Written questions by MacDonald.

Whether his Department plans to take steps to ensure that the public are (a) consulted and (b) involved in decisions on the use of public-private partnerships in the NHS.

The business case to assess the feasibility of using a public-private partnership (PPP) model for Neighbourhood Health Centres is being co-developed by the Department of Health and Social Care and the National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority.The business case will set out the potential for a PPP model and an assessment of the value for money so that a final decision on the approach can be taken by the time of the 2025 Budget in the autumn. If a decision is taken to proceed, then further market engagement will take place on the model and approach. The location of, and services provided through, Neighbourhood Health Centres will be decided at a local level by the NHS and other stakeholders, based on the local needs of patients.

Whether the forthcoming (a) NHS Long Term Workforce Plan and (b) National Neighbourhood Health Implementation Programme will include policies on staffing in rural areas.

The 10 Year Workforce Plan will be published later this year. We will work with partners to make sure we have the right people, in the right places, with the right skills, to ensure the National Health Service has access to the workforce it needs to treat those that require care, treatment, and diagnosis across all our communities, including remote, rural, and coastal communities.The National Neighbourhood Health Implementation Programme was launched on 3 July 2025, to support systems across the country to test new ways of working, share learning, and scale what works. We expect neighbourhood teams and services to be designed in a way that reflects the specific needs of local populations. While we will be clear on the outcomes we expect, we will give significant licence to tailor the approach to local need. While the focus on personalised, coordinated care will be consistent, that will mean the service will look different in rural communities, coastal towns, or deprived inner cities.

What steps he is taking to provide sustainable (a) funding and (b) commissioning of (i) hospice and (ii) palliative care services in rural areas.

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 must work to ensure that there is sufficient provision of care services to meet the needs of their local populations, which can include hospice services available within the ICB catchment. The statutory guidance also outlines areas for consideration when commissioning, including improving equity of access and reducing inequity in outcomes and experiences.Whilst the majority of palliative 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 of life and their loved ones.Most hospices are charitable, independent organisations which receive some statutory funding for providing NHS services. The amount of funding each charitable hospice receives varies both within and between ICB areas. This will vary depending on demand in that ICB area but will also be dependent on the totality and type of palliative and end of life care provision from both NHS and non-NHS services, including charitable hospices, within each ICB area.The Government and the NHS will closely monitor the shift towards the strategic commissioning of palliative and end of life care services to ensure that the future state of services reduces variation in access and quality, although some variation may be appropriate to reflect both innovation and the needs of local populations.The Department is currently exploring how to improve the access, quality, and sustainability of all-age palliative and end of life care in line with the 10-Year Health Plan. Officials will present further proposals to ministers over the coming months, outlining how to operationalise the required shifts in palliative care and end of life care to enable the shift from hospital to community, including as part of neighbourhood health teams.

What steps he is taking to tackle the high rates of premature mortality in men due to mental health issues.

It is vital that we put more emphasis on early intervention and recovery to support men and boys experiencing poor mental health to live well and thrive. We will fulfil our commitments to recruit an additional 8,500 mental health workers by the end of the Parliament, to help cut waiting times and to expand mental health support teams to cover all schools in England by 2029/30. We will also continue the expansion of NHS Talking Therapies and Individual Placement and Support schemes so more men can access the support they need.The 10-Year Health Plan sets out ambitious plans to boost mental health support across the country. We are transforming mental health services into neighbourhood mental health centres that operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week, improving assertive outreach and increasing access to evidence based digital interventions. Men will also get better access to mental health support and advice 24 hours a day, seven days a week directly through the NHS App, including self-referral for talking therapies, without needing a general practice appointment.We have also committed to tackling suicide, as one of the biggest killers, through the Suicide Prevention Strategy for England. This identifies middle-aged men as one of several groups for tailored or targeted action at a national level.We are developing a Men's Health Strategy which will seek to improve the health and wellbeing of all men in England and will be informed by a call for evidence. This includes finding the right ways to promote healthier behaviours, improving outcomes for health conditions that hit men harder, and improving their engagement with healthcare services.

What steps he is taking to tackle men's low rates of engagement with mental health services.

It is vital that we put more emphasis on early intervention and recovery to support men and boys experiencing poor mental health to live well and thrive. We will fulfil our commitments to recruit an additional 8,500 mental health workers by the end of the Parliament, to help cut waiting times and to expand mental health support teams to cover all schools in England by 2029/30. We will also continue the expansion of NHS Talking Therapies and Individual Placement and Support schemes so more men can access the support they need.The 10-Year Health Plan sets out ambitious plans to boost mental health support across the country. We are transforming mental health services into neighbourhood mental health centres that operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week, improving assertive outreach and increasing access to evidence based digital interventions. Men will also get better access to mental health support and advice 24 hours a day, seven days a week directly through the NHS App, including self-referral for talking therapies, without needing a general practice appointment.We have also committed to tackling suicide, as one of the biggest killers, through the Suicide Prevention Strategy for England. This identifies middle-aged men as one of several groups for tailored or targeted action at a national level.We are developing a Men's Health Strategy which will seek to improve the health and wellbeing of all men in England and will be informed by a call for evidence. This includes finding the right ways to promote healthier behaviours, improving outcomes for health conditions that hit men harder, and improving their engagement with healthcare services.

What recent discussions he has had with his counterpart in the Scottish Government on improving mental health resources for (a) nurses and (b) other medical care providers.

The health and wellbeing of all National Health Service staff is very important. As set out in the 10-Year Health Plan, the Government is committed to making the NHS the best place to work, by supporting our hardworking and dedicated healthcare professionals.In the formulation of the plan, officials from the Department have regularly met with their counterparts in the devolved administrations to discuss and share updates.Within the 10-Year Health Plan, we have committed to introducing a new set of staff standards for modern employment, covering issues such as access to healthy meals, support to work healthily and flexibly, and tackling violence, racism, and sexual harassment in the workplace. We will work with the Social Partnership Forum to design and deliver these standards. We will also roll out Staff Treatment hubs to ensure staff have access to high quality support for mental health and back conditions.NHS staff in England currently have access to a helpline for mental health crisis support and the Practitioner Health service, which provides support for more complex mental health issues.

What assessment his Department has made of (a) trends in the level of ultra-processed food consumption and (b) the potential impact of those foods on public health.

United Kingdom dietary recommendations are based on robust independent risk assessments by the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN). The SACN has considered the impact of processed foods on health in position statements published in 2023 and 2025.The SACN did not assess trends in ultra processed food (UPF) consumption. However, a review of the available evidence that uses the UK National Diet and Nutrition Survey (NDNS) dataset to apply the NOVA food processing classification system was conducted. The 2023 position statement found that estimates of UPF intake varied by age group, varying from 51% to 57% in adults, 68% in adolescents, and 64% in children up to 11 years old. The SACN, however, identified limitations in applying the NOVA classification to dietary data such as the NDNS, due to the broadness of the NOVA definition and the fact that the dietary data rarely captures the detail, for example the presence of additives, included in the NOVA definition.The SACN concluded that the observed associations between higher consumption of UPFs and adverse health outcomes are concerning, but it is unclear whether these foods are inherently unhealthy due to processing or due to their nutritional content. The SACN noted that diets high in UPFs are often energy dense, high in saturated fat, salt, or free sugars, high in processed meat, and/or low in fruit and vegetables and fibre. The SACN has previously concluded in previous robust risk assessments that consumption of excess energy, saturated fat, salt, free sugars, and processed meat is linked to poor health outcomes, and that higher consumption of fruit and vegetables, wholegrain foods, and fibre reduces health risks.The SACN recommended that on balance, most people are likely to benefit from reducing their consumption of processed foods high in energy, saturated fat, salt, and free sugars, and low in fibre. This is based on the nutrient content of many UPFs and concerns raised in relation to health.The SACN will continue to keep the topic of UPFs under review and will consider it again at its horizon scanning meeting in 2026. The Government continues to invest in research on UPFs through the National Institute for Health and Care Research and UK Research and Innovation.

What steps his Department is taking to support access to affordable, minimally processed food.

The Government’s Eatwell Guide already advises that people should eat more fruit, vegetables, and wholegrain or higher-fibre foods, as well as less processed meat, and less food and drink that is high in sugar, calories, saturated fat, and salt.The Eatwell Guide principles are communicated through a variety of channels, including the NHS.UK website and Government social marketing campaigns. For example, the Better Health Healthier Families website and the Healthy Steps email programme, which aims to help families with primary aged children in England to eat well and move more.The range of actions that have already been taken to create a healthier environment to help children reduce their consumption of processed foods that are high in energy, saturated fat, salt, and free sugars, and to improve access to affordable, minimally processed foods, include:- the Healthy Start scheme, which supported over 361,000 people in April 2025;- the Nursery Milk Scheme, which provides a reimbursement to childcare providers in England and Wales for a daily 1/3 pint portion of milk to children and babies; and- the School Fruit and Vegetable Scheme, which provides approximately 2.2 million children in Key Stage 1 with a portion of fresh fruit or vegetables per day at school.In relation to foods and drinks high in calories, saturated fat, salt, and free sugars, work on our commitments is progressing through:- implementing the television and online advertising restrictions for less healthy food or drink;- consulting on plans to ban the sale of high-caffeine energy drinks to children under 16 years old; and- giving local authorities stronger, clearer powers to block new fast-food outlets near schools and where young people congregate.

Whether he has had discussions with representatives of the food industry on the health impact of ultra-processed foods.

The Department regularly engages a range of stakeholders including in the food industry. My rt. Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, has had no meetings with the food industry specifically on the health impact of ultra-processed foods.

What discussions he has had with (a) the devolved Administrations and (b) professional bodies on the potential use of professional regulation to help improve (i) support for and (ii) levels of retention among healthcare professionals.

Officials from the Department have regularly met their counterparts in the devolved administrations to discuss and update on the development of the 10 Year Plan in England. The Government is committed to making the National Health Service the best place to work, by supporting and retaining our hardworking and dedicated healthcare professionals. NHS England is leading work nationally through its retention programme to drive a consistent, system-wide approach to staff retention across NHS trusts. This ensures trusts have access to proven retention strategies, data-driven monitoring, and can foster a more stable, engaged, productive, and supported workforce.In terms of support, local employers across the NHS have in place arrangements for supporting staff, including occupational health provision, employee support programmes, and a focus on healthy working environments. At a national level, NHS England has made available additional emotional and psychological health and wellbeing support. They have also set out a roadmap for the NHS and partner organisations to work together to develop and invest in occupational health and wellbeing services for NHS staff.

Whether he has had recent discussions with (a) his counterparts in the devolved Administrations and (b) professional bodies on the potential merits of amending pension rules to help (i) reduce burnout and (ii) improve retention among healthcare professionals.

In common with the pension schemes for National Health Service workforces in Scotland and Northern Ireland, the NHS Pension Scheme for England and Wales provides a good pension for retirement. The scheme also offers a partial retirement option which allows older NHS staff to draw down part of their pension and continue working in a more flexible way, either with a reduction in hours or a change in responsibilities.While no specific discussions have been held recently on amending pension rules, the Government continues to work closely with the devolved administrations and professional bodies through the NHS Pension Scheme Advisory Board to ensure the scheme supports the retention of experienced and skilled NHS staff.The health and wellbeing of NHS staff is a top priority. Employers across the NHS in England have their own arrangements in place for supporting their staff, including occupational health provision, employee support programmes, and health and wellbeing guardian roles. At a national level, NHS England has made available additional support. This includes a focus on healthy environments, tools and resources to support line managers, and emotional and psychological health and wellbeing support.

What discussions he has had with (a) the devolved Administrations and (b) professional bodies on the potential use of immigration policy to help improve (i) support for and (ii) levels of retention among healthcare professionals.

Officials from the Department have regularly met their counterparts in the devolved administrations to discuss and update on the development of the 10 Year Plan in England. The Government is committed to making the National Health Service the best place to work, by supporting and retaining our hardworking and dedicated healthcare professionals. NHS England is leading work nationally through its retention programme to drive a consistent, system-wide approach to staff retention across NHS trusts. This ensures trusts have access to proven retention strategies, data-driven monitoring, and can foster a more stable, engaged, productive, and supported workforce.In terms of support, local employers across the NHS have in place arrangements for supporting staff, including occupational health provision, employee support programmes, and a focus on healthy working environments. At a national level, NHS England has made available additional emotional and psychological health and wellbeing support. They have also set out a roadmap for the NHS and partner organisations to work together to develop and invest in occupational health and wellbeing services for NHS staff.

Whether he has had recent discussions with (a) his counterparts in the devolved Administrations and (b) professional bodies on the potential merits of amending tax policy to help (i) reduce burnout and (ii) improve retention among healthcare professionals.

There have been no recent discussions with counterparts in the devolved administrations or professional bodies about the merits of amending pension tax policy. Tax policy is a matter for my Rt. Hon. Friend, the Chancellor of the Exchequer. In the last few years there have been significant increases in the allowances for tax-free pension saving, incentivising senior doctors and other health professionals to continue their National Health Service work.

What steps his Department is taking to increase care home capacity.

Under the Care Act 2014, local authorities are tasked with the duty to shape their care markets to meet the diverse needs of all local people. This includes commissioning a diverse range of care and support services that enable people to access quality care.Care Quality Commission registration data, showing the number of care homes and number of total beds, remains stable and in line with historic trends. The latest data for June 2025 is available via the Care Directory with Filters at the following link:https://www.cqc.org.uk/about-us/transparency/using-cqc-dataTo support local authorities, the Market Sustainability and Improvement Fund (MSIF) will provide over £1 billion to local authorities in England for adult social care over 2025/26. The MSIF can be used flexibly by local authorities, based on their areas’ needs, to target increasing fee rates paid to adult social care providers, increasing adult social care workforce recruitment and retention, and/or reducing waiting times for care.The 2025 Spending Review also allows for an increase of over £4 billion of funding for adult social care in 2028/29 compared to 2025/26. This includes additional grant funding, growth in other sources of income available to support adult social care, and an increase to the National Health Service contribution to adult social care via the Better Care Fund, compared to 2025/26.

What steps his Department is taking to increase physical activity in the population.

The Government and National Health Service recognise that reducing physical inactivity in people of all ages is important in helping people live longer, healthier lives. Building movement back into people’s everyday lives is a key part of the Health Mission and requires action across the Government and the NHS, to deliver the shift from treatment to prevention.The Department of Health and Social Care, the Department for Education, and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport currently provide funding to schools and the school games network to support children to have fun and move more through Physical Education classes, sport, play, and other forms of physical activity. Building healthy habits early on, in and out of school, is essential to helping children thrive, develop, and stay fit and healthy.The Department of Health and Social Care is also working with the Department for Transport to promote active travel and embed health, and inequality impacts, into transport policies and programmes.The NHS Better Health Campaign promotes ways for people of all ages to move more, and signposts to digital support like the NHS Couch to 5k and the NHS Active 10 walking app, providing free and accessible ways of building movement into everyday life.

What recent estimate his Department has made of the proportion of deaths linked to physical inactivity in the UK.

There are no official published statistics on deaths linked to physical inactivity in the United Kingdom.Statistics on deaths from specific causes are based on the medical causes of death recorded on a death certificate, which are coded using the International Classification of Diseases (ICD). Although physical inactivity is included within the ICD, classified under lack of physical exercise, it is rarely coded as a cause of death.Estimates of the number of deaths due to some factors that influence mortality but which are not always stated as a cause of death, such as smoking, can be made. However, there is no agreed definition of a physical inactivity-related death for use within the Government, and no official statistics on potential numbers.

What assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of developing a National Brain Tumour Strategy.

My Rt. Hon friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, has announced that a National Cancer Plan for England will be published this year. The National Cancer Plan will have patients at its heart and will cover the entirety of the cancer pathway, from referral and diagnosis to treatment and ongoing care. It will seek to improve every aspect of cancer care to improve the experience and outcomes for people with cancer, including brain tumour patients. Research is also a key focus of the plan, and we will work closely with partners including the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) on this.We realise that there are currently limited treatment options available for people who have been diagnosed with brain tumours, and we recognise the significant impact this rare cancer can have on patients, carers and their families. The government is invested in driving new lifesaving and life-improving research, supporting those diagnosed and living with brain tumours.Furthermore, the Department, NHS England and NIHR are taking several steps to help improve outcomes for brain tumour patients to ensure the most promising research opportunities are made available to adult and child patients.

If he will take steps with his counterparts in the devolved Administrations to implement a national brain cancer strategy.

Health Services across the United Kingdom are devolved. In England, we are developing a 10-year plan to radically reform the National Health Service, and my Rt Hon. friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, has been clear that there needs to be a national cancer plan, which will include brain cancer. We are currently in discussions about this plan and its relationship to the 10-Year Health Plan and the Government’s wider health mission.UK Government Ministers regularly engage with their counterparts in the Devolved Governments. No discussions have been had about a UK-wide national brain cancer strategy.

If he will take steps with his counterparts in the devolved Administrations to implement a national strategy for treating neurological conditions.

There are no current plans to implement a national strategy for neurological conditions. We have, however, announced that we are setting up a new United Kingdom-wide neuro forum, facilitating formal, biannual meetings across the Department, NHS England, the devolved administrations and health services, and the Neurological Alliances of all four nations in the UK.The new forum will bring key stakeholders together to share learning across the UK, discuss important neurology services’ transformation and workforce challenges, as well as best practice examples and potential solutions that will add to both the existing programmes of work and wider health plans.

What steps his Department is taking with the devolved Administrations to help (a) reduce waiting times for gynaecological services and (b) address menstrual health inequalities.

Whilst health is a devolved issue, we intend to work closely with our partners across the devolved administrations in providing support and sharing best practice, to reduce waiting lists and fix the National Health Service. Cutting waiting lists, including for gynaecology, is a key part of our Health Mission and a top priority for the Government. The Government is committed to putting patients first, which means making sure that they are seen on time and have the best possible experience during their care, no matter where they are treated in the United Kingdom.The Government is also committed to prioritising women’s health, as we build an NHS fit for the future, and women’s equality will be at the heart of our missions. Department officials have met and continue to meet with counterparts across the four nations to share learning across a range of women’s health policy issues, including menstrual health. Together we aim to deliver faster, improved, and more equitable health outcomes for all patients across the UK, and to strengthen our collaboration in achieving these common goals.