Written questions by Miller.

How many psychologists and psychiatrists have been (a) recently recruited and (b) are working in the NHS.

The number of psychologists and psychiatrists working in National Health Service trusts and other core organisations in England is published monthly by NHS England as part of their NHS Workforce Statistics Collection. This information includes data on the number of joiners, although it is not detailed enough to show how many psychologists and psychiatrists are newly recruited. It can also include people moving between NHS roles or training placements, so they may not show true new recruitment. The latest data is available at the following link within the file NHS HCHS Workforce Statistics, Trusts and core organisations - data tables, February 2026:https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/publications/statistical/nhs-workforce-statistics/february-2026 The data includes staff employed by NHS trusts and other core NHS organisations and will therefore exclude staff directly employed by primary care, general practitioner surgeries, local authorities, and other providers such as community interest companies and private providers.

Which body is responsible for ensuring that community pharmacy delivery rules for Covid-19 vaccination are aligned with the clinical guidance set out in the Green Book.

The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) is an independent expert committee which reviews the latest data on COVID-19 risks, vaccine safety, and effectiveness and advises the Government on eligibility for vaccination and immunisation programmes.Vaccination eligibility criteria are agreed by the Government in line with advice from the JCVI. Which groups are eligible for vaccination is communicated to commissioners and providers, including community pharmacies, by NHS England through operational guidance. The guidance issued for the recent autumn 2025 campaign is available at the following link:www.england.nhs.uk/long-read/flu-and-covid-19-seasonal-vaccination-programme-autumn-winter-2025-26/This guidance reflects the eligibility and clinical guidance set out in the COVID-19 Chapter of the UK Health Security Green Book on vaccination and immunisation, which is available at the following link:www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-the-green-book-chapter-14a

Whether he plans to review Covid-19 vaccination eligibility and delivery arrangements for patients with confirmed upcoming immunosuppressive treatment, including chemotherapy.

The Government is committed to protecting those most vulnerable to COVID-19 through vaccination, as guided by the independent Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI). The primary aim of the national COVID-19 vaccination programme remains the prevention of serious illness, resulting in hospitalisations and deaths, arising from COVID-19.The COVID-19 chapter of the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) Green Book on vaccination and immunisation sets out details of who may be vaccinated, including cases where a patient has upcoming immunosuppressive treatment, including chemotherapy. In these instances, it will be for their treating clinician to recommend whether a COVID-19 vaccine will be appropriate and when it should be given on a case-by-case basis. They will have the best knowledge of the patient and will need to be content that any prescriptions or treatments, including vaccinations, are clinically appropriate for the individual. Year-round pathways are in place locally to enable these vaccinations to be given when clinically indicated, including during or ahead of a course of chemotherapy.The JCVI continues to keep the COVID-19 vaccination programme under review, and the Government will respond to any additional JCVI advice in due course.

What assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of current arrangements for cancer patients to receive a Covid-19 vaccination prior to the start of chemotherapy, in cases where the Green Book advises that vaccination should ideally be planned around upcoming immunosuppressive treatment and administered during periods of minimal immunosuppression to maximise immune response.

The Government is committed to protecting those most vulnerable to COVID-19 through vaccination, as guided by the independent Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI). The primary aim of the national COVID-19 vaccination programme remains the prevention of serious illness, resulting in hospitalisations and deaths, arising from COVID-19.The COVID-19 chapter of the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) Green Book on vaccination and immunisation sets out details of who may be vaccinated, including cases where a patient has upcoming immunosuppressive treatment, including chemotherapy. In these instances, it will be for their treating clinician to recommend whether a COVID-19 vaccine will be appropriate and when it should be given on a case-by-case basis. They will have the best knowledge of the patient and will need to be content that any prescriptions or treatments, including vaccinations, are clinically appropriate for the individual. Year-round pathways are in place locally to enable these vaccinations to be given when clinically indicated, including during or ahead of a course of chemotherapy.The JCVI continues to keep the COVID-19 vaccination programme under review, and the Government will respond to any additional JCVI advice in due course.

What steps his Department is taking to help promote public education on the misuse of emergency service protocols, including advice shared on social media on how to manipulate emergency triage systems.

The National Health Service regularly shares information online through the NHS.UK website and on social media about how to access emergency services properly, including accident emergency, 999, 111, general practices (GPs), and pharmacies. The NHS also shares this information through out of home advertising via leaflets and posters in hospitals, GPs, and pharmacies.The Government is also overhauling the NHS App to make it easier than ever before for patients to take control of their personal healthcare, including the use of NHS 111 online to answer questions and get instant advice or medical help near you.

Whether his Department has made specific provision for UK citizens who completed their medical training outside the UK within the policy of prioritising UK Medical Graduates for (a) foundation and (b) specialist training.

As set out in our 10-Year Health Plan published on 3 July, we will work across the 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 further details in due course.British doctors who obtained their medical degree abroad need to meet the requirements of the General Medical Council, the independent regulator of the medical profession, to practise medicine in the UK. These doctors are then able to apply for jobs in the NHS on the same basis as UK medical graduates.

What steps her Department is taking to ensure that (a) secondary school and (b) university students participating in organised sport are routinely tested for heart health.

The UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC) recommends screening babies for heart problems in pregnancy and twice in the newborn period. These programmes are run successfully in the National Health Service. The UK NSC does not recommend routine testing for heart health in older children. The committee reviewed the evidence for screening for risk of sudden cardiac death (SCD) in people under the age of 39 years old in 2019 and concluded that screening should not be offered. The committee’s review is available at the following link:https://view-health-screening-recommendations.service.gov.uk/sudden-cardiac-death/ Research showed that current tests are not accurate enough to use in young people without symptoms, and that treatments and interventions were not based on good scientific evidence to prevent SCD.To reduce SCD in young people, the current consensus is to focus on the rapid identification and care of people who are likely to be at risk of SCD, due mainly to a family link or because they have had symptoms, and to train people to carry out cardio-pulmonary resuscitation and to use defibrillators.NHS England has published guidance for inherited cardiac conditions, a major cause of SCD in young people, which requires services to investigate patients with previously undiagnosed cardiac disease, suggestive symptoms, or patients who are from families with sudden unexplained deaths. Where a genetic variation is identified, cascade testing should be offered to relatives based on risk.We are aware that the UK NSC has received a submission via its annual call process to consider SCD screening in young people aged between 14 and 35 years old engaging in sport. The UK NSC has included this in their review of screening for SCD which is currently under way.

What assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of rent under-valuation by the Valuation Office Agency on the ability of GPs to secure appropriate premises to meet patient demand in areas with high property costs.

The Department has worked closely with NHS England to consider the ability to deliver new purpose-built primary health care facilities within the current economic setting.In the case of new developments, the Valuation Office Agency’s District Valuer Service (DVS) is commissioned by NHS England to offer an opinion on the proposed lease terms and lease rent of these new facilities, reflecting all value-significant attributes of the premises, including the premises location. In arriving at opinions of Current Market Rent (CMR), DVS valuers utilise the comparable valuation approach, identifying the best available evidence which is subject to analysis, adjustment, and weighting in order to apply to the subject property. This is in line with the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors’ professional standard, Comparable Evidence in Real Estate Valuation, 1st edition. The relative value of individual locations, including high value areas, is fully considered and assessed by the valuer when arriving at an opinion of the CMR.As an adviser, DVS are not under-valuing any schemes or properties, but stating what the local market rent may be, with regard to relevant local market comparable evidence.

Whether his Department has had discussions with (a) NHS England and (b) local Integrated Care Boards on the impact of rent under-valuation by the Valuation Office Agency.

NHS England and the Valuation Office work collectively on a practical level to provide support to integrated care boards in instances where rental levels for new primary care investments are deemed insufficient or unviable, and jointly test options and variation of terms to create financial viability, where possible.There is no under-valuation presented by the District Valuer Service, as rents are assessed based on Current Market Rent and are relative to comparable value-significant attributes and evidence within the market.

What steps his Department is taking to ensure that parliamentary scrutiny of child and young people's mental health policy is supported by transparent ministerial accountability in the House of Commons.

Ministers in the Department take their accountability to Parliament very seriously and we welcome the role of hon. Members in championing the interests of children, young people and their families, raising awareness of the issues affecting their mental health and in scrutinising our policies and holding the Government to account.Parliamentary scrutiny of the Government’s policies on children and young people's mental health is evidenced through our written ministerial statements, including the statement made on 27 March 2025 on Mental Health: Expected Spend for 2025-26, our contributions to debates such as the one on Eating Disorder Awareness that took place on 1 April 2025, in our evidence to committees, our responses to Members’ oral and written questions and through the House’s scrutiny of the Mental Health Bill during its first and second readings and its recently completed committee stage.

With reference to the Answer of 14 October 2024 to Question 7208, what steps his Department has taken to help recruit 8,500 new mental health workers.

As part of our mission to build a National Health Service that is fit for the future and that is there when people need it, we are recruiting 8,500 mental health workers across child and adult mental health services to help ease pressure on busy services.We continue to work with NHS England to consider options to deliver this commitment alongside publishing a refreshed workforce plan to deliver the transformed health service we will build over the next decade. There are a wide range of factors that will affect this future growth of the NHS mental health workforce, and we will provide an update in due course.In addition, targeted retention work has been undertaken through the NHS Retention Programme which works with trusts to help them understand why staff have left. This has focused on better support for line managers and improved support for new joiners.

What steps his Department is taking to help ensure timely (a) approval and (b) delivery of Novavax vaccine for immunosuppressed people.

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency has now approved an adapted version of the Nuvaxovid COVID-19 vaccine that targets the Omicron JN.1 COVID-19 subvariant. The press release is available at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/mhra-approves-adapted-nuvaxovid-jn1-covid-19-vaccines-for-adults-and-children-aged-12-plus The UK Health Security Agency is unable to comment on any ongoing procurement activity for future campaigns due to commercial sensitivities.

What assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of including people with post-Covid syndrome in the list of people qualified for an autumn booster vaccine.

The Government is committed to protecting those most vulnerable to COVID-19 through vaccination, as guided by the independent Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI). The JCVI stated in its advice for the autumn 2024 COVID-19 vaccination programme that there remains considerable uncertainty regarding the impact of additional vaccine doses, beyond the primary vaccination, on the risk, progression, and outcome of post-COVID syndromes. The JCVI advised that better data is needed on the impact of additional vaccine doses on the occurrence and severity of post-COVID syndromes in the current era of Omicron sub-variants of the COVID-19 virus, and high population immunity. This advice is available at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-autumn-2024-vaccination-programme-jcvi-advice-8-april-2024/jcvi-statement-on-the-covid-19-vaccination-programme-for-autumn-2024-8-april-2024On 13 November 2024, the JCVI published advice on the COVID-19 vaccination programme in spring 2025, autumn 2025 and spring 2026. This advice is available at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-vaccination-in-2025-and-spring-2026-jcvi-advice/jcvi-statement-on-covid-19-vaccination-in-2025-and-spring-2026#:~:text=the%20JCVI%20webpage.-,Advice%20on%20vaccination%20in%20spring%202025,care%20home%20for%20older%20adultsThe Government has accepted the JCVI’s advice on eligibility for the spring 2025 COVID-19 vaccination programme. The Government is considering the advice for autumn 2025 and spring 2026 carefully, and will respond in due course.

What assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of prioritising immunosuppressed children for eligibility of Covid-19 vaccinations.

The independent Joint Committee for Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) advises the Department on the approach to vaccination and immunisation. In line with advice from the JCVI, individuals aged six months and over who are immunosuppressed are eligible for a COVID-19 vaccination in the autumn 2024 programme.On 13 November 2024, the JCVI published advice on the COVID-19 vaccination programme in 2025 and spring 2026. This advice is available at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-vaccination-in-2025-and-spring-2026-jcvi-advice/jcvi-statement-on-covid-19-vaccination-in-2025-and-spring-2026On 12 December the Government accepted the JCVI’s advice on spring 2025, including that individuals aged six months and over who are immunosuppressed should be eligible for vaccination in spring 2025.The Government is carefully considering the advice from the JCVI on COVID-19 vaccination for autumn 2025 and spring 2026, and will respond in due course.

What assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of extending the eligibility of Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation recommendations to include people over 79.

The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) is the United Kingdom’s expert committee that advises the Government on immunisations programmes. In line with JCVI’s advice, the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccination programme for adults turning 75 years old began on 1 September 2024 in England, alongside a one-off catch-up programme to rapidly vaccinate all those already aged 75 to 79 years old. The JCVI considered that there was less certainty about how well the vaccine works in people aged 80 years old and older, as there were not enough people of this age in the clinical trials to be able to see if the vaccines are protective in this age band. The Department will consider any further JCVI advice on who should be offered an RSV immunisation as the committee continues to keep the evidence under review. A phased expansion of the eligible cohort for the routine shingles vaccination programme began in September 2023. The programme currently includes those aged 50 years old and over who are at increased risk of serious complications, and those turning 65 years old on or after 1 September 2023, as well as those turning 70 years old, as was previously the case. In November 2024, the JCVI provided advice to the Department on eligibility for the shingles vaccination programme. This included advice that the Government should consider expanding the shingles vaccination offer to include older adult cohorts aged 80 years old and over. The Department will consider this advice when setting the policy on who should be offered shingles vaccinations.

What assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of providing free covid-19 vaccinations for carers.

The Government is committed to protecting those most vulnerable to COVID-19 through vaccination, as guided by the independent Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI). On 13 November 2024, the JCVI published advice on the COVID-19 vaccination programme covering vaccination in 2025 and spring 2026. This advice is available at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-vaccination-in-2025-and-spring-2026-jcvi-advice/jcvi-statement-on-covid-19-vaccination-in-2025-and-spring-2026#:~:text=the%20JCVI%20webpage.-,Advice%20on%20vaccination%20in%20spring%202025,care%20home%20for%20older%20adultsThe Government is considering this advice carefully and will respond in due course.