Written questions by Dean.

What steps his Department is taking to improve miscarriage care.

Awaiting answer.

Whether the National Maternity and Neonatal Taskforce will be considering miscarriage care as part of its remit.

Awaiting answer.

With reference to the report entitled The Tommy’s Graded Model of Miscarriage Care, published by Tommy’s on 29 April 2026, whether his Department plans to roll out the Graded Model of Miscarriage Care nationally.

Awaiting answer.

Whether he has made an assessment of trends in the level of waiting times for blood tests; and if he will publish data on current turnaround times by Integrated Care systems.

Ensuring patients receive their diagnostic test results quickly is a priority for the Government. 70% of histopathology cases are expected to be completed within 10 days. For cases relating to cancer or suspected cancer, the expectation is 80% within 10 days. The Government does not hold the data requested on integrated care systems’ turnaround times for blood tests. However, the Government is committed to improving access to pathology diagnostic services through the National Health Service’s 27 pathology networks. NHS laboratories deliver over 1.4 billion tests annually, including approximately 1.2 billion blood tests that require phlebotomy. While the Government does not currently hold national data on waiting times for access to blood sampling, capacity is being expanded. Phlebotomy services are now available through 119 community diagnostic centres, with 1.8 million tests delivered between April 2025 and the end of February 2026. More broadly, programmes are underway to improve access, resilience, and performance across pathology services, including targeted investment in digital technology and robotics, particularly within histopathology.

What estimate he has made of the (a) average and (b) longest wait times for patients to receive blood test results; and what steps he is taking to reduce delays.

Ensuring patients receive their diagnostic test results quickly is a priority for the Government. 70% of histopathology cases are expected to be completed within 10 days. For cases relating to cancer or suspected cancer, the expectation is 80% within 10 days. The Government does not hold the data requested on integrated care systems’ turnaround times for blood tests. However, the Government is committed to improving access to pathology diagnostic services through the National Health Service’s 27 pathology networks. NHS laboratories deliver over 1.4 billion tests annually, including approximately 1.2 billion blood tests that require phlebotomy. While the Government does not currently hold national data on waiting times for access to blood sampling, capacity is being expanded. Phlebotomy services are now available through 119 community diagnostic centres, with 1.8 million tests delivered between April 2025 and the end of February 2026. More broadly, programmes are underway to improve access, resilience, and performance across pathology services, including targeted investment in digital technology and robotics, particularly within histopathology.

What recent assessment he has made trends in the level of waiting times for diagnostic tests across the NHS; and whether delays in receiving routine blood test results reflect a wider trend in diagnostic backlogs.

Ensuring patients receive their diagnostic test results quickly is a priority for the Government. 70% of histopathology cases are expected to be completed within 10 days. For cases relating to cancer or suspected cancer, the expectation is 80% within 10 days. The Government does not hold the data requested on integrated care systems’ turnaround times for blood tests. However, the Government is committed to improving access to pathology diagnostic services through the National Health Service’s 27 pathology networks. NHS laboratories deliver over 1.4 billion tests annually, including approximately 1.2 billion blood tests that require phlebotomy. While the Government does not currently hold national data on waiting times for access to blood sampling, capacity is being expanded. Phlebotomy services are now available through 119 community diagnostic centres, with 1.8 million tests delivered between April 2025 and the end of February 2026. More broadly, programmes are underway to improve access, resilience, and performance across pathology services, including targeted investment in digital technology and robotics, particularly within histopathology.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of reducing the workforce of integrated care boards by 50 per cent on the level of patient care and NHS system performance.

NHS England has asked integrated care boards (ICBs) to act primarily as strategic commissioners of health and care services and reduce duplication of responsibilities within their structure with the expectation of achieving a reduction in their running cost allowance.As such, NHS England has asked ICBs to reduce their running cost allowance to a cap of £19 per head of weighted population and enable savings to be reinvested in frontline services. ICBs have been supported in developing local plans for their future structures and remain accountable for delivering their statutory functions.As set out in the 10-Year Health Plan, ICBs’ role as strategic commissioners will be to improve their population’s health, reduce health inequalities, and improve access to consistently high-quality services.

Whether staff transferring from NHS England to his Department will have their existing terms and conditions, including pay protections, preserved; and whether the transfer will be conducted in line with TUPE principles.

We can confirm that we will follow Transfer of Undertakings Protection of Employment (TUPE) like principles, whether TUPE or another statutory transfer mechanism, in line with the Cabinet Office Statement of Practice. This means that recognised trade unions will be formally consulted and engaged on measures related to the transfer with no changes to contractual terms and conditions made without proper consultation and engagement.

When funding for Start for Life services will be confirmed for Sutton Council; and what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the absence of such funding on support for babies and new parents in Carshalton and Wallington constituency in 2025–26.

The 10-Year Health Plan sets out an ambitious agenda on how we will improve the nation’s health by creating a new model of care that is fit for the future.We recognise that local authorities such as Sutton Council are ambitious, seeking to deliver universal support to babies, children, and their families, and prevent escalating need. We are committed to delivering the 10-Year Health Plan’s ambition to match Healthy Babies, formerly Start for Life, to Best Start Family Hubs over the next decade.Healthy Babies funding is helping families during the critical 1,001 days, and parents have said they are more confident in feeding their babies and have better perinatal mental health because of this support. We continue to assess how we can best support early-years service integration across the country and remain committed to working with delivery partners locally to achieve this.Healthy Babies is one element of our broader commitment to supporting babies, children and families. From April 2026, Best Start Family Hubs will expand to every single local authority, including Sutton Council, backed by over £500 million to reach up to half a million more children and families. This funding will help all local authorities to integrate a range of statutory and non-statutory health and family services.

What discussions his Department has had with UKRI and the National Institute for Health and Care Research on supporting new and emerging treatments for low‑grade gliomas.

The Department invests over £1.6 billion per year in research through the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR).Government responsibility for delivering cancer research is shared between Department for Health and Social Care, with research delivered by the NIHR, and Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, with research delivered via UK Research and Innovation.Department of Health and Social Care and Department of Science, Innovation and Technology officials meet regularly to discuss a range of research investments to drive the maximum collective research impact on policy, practice, and individual lives.The NIHR is continuing to invest in brain tumour research. In December 2025, the NIHR announced the pioneering Brain Tumour Research Consortium to accelerate research into new brain tumour treatments. NIHR is investing an initial £13.7 million in the consortium, with significant further funding due to be awarded early in 2026. The world-leading consortium aims to transform outcomes for adults and children and their families who are living with brain tumours, ultimately reducing lives lost to cancer.The NIHR continues to welcome high quality funding applications for research into any aspect of human health and care, including low-grade glioma.

Whether she plans to increase funding for research on low‑grade gliomas and other rare brain tumours.

The Department invests over £1.6 billion per year in research through the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR).The NIHR is continuing to invest in brain tumour research. For example, in December 2025, the NIHR announced the pioneering Brain Tumour Research Consortium to accelerate research into new brain tumour treatments. NIHR is investing an initial £13.7 million in the consortium with significant further funding due to be awarded early in 2026. The world-leading consortium aims to transform outcomes for adults and children and their families who are living with brain tumours, ultimately reducing lives lost to cancer.Brain tumours are one of the toughest cancers to treat. This new NIHR investment will help researchers and clinicians understand the disease better, test new treatments earlier and make trials available to more adults and children closer to home.The consortium brings together 48 organisations from across leading universities, National Health Service trusts, and charities, along with patients, to help deliver better research, faster. It is a coordinated national effort to improve the development and evaluation of treatments for brain tumours across adult and paediatric populations.The NIHR continues to welcome high quality funding applications for research into any aspect of human health and care, including low-grade glioma and other rare brain tumours.

What plans his Department has to improve (a) transparency and (b) reporting on corridor care incidents in NHS trusts.

The Government is determined to get the National Health Service back on its feet, so patients can be treated with dignity.  We are therefore doing everything we can as fast as we can to consign the delivery of care in temporary escalation spaces to the history books.Our Urgent and Emergency Care Plan, published in June 2025, set out steps we are taking to ensure that patients will receive better, faster, and more appropriate emergency care this winter, backed by a total of nearly £450 million of funding. This includes a commitment to publish data on the prevalence of corridor care for the first time.We have started collecting data on the prevalence of corridor care and we will look to publish it once data quality improves.

What steps his Department is taking to reduce the use of corridor care in NHS hospitals.

The Government is determined to get the National Health Service back on its feet, so patients can be treated with dignity.  We are therefore doing everything we can as fast as we can to consign the delivery of care in temporary escalation spaces to the history books.Our Urgent and Emergency Care Plan, published in June 2025, set out steps we are taking to ensure that patients will receive better, faster, and more appropriate emergency care this winter, backed by a total of nearly £450 million of funding. This includes a commitment to publish data on the prevalence of corridor care for the first time.We have started collecting data on the prevalence of corridor care and we will look to publish it once data quality improves.

What information his Department collects on the number of patients receiving care in corridors in NHS hospitals.

The Government is determined to get the National Health Service back on its feet, so patients can be treated with dignity.  We are therefore doing everything we can as fast as we can to consign the delivery of care in temporary escalation spaces to the history books.Our Urgent and Emergency Care Plan, published in June 2025, set out steps we are taking to ensure that patients will receive better, faster, and more appropriate emergency care this winter, backed by a total of nearly £450 million of funding. This includes a commitment to publish data on the prevalence of corridor care for the first time.We have started collecting data on the prevalence of corridor care and we will look to publish it once data quality improves.

Whether his Department plans to integrate (a) Sleepio and (b) other digital cognitive behavioural therapy solutions for insomnia into (i) standard primary care pathways and (ii) NHS app services.

The Department does not currently have plans to integrate Sleepio or other Digital Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Insomnia (dCBT-I) solutions into primary care pathways or National Health Service app services but is committed to exploring options to make digital tools, supporting people living with insomnia, nationally available.NHS England is currently running an open process to secure equitable national access to dCBT-I and has recently published a Request For Information and questionnaire. This creates an opportunity for all suppliers in this market to engage in a fair and transparent commercial process.There is an ongoing programme of work within NHS England, exploring the feasibility of integrating Digital Therapeutics into the NHS app. This is in the early phases and will form the foundations of the HealthStore App Marketplace, which is a commitment in our10-Year Health Plan. The store will explore options to support the availability of digital health technologies across multiple condition areas.

What steps his Department is taking to ensure increased availability of (a) Sleepio and (b) other clinically approved digital cognitive behavioural therapy programmes for people with insomnia.

The Department does not currently have plans to integrate Sleepio or other Digital Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Insomnia (dCBT-I) solutions into primary care pathways or National Health Service app services but is committed to exploring options to make digital tools, supporting people living with insomnia, nationally available.NHS England is currently running an open process to secure equitable national access to dCBT-I and has recently published a Request For Information and questionnaire. This creates an opportunity for all suppliers in this market to engage in a fair and transparent commercial process.There is an ongoing programme of work within NHS England, exploring the feasibility of integrating Digital Therapeutics into the NHS app. This is in the early phases and will form the foundations of the HealthStore App Marketplace, which is a commitment in our10-Year Health Plan. The store will explore options to support the availability of digital health technologies across multiple condition areas.

Whether he plans to (a) reinstate and (b) establish dedicated long covid support services in St Helier and Epsom.

The St George’s, Epsom and St Helier NHS Foundation Trust’s chronic fatigue service had a waiting list of 350 patients waiting 25 weeks or more for their first appointment. To manage this, the trust temporarily paused new referrals from June. During the temporary pause, the service will continue to care for existing patients. Any new patients who were referred before the pause will still be offered an appointment within 25 weeks.The St George’s, Epsom and St Helier NHS Foundation Trust continues to keep this under review. Patients needing help should still visit their general practice if they are experiencing long COVID symptoms.

If his Department will take steps to establish a national database of long covid patients.

Aggregated historical data remains accessible via the long COVID dashboard on the NHS National Data Platform (Foundry). This dashboard continues to support commissioners and service providers by enabling the monitoring of service activity, evaluation of equity in access and healthcare utilisation, and benchmarking of performance across services.

What assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of the guidance it has issued to healthcare professionals on how to (a) identity different clinical subtypes of long covid and (b) provide appropriate treatment pathways for those diagnosed.

While no specific assessment has been made, there is targeted advice for healthcare professionals to manage long COVID. Patients should be managed according to current clinical guidance such as that published and updated by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). This is available at the following link: https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/NG188NICE is responsible for keeping its published guidelines up to date and under active surveillance to ensure that they reflect developments in the evidence base and its recommendations on new medicines.Integrated care boards (ICBs) are responsible for commissioning specialist services that meet the needs of their population, subject to local prioritisation and funding. In the commissioning of services, commissioners should take account of NICE guidance and other best practice.NHS England has published commissioning guidance for post-COVID (long COVID) services, which sets out the commissioning, service requirements and oversight of post-COVID services by ICBs in England for adults and children and young people. It outlines the elements that post-COVID services should include and the principles of care for long COVID. The commissioning guidance is available at the following link: https://www.england.nhs.uk/long-read/commissioning-guidance-for-post-covid-services-for-adults-children-and-young-people/.

What steps his Department is taking to improve coordination of care for long covid patients who require multi-disciplinary support.

Across the NHS in England, there are services supporting people with post-COVID syndrome (long COVID). These services offer physical, cognitive and psychological assessment, and, where appropriate, refer patients onto existing services for treatment and rehabilitation. More information is available on the NHS England website at the following link: https://www.england.nhs.uk/coronavirus/post-covid-syndrome-long-covid/.Since April 2024, the commissioning of post-COVID services has been the responsibility of local integrated care boards (ICBs), following the closure of the national post-COVID programme.NHS England has published commissioning guidance for post-COVID services, which sets out the commissioning, service requirements and oversight of post-COVID services by ICBs in England for adults and children and young people. It outlines the elements that post-COVID services should include and the principles of care for long COVID. The commissioning guidance is available at the following link: https://www.england.nhs.uk/long-read/commissioning-guidance-for-post-covid-services-for-adults-children-and-young-people/.People with long COVID symptoms should see their GP, who will be able to refer them to services depending on their clinical needs.