Written questions by Bennett.

What steps his Department is taking to help ensure the provision of British Sign Language interpreters within emergency services.

Awaiting answer.

What steps his Department plans to take to support hospices prior to the implementation of the reforms outlined within the Modern Service Framework for Palliative and End of Life Care.

We have supported the hospice sector in England with a £125 million capital funding boost for adult and children’s hospices to ensure they have the best physical environment for care. We are also providing approximately £80 million of revenue funding for ...

How much his Department has spent on palliative care in each financial year since 2020–21; and how much funding has been budgeted for palliative care in (a) 2026-2027, (b) 2027-2028 and (c) 2028-20

Palliative care and end-of-life care services are commissioned locally by integrated care boards (ICBs) and spend is not measured or held centrally in a way that allows a comprehensive breakdown by each financial year. Additionally, palliative care and en...

Whether he plans to provide additional revenue funding to hospices in (a) 2026-27, (b) 2027-2028, and (c) 2028-2029 financial years.

Whilst the majority of palliative care and end-of-life care is provided by National Health Service staff and services, we recognise the vital part that voluntary sector organisations, including hospices, also play in providing support to people at the end...

What assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of changes in hospice services on NHS palliative and end-of-life care services.

Whilst the majority of palliative care and end‑of‑life care is provided by National Health Service staff and services, we recognise the vital part that voluntary sector organisations, including hospices, also play in supporting people at the end of life a...

What information his Department holds on the number of people who died while waiting to receive end-of-life care in each financial year since 2020–21.

The Department does not hold data on the number of people who died while waiting to receive palliative or end‑of‑life care in England.Palliative care and end‑of‑life care are broad, holistic approaches delivered across a range of settings, including hospi...

How many times each maternity unit has been temporarily closed due to insufficient staffing levels to operate safely in each of the last three years; and what the longest duration of such a tempora

We do not hold this data centrally. National Health Service commissioning bodies such as integrated care boards are responsible for the delivery, implementation, and funding decisions for local services. This makes sure that decisions are made locally and...

How many mothers were transferred from maternity units to alternative units due to (a) lack of capacity and (b) staffing shortages in each of the last three years nationally.

We do not hold this data centrally. National Health Service commissioning bodies such as integrated care boards are responsible for the delivery, implementation, and funding decisions for local services. This makes sure that decisions are made locally and...

What steps his Department is taking to improve the regulation of counselling and psychotherapy, including legal protections for the titles 'counsellor' and 'psychotherapist'.

The Professional Standards Authority for Health and Social Care (PSA) operates a voluntary registers programme, which provides a proportionate means of assurance for unregulated professions, that sits between employer controls and statutory regulation by ...

With reference to the Answer of 13 April 2026 to Question 123423 on Hospices: Children, how much has NHS England advised integrated care boards to give to each children's hospice in 2026-27 financi

NHS England has informed all integrated care boards (ICBs) of their total allocation for children and young people’s hospices for 2026/27, amounting to approximately £27 million. Decisions on the distribution of this funding to individual hospices rest wi...

Pursuant to the Answer of 13 April 2026 to Question 123423 on Hospices: Children, how much has NHS England advised integrated care boards to give to each children's hospice in 2026/27 from the £80 million of NHS funding allocated for children’s hospices over the next three years.

NHS England has informed all integrated care boards of their allocation for children and young people’s hospices for 2026/27, with a total allocation of approximately £27 million. The Department is not yet in a position to share those individual allocations publicly.A similar value, adjusted for pay inflation, will be made available in each of the subsequent two years, 2027/28 and 2028/29. Communications regarding future allocations will be sent once the 2026/27 process is complete.

What steps his Department is taking to ensure that all paediatric departments have access to specialists trained in the diagnosis and treatment of Paediatric Acute-onset Neuropsychiatric Syndrome (PANS) and Paediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcal Infections (PANDAS).

The Government recognises that paediatric acute-onset neuropsychiatric syndrome (PANS) and paediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorders associated with streptococcal infections (PANDAS) can be distressing conditions for children, young people, and their families, and that assessment and management can be clinically complex.NHS England welcomes the formation of the PANS PANDAS Steering Group (PPSG), which includes representatives from key royal colleges, specialist clinical bodies, and the national charity PANS PANDAS UK. Since its establishment, the PPSG has launched several strategic initiatives to improve awareness, understanding, and care for affected children and young people. This includes the development of United Kingdom clinical guidelines and the formation of the PANS PANDAS Research Group and the Education, Social Care and Health Group.Responsibility for commissioning and planning local health services sits with integrated care boards, which are expected to ensure local services have access to the appropriate clinical expertise to meet the needs of their populations and to consider emerging evidence and guidance as it develops.The Department continues to support research through the National Institute for Health and Care Research, which welcomes funding applications into all aspects of human health, including PANS and PANDAS. As the evidence base strengthens, bodies such as the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence will consider whether updates to national guidance are appropriate.

If he will make a comparative assessment of the adequacy of levels of access to Procysbi for people with Cystinosis in England compared to other parts of the UK.

The Government does not plan to undertake a comparative assessment of access to individual medicines across the United Kingdom. Health is a devolved matter and each UK nation is responsible for making its own decisions on the funding and use of medicines for patients in its health system.

What steps his Department is taking to improve acute mental health inpatient units.

Anyone receiving mental health treatment deserves safe, high-quality care. We have fulfilled our manifesto commitment to reform the Mental Health Act. We set a national expectation to eliminate inappropriate out of area placements by March 2028, to ensure continuity of care. Where care falls short, this Government is absolutely committed to learning and taking action to protect patients, and to improve inpatient mental health care. That is why we have announced a statutory inquiry into Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust.

If he will publish individual allocations per children’s hospice in 2026-27 from the funding announced in October 2025.

Children and young people’s hospices will receive at least £26 million, adjusted for inflation, in revenue funding for 2026/27. NHS England has now communicated the details of this funding allocation and dissemination to 35 individual children and young people’s hospices and their respective integrated care boards (ICBs).This funding will be transacted by ICBs on behalf of NHS England, in line with National Health Service devolution. As allocations are administered locally, the Department does not publish individual hospice allocations centrally.Communication regarding future allocations, for 2027/28 and 2028/29, will be sent once the 2026/27 process is complete.

What steps his Department is taking to address regional disparities in access to early diagnosis services for osteoporosis.

On 1 March, the Government announced funding for 20 new bone density, or DEXA, scanners across England, supported by £2.4 million of investment. Tens of thousands of patients will benefit from faster access to bone scans as a result. It will help ensure that people with bone conditions, such as osteoporosis, get diagnosed earlier.Fracture Liaison Services are commissioned by integrated care boards, which are well-placed to make decisions according to local need. 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.We are also working to deliver the Getting It Right First Time (GIRFT) Musculoskeletal (MSK) Community Delivery Programme. GIRFT teams are working with health system leaders to further reduce MSK community waiting lists, including for patients with osteoporosis, and to improve data and metrics and referral pathways to wider support services.The National Institute for Health and Care Research has published a clinical knowledge summary on osteoporosis and the prevention of fragility fractures, which is designed to support healthcare professionals in the early diagnosis of osteoporosis, and which is available at the following link:https://cks.nice.org.uk/topics/osteoporosis-prevention-of-fragility-fractures/The Royal College of General Practitioners has an e-learning module for general practitioners on the diagnosis and management of osteoporosis, which was developed in collaboration with the Royal Osteoporosis Society, and which is available at the following link:https://elearning.rcgp.org.uk/course/info.php?id=233The e-learning module supports the early diagnosis of osteoporosis by highlighting which groups are at higher risk of osteoporosis and fragility fractures. The module also discusses the monitoring of patients at risk of fragility fractures.

What progress his Department has made on developing a national implementation plan for the roll-out of Fracture Liaison Services.

Fracture Liaison Services are commissioned by integrated care boards, which are well-placed to make decisions according to local need.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 estimate he has made of the annual average cost of a gluten-free diet for individuals with Coeliac disease compared with a standard diet.

Gluten‑free staple foods are available on prescription in line with the National Health Service (General Medical Services Contracts) (Prescription of Category 1 Drugs and Appliances) Regulations 2004, which support access to essential items such as gluten‑free bread and mixes for patients with diagnosed coeliac disease.Broader retail price comparisons fall outside the scope of the Department, as food pricing is determined by commercial suppliers and retailers. For this reason, the Department has made no recent estimate of the annual average cost of a gluten‑free diet compared with a standard diet for individuals with coeliac disease.

What steps he is taking to help ensure that GP practices comply with guidance on prescribing gluten-free foods for patients diagnosed with Coeliac disease.

Prescribing decisions are made by the responsible clinician, who is accountable for ensuring that prescribing is clinically appropriate and consistent with national and local guidance. NHS England’s guidance on prescribing gluten-free (GF) foods sets out a national framework for primary care, and integrated care boards (ICBs) are responsible for commissioning arrangements in their areas and for supporting general practices to prescribe in line with that framework, taking account of local population needs.The national position in England remains that gluten free bread and mixes can be prescribed on the National Health Service for eligible people diagnosed with Coeliac disease. However, ICBs can restrict or end the prescribing of GF food. There are no plans to change the current arrangements or to introduce additional financial support, such as vouchers, for GF food.

What consideration his Department has given to the potential merits of introducing financial support, including vouchers, for people with Coeliac disease who are unable to access gluten-free prescriptions.

Prescribing decisions are made by the responsible clinician, who is accountable for ensuring that prescribing is clinically appropriate and consistent with national and local guidance. NHS England’s guidance on prescribing gluten-free (GF) foods sets out a national framework for primary care, and integrated care boards (ICBs) are responsible for commissioning arrangements in their areas and for supporting general practices to prescribe in line with that framework, taking account of local population needs.The national position in England remains that gluten free bread and mixes can be prescribed on the National Health Service for eligible people diagnosed with Coeliac disease. However, ICBs can restrict or end the prescribing of GF food. There are no plans to change the current arrangements or to introduce additional financial support, such as vouchers, for GF food.