Written questions by Ribeiro-Addy.

What steps his Department is taking to support internationally educated nurses in financial hardship who are ineligible for public funds.

National advice and guidance on financial wellbeing is available for National Health Service employers and staff, including those experiencing financial hardship. The NHS Employers’ financial wellbeing webpage helps employers to develop a robust approach to support their staff, including those from overseas, with financial wellbeing in the workplace. The financial wellbeing webpage is available at the following link:https://www.nhsemployers.org/articles/financial-education-and-wellbeingNHS England also provides resources and signposting to support NHS workers with financial wellbeing, with further information available at the following link:https://www.england.nhs.uk/supporting-our-nhs-people/support-now/financial-support/

If he will make an assessment of the potential implications for his policies of the report by the Royal College of Nursing entitled Unreciprocated Care: why internationally educated nursing staff are leaving the UK, published on 15 May 2025.

We hugely value our health and social care workers from overseas who work tirelessly to provide the best possible care and enhance our health and care workforce with their valuable skills, experience and expertise. We are committed to providing high-quality support to internationally educated nursing staff to help their integration into the National Health Service workforce and to creating a compassionate and inclusive work culture that has a focus on staff health and wellbeing.No assessment has been made of the potential impact of the White Paper, Restoring Control over the Immigration System, on levels of retention of internationally educated nursing staff in the NHS. This government remains committed to developing homegrown talent and giving opportunities to more people across the country to join our NHS. The Immigration White Paper set out reforms to legal migration, so that we can restore order, control and fairness to the system, bring down net migration and promote economic growth. The changes set out include a complete overhaul of the relationship between the immigration system, training and the labour market to support sustainable growth as well as a sustainable immigration system.The report by the Royal College of Nursing, Unreciprocated Care: why internationally educated nursing staff are leaving the UK, touches on some important issues, including on support and retention of internationally educated nursing staff. The Department will reflect further on the report and its recommendations, as we strive to continuously improve on the measures we already have in place, set out below, to support internationally recruited healthcare staff.On specific measures, the NHS Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Plan includes a High Impact Action that addresses the importance of ensuring that internationally recruited healthcare staff feel welcomed and valued at the start of their career.Successful induction processes and ongoing pastoral and professional support is of the utmost importance to retain newly recruited international staff so that they receive clear communication, guidance and support around their conditions of employment. The NHS Pastoral Care Quality Award scheme was set up to recognise a commitment to supporting internationally educated nurses and midwives at every stage of recruitment and beyond. As well as helping to standardise the quality and delivery of pastoral care, this award is an opportunity for trusts to have their work recognised and to demonstrate their commitment to supporting internationally educated nurses and midwives.NHS Employers has also published the International Retention Toolkit which outlines the actions employers can take to ensure internationally recruited staff will want to stay, thrive and build lasting careers in the NHS. The toolkit is available at the following link:https://www.nhsemployers.org/publications/international-retention-toolkit

What steps he is taking to support internationally educated nursing staff during their first years in the UK.

We hugely value our health and social care workers from overseas who work tirelessly to provide the best possible care and enhance our health and care workforce with their valuable skills, experience and expertise. We are committed to providing high-quality support to internationally educated nursing staff to help their integration into the National Health Service workforce and to creating a compassionate and inclusive work culture that has a focus on staff health and wellbeing.No assessment has been made of the potential impact of the White Paper, Restoring Control over the Immigration System, on levels of retention of internationally educated nursing staff in the NHS. This government remains committed to developing homegrown talent and giving opportunities to more people across the country to join our NHS. The Immigration White Paper set out reforms to legal migration, so that we can restore order, control and fairness to the system, bring down net migration and promote economic growth. The changes set out include a complete overhaul of the relationship between the immigration system, training and the labour market to support sustainable growth as well as a sustainable immigration system.The report by the Royal College of Nursing, Unreciprocated Care: why internationally educated nursing staff are leaving the UK, touches on some important issues, including on support and retention of internationally educated nursing staff. The Department will reflect further on the report and its recommendations, as we strive to continuously improve on the measures we already have in place, set out below, to support internationally recruited healthcare staff.On specific measures, the NHS Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Plan includes a High Impact Action that addresses the importance of ensuring that internationally recruited healthcare staff feel welcomed and valued at the start of their career.Successful induction processes and ongoing pastoral and professional support is of the utmost importance to retain newly recruited international staff so that they receive clear communication, guidance and support around their conditions of employment. The NHS Pastoral Care Quality Award scheme was set up to recognise a commitment to supporting internationally educated nurses and midwives at every stage of recruitment and beyond. As well as helping to standardise the quality and delivery of pastoral care, this award is an opportunity for trusts to have their work recognised and to demonstrate their commitment to supporting internationally educated nurses and midwives.NHS Employers has also published the International Retention Toolkit which outlines the actions employers can take to ensure internationally recruited staff will want to stay, thrive and build lasting careers in the NHS. The toolkit is available at the following link:https://www.nhsemployers.org/publications/international-retention-toolkit

How Serco performed against key performance indicators at the most recent performance review of the Forth Valley Royal Hospital contract.

Health is a devolved matter in Scotland. The Scottish Parliament and the Scottish Government are responsible for the National Health Service in Scotland, including legislation, funding, and overall management.

What information his Department holds on the number of blood donors that were turned away during (a) outreach and (b) pre-screening in the latest period for which data is available; and what the main reasons were for people being turned away.

NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) is responsible for blood donation in England.  NHSBT does not hold data on deferrals resulting from an appointment booking call. It is possible that donors mention a reason which then may result in a deferral during the call, for instance if they have recently travelled or had a tattoo, and are therefore told to wait for an exclusion period, however this information is not recorded.NHSBT holds information on the number of donors deferred during the donor health check. From 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025, a total of 322,189 donors were deferred. Of these donors:16,832 were of Asian ethnicity, 14,806 were black, 281,042 were white, and 9,509 were “other”;201,065 were female and 121,124 were male, their biological sex at birth; andthe main reason for donor deferral was low haemoglobin. Other main reasons are “medical”, such as medical conditions which result in a deferral for the donor’s health or due to medications that would be present in the donor’s blood, and failed venepuncture.

What information his Department holds on the (a) ethnicity and (b) gender of blood donors turned away during (i) outreach and (ii) prescreening in the latest period for which data is available; and what the main reasons were for people being turned away.

NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) is responsible for blood donation in England.  NHSBT does not hold data on deferrals resulting from an appointment booking call. It is possible that donors mention a reason which then may result in a deferral during the call, for instance if they have recently travelled or had a tattoo, and are therefore told to wait for an exclusion period, however this information is not recorded.NHSBT holds information on the number of donors deferred during the donor health check. From 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025, a total of 322,189 donors were deferred. Of these donors:16,832 were of Asian ethnicity, 14,806 were black, 281,042 were white, and 9,509 were “other”;201,065 were female and 121,124 were male, their biological sex at birth; andthe main reason for donor deferral was low haemoglobin. Other main reasons are “medical”, such as medical conditions which result in a deferral for the donor’s health or due to medications that would be present in the donor’s blood, and failed venepuncture.

Pursuant to the Answer of 1 May 2025 to Question 48519 on Blood: Donors, what percentage of female donors who had their donations deferred due to recent travel were white, in the last 12 months.

NHS Blood and Transplant is responsible for blood donation in England. From 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025, the most recent data available, there were 3,193 deferred female donors due to travel, and 2,186 of which, or 68.5%, were white.

Pursuant to the Answer of 1 May 2025 to Question 48518 on Blood: donors, if he will provide a breakdown of this data by gender.

NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) is responsible for blood donation in England.  NHSBT collects donor’s sex as assigned at birth and their gender identity. A donor’s sex is recorded as the ways in which blood products are donated and processed differ between those assigned male and female at birth.The following table shows the number of deferrals due to low haemoglobin levels by those of African, Caribbean, mixed white and African, and mixed white and Caribbean heritage, broken down by biological sex at birth, from 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025, the latest data available:EthnicityNumber of female deferrals due to low haemoglobin levelsNumber of male deferrals due to low haemoglobin levelsBlack- African3293730Black- Caribbean1857567Mixed white and black African388104Mixed white and black Caribbean1053258

Pursuant to the Answer of 1 May 2025 to Question 48519 on Blood: Donors, what proportion of donors of (a) African heritage, (b) Caribbean heritage, (c) mixed white and African heritage, (d) mixed backgrounds and (e) white backgrounds had their donations deferred due to low haemoglobin levels in the last twelve months.

NHS Blood and Transplant is responsible for blood donation in England. From 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025, the most recent data available, 23.93% of donors with black African heritage, 18.44% of donors of Black Caribbean heritage, 13.60% of donors of mixed white and black African heritage, 11.75% of donors of mixed backgrounds, and 9.38% of donors of white background had their donations deferred due to low haemoglobin levels.

Pursuant to the Answer of 1 May 2025 to Question 48519 on Blood: Donors, what proportion of donors of (a) African heritage, (b) Caribbean heritage, (c) mixed white and African heritage, (d) mixed backgrounds and (e) white backgrounds had their donations deferred due to recent travel in the last twelve months.

NHS Blood and Transplant is responsible for blood donation in England. From 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025, the most recent data available, 3.87% of donors with black African heritage, 0.67% of donors of Black Caribbean heritage, 0.86% donors of mixed white and black African heritage, 0.53% of donors of mixed backgrounds, and 0.28% of donors of white backgrounds had their donations deferred due to travel.

Pursuant to the Answer of 24 April 2025 to Question 45856 on Blood: Donors, how many and what proportion of the donors deferred due to low haemoglobin levels were of (a) African, (b) Caribbean, (c) mixed white and African heritage and (d) mixed white and Caribbean heritage in the last 12 months.

NHS Blood and Transplant is responsible for blood donation in England. The following table shows the number and proportion of deferrals due to low haemoglobin levels by those of African, Caribbean, mixed white and African, and mixed white and Caribbean heritage, from 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025, the latest data available:EthnicityNumber of deferrals due to low haemoglobin levelsProportion of total deferrals due to low haemoglobin levelsBlack- African40232.37%Black- Caribbean24261.43%Mixed white and black African4920.29%Mixed white and black Caribbean13140.78%

Pursuant to the Answer of 24 April 2025 to Question 45856 on Blood: Donors, how many and what proportion of the donors deferred due to the donor’s recent travel to other countries were of (a) African, (b) Caribbean, (c) mixed white and African heritage and (d) mixed white and Caribbean heritage.

NHS Blood and Transplant is responsible for blood donation in England. The following table shows the number and proportion of deferrals due to the donor’s recent travel to other countries for those of African, Caribbean, mixed white and African, and mixed white and Caribbean heritage, from 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025, the most recent data available:EthnicityNumber of deferrals due to donor’s recent travel to other countriesProportion of total deferrals due to donor’s recent travel to other countriesBlack- African65110.56%Black- Caribbean881.43%Mixed white and black African310.50%Mixed white and black Caribbean400.65%

What assessment he has made of the adequacy of the number of blood donor centres that are asking (a) new and (b) returning blood donors to sign up to donate bone marrow.

NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) is responsible for blood donation services in England, and also manages the NHS Stem Cell Donor Registry, previously the British Bone Marrow Registry, which facilitates the donation of stem cells either via blood or bone marrow donation, used to treat forms of leukaemia and some other serious inherited conditions. In 2024/25 there were 27,945 NHS Stem Cell Donor Registry registrations, 23,108 of which were recruited via blood sessions.Eligible blood, plasma, and platelet donors aged between 17 to 40 years old are asked to join the NHS Stem Cell Donor Registry when they attend a donation session. Due to the need to take an additional blood sample for typing, registration takes place during the session. NHSBT emails new and returning donors who are eligible for stem cell donation ahead of their blood donation appointment to highlight the impact of stem cell donation and to encourage them to sign up to the stem cell registry when they attend. NHSBT also periodically contacts eligible new blood donors who have not yet attended a blood donation session, and lapsed blood donors, offering a buccal swab sample which can also be used for typing.To further encourage sign up, NHSBT uses stem cell champions on blood donation teams, which are nationally and specially trained event assistants that are present at sessions with high numbers of minority ethnic donors and young men. NHSBT is also looking at ways to capture a new donor’s intention to join the stem cell registry during their registration online by asking them to register an interest, which is then highlighted to staff on their donor record during donation.

Whether he made an assessment of the potential merits of encouraging blood marrow donation when a new blood donor registers online.

NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) is responsible for blood donation services in England, and also manages the NHS Stem Cell Donor Registry, previously the British Bone Marrow Registry, which facilitates the donation of stem cells either via blood or bone marrow donation, used to treat forms of leukaemia and some other serious inherited conditions. In 2024/25 there were 27,945 NHS Stem Cell Donor Registry registrations, 23,108 of which were recruited via blood sessions.Eligible blood, plasma, and platelet donors aged between 17 to 40 years old are asked to join the NHS Stem Cell Donor Registry when they attend a donation session. Due to the need to take an additional blood sample for typing, registration takes place during the session. NHSBT emails new and returning donors who are eligible for stem cell donation ahead of their blood donation appointment to highlight the impact of stem cell donation and to encourage them to sign up to the stem cell registry when they attend. NHSBT also periodically contacts eligible new blood donors who have not yet attended a blood donation session, and lapsed blood donors, offering a buccal swab sample which can also be used for typing.To further encourage sign up, NHSBT uses stem cell champions on blood donation teams, which are nationally and specially trained event assistants that are present at sessions with high numbers of minority ethnic donors and young men. NHSBT is also looking at ways to capture a new donor’s intention to join the stem cell registry during their registration online by asking them to register an interest, which is then highlighted to staff on their donor record during donation.

What information his Department holds on the most common reasons for cancelled NHS blood donation appointments in the last 12 months.

NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) is responsible for blood donation in England.NHSBT does not collect the reasons for short notice, within two days of the appointment, or advanced, further ahead, cancellations either by the donor or by NHSBT. Cancellations can, for example, be due to issues with community venues or due to NHSBT needing to urgently prioritise appointments for donors from those blood groups needed most to meet hospital demand, therefore postponing donors from other blood groups.In the last 12 months, 109,808 appointments were cancelled at short notice, which is 5.2% of all appointments. 80,264 appointments were cancelled more than two days in advance, which is 3.8% of booked appointments.Donors may also be deferred during a donation session if they do not meet the eligibility criteria, in place to protect either the donor or recipient’s health. The most common reason for donor deferral is haemoglobin levels.

If he will make an assessment of the potential merits of reviewing the blood donation eligibility requirements for recent travel.

NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) is responsible for blood donation in England, and blood donor selection guidelines are prepared by the Joint United Kingdom (UK) Blood Transfusion and Tissue Transplantation Services Professional Advisory Committee (JPAC).The JPAC has a comprehensive process to review and assess reports of disease outbreaks from across the world. Assessment of a donor's travel history is an important means of reducing the risk of transfusion transmitted infections.For some infections, such as West Nile virus or malaria, it is possible to test the donation rather than defer the donors. But for other infections, NHSBT defers donors until they are past the incubation period. Currently, there are no further suitable validated tests that could be used for donation testing, although work is ongoing to evaluate potential new tests which may result in fewer deferrals.

What information his Department holds on the number of NHS blood donation appointments cancelled due to (a) low iron levels, (b) low haemoglobin and (c) travel to and from other countries.

NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) is responsible for blood donation in England. NHSBT tests for haemoglobin levels rather than iron levels ahead of blood donation.Data for deferrals is currently held for the period 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025. In this period, 169,419 donations were deferred due to low haemoglobin levels, and 6,165 donations were deferred due to the donor’s recent travel to other countries where there is a risk of transmitting specific diseases to recipients via the blood donated.Information for donors on eligibility to donate, including on haemoglobin levels and donation after travel, is available at the following link:www.blood.co.uk

What estimate his Department has made of the potential cost to the NHS of missed appointments by children and young people with cancer due to unaffordable travel costs.

The Department knows that the cost of travel is an important issue for many young cancer patients and their families. NHS England and the integrated care boards are responsible for commissioning and ensuring the healthcare needs of their local communities are met, including providing support for travel.The National Health Service in England runs the Healthcare Travel Costs Scheme (HTCS) to provide financial assistance for travel to a hospital or other NHS premises for specialist NHS treatment or diagnostics tests, when referred by a doctor or other primary healthcare professional.Patients who do not qualify for the HTCS and who are on a low income may be able to claim the costs from the Department for Work and Pensions through Universal Credit or a Personal Independence Payment. There are also a number of charities in the United Kingdom who provide support, including financial support, for patients with cancer.The Department has not made an estimate of the potential cost to the NHS of missed appointments by children and young people with cancer due to travel costs. On 4 February 2025, the Department relaunched the Children and Young People Cancer Taskforce to identify tangible ways to improve outcomes and experiences for young cancer patients. The Taskforce will explore opportunities for improvement, including detection and diagnosis, genomic testing and treatment, research and innovation, and patient experience. The Taskforce will also ensure that the unique needs of children and young people with cancer are carefully considered as part of the National Cancer Plan.

If he will introduce a fund to support young cancer patients and their families in access to treatment and care.

The Department knows that the cost of travel is an important issue for many young cancer patients and their families. NHS England and the integrated care boards are responsible for commissioning and ensuring the healthcare needs of their local communities are met, including providing support for travel.The National Health Service in England runs the Healthcare Travel Costs Scheme (HTCS) to provide financial assistance for travel to a hospital or other NHS premises for specialist NHS treatment or diagnostics tests, when referred by a doctor or other primary healthcare professional.Patients who do not qualify for the HTCS and who are on a low income may be able to claim the costs from the Department for Work and Pensions through Universal Credit or a Personal Independence Payment. There are also a number of charities in the United Kingdom who provide support, including financial support, for patients with cancer.The Department has not made an estimate of the potential cost to the NHS of missed appointments by children and young people with cancer due to travel costs. On 4 February 2025, the Department relaunched the Children and Young People Cancer Taskforce to identify tangible ways to improve outcomes and experiences for young cancer patients. The Taskforce will explore opportunities for improvement, including detection and diagnosis, genomic testing and treatment, research and innovation, and patient experience. The Taskforce will also ensure that the unique needs of children and young people with cancer are carefully considered as part of the National Cancer Plan.

What steps he is taking through (a) recruitment and (b) retention practices to ensure the diversity of the maternity healthcare professional workforce.

Decisions about recruitment are matters for individual National Health Service employers. NHS England’s Equality, Diversity and Inclusion plan, published in 2023, includes a commitment to embed fair and inclusive recruitment processes and talent management strategies that target under-representation and lack of diversity.It is important that the NHS workforce feels valued and well supported. NHS England is leading on a range of initiatives to boost the retention of existing staff, including building a compassionate and inclusive culture.Targeted retention work for midwives is being undertaken by NHS England and led by the Chief Nursing Officer. This includes a midwifery and nursing retention self-assessment tool, mentoring schemes, and targeted efforts to improve the diversity of the workforce through four nationally run programmes to develop staff from ethnic minority backgrounds.