Written questions by Maguire.

What steps his Department is taking to increase the number of specialty training posts for UK-trained doctors.

As set out in the 10-Year Health Plan published in July, over the next three years we will create 1,000 new speciality training posts with a focus on specialities where there is greatest need.The 10-Year Health Plan also set out that we will work across government to prioritise United Kingdom medical graduates for foundation training, and to prioritise UK medical graduates and other doctors who have worked in the National Health Service for a significant period for specialty training.We will set out next steps in due course.

What recent estimate his Department has made of the number of (a) doctors completing GP training and (b) available GP posts.

NHS England produces regular forecasts of the numbers of doctors due to complete General Practitioner (GP) training. Latest data show that for 2025/26, 1,964 doctors completed GP training between 1 April and 21 August 2025 with a further 2,733 doctors forecast to complete GP training by 31 March 2026. Estimated completion dates are produced by GP educators based on doctors’ individual progress so are subject to change.As practices do not have fixed establishment positions against which they report vacancies, we do not collect and publish data on vacancies in general practice.The Government committed to recruiting over 1,000 recently qualified GPs in primary care networks (PCNs) through an £82 million boost to the Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme (ARRS) over 2024/25, as part of an initiative to secure the future pipeline of GPs, with over 1,000 doctors otherwise likely to have graduated into unemployment in 2024/25. This funding has been continued into 2025/26.Data on the number of recently qualified GPs for which PCNs are claiming reimbursement via the ARRS show that, since 1 October 2024, over 2,000 GPs were recruited through the scheme. Several changes have been made to increase the flexibility of ARRS in 2025/26. This includes GPs and practice nurses included in the main ARRS funding pot, an uplift of the maximum reimbursable rate for GPs in the scheme, and no caps on the number of GPs that can be employed through the scheme.

What steps his Department is taking to ensure that cancer early diagnosis targets are appropriate for blood cancers.

The Department remains committed to the early diagnosis of cancer and to improving outcomes for patients. However, we recognise that there is more to be done to ensure that patients with harder to stage cancers, such as blood cancer, receive fast and early diagnoses.There are no current plans to introduce a specific proxy staging measure or a corresponding national target to support the earlier diagnosis of blood cancers. However, to tackle late, emergency setting diagnoses of blood cancers, the National Health Service is implementing non-specific symptom (NSS) pathways for patients who present with symptoms such as weight loss and fatigue, which do not clearly align to a tumour type. There are currently 115 NSS services operating in England, with blood cancers being one of the most common cancer types diagnosed through these pathways.

What estimate his Department has made of the cost to the NHS of treating health conditions linked to exposure to domestic bonfire smoke in areas with high rates of respiratory illness.

Local authorities have a duty to monitor and review air quality in their areas. The Environment Agency manages the United Kingdom's national monitoring sites on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs.No specific assessment of the cost has been made. It is not possible to determine the specific impact of domestic bonfire smoke from other similar pollutant sources.

If his Department will make an assessment of the potential merits of introducing a social leasing scheme for electric vehicles for care workers.

Most care workers are employed by private sector providers who set their pay and terms and conditions, independent of central Government.The Government recognises the scale of reforms needed to make the adult social care sector attractive, to support sustainable workforce growth, and to improve the retention of the domestic workforce. We want it to be regarded as a profession, and for the people who work in care to be respected as professionals.There are no current plans to introduce a social leasing scheme for electric vehicles for care workers. We are introducing the first ever Fair Pay Agreement for adult social care, where an agreement for the adult social care sector can be negotiated and reached by employer representatives, worker representatives, and others in partnership. This negotiation will focus on pay, and terms and conditions, but wider employment matters could be considered, which could include support for care workers’ travel. As we work towards a Fair Pay Agreement, the Government will engage all those who draw upon care, as well as those that work to provide care and support. We will also consult local authorities, unions, and others from across the sector.The Department is also supporting career development and progression by implementing the first ever career structure, investing up to £12 million in training and qualifications, and developing a digital skills record to provide a transferable record of skills.

What discussions his Department has had with the Department for Transport on support for care workers with the costs of travel.

Most care workers are employed by private sector providers who set their pay and terms and conditions, independent of central Government.The Government recognises the scale of reforms needed to make the adult social care sector attractive, to support sustainable workforce growth, and to improve the retention of the domestic workforce. We want it to be regarded as a profession, and for the people who work in care to be respected as professionals.There are no current plans to introduce a social leasing scheme for electric vehicles for care workers. We are introducing the first ever Fair Pay Agreement for adult social care, where an agreement for the adult social care sector can be negotiated and reached by employer representatives, worker representatives, and others in partnership. This negotiation will focus on pay, and terms and conditions, but wider employment matters could be considered, which could include support for care workers’ travel. As we work towards a Fair Pay Agreement, the Government will engage all those who draw upon care, as well as those that work to provide care and support. We will also consult local authorities, unions, and others from across the sector.The Department is also supporting career development and progression by implementing the first ever career structure, investing up to £12 million in training and qualifications, and developing a digital skills record to provide a transferable record of skills.

What assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of the provision of healthcare services in Launceston, in the context of the upcoming closure of the Launceston Minor Injuries Unit.

The Government is aware of the temporary closure of the Launceston Minor Injuries Unit (MIU), which is a decision that was made due to staffing challenges. The responsibility for the delivery, implementation, and funding decisions for services ultimately rests with the appropriate National Health Service commissioning body, which in this case is the NHS Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Integrated Care Board (ICB), rather than the Government. This includes the responsibility to conduct an impact assessment on traveling, provision of services, and an equality impact assessment. The Government has been informed that the Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust completed an Equality Impact Assessment for the closure, which identified the impact to be increased travel time or distance to an alternative MIU.In some scenarios, such as this one, the NHS provider may need to make a temporary service change due to a risk to safety or the welfare of patients or staff. These temporary changes do not represent a permanent or irreversible decision about an NHS service. Permanent changes would only be possible by following the due process, including appropriate engagement with people and communities.The Government expects the local NHS to develop clear plans for reverting temporary service changes. If this cannot be done safely, the ICB will need to develop plans for a permanent solution by following the due process, including appropriate engagement with people and communities.

What assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of the availability of public transport to and from other healthcare centres around Launceston, in the context of the upcoming closure of Launceston Minor Injuries Unit.

The Government is aware of the temporary closure of the Launceston Minor Injuries Unit (MIU), which is a decision that was made due to staffing challenges. The responsibility for the delivery, implementation, and funding decisions for services ultimately rests with the appropriate National Health Service commissioning body, which in this case is the NHS Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Integrated Care Board (ICB), rather than the Government. This includes the responsibility to conduct an impact assessment on traveling, provision of services, and an equality impact assessment. The Government has been informed that the Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust completed an Equality Impact Assessment for the closure, which identified the impact to be increased travel time or distance to an alternative MIU.In some scenarios, such as this one, the NHS provider may need to make a temporary service change due to a risk to safety or the welfare of patients or staff. These temporary changes do not represent a permanent or irreversible decision about an NHS service. Permanent changes would only be possible by following the due process, including appropriate engagement with people and communities.The Government expects the local NHS to develop clear plans for reverting temporary service changes. If this cannot be done safely, the ICB will need to develop plans for a permanent solution by following the due process, including appropriate engagement with people and communities.

If his Department will conduct an impact assessment of the closure of Launceston Minor Injuries Unit.

The Government is aware of the temporary closure of the Launceston Minor Injuries Unit (MIU), which is a decision that was made due to staffing challenges. The responsibility for the delivery, implementation, and funding decisions for services ultimately rests with the appropriate National Health Service commissioning body, which in this case is the NHS Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Integrated Care Board (ICB), rather than the Government. This includes the responsibility to conduct an impact assessment on traveling, provision of services, and an equality impact assessment. The Government has been informed that the Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust completed an Equality Impact Assessment for the closure, which identified the impact to be increased travel time or distance to an alternative MIU.In some scenarios, such as this one, the NHS provider may need to make a temporary service change due to a risk to safety or the welfare of patients or staff. These temporary changes do not represent a permanent or irreversible decision about an NHS service. Permanent changes would only be possible by following the due process, including appropriate engagement with people and communities.The Government expects the local NHS to develop clear plans for reverting temporary service changes. If this cannot be done safely, the ICB will need to develop plans for a permanent solution by following the due process, including appropriate engagement with people and communities.

Whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of the time taken to build the new Women and Children's Hospital at Treliske on the local community.

The new Women and Children's Hospital scheme at the Royal Cornwall Hospital is in Wave 1 of the New Hospital Programme (NHP), as set out in the Plan for Implementation, and is due to commence construction between 2027 and 2028. An equality impact assessment was carried out for the review of the NHP, which included assessing the extent to which service users might be impacted by these delivery proposals, with specific reference to the impact that these might have on relevant protected characteristics. This was laid in the House Library and published on 20 January 2025, and is available at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/new-hospital-programme-review-outcome/new-hospital-programme-equality-impact-assessment

Whether he has had discussions with the Authority administering the Infected Blood Compensation Scheme on (a) the number of claims made, (b) the number rejected and (c) the proportion of claimants who have been successfully completed.

The Infected Blood Compensation Authority (IBCA) regularly publishes statistics on compensation progress on its website. As of 1 July 2025, 2,043 people have been asked to start their claim, 616 people have received an offer, and a total of 460 people have had their compensation paid.My Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, has not discussed claim statistics with the IBCA, as it is an arms-length body which is sponsored by the Cabinet Office.

What steps his Department is taking to reduce ambulance waiting times for elderly patients in North Cornwall constituency.

The Government recognises that ambulance response times, including in North Cornwall, are not meeting the high standards patients should expect.We are determined to turn things around and our Urgent and Emergency Care Plan for 2025-26, backed by almost £450 million of capital investment, commits to reducing ambulance response times for Category 2 incidents to 30 minutes on average this year.Our 10-Year Health Plan sets out how we will reform the National Health Service, including urgent and emergency care services, with a key focus on shifting urgent care into the community through new Neighbourhood Health Services.

What steps his Department is taking to (a) recruit and (b) retain General Practitioner doctors in (i) North Cornwall constituency and (ii) other rural areas.

In the North Cornwall constituency, as of 30 April 2025, there were 61.5 full time equivalent (FTE) doctors in general practices (GPs), an increase of 2.4 FTE compared to April 2024.We acknowledge the urgent challenge of ensuring that rural areas have the resources to continue serving their patients and that patients can access primary healthcare in rural areas. To address this, we are increasing capacity in practices by recruiting more GPs, ensuring the necessary workforce is in place to provide integrated, patient-centred services.We have invested £82 million into the Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme, which has enabled the recruitment of over 1,700 recently qualified GPs across England since October 2024. This will increase the number of available appointments, secure the future pipeline of GPs, and alleviate the pressure on those currently working in the system. We’ve also delivered the biggest boost to GP funding in years, an £889 million uplift, with GPs now receiving a growing share of National Health Service resources. The new 2025/26 GP Contract includes key reforms to improve access to GPs, including making sure patients can request appointments online throughout core hours.Our commitment to growing the GP workforce includes addressing the reasons why doctors leave the profession and encouraging them to return to practice.  We know that high workloads can be a key driver for GPs reducing their contracted hours or leaving the profession altogether. That’s why we are tackling morale through drivers such as growing the workforce and reducing bureaucracy through our Red Tape Challenge to improve job satisfaction and reduce the risk of burnout.

If he will make an assessment of the potential impact of high-density retirement housing schemes in rural areas that do not have corresponding funding for local healthcare infrastructure on demand for (a) GPs, (b) ambulances and (c) other NHS services.

The Government is committed to delivering a National Health Service that is fit for the future, and this means we require world class infrastructure across the NHS estate. We recognise the challenges that areas of significant housing and population growth can place on primary care infrastructure.Integrated care boards are responsible for commissioning, planning, securing, and monitoring health services within their system boundaries through delegated responsibility from NHS England. The NHS has a statutory duty to ensure there are sufficient medical services, including general practices, in each local area. It should take account of population growth and demographic changes associated with new retirement developments, alongside other housing growth.Integrated care systems’ estates infrastructure strategies have been developed to create a long-term plan for future estate requirements and investment for each local area and its needs. These strategies help manage existing estates and take any future requirements into account when considering how best to deliver local services.

What assessment his Department has made of the challenges in the recruitment of (a) General Practitioners and (b) GP nurses in (i) North Cornwall constituency and (ii) rural areas.

We acknowledge the urgent challenge of ensuring that rural areas such as those in North Cornwall have the resources needed to service their patients, and to ensure that patients can access primary healthcare. To address this, we are increasing capacity in general practice by recruiting primary care workforce staff such as nurses and general practitioners through the Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme, ensuring the necessary workforce is in place to provide integrated, patient-centred services.

If he will consider the potential merits of allocating funding for the (a) building of and (b) supplying of specialised equipment to new, purpose-built dental practices.

The responsibility for commissioning primary care services, including National Health Service dentistry, to meet the needs of the local population has been delegated to the integrated care boards across England.The NHS contracts with independent dental providers, to deliver NHS dental treatment in primary care settings.Dental practices can make decisions on the buildings and specialised equipment which suit their needs, providing they remain compliant with the relevant regulations.

What steps his Department is taking to increase the uptake of HPV vaccines.

I refer the Hon. Member to the answer I gave to the Hon. Member for Rotherham on 5 March 2025 to Question 31921.

What steps his Department is taking to improve the (a) diagnosis, (b) treatment pathways and (c) levels of clinical awareness of Postural Tachycardia Syndrome in the NHS.

It is the responsibility of local integrated care boards to work with clinicians, service users, and patient groups to develop services and care pathways that are convenient and that meet the needs of patients with postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (PoTS).The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence has published a clinical knowledge summary on the clinical management of blackouts and syncope, that provides advice for clinicians in the United Kingdom on best practice in the assessment and diagnosis of PoTS. This was last updated in November 2023, and is available at the following link:https://cks.nice.org.uk/topics/blackouts-syncope/diagnosis/assessment/General practitioners (GPs) are asked to investigate symptoms to ensure that it is not misdiagnosed. Following referral, patients are treated within National Health Service cardiology and neurology services. Where more specialist advice is required, a referral will be made to an appropriate clinician.To improve awareness of PoTS amongst healthcare professionals, and specifically GPs, the Royal College of General Practitioners provides training on PoTS as part of its Syncope toolkit, which is available at the following link:https://elearning.rcgp.org.uk/course/view.php?id=500

How many (a) nurse and (b) doctor vacancies there are in the NHS.

NHS England publishes a compendium of NHS Vacancy Statistics each quarter. The information currently provides four measures of the level of vacancies in the National Health Service, one of which includes the number of medical and registered nursing vacancies reported by NHS trusts to NHS England, which is the most commonly used measure.Detailed information on the definition of collected data and the available timeseries, along with the measure’s strengths and weaknesses, can be found at the following link:https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/publications/statistical/nhs-vacancies-surveyData for the period to March 2025 was published on 29 May 2025.Due to the complex nature of how NHS vacancy data is defined and collected, all data sources should be treated with a degree of caution.

How many NHS (a) nurses and (b) doctors are expected to (i) leave and (ii) retire in the next year.

The Department does not hold estimates of the number of nurses and doctors expected to leave the National Health Service or retire in the next year.The Government is committed to making the NHS the best place to work, to ensure we retain more of our skilled and dedicated staff. 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.