Written questions by Dixon.

What steps his Department is taking to increase access to diagnosis for children with (a) ADHD and (b) autism in the context of applications for school places.

The Department is currently considering next steps to improve access to autism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) assessments.It is the responsibility of integrated care boards (ICBs) to make available appropriate provision to meet the health and care needs of their local population, including autism and ADHD assessment services, in line with relevant National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines.On 5 April 2023, NHS England published a national framework and operational guidance to help ICBs and the National Health Service to deliver improved outcomes for children, young people and adults referred to an autism assessment service. In 2024/25, £4.3 million is available nationally to improve services for autistic children and young people, including autism assessment services.In respect of ADHD, we are supporting a cross-sector taskforce that NHS England has launched to look into challenges in ADHD service provision, to help provide a joined-up approach, including with education, in response to concerns around rising demand.Local authorities must ensure there are sufficient school places for all pupils, including those with special educational needs (SEN) and disabilities. The Children and Families Act 2014 requires local authorities to keep the provision for children and young people with SEN and disabilities under review including its sufficiency, working with parents, young people, and providers. There is no requirement for a formal medical diagnosis to be made before requesting an Education Health and Care needs assessment.

What steps his Department is taking to help reduce waiting times for access to CAMHS support.

It is unacceptable that too many children and young people are not receiving the mental health care they deserve, and we know that waits for mental health services are far too long. We are determined to change that.As part of our mission to build a National Health Service that is fit for the future and that is there when young people need it, this Government will recruit 8,500 additional mental health workers across children and adult mental health services and introduce a specialist mental health professional in every school. This will mean mental health conditions, such as anxiety and depression, can be identified early on and prevented from developing into more serious conditions in later life.

If he will take steps to prevent the sale of the CellAED personal defibrillator.

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is responsible for regulating the United Kingdom’s medical devices market and works to protect and promote public health and patient safety. We undertake safety and market surveillance of all medical devices in the UK to monitor both performance and safety. We also designate Approved Bodies to undertake conformity assessments of medical devices and award a UK conformity assessed marking to sell products.The MHRA acts on evidence and takes prompt action where necessary to protect public health. We communicate any actions taken to healthcare professionals and patients as appropriate. We encourage all users of medical devices to report any problems to us via the Yellow Card Scheme.We are aware of issues raised by stakeholders regarding the CellAED device and we are investigating these concerns with the manufacturer.Typically, when concerns are identified we have a number of regulatory options available to protect the public including, but not limited to, working with manufacturers to address safety concerns, negotiating a voluntary suspension of sales pending the conclusion of a safety and performance investigation, producing safety communications, or taking compliance action to prevent sales when required.Interactions between medical device manufacturers and the MHRA are confidential. This is to promote transparent, accurate and timely flow of information to allow appropriate regulatory decisions to be made from evidence provided.

What steps his Department is taking to help support the financial sustainability of community pharmacies.

Pharmacies play a vital role in our healthcare system. Previous plans did not go far enough. We are committed to expanding the role of pharmacies and better utilising the skills of pharmacists and pharmacy technicians. That includes making prescribing part of the services delivered by community pharmacists.The consultation with Community Pharmacy England on the national funding and contractual framework arrangements for 2024/25 has not yet been concluded, and we are looking into this as a matter of urgency.