The Westminster lensArchive · Written questions · 1,536 tabled · 1,471 answered

Written questions by Stephenson.

Every parliamentary written question tabled by Blake Stephenson this session, with the full answer and department. See how every department answers, or back to the MP page.

Department:All (1,536)Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (321)Department of Health and Social Care (186)Department for Transport (149)Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (145)Home Office (141)Treasury (130)Department for Education (96)Department for Business and Trade (62)Department for Culture, Media and Sport (55)Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (49)Department for Work and Pensions (45)Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (41)

Showing 181186 of 186 · Department of Health and Social Care

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23 Jan 2025·Department of Health and Social Care·Answered
Asked

If he will make an estimate of the number of new GP surgeries that are projected to open each year till July 2029.

Reply

The Government is committed to ensuring that everyone can access primary care when needed. At the Autumn Budget, a £102 million capital fund was announced for 2025/26 to deliver approximately 200 general practice (GP) surgery upgrades across England, improving existing facilities, boosting productivity, and enabling the delivery of more appointments. This funding represents a first step in delivering the additional capital the primary care sector needs.Decisions on new GP surgeries are made locally by commissioners based on the needs of their populations. Integrated care boards are responsible for planning and commissioning healthcare services to meet the reasonable needs of the people for whom they are responsible, including evaluating population needs and planning provision for GP services. Their annual commissioning plans consider requirements for new practices, such as those driven by population growth, contract expiries, or unplanned closures. Commissioners are expected to address gaps in service, and in the event of a closure, assess whether a replacement provider is needed before transferring patients to other local practices.

15 Jan 2025·Department of Health and Social Care·Answered
Asked

If he will make an estimate of the cost to the public purse of NHS treatment for pensioners in winter (a) 2024-25 and (b) 2023-24.

Reply

The information requested is not held centrally.

15 Jan 2025·Department of Health and Social Care·Answered
Asked

If he will make an estimate of the number of pensioners hospitalised in winter 2024-25.

Reply

Information on hospital admissions by pensioners, specifically, is not available. NHS England publishes information on admissions by age group, with the following table showing the latest data for those aged 65 years old and over:MonthAdmitted hospital attendances for people aged 65 years old and over, EnglandNovember 2024160,630December 2024 (provisional)154,995Source: NHS England https://www.england.nhs.uk/statistics/statistical-work-areas/ae-waiting-times-and-activity/ae-attendances-and-emergency-admissions-2024-25/Notes:This data is provided as a percentage of total admissions; therefore, the figures have been calculated from these percentages and rounded to the nearest whole number.The data publication is released monthly, with December 2024 being the most recent publication. December figures are provisional and are subject to revisions.

26 Nov 2024·Department of Health and Social Care·Answered
Asked

If he will ask local authorities to improve signposting of support groups for unpaid carers.

Reply

Under the Care Act 2014, local authorities have duties to support people caring for their family and friends. It is for local authorities to decide how best to support their local population, including how they signpost unpaid carers to support groups.The...

11 Oct 2024·Department of Health and Social Care·Answered
Asked

What recent assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of the condition of Bedford Hospital.

Reply

The Government is committed to delivering a National Health Service that is fit for the future, and we recognise that delivering high quality NHS healthcare services requires safe, resilient, and effective infrastructure.As part of the management of their...

17 Jul 2024·Department of Health and Social Care·Answered
Asked

What steps he is taking to help ensure new GP surgeries are established in areas of population growth.

Reply

GPs have been neglected for too long. They are under-resourced, struggling to cope, and patients pay the price. We know that there is pressure on primary care estates and service provision in areas of high population growth. General practice provides high quality care, and we are committed to shifting the focus of care out of hospitals and into the community.

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Sources
SourceUK Parliament Members API
MethodQuestion and answer text as published. Question preamble (“To ask the…”) trimmed for readability; answers shown in full.