Written questions by Obese-Jecty.

Pursuant to the Answer of 9 September 2025 to Question 72364 on Electronic Patient Records, what funding support he is providing to the North-West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust to enable the procurement of a (a) modern and (b) enterprise-wide electronic patient record system.

NHS England is supporting the North-West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust to produce a robust and affordable Outline Business Case to procure an Electronic Patient Record that meets the core capabilities set out by the NHS England Frontline Digitisation programme. This includes providing procurement support, subject matter expertise, and funding, which encompasses both capital and revenue. The North-West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust has received approximately £9 million of funding from NHS England to date, with a further £3 million of funding due to be received this year. This funding is contingent on the North-West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust providing an agreed plan for its spend on readiness activities to support creation of the Outline Business Case.

Pursuant to the Answer of 9 September 2025 to Question 72364 on Electronic Patient Records, what level on the HIMMS scale will Hinchingbrooke Hospital be required to achieve before completion as part of the New Hospital Programme.

The New Hospital Programme (NHP) and the Frontline Productivity Programmes do not use the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) grading system. When frontline digitisation began, it was broadly looking to align capabilities of new electronic patient record (EPR) systems to HIMSS level 5, out of 7, but this is only a broad correlation.Hinchingbrooke Hospital is part of North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust, which is currently part way through the business case process for a new EPR. Hinchingbrooke has also recently submitted its strategic outline case for their new hospital as part of the New Hospitals Programme, which is due for consideration this month.The level of digital maturity that is required of hospitals in the NHP has been carefully assessed. All NHP sites will be required to deliver core capabilities in their digital systems which will enable the new hospitals to deliver modern, digitally enabled care.

What progress he has made in delivering the NHS Digital Transformation of Screening programme.

The Digital Transformation of Screening programme is leading an ambitious, end-to-end transformation of screening services, rolling out in a test and learn way. New digital services will support screening participants to manage their screening appointments via the National Health Service App as well as delivering new, AI-ready services for staff, freeing up their time to focus on care.Digital invitations along with some results and other routine communications, via the NHS App, have already been rolled out in cervical screening, with bowel cancer and breast screening invitations due to follow.This winter, NHS England will begin rolling out a replacement digital service for the existing breast screening system (a legacy system called ‘the National Breast Screening Service’), which will provide an end-to-end service for frontline staff to manage breast screening in an easier, more efficient way. This follows the rollout of an improved IT system to support management of cervical screening, which went live last summer.Work is also under way to put the IT and digital infrastructure in place to support the effective rollout of HPV self-testing for women and people with a cervix who have not come forward for their cervical screening appointments, due to go live in 2026.

What assessment he has made of the impact of the abolition of NHS England on the Integrated Single Financial Environment programme.

As would be expected with such significant reform, we have been carefully assessing the impact of the organisational change across the range existing systems and processes that includes the continued use of systems such as the Integrated Single Financial Environment (ISFE).The ISFE is, and will continue to be, critical to the delivery of ongoing National Health Service functions, and we are committed to ensuring that we maximise the value of the investment made in this system in the new integrated organisation.

If he will make an assessment of the potential impact of abolishing (a) NHS England and (b) some integrated care boards on (i) veteran-focussed services provided by NHS England and (ii) veteran-tailored healthcare provision.

Following the announcement on the abolition of NHS England, work is progressing to develop the design and operating model for the new integrated organisation, and to plan for the smooth transfer of people, functions, and responsibilities from NHS England to the Department.The Department is committed to carefully assessing and understanding the potential impacts, and these ongoing assessments will inform the programme as it progresses. NHS England will continue to undertake its statutory functions until parliamentary time allows for legislative changes to be made.Whilst this transformation takes place, the Department will ensure that it continues to evaluate impacts and work collaboratively to ensure continuity of care within veteran focussed services.

Which organisation will have responsibility for veteran-focused healthcare following the abolition of NHS England.

Following the announcement on the abolition of NHS England, work is progressing to develop the design and operating model for the new integrated organisation, and to plan for the smooth transfer of people, functions, and responsibilities from NHS England to the Department.The Department is committed to carefully assessing and understanding the potential impacts, and these ongoing assessments will inform the programme as it progresses. NHS England will continue to undertake its statutory functions until parliamentary time allows for legislative changes to be made.Whilst this transformation takes place, the Department will ensure that it continues to evaluate impacts and work collaboratively to ensure continuity of care within veteran focussed services.

What pre-clinical animal testing was conducted prior to reaching the clinical vaccine trial stage for AHEAD-MERIT (BNT113).

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is responsible for ensuring that all medicines and vaccines, including cancer vaccines, meet appropriate standards of safety, quality and efficacy before they are approved for use in humans. Non-clinical (also known as pre-clinical) studies for therapeutic cancer vaccines are performed in compliance with applicable International Council for Harmonisation guidance, the WHO guideline on Non-clinical Evaluation of Vaccines. Such studies must be conducted in compliance with the principles of Good Laboratory Practice and in accordance with the United Kingdom’s strict animal welfare legislation, including the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986, which requires that the use of animals in research is justified and that alternatives are considered wherever possible. The MHRA is not able to share confidential information on pre-clinical studies. A clinical trial may only proceed once the MHRA is satisfied that the data supports a reasonable expectation of safety and potential therapeutic benefit to participants.

With reference to page 130 of the Strategic Defence Review, published on 2 June 2025, what recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Defence on the role of his Department in building an NHS fit for the future.

Whilst there have been no recent formal discussions between my Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care and my Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Defence, there is a strong foundation of cross-Government working between Ministry of Defence and the Department of Health and Social Care.The 10-Year Health Plan for England, which was published on 3 July 2025 by the Department of Health and Social Care, sets out a plan to create a new model of care fit for the future. The Strategic Defence Review recognises the interdependencies between the Defence Medical Services and the National Health Service and the need to continue to strengthen this partnership. Implementation of the review’s recommendations is underway.A series of workshops, involving both the Ministry of Defence and the Department of Health and Social Care, are exploring the United Kingdom’s ability to deal with various combat scenarios and the treatment of casualties. The Ministry of Defence is also participating in the cross-Government Exercise PEGASUS, the national tier 1 pandemic preparedness exercise set to assess the UK’s ability to respond to a pandemic. Both activities focus on understanding system-wide capacity and capability, potential future need, and shared plans for delivery.

With reference to page 130 of the Strategic Defence Review, published on 2 June 2025, how many and what proportion of reserves work in the NHS for each of the three services.

The Department does not hold the information requested.

With reference to page 130 of the Strategic Defence Review, published on 2 June 2025, what progress his Department has made in rebuilding medical capabilities for warfighting.

A series of joint wargame exercises have taken place that have been used to identify gaps in medical warfighting capabilities. These exercises continue to inform planning between the National Health Service and the Ministry of Defence to ensure both can respond to a wide range of warfighting scenarios that might affect health and patient care.The Department of Health and Social Care and the NHS have actively worked alongside the Ministry of Defence to rebuild medical capabilities for warfighting through the introduction of the digital extraction of redacted patient notes from general practice surgeries. This has reduced the recruitment process significantly for medically trained warfighting personnel. Furthermore, the Department of Health and Social Care and NHS are also reviewing how military medical staff operate across the NHS in clinical placements.

With reference to page 130 of the Strategic Defence Review, published on 2 June 2025, what progress he has made with Cabinet colleagues to help ensure that the NHS is prepared for mass military casualties in the event of a major war.

There is a strong foundation of cross-government working between the Department of Health and Social Care and the Ministry of Defence (MOD).A series of joint Emergency Preparedness Resilience and Response exercises have taken place, and planning continues so that the National Health Service and the MOD can respond to a wide range of incidents and emergencies which could affect health or patient care. As part of this planning, the MOD and DHSC are exploring the United Kingdom’s ability to manage various combat scenarios and the treatment of casualties.MOD is also participating in DHSC’s cross-government Exercise PEGASUS, the national Tier 1 pandemic preparedness exercise set to assess the UK’s ability to respond to a pandemic. Both activities focus on understanding system-wide capacity and capability, potential future need and shared plans for delivery.

With reference to page 130 of the Strategic Defence Review, published on 2 June 2025, what recent progress he has made on creating integrated crisis plans.

The creation of integrated crisis plans are broader than health and will consider the recommendations identified in the NATO Medical Action Plan. These recommendations and the creation of integrated crisis plans will be discussed as part of the ongoing engagement between the Department of Health and Social Care, NHS England and the Ministry of Defence.

With reference to the Government's news story entitled, Update on Gaza medical evacuation scheme, published on 22 August 2025, what estimate he has made with Cabinet colleagues on the number of Gazan (a) children and (b) immediate family members that will be accepted for evacuation and treatment in the UK.

I refer the Hon. Member to the Written Statement HCWS899 made to the House on 1 September 2025 by my Rt. Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care.The safety, privacy, and wellbeing of these severely ill and vulnerable patients and their families remains our absolute priority. We will not be providing further operational details on the numbers who have arrived at this stage.

With reference to page 130 of the Strategic Defence Review, published on 2 June 2025, what recent progress he has made on undertaking a sprint review.

The sprint review is initiated and led by the Ministry of Defence, working with the Department of Health and Social Care and other Governmental and private organisations. A series of meetings are planned for late 2025 which will explore and progress the joint plans to meet the recommendations outlined in the Strategic Defence Review.

Pursuant to the Answer of 9 September 2025 to Question 72364 on North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust: Medical Records, by when he expects North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust to submit that investment case.

The North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust is unable to confirm the date the investment case will be submitted, as this is subject to conversations between NHS England regional and national colleagues to confirm necessary approvals and funding for the Outline Business Case. We are working to ensure this happens in a timely manner to secure the trust and integrated care system strategic objectives, and to meet the timeline for the new hospital opening at Hinchingbrooke.

With reference to the UK’s Modern Industrial Strategy, CP 1337, published on 23 June 2025, what progress he has made on creating the world’s most (a) advanced, (b) secure and (c) AI-ready health data platform.

On 7 April 2025, the Prime Minister announced that the Government and the Wellcome Trust will invest up to £600 million to create a new Health Data Research Service (HDRS), co-designed through engagement with the public and patients, data users and stakeholder organisations.Significant progress has been made since then towards the creation of HDRS, as highlighted in the recent NHS England blog post from the senior officials responsible for the programme, which is available at the following link:https://www.england.nhs.uk/blog/health-data-research-service-unlocking-the-potential-of-health-and-care-data-to-transform-lives/Key achievements to date include: job adverts going live for CEO and Chair; stakeholder engagement forums established; and coordinated commitments in three major Government strategy publications, namely the Industrial Strategy, 10-Year Health Plan and Life Sciences Sector Plan.Over the coming months, we will establish the independent organisation that will run HDRS and complete detailed discovery work. In autumn 2025, we will publish comprehensive policy principles developed with leading experts across healthcare, research, patients, ethics and data protection. Our first services will launch by the end of 2026, with core capabilities rolling out progressively.

With reference to the UK’s Modern Industrial Strategy, CP 1337, published on 23 June 2025, what progress he has made on reducing trial approval times to under 150 days.

The Department is committed to cutting the current time it takes to get a clinical trial set up, to under 150 days by March 2026 with the aim of making the United Kingdom a world leader in clinical trials. We are streamlining the set-up and delivery of clinical research through the UK Clinical Research Delivery (UKCRD) programme as set out in our recent publication, Transforming the UK clinical research system: August 2025 update, which is available at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/transforming-the-uk-clinical-research-system-august-2025-updateThe UKCRD programme has rapidly implemented a Study Set-Up Plan, co-led by the Department and NHS England to address the delays affecting clinical research set-up through reducing unnecessary bureaucracy, by standardising commercial contracts and removing duplicative steps at sites to create a standardised pathway, for example in pharmacy set-up, to free up workforce capacity. The second phase of the Plan was completed in June 2025, with mandatory use of the new processes and templates for commercial trials by October 2025. The successful implementation of the Plan will be closely monitored for impact.

With reference to the UK’s Modern Industrial Strategy, CP 1337, published on 23 June 2025, what progress he has made on doubling commercial interventional trial participants by the end of 2025.

The Department is monitoring progress on commercial interventional trial participation via the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). The number of participants recruited to commercial interventional trials in the United Kingdom was 21,108 in 2024/25 and 4,635 in the first quarter of 2025/26.To ensure the UK’s international competitiveness and to attract more commercial interventional trials to the UK, the Government has implemented a Study Set-Up Plan through the 4-nation UK Clinical Research Delivery (UKCRD) programme. The second and final phase of the UKCRD Study Set-Up Plan was completed in June 2025, as part of efforts to cut clinical trials study set up times to 150 days by March 2026.The NIHR is also supporting increased participation in clinical trials with the online service 'Be Part of Research', making it easier for people to find and take part in health and care research and for researchers to recruit suitable participants.

What the total cost to the public purse is for (a) clinical negligence and (b) other claims against the National Health Service in England paid out by NHS Resolution in the (i) 2023-24 and (ii) 2024-25 financial year, broken down by speciality.

NHS Resolution manages clinical negligence and other claims against the National Health Service in England.The attached tables show the total payments for clinical negligence claims and non-clinical negligence claims between 2023/24 and 2024/25, broken down by year and primary specialty. NHS Resolution has included all specialties as listed in the published Annual Reports and Accounts.It has also suppressed low figures given the sensitive and confidential nature of the information held. In some instances, with the low numbers of claims, namely fewer than five, in each category, the likelihood exists that individuals who are the subject of this information may be identified either from this information alone, or in combination with other available information.

How many instances of clinical negligence in which NHS Resolution paid damages there were in each clinical speciality in the (a) 2023-24 and (b) 2024-25 financial year.

NHS Resolution manages clinical negligence and other claims against the National Health Service in England.The attached tables show the number of clinical negligence claims where at least one payment has been incurred between 2023/24 and 2024/25, broken down by year and primary specialty. Payments cover damages, claimant costs, and defence costs, while low figures have been supressed to protect claimant identity.