Written questions by Blackman.

Whether NHS England's neurology service specifications require providers to include structured mental health and medication safety fields in headache referral, assessment and prescribing templates.

Awaiting answer.

What mechanism exists for psychiatric adverse drug reaction signals, including Yellow Card reports and Prevention of Future Deaths reports, to be considered in national migraine prescribing guidanc

Awaiting answer.

Whether the Care Quality Commission's assessment framework requires providers to evidence medicines safety checks for psychiatric history, psychotropic medication use and previous psychiatric adver

Awaiting answer.

Whether he plans to issue guidance to NHS England on the provision of additional cervical and vaginal cancer surveillance for women exposed in utero to diethylstilbestrol (DES), beyond HPV primary

I apologise unreservedly and express my sincere sympathy to all those affected by exposure to diethylstilbestrol (DES), including those exposed in utero and their families. National Health Service records are held by individual NHS organisations and gener...

What steps his Department is taking to ensure that individuals known to have been exposed to diethylstilbestrol (DES) in utero have that exposure recorded on their own NHS medical records, rather t

I apologise unreservedly and express my sincere sympathy to all those affected by exposure to diethylstilbestrol (DES), including those exposed in utero and their families. National Health Service records are held by individual NHS organisations and gener...

What steps his Department is taking to ensure that Government policy and NHS guidance relating to diethylstilbestrol (DES) exposure are communicated to and accessible by all people exposed to DES i

I apologise unreservedly and express my sincere sympathy to all those affected by exposure to diethylstilbestrol (DES), including those exposed in utero and their families. National Health Service records are held by individual NHS organisations and gener...

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of the 2026 Renewed Women’s Health Strategy for England on waiting times for gynaecology services.

The Renewed Women’s Health Strategy puts the 10-Year Health Plan’s new care model into action to deliver faster, tangible improvements across four outcomes that matter most to women across England. Through the Renewed Strategy, we will support integrated ...

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of women’s health hubs on delivering the objectives of the 2026 Renewed Women’s Health Strategy for England.

The Renewed Women’s Health Strategy sets out a bold, long‑term plan to transform how the health and care system listens to, supports, and delivers for women and girls. It puts women’s voices and choices at the centre of care, drives faster improvements in...

Whether he plans to publish annual progress reports on the implementation of the 2026 Renewed Women’s Health Strategy for England.

The Renewed Women’s Health Strategy, published on the 15 April 2026, sets out 117 actions across four core commitments: acting on women’s voices and choices; transforming National Health Service performance in services that matter most to women; supportin...

What steps he is taking to increase the number of consultant obstetricians and gynaecologists to support delivery of the 2026 Renewed Women’s Health Strategy for England.

The Renewed Women’s Health Strategy was published on 15 April 2026 and sets out a bold, long‑term plan to transform how the health and care system listens to, supports, and delivers for women and girls across all regions in England.It puts women’s voices ...

What steps he is taking to improve access to specialist women’s health services for women in deprived areas.

The Government is committed to building a fairer Britain, to ensure people can live well for longer. Our reimagined National Health Service will tackle inequalities in both access and outcomes, as well as give everyone, no matter who they are or where the...

What steps he is taking to tackle the threat of antimicrobial resistance for people with cystic fibrosis as we mark cystic fibrosis awareness week from 8-14 June.

The United Kingdom’s 2024 to 2029 antimicrobial resistance (AMR) national action plan (NAP), published in May 2024, recognises that AMR impacts people differently. People with cystic fibrosis are an increased risk of infection, including resistant infecti...

What assessment he has made of the impact of co-morbidities such as liver disease which affects one in five people with cystic fibrosis as we mark cystic fibrosis awareness week from 8-14 June.

National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines recommend that patients and/or the families of people with cystic fibrosis are provided with the relevant information and the opportunity for discussion with clinicians on topics that inc...

If he will commit to a review of the prescription charge exemption list to reflect the changing nature of many long-term conditions including cystic fibrosis.

The Government currently has no plans to review or amend the list of medical conditions that entitle someone to apply for a medical exemption certificate.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of global temperatures on the health of people with neurological conditions, including epilepsy; and what research his Department is funding into

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has assessed the health impacts of rising temperatures through its Climate Change and Mental Health thematic assessment and the Adverse Weather and Health Plan Supporting Evidence 2024. These identify that people with...

Pursuant to the answer of 29 April to Question 129461, if he will outline (a) on what basis areas will be determined as having the highest health need; (b) a timeline for when the Choice Charter wi

The Government is committed to giving patients greater choice and control over their care. Patients have a legal right to choose where they go for their first appointment, when referred to consultant-led care as an outpatient.The 10-Year Health Plan commi...

What steps he is taking to ensure that the merger of NHS England with his Department does not affect patients' right to choose healthcare providers.

Patients have a legal right to choose where they go for their first appointment when referred to consultant-led care as an outpatient. The NHS Constitution for England sets out patients' legal rights to make choices about their healthcare and the merger of NHS England with the Department of Health and Social Care will not affect these rights.My Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, is committed to empowering patients by giving them greater choice and control, in a National Health Service that is increasingly receptive and responsive to patient preference, voice, and choice. The 10-Year Health Plan sets out our ongoing commitment to patient choice, including by implementing a new patient Choice Charter to empower patients to be more involved in their own care and the NHS to be more patient-centred through mechanisms such as enhanced use of the NHS App, expanded self-referral options, meaningful choice of providers for elective treatments, funding models that reflect patient feedback, and expansion of personal health budgets.

What steps he is taking to increase the proportion of patients being offered a choice of providers upon referral.

Patients have a legal right to choose where they go for their first appointment when referred to consultant-led care as an outpatient. The NHS Constitution for England and the NHS Standing Rules Regulations set out patients' legal rights to make choices about their healthcare. To support integrated care boards to understand and meet their obligations, NHS England published the Patient Choice Guidance in December 2023, which is available at the following link:https://www.england.nhs.uk/long-read/patient-choice-guidance/The Government is committed to giving patients greater control and choice over their care, across constituencies. The Elective Reform Plan, published January 2025, sets out plans to improve patient choice, empowering people to take control of their health by making the NHS App and ‘Manage Your Referral’ website the default route for patients to choose their provider. To enable patients to make an informed choice, we are improving the information available to them, such as waiting times. The 10-Year Health Plan committed to a new ‘Choice Charter’, that will be rolled out progressively in areas of highest health need. The Choice Charter states five ‘mechanisms’ that sit within it, one of which is the commitment to the right to choose in electives.No assessment has been made of the impact in Harrow East constituency.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of ensuring a choice of NHS provider is offered upon referral on patients in Harrow East constituency.

Patients have a legal right to choose where they go for their first appointment when referred to consultant-led care as an outpatient. The NHS Constitution for England and the NHS Standing Rules Regulations set out patients' legal rights to make choices about their healthcare. To support integrated care boards to understand and meet their obligations, NHS England published the Patient Choice Guidance in December 2023, which is available at the following link:https://www.england.nhs.uk/long-read/patient-choice-guidance/The Government is committed to giving patients greater control and choice over their care, across constituencies. The Elective Reform Plan, published January 2025, sets out plans to improve patient choice, empowering people to take control of their health by making the NHS App and ‘Manage Your Referral’ website the default route for patients to choose their provider. To enable patients to make an informed choice, we are improving the information available to them, such as waiting times. The 10-Year Health Plan committed to a new ‘Choice Charter’, that will be rolled out progressively in areas of highest health need. The Choice Charter states five ‘mechanisms’ that sit within it, one of which is the commitment to the right to choose in electives.No assessment has been made of the impact in Harrow East constituency.

If his Department will commission a funded community pharmacy lipid service pathway.

Awaiting answer.