Every parliamentary written question tabled by Caroline Dinenage this session, with the full answer and department. See how every department answers, or back to the MP page.
Showing 1–20 of 96 · Department of Health and Social Care
What assessment he has made of the potential impact of sport and physical activity on supporting the shift from sickness to prevention.
Reducing physical inactivity in people of all ages is important in helping people live longer, healthier lives through both the prevention and treatment of chronic diseases.The Chief Medical Officer's advice is clear that every little bit of movement coun...
What steps he is taking to ensure the adequacy of access to Surface Guided Radiotherapy treatment.
The 2026/27 NHS Payment Scheme introduced a blended payment model for radiotherapy services. We are working to develop proposals to further refine the payment model for radiotherapy to ensure it aligns with current clinical practice and demand for service...
Whether his Department plans to reform the radiotherapy tariff model to address (a) planning intensity, (b) technical complexity, and (c) the number of patients treated.
The 2026/27 NHS Payment Scheme introduced a blended payment model for radiotherapy services. We are working to develop proposals to further refine the payment model for radiotherapy to ensure it aligns with current clinical practice and demand for service...
What funding he is providing to support a) workplace expansion, b) equipment replacement and c) cancer pathway redesign to achieve the objectives of the National Cancer Plan.
The National Cancer Plan, published in February 2026, aims to achieve its objectives by getting more from the resources already in the system, improving productivity, and modernising services to deliver better outcomes for patients.The Plan is backed by s...
What estimate he has made of the level of funding required to implement the objectives set out in the National Cancer Plan.
The National Cancer Plan, published in February 2026, aims to achieve its objectives by getting more from the resources already in the system, improving productivity, and modernising services to deliver better outcomes for patients.The Plan is backed by s...
Whether his Department is taking steps to ensure that radiotherapy capital allocations distributed through Integrated Care Boards are protected.
The 2026/27 NHS Payment Scheme introduced a blended payment model for radiotherapy services. We are working to develop proposals to further refine the payment model for radiotherapy to ensure it aligns with current clinical practice and demand for service...
What steps his Department is taking to help lower the costs of dementia care for patients and their families.
We are making progress on a National Care Service based on higher quality of care, greater choice and control, and joined-up health and care services, with over £4.6 billion of additional funding available for adult social care in 2028/29 compared to 2025...
What progress has been made on the Cancer Plan commitment to define and count recurrent cancers.
I refer the Hon. Member to the answer I gave to the Hon. Member for Manchester Withington on 28 April 2026 to Question 129158.
With reference to Alzheimer's Society's report entitled The economic impact of dementia, published in May 2024, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for this policies of the es
Department officials have previously considered these estimates, made by the Carnall Farrar consultancy on behalf of the Alzheimer’s Society, alongside other estimates and research into the economic and social impacts of dementia in the United Kingdom.The...
What steps he is taking to establish a dental school in Portsmouth.
On 3 September 2025, the University of Portsmouth was designated as a dental authority for the purposes of the Dentists Act 1984 by The Dentists Act 1984 (Medical Authorities) Order 2025, enabling it to run dental exams and award dentistry qualifications....
Whether he will issue guidance to the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) on taking steps to ensure (a) unpaid care costs and (b) quality-of-life impacts on unpaid carers are r
The Department has no plans to issue guidance to the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) to ensure that it takes into account unpaid care costs and quality of life impacts on unpaid carers in appraisals of Alzheimer’s disease treatmen...
Pursuant to the Answer of 16 April 2026 to Question 124547 on Medical Treatments: Costs, what plans he has to update the 2009 guidance.
The Department has no plans to update the guidance at this current time.
What assessment he has made of the potential impact of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) (Amendment) Regulations 2026 on (a) the number of and (b) participation rates in sporting events for (i) athletes with medical needs and (ii) athletes who require 1:1 care from volunteers.
The Manchester Arena Inquiry recommended that the Government make changes to the law to enable the Care Quality Commission (CQC) to regulate event healthcare at sporting venues and gymnasiums and under temporary arrangements at sporting and cultural events to ensure public safety. The Government has considered the impacts of this change, and a public consultation allowed stakeholders to provide information on the potential effects. A de minimis impact assessment was developed.A link to the explanatory memorandum for the proposed changes in regulation and the de minimis assessment is available at the following link: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukdsi/2026/9780348279955/resources Due to the unregulated nature of the treatment of disease, disorder, and injury at these types of events, monitoring and reporting of those with medical needs and conditions at such events is currently challenging to access. The CQC will be consulting in May which will provide opportunities for further consideration around the appropriate implementation of the regulation to sectors such as individual clinicians and volunteers.
Pursuant to the Answer of 12 March to Question 114810, whether the underlying cost data from the Realist evaluation of Autism ServiCe Delivery (RE-ASCeD) paper referred to in the Answer was critically appraised; and whether NHS England, when interpreting the data from this research to inform guide prices, (a) took into account inflation since publication and (b) checked that the hourly rate for clinical time included appropriate adjustments for patient facing time.
The Realist evaluation of Autism ServiCe Delivery (RE-ASCeD) paper was considered as part of the development of guide prices for 2026/27. Specifically, the amount of professional time linked to an average assessment and the evidence of increased cost for children and young people over adult assessment. During the process of determining guide prices, NHS England considered that the costs reported would have changed since publication of the NHS England commissioned RE-ASCeD evaluation, due to various reasons, including changes in practice. As a result, NHS England did not use these costs directly to inform the guide prices, but noted some of the helpful components such as the amount of professional time linked to an average assessment and the evidence of increased cost for children and young people over adult assessments. We reflected that practices have changed over time and therefore not all elements of the RE-ASCeD evaluation remain relevant. Whilst we did not consider the hourly rates within the evaluation, we continued to be guided by optimal assessment pathway practice as outlined in the National Autism Framework and Operational Guidance from 2023 and current National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidelines.
What guidance his Department provides to integrated care boards on costs that may be excluded from costs associated with a self-funded course of treatment.
Where a patient opts to pay for private care, their entitlement to National Health Services remains and may not be withdrawn. However, the NHS should not subsidise private care. Therefore, it is important that there is as clear a distinction as possible between private care and NHS-funded care.In 2009, the Department published guidance on NHS patients who wish to pay for additional private care, setting out the interaction between NHS care and private care. Local systems are expected to uphold this when caring for patients who have used private healthcare, including self-paying for their care.
Pursuant to the Answer of 12 March 2026 to Question 114810 Neurodiversity: Mental Health Services, what weight was given to the autism assessment cost data in the Realist evaluation of Autism ServiCe Delivery (RE-ASCeD) paper in determining guide prices.
The Realist evaluation of Autism ServiCe Delivery (RE-ASCeD) paper was considered as part of the development of guide prices for 2026/27. Specifically, the amount of professional time linked to an average assessment and the evidence of increased cost for children and young people over adult assessment. During the process of determining guide prices, NHS England considered that the costs reported would have changed since publication of the NHS England commissioned RE-ASCeD evaluation, due to various reasons, including changes in practice. As a result, NHS England did not use these costs directly to inform the guide prices, but noted some of the helpful components such as the amount of professional time linked to an average assessment and the evidence of increased cost for children and young people over adult assessments. We reflected that practices have changed over time and therefore not all elements of the RE-ASCeD evaluation remain relevant. Whilst we did not consider the hourly rates within the evaluation, we continued to be guided by optimal assessment pathway practice as outlined in the National Autism Framework and Operational Guidance from 2023 and current National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidelines.
What size by attendance of sporting or cultural events are within the scope of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) (Amendment) Regulations 2026.
For providers of treatment of disease, disorder, or injury (TDDI), regulatory obligations do not vary by event type or the number of attendees. Restricting Care Quality Commission (CQC) regulation to larger events would risk unregulated providers operating at events where attendance is higher than anticipated and would create gaps in oversight at smaller events that may also require TDDI services.The level of risk associated with an event cannot be determined by attendance figures alone. Event organisers are expected to draw on risk assessments, advice from Statutory Advisory Groups, and sector guidance such as the Purple and Green Guides to identify the appropriate level of event healthcare provision. If, following this process, an organiser determines that first aid is sufficient for a small event, this position is unaffected. First aid does not fall within the definition of TDDI and will remain outside CQC regulation.
If his Department will publish an impact assessment of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) (Amendment) Regulations 2026 on the number of sporting and cultural events; and if he will make a statement.
The de minimis assessment for the regulation amendment was published alongside the draft statutory instrument and explanatory memorandum, and is available at the following link:https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukdsi/2026/9780348279955/resourcesHouse debates on the statutory instrument are expected to commence soon.
Pursuant to the House of Lords Secondary Legislation Scrutiny Committee's 54th Report's chapter on Instruments on Interest, what assessment has his Department made of the adequacy of the Care Quality Commission to register the potential 1000 providers in scope of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) (Amendment) Regulations 2026 between 7 September 2026 and 6 December 2027.
The Department, in consultation with the Care Quality Commission (CQC), has agreed that there will be a phased approach to implementing the updated regulations. This is so:providers have sufficient time to prepare to submit their CQC registration applications and ensure compliance with the regulations;to prevent undue disruption to the events sector; andto allow the CQC time to prepare for the receipt of additional registration applications and to enable them to process those applications in a timely manner whilst at the same time fulfilling their existing regulatory obligations.The CQC will produce guidance that sets out the date that providers would have to apply to be registered by. This aims to prevent a backlog caused by last-minute applications.For applications received on or by this date that are fully complete at the time of submission to allow for validation, the CQC will take all reasonable steps to undertake assessment and advise providers of the outcome of their application on or before December 2027.Following the Penny Dash Review, the CQC accepted the high‑level recommendations, including stabilising its regulatory platform and improving the registration experience for providers. The Department meets the CQC regularly to discuss the progress of its improvements.
What definition his Department uses for a sporting or cultural event as set out in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) (Amendment) Regulations 2026.
Sports and cultural events can cover a variety of activities, sizes, and attendee numbers, so there is no one specific definition within the Care Quality Commission’s regulation. However, where treatment of disease, disorder, or injury (TDDI) care is deemed necessary, the amendment will mean an event organiser is safe in the knowledge that the TDDI care acquired through a provider is regulated.This activity covers a treatment that is provided by, or under the supervision of, a defined list of healthcare professionals or by a multi-disciplinary team that includes a listed healthcare professional, or is provided by, or under the supervision of, a social worker where the treatment is for a mental disorder, or by a multi-disciplinary team that includes a social worker where the treatment is for a mental disorder, for a disease, disorder, or injury. TDDI covers a wide range of treatments. It includes examples such as:emergency treatment;ongoing treatment for long-term conditions;treatment for a physical or mental health condition or learning disability;giving vaccinations or immunisations; and/orpalliative care.