Written questions by Brewer.

What assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of high strength retail sold magnets, including those imported outside of the UK and EU regulatory frameworks, on the safety and functioning of cerebrospinal fluid shunts.

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is responsible for ensuring that medicines, medical devices, and blood components for transfusions on the market in the United Kingdom are safe, effective, and manufactured to the highest standards of quality. The Medical Devices Regulations 2002 (MDR 2002) established the statutory framework that medical devices, including cerebrospinal fluid shunts, must meet in order to comply with these standards.The manufacturer is legally responsible for obtaining the necessary certification, registering their medical devices with the MHRA, the UK Competent Authority, and undertaking post-market surveillance. Higher risk medical devices are assessed and approved by Approved Bodies, for UKCA marking, or Notified Bodies, for CE marking. Manufacturers consider anticipated conditions within intended environments of use, such as those with high magnet fields, for instance magnetic resonance imaging, when designing and manufacturing devices. As part of meeting the requirements of the MDR 2002, manufacturers must provide instructions for use, including implant cards and implant information, any special operating instructions, any warnings and/or precautions to take, and precautions to be taken as regards exposure, in reasonably foreseeable environmental conditions, to magnetic fields.The MHRA has published guidance on how electromagnetic interference can affect several types of medical devices that have electrical or electronic systems and mitigation steps. This guidance is available at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/electromagnetic-interference-sources/electromagnetic-interference-sources

What funding has been specifically allocated to the rollout of fracture liaison services beyond the investment in DEXA scanners announced in May 2025; and what assessment he has made of whether that funding is sufficient to meet the 2030 coverage target.

Awaiting answer.

What assessment his Department has made of the availability of learning‑disability nursing training places in regions where provision is determined solely by university education providers; and what assessment he has made of the impact of learner demand and provider capacity on access to such training in areas including North East Hampshire.

No assessment has been made. Undergraduate training places for nurses, including learning disability nurses, are not centrally commissioned by the Government. Instead, they are determined by local employers and education providers who decide the number of learners they admit based on learner demand and provider capacity.In Spring 2026, NHS England will convene a national Learning Disability Nursing Education and Training Steering Group, bringing together a range of stakeholders to oversee key strategic priorities for the Learning Disability Nursing profession. These priorities include stabilising and growing education provision and fostering collaboration across higher education institutions.

What plans his Department has to ensure that charges for medical evidence letters, certificates, and reports are fair and proportionate for patients in financial hardship or vulnerable groups; and what assessment his Department has made of the impact of such charges on patient access to essential documentation.

There are some medical evidence letters, certificates, or reports that general practices (GPs) may charge for, and others that they must not charge patients for. The legislation that sets this out is the General Medical Services and Personal Medical Services Regulations, which form the basis of the GP Contract with the National Health Service. There is no statutory limit to the level of such fees as this is outside of core NHS work.The Professional Fees Committee of the British Medical Association (BMA) suggests guideline fees for such services to help doctors to set their own professional fees.We recognise that there are concerns about some fees GPs charge for letters and the consistency of those charges, as well as the additional burden these requests can place on GPs. Where GPs charge for that evidence, these charges should be clear, fair, and consistent. Where possible and appropriate, we would encourage people to use alternative evidence.We are continuing to work across the Government to cut red tape and improve ways of working, including work to improve the patient experience, such as removing the need to request unnecessary medical evidence where possible.

What further steps his Department plans to take to reduce waiting times for people seeking psychological therapy to support their employment efforts; and what assessment his Department has made of whether additional measures are required to further reduce waiting times for psychological therapy services.

We recognise that some people experience long waits to access National Health Service mental health support, including psychological therapies that help people stay in, or return to, work. NHS Talking Therapies are the main national psychological therapy service for people with common mental health conditions. While the NHS is meeting the national access and waiting time standards of at least 75% of people starting treatment within six weeks of referral and at least 95% within 18 weeks, we know that waits within pathways, including between the first and second appointment, can be significant in some areas.Meeting national access standards is important, but we recognise that this alone will not address all delays experienced within psychological therapy pathways. Reducing waiting times requires a sustained and more systematic approach that focuses on increasing capacity, improving flow through services, and better integration with wider support, such as for people whose mental health is affecting their ability to work. That is why, for example, we have recruited over 8,000 additional mental health workers since July 2024.We are also strengthening NHS Talking Therapies with a greater focus on reducing waits within pathways, improving completion rates, and supporting better mental health and employment outcomes. This is supported by enhanced NHS England oversight to ensure funding is used to increase capacity and reduce waiting times.Progress on access and waiting times is monitored through existing NHS Talking Therapies national access standards and routine performance management. We have no plans to set additional targets specifically for employment related access to psychological therapies beyond the existing standards.

What action his Department plans to take to reduce waiting times for psychological therapy to support employment, and what targets or timetable have been set for improving access.

We recognise that some people experience long waits to access National Health Service mental health support, including psychological therapies that help people stay in, or return to, work. NHS Talking Therapies are the main national psychological therapy service for people with common mental health conditions. While the NHS is meeting the national access and waiting time standards of at least 75% of people starting treatment within six weeks of referral and at least 95% within 18 weeks, we know that waits within pathways, including between the first and second appointment, can be significant in some areas.Meeting national access standards is important, but we recognise that this alone will not address all delays experienced within psychological therapy pathways. Reducing waiting times requires a sustained and more systematic approach that focuses on increasing capacity, improving flow through services, and better integration with wider support, such as for people whose mental health is affecting their ability to work. That is why, for example, we have recruited over 8,000 additional mental health workers since July 2024.We are also strengthening NHS Talking Therapies with a greater focus on reducing waits within pathways, improving completion rates, and supporting better mental health and employment outcomes. This is supported by enhanced NHS England oversight to ensure funding is used to increase capacity and reduce waiting times.Progress on access and waiting times is monitored through existing NHS Talking Therapies national access standards and routine performance management. We have no plans to set additional targets specifically for employment related access to psychological therapies beyond the existing standards.

What steps his Department is taking to improve national awareness, research, and coordination of work relating to Sudden Unexplained Death in Childhood (SUDC).

We recognise the devastating impact of Sudden Unexplained Death in Childhood (SUDC) on affected families and communities. I addressed this issue during a recent Westminster Hall Debate, underlining the Government’s commitment to strengthening pathology services, ensuring high-quality bereavement support, and growing the evidence base.To help reduce waitlists for death certification and access to screening, in 2022 NHS England launched a national programme to strengthen National Health Service perinatal and paediatric pathology services.SUDC is an under-researched area. Through the National Child Mortality Database, we have a growing body of data on child deaths to support high‑quality research that can improve understanding. The Government welcomes research applications on any aspect of child health, including SUDC, through the National Institute of Health and Care Research.Parents who have lost a child to SUDC should be able to access the advice and support that they need. Bereavement support can be found on the NHS help page, Get help with grief after bereavement or loss, and the GOV.UK page, What to do after someone dies: Bereavement help and support, which are available, respectively, at the following two links:https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/feelings-symptoms-behaviours/feelings-and-symptoms/grief-bereavement-loss/https://www.gov.uk/after-a-death/bereavement-help-and-supportNHS Bereavement support is commissioned locally, allowing services to be shaped around the needs of local communities. For anyone seeking help after a bereavement, we encourage them to speak to their general practitioners, who can advise on and refer into local bereavement support services. Department officials are also exploring opportunities to include signposting on the NHS website to SUDC UK, to ensure families have access to information when they need it most.

What challenges his Department has identified in reducing waiting times for psychological therapy, and what assessment has been made of how these affect access for people seeking support to stay in or return to work.

Support to improve employment outcomes is embedded within NHS Talking Therapies services. Employment advisers are available in all NHS Talking Therapies services in England and work alongside therapists to provide tailored employment support alongside psychological therapy. In general, people referred for employment support should be able to access this within four weeks, and where appropriate, employment support can be provided alongside therapy, or earlier where there is an urgent work‑related issue.For people with more severe mental illness, we are also expanding Individual Placement and Support, so that 73,500 people can access this evidence‑based programme by March 2028. More widely, we recognise that the fit note process is not working as effectively as it should in supporting people to manage health conditions at work. Through initiatives such as the WorkWell Primary Care Innovation Fund, local areas are piloting improved ways of connecting people to appropriate work and health support, helping to support earlier returns to work and reduce avoidable pressure on psychological therapy services. Wider work to better join up health and employment support includes initiatives such as Health and Growth Accelerators, with further information available at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/news/funding-boost-to-support-patients-to-stay-in-and-return-to-workWe keep waiting times for psychological therapies under regular review through national performance oversight and engagement with NHS England and local systems. This includes assessing whether further system‑level measures are required where waits remain longest and understanding how these affect people’s ability to stay in, or return to, work.

What the timetable is for patients in areas currently without a fracture liaison service to gain access to one; and what milestones his Department has set to track progress towards universal provision.

Fracture Liaison Services are commissioned by integrated care boards, which are well-placed to make decisions according to local need. 13 new DEXA scanners were announced in May 2025. Beyond that, 20 new DEXA scanners funded in 2025 to 2026 were announced on 1 March 2026, as set out in the Renewed Women’s Health Strategy.Our 10-Year Health Plan committed to rolling out Fracture Liaison Services across every part of the country by 2030. Officials continue to work closely with NHS England to explore a range of options to provide better quality and access to these important preventative services.

What progress his Department has made on developing and publishing a detailed national implementation plan for the rollout of fracture liaison services to achieve 100% coverage across England by 2030.

Fracture Liaison Services are commissioned by integrated care boards, which are well-placed to make decisions according to local need. 13 new DEXA scanners were announced in May 2025. Beyond that, 20 new DEXA scanners funded in 2025 to 2026 were announced on 1 March 2026, as set out in the Renewed Women’s Health Strategy.Our 10-Year Health Plan committed to rolling out Fracture Liaison Services across every part of the country by 2030. Officials continue to work closely with NHS England to explore a range of options to provide better quality and access to these important preventative services.

What recent assessments has the department made of the potential benefits of extending the meningitis B vaccination programme to teenagers.

Meningococcal disease is an uncommon but serious disease caused by meningococcal bacteria. The MenACWY vaccine offers good protection against several strains of meningococcal disease and is routinely offered to teenagers in school years 9 and 10. However, it does not protect against all strains. Other strains, such as Meningitis B (MenB), can circulate among young adults. From 2015, the MenB vaccine has been available on the National Health Service as part of routine childhood immunisations, but most students would not be vaccinated.Decisions on vaccination programmes follow independent expert advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI). The JCVI does not currently recommend a routine MenB booster vaccination for adolescents and young adults, however the JCVI routinely reviews new evidence as it emerges and my Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, will ask them to reexamine eligibility for meningitis vaccines.The importance of raising awareness in parents, teenagers and other adults about the signs and symptoms of meningitis remains key. There are a range of resources developed by the UK Health Security Agency, co-branded with the National Health Service, that set out these key messages and their importance, such as the teenage guide to immunisation.

What steps his Department is taking to support newly qualified allied health professionals, including physiotherapists, occupational therapists, speech and language therapists and radiographers, in securing employment following the completion of their training placements.

Decisions on the employment of newly qualified allied health professionals are a matter for individual National Health Service trusts which 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 the 10-Year Health Plan, we are working closely with NHS England, employers and educators to improve transition into the workforce.

What steps his Department is taking to help increase uptake of the measles vaccination, and what plans are in place to support the rollout.

The Department continues to work with the UK Health Security Agency and NHS England to promote vaccine uptake by providing diverse delivery methods to make getting vaccinated easier, increasing outreach efforts to under-served groups, and raising awareness of the dangers of vaccine preventable diseases.The launch of the measles, mumps, rubella and varicella (MMRV) vaccination programme in January 2026 saw a press campaign to inform and educate the public on the benefits of vaccination, with key bursts of activity on all childhood immunisations to continue throughout the year. In February 2026 the Department launched a national childhood vaccination campaign targeting parents and guardians of children aged zero to five years old to encourage uptake of all childhood vaccinations. This includes television and video on demand advertising, online video, social media, and digital display advertising, and partnerships with parenting forums, with activity prioritised to low uptake communities and geographical areas.From January 2026, the age at which the second MMRV dose is offered was brought forward to 18 months from three years and four months old, based on evidence that this earlier appointment could improve uptake and provide earlier protection against measles.In line with the 10-Year Health Plan, pathfinders are underway in 12 locations across the country, delivering childhood vaccinations, including MMRV, during health visits to pre-school children from underserved groups.

Pursuant to the Answer to Question 94138, what steps her Department is taking to achieve the 18‑minute Category 2 ambulance response target in North East Hampshire; and when she expects that target to be met.

The Medium-Term Planning Framework states that by 2028/29, nationally Category 2 incidents will be responded to in an average of 18 minutes, with 90% of responses within 40 minutes. These targets will ensure patients in urgent need receive care more quickly, wherever they are. We expect all ambulance trusts, including the South Central Ambulance Service, to contribute to meeting this ambition, with more specific targets set out in individual planning returns.National Health Service performance figures for the South-Central Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SCAS), which serves North- East Hampshire, show that this financial year to date, from April 2025 to February 2026, Category 2 incidents were responded to in 30 minutes 18 seconds on average. This is over two minutes faster than the same period last year.SCAS has set out a range of improvement initiatives, closely aligned with actions in the Urgent and Emergency Care Plan, to improve ambulance response times, such as expanding hear and treat.

What steps are being taken to help ensure that individuals who commit assaults and may require mental health assessment are managed safely; and how the Department is working to prevent them returning to commit further assaults.

Where, due to someone’s mental disorder, an individual poses a risk to others, mental health services have a role to play in identifying and managing that risk, including treating the person’s disorder, maintaining safety whilst the treatment starts to work, for however long this may take, engaging in safeguarding, and multi-agency liaison as required.Mental health services can only treat individuals who have a diagnosable mental disorder. Where an individual does not have a diagnosable mental health need, mental health services will discharge the individual to their general practice and if other needs are identified, the appropriate multi-agency referrals should be made.The police have powers under Section 136 of the Mental Health Act to remove someone from, or keep them at, a “place of safety” for the purpose of enabling them to be examined by a registered medical practitioner and to be interviewed by an Approved Mental Health Professional and of making any necessary arrangements for the person’s treatment or care. Police can use this power if a person appears to a constable to be suffering from mental disorder and to be in immediate need of care or control, and if they think it is necessary in the interests of that person or for the protection of others. Arrangements for the person's treatment of care can include an application to detain for assessment or treatment under the Mental Health Act, or for ongoing community mental health support.People in prison and on remand may be also detained under Part 3 of the Mental Health Act where they meet the relevant threshold for detention, which allows them to be diverted to hospital for treatment instead of prison.

What evaluation has been undertaken of the use of artificial intelligence and enhanced NHS App tools in supporting patients with complex needs; how progress is being monitored towards the commitment that 95% of people with complex needs will have a personalised care plan by 2027; and what the current estimate is of progress towards meeting that target.

NHS England is in the early stages of exploring how the use of artificial intelligence (AI) can improve patient access to services through the NHS App, including patients with complex needs. We are currently piloting AI triage in the NHS App in one area and plan to extend to three more areas by the end of the 2026/27 financial year to inform best approach.Work is also underway to define an approach to enable patients with long term conditions to co-manage their care with clinical teams via the NHS App. Priority use cases will be agreed in the first half of the next financial year to take forward into delivery.The Government is fully committed to the 10-Year Health Plan ambition that 95% of people with complex needs will have an agreed care plan by 2027, and the work required to deliver this commitment is in active development.This includes how emerging technologies, including enhanced NHS App functionality, can support people with complex needs to be active participants in their own care. Through the Transforming People and Patient Facing Services programme, we are exploring how care plans can be made visible to patients via the NHS App. This work is currently in the discovery phase, examining priority use cases and the safest and most effective ways to present care plan information digitally.We have also developed proxy access for the NHS App and are building and piloting the National Proxy Service to make it easier for people to manage healthcare on behalf of others, including those with complex needs.

What steps his Department is taking to (a) improve procedures to tackle kidney disease and (b) to help prevent a future rise in cases.

NHS England is delivering a comprehensive programme to improve the diagnosis, treatment, and outcomes of people with kidney disease. NHS England has published a renal services transformation toolkit to support earlier identification of chronic kidney disease and more joined up services. These changes are intended to make it easier to deliver improvements along the whole patient pathway including earlier diagnosis and treatment, that can potentially prevent or delay the need for dialysis and transplants.Chronic kidney disease (CKD) and cardiovascular disease (CVD) are closely linked, with shared risk factors, as well as being risk factors for each other. As set out in the 10-Year Health Plan, we will publish a new cardiovascular disease Modern Service Framework. As part of its development, officials are also considering opportunities for earlier identification and diagnosis of CKD and are engaging widely to identify the best evidenced interventions.

What financial support the Department is providing to families of children affected by trauma; and what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the reduction in the Adoption Support Fund (ASGSF) on individuals that would benefit from that Fund.

The Department of Health and Social Care provides support through funding a range of health services, including targeted services, that can support children who are affected by physical and mental trauma.For example, in December 2025, my Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, announced a three-year pilot project to improve mental health support for children in care and their families. “Adoption support that works for all”, published in February, confirmed that this pilot will be designed so that it includes support for adoptive families.The Department for Education revised criteria for the Adoption and Special Guardianship Support Fund (ASGSF) in April 2025 to ensure support for all those applying for ASGSF funding. An equalities impact assessment was published in July 2025. My Hon. Friend, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Children, Families and Wellbeing, recently announced the continuation of the ASGSF for 2026 to 2028, and a consultation on the longer-term future of adoption support, including a call for evidence on what works for children and families.

What assessment he has made of the adequacy of levels of provision of hoists and other accessibility equipment in GP surgeries to enable disabled and wheelchair‑using patients to undergo routine screening, including cervical smear tests; and what steps his Department is taking to ensure that such equipment is available locally so that patients are not required to travel long distances to access routine NHS services.

We want disabled people’s access to, and experience of, healthcare services to be equitable, effective, and responsive to their needs.Under the Equality Act (2010), health and social care organisations must make reasonable adjustments to ensure that disabled people are not disadvantaged.Commissioners are responsible for ensuring any necessary equipment or environmental adaptations are delivered within general practices.NHS England is rolling out a Reasonable Adjustment Digital Flag which enables the recording of key information about a disabled patient or client and the reasonable adjustments to care and treatment that they need, to ensure support can be tailored appropriately and equitably.Guidance and free training on the Flag is available for health and social care staff.

Whether his Department plans to provide additional funding for safety measures for NHS staff.

Everyone working in the National Health Service has a fundamental right to be safe at work. Individual employers are responsible for the health and safety of their staff, and they put in place measures, including security, training, and emotional support for staff affected by violence, abuse, or harassment. There are currently no plans to provide additional funding for safety measures for NHS staff.At a national level there are several policy measures being implemented and developed to help keep staff safe and to prevent and reduce violence in the workplace. This includes measures to improve data and reporting, strengthen risk assessment, and improve training and support for victims. This will be bolstered by the introduction of a new set of staff standards, as detailed in the 10-Year Health Plan. The standards will be included in the NHS Oversight Framework and act as an early warning signal for the Care Quality Commission.