the Royal Surrey County Hospital NHS Trust recorded that a total of 2,337 prostate cancer patients commenced a first or subsequent treatment, 583 of which were a first treatment. In 2024, the Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust recorded that a total of 614 prostate cancer patients commenced a first or subsequent treatment, 549 of which were a first treatment.

What steps his Department is taking to ensure that NHS health messaging is accessible among diverse ethnic communities in Surrey Heath constituency.

The Department takes the challenge of health misinformation seriously and recognises its potential impact on public health outcomes. We focus on delivering consistent, clinically assured messaging that builds public trust and confidence, positioning the Department and the National Health Service as reliable sources of information. We also work closely with a wide range of community media, organisations, clinical experts, and influential voices to ensure messaging is accessible to diverse ethnic communities.

What steps his Department is taking to ensure accurate NHS public messaging on prostate cancer awareness is circulated in Surrey Heath constituency.

The Department is committed to getting the National Health Service diagnosing prostate cancer earlier and treating it faster, so that more patients survive.NHS England partners with Cancer Alliances, charities, and local representatives to reach people through projects in the heart of their communities, to help raise awareness of prostate cancer, including in Surrey Heath. Cancer Alliances have also been undertaking action to alert at risk groups about prostate cancer, and this is determined at a local level and therefore will vary depending on local needs and priorities.In January 2025, NHS England re-launched its ‘abdominal and urological symptoms of cancer’ phase of the Help Us Help You campaigns to increase knowledge of cancer symptoms and address barriers to acting on them, to encourage people to come forward as soon as possible to see their general practitioner. The campaigns focus on a range of symptoms, including symptoms of prostate cancer.In the Surrey Heath constituency, the Department holds information for two trusts. In 2024, the Royal Surrey County Hospital NHS Trust recorded that a total of 2,337 prostate cancer patients commenced a first or subsequent treatment, 583 of which were a first treatment. In 2024, the Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust recorded that a total of 614 prostate cancer patients commenced a first or subsequent treatment, 549 of which were a first treatment.

Whether he plans to increase the availability of community-based mental health support in order to reduce the level of reliance on inpatient care for children and young people in Surrey Heath constituency.

Our ambition is to avoid unnecessary admissions to children and young people’s mental health inpatient services and provide care close to home in the least restrictive environments. NHS England’s new model for specialised children and young people’s mental health services will support the delivery of specialised services in the community by establishing and expanding local services such as day services, intensive community outreach and hospital at home services that will provide timely assessment, reduce lengths of inpatient stay and wrap care around the family to achieve timely discharge.

What steps his Department is taking to ensure that children and young people in inpatient mental health settings have access to (a) regular and (b) unrestricted contact with their families in Surrey Heath constituency.

The new service model for children and young people’s inpatient mental health services, including those in the Surrey Health area, sets out that visiting hours should be flexible to meet the needs of the child and their family or carer. Each mental health inpatient unit should also develop appropriate environments to support family visits, including designated family rooms and families or carers should have access to provision for overnight stays to enable them to be near or with their child where appropriate.

What safeguards are in place to prevent children and young people from being placed in inappropriate mental health settings, including (a) adult wards and (b) facilities located far from home.

All placements must be clinically appropriate, proportionate to any risk presented, and local ownership and involvement must be maintained from a clinical and commissioning perspective. Where possible, a placing team should look to neighbouring geographical areas when considering placements to minimise distance from home and ensure that local involvement is facilitated more easily and effectively. NHS England is developing a new model for specialised children and young people’s mental health services, supported by a new service specification and quality standards. This model will support the delivery of specialised services in the community and within children and young people’s mental health inpatient settings. This will aim to ensure children and young people are treated in the least restrictive, age-appropriate environments, as close to home as possible. £75 million has been set aside in the NHS Capital Guidance for 2025/26 to reduce inappropriate out of area placements in adult, and children and young people’s services, including in acute care, Psychiatric Intensive Care Units, rehabilitation wards, and secure services. Integrated care boards will receive allocations from this funding pot based on credible, cost-effective, high-impact plans to reduce inappropriate out of area placements. The Medium-Term Planning Framework, published on 24 October, sets targets for integrated care boards to eliminate inappropriate out-of-area placements by 2028/29

Whether his Department plans to review the effectiveness of the regulatory distinction between (a) supported living and (b) personal care settings for adult social care provision.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) is the independent regulator for health and social care in England. The CQC has powers under the Health and Care Act 2008 to regulate adult social care services to make sure they provide safe, effective, compassionate, and high-quality care. Where concerns on quality or safety are identified, the CQC uses the regulatory and enforcement powers it has available and will take action to ensure the safety of the people drawing on care and support.Providers are required to be registered with, and therefore be regulated by, the CQC, when they carry out personal care for people who are unable to provide it for themselves because of old age, illness or disability, as defined in Regulation 2 (Interpretation) of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014. There are certain exemptions to this regulation by the CQC, including supported living settings where the provider of supported living has no ‘ongoing role’ in the direction or control of any personal care provided. In some cases, it may be that the housing elements, and personal care elements are commissioned and provided separately. In such cases, the provider of the personal care is required to be registered and inspected by the CQC.These regulations are not currently under review. Any amendments to the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014 would be subject to the Parliamentary process which would include a public consultation, and an opportunity to consider the merits of further regulation of social care providers.

What steps his Department is taking to ensure that adult social care providers maintain high standards of (a) staff training and (b) competency in Surrey Heath constituency.

Adult social care providers who carry out regulated activities in the Surrey Heath constituency are assessed by the Care Quality Commission for compliance with Regulation 18: Staffing of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014. Providers are required to deploy enough suitably qualified, competent, and experienced staff to meet the needs of the people using the service at all times, and to enable them to meet all other regulatory requirements. Staff must receive the support, training, professional development, supervision, and appraisals that are necessary for them to carry out their role and responsibilities.The Department’s Care Workforce Pathway is the first universal career structure, launched in January 2024, to support the adult social care workforce in England. It sets out the knowledge, skills, values, and behaviours needed to work, and develop a career in, adult social care.The pathway recognises care workers as the professionals they are and promotes long-term career development, to support recruitment and retention across the sector. The Department continues to support care providers through its delivery partner to adopt the pathway and is also working with local care ecosystems to test the pathway’s benefits at a system level.The Learning and Development Support Scheme, backed by up to £12 million this financial year, provides funding for over 200 training courses, including the Level 2 Adult Social Care Certificate, which supports foundational skills. Alongside this, the Quality Assured Care Learning Service helps Care Providers identify high-quality courses by reviewing individual qualifications against bespoke standards, building trust in training quality and supporting workforce development.The Department is also working with Skills England to assess current and future skills needs and to coordinate efforts across local authorities, training providers, and employers.

What assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of safeguarding arrangements for adults receiving care in community-based settings in Surrey Heath constituency.

Any form of abuse or neglect is unacceptable. Local authorities have a statutory duty to make enquiries about safeguarding concerns under the Care Act 2014.Where a local authority has reasonable cause to suspect that an adult in the local authority’s area has care and support needs and appears to be at risk of, or experiencing, abuse or neglect, and is unable to protect themselves as a result of those needs, the local authority must carry out a safeguarding enquiry.The Government makes it clear, in the statutory guidance of the Care Act 2014, that local authorities must ensure that the services they commission are safe, effective, and of high quality. The Care Quality Commission has powers to assess how well local authorities in England are delivering their adult social care duties under Part 1 of the Care Act 2014. Surrey County Council was scored a two for the Safeguarding Quality Statement in their assessment, published 20 November 2024. This score indicates evidence of some shortfalls and areas for improvement, such as the need to fully embed processes in place and ensure all staff had adequate and relevant safeguarding training. The assessments will facilitate the sharing of good practice and innovation across local authorities.

What steps his Department is taking to ensure that adults with complex (a) mental health needs and (b) learning disabilities in supported living settings are adequately safeguarded in Surrey Heath constituency.

Local authorities have a statutory duty to make enquiries about safeguarding concerns under the Care Act 2014.Everyone with a severe mental health or learning disability who is placed in supported living would have had an assessment under the Care Act 2014. This assessment would identify the person’s needs and would help in identifying the appropriate accommodation and/or support. It also provides the legal basis for safeguarding anyone who is at risk.The NHS Frimley Integrated Care Board (ICB) works closely with colleagues at the NHS Surrey Heartlands ICB and Surrey County Council to make sure that the Care Act 2014 is followed and any requirements are carried out.If a safeguarding concern is flagged, the NHS Frimley ICB or Surrey Heartlands ICB would be involved in safeguarding meetings with the appropriate other services, for instance under a Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conference or Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements.