Every parliamentary written question tabled by Caroline Dinenage this session, with the full answer and department. Back to the MP page.
Showing 21–40 of 91 · Department of Health and Social Care
Whether his Department is responsible for reforming the regulation of funeral directors.
The Department of Health and Social Care will lead on co-ordinating cross-Government work to raise standards in relation to the care and treatment of the deceased, supported by the Department of Business and Trade, the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.
Pursuant to the Answer of 24 February 2025 to Question 27053 on Cancer: Health Services, how much funding his Department (a) has allocated and (b) plans to allocate to increase maximise radiotherapy productivity through AI.
The Department recognises the potential for artificial intelligence (AI) to support productivity and efficiency in radiotherapy services, for example by assisting clinicians with aspects of treatment planning such as contouring. The Department has not allocated ring‑fenced funding specifically for the purpose of increasing radiotherapy productivity through AI. Decisions on the adoption of AI technologies in radiotherapy are taken locally by National Health Service organisations, which may choose to invest in products that meet clinical safety, regulatory, and value‑for‑money requirements.Nationally, the Department and NHS England have focused AI investment on priority areas such as diagnostics, including cancer imaging, where there is clear evidence of benefit to patient pathways. Any future funding decisions for AI in health and care, including potential investment related to radiotherapy, will be considered as part of Spending Review processes.
What assessment he has made of the potential impact of the exemption for temporary cultural and sporting events from laws mandating that medical providers be CQC registered for sporting events on the finances of that organisation.
I refer the Hon. Member to the answer given on 31 March 2026 to Question 120609.
What assessment he has made of the potential impact of changes removing exemptions for temporary cultural and sporting events from laws mandating that medical providers be CQC registered on the number of cultural and sporting events in England.
The Manchester Arena Inquiry recommended that the Government make changes to the law to enable the Care Quality Commission 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. This considered the impacts the changes in regulation would have, including costs.A link to the explanatory memorandum for the proposed changes in regulation and de minimis assessment is available at the following link:https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukdsi/2026/9780348279955/resources
What steps he is taking to provide funding for the treatment of (a) Hallux valgus and (b) Hallux rigidus in Hampshire.
Decisions on the funding and provision of treatment for hallux valgus and hallux rigidus in Hampshire are made locally by the NHS Hampshire and Isle of Wight Integrated Care Board (ICB), which is responsible for assessing the health needs of its population and commissioning services accordingly. This includes determining local clinical pathways, access criteria, and the availability of both surgical and non‑surgical interventions, based on the best available clinical evidence and local priorities.NHS England does not provide condition‑specific national funding for these procedures. Instead, the ICB receives a general allocation to meet the healthcare needs of its local population. Within this, the ICB is expected to ensure that patients with foot and ankle conditions can access appropriate assessment, conservative management, and referral for surgery where clinically necessary.
What steps he is taking to expand the rollout of long-acting injectable buprenorphine (LAIB) in i) Hampshire ii) Gosport.
Local authorities are responsible for commissioning drug and alcohol treatment services according to local need, and this includes the provision of long-acting injectable buprenorphine.From 2026/27, all drug and alcohol treatment and recovery funding will be channelled through the Public Health Grant, with ringfenced funding for drug and alcohol treatment and recovery. This is the first multi-year settlement in over a decade and provides the certainty for local government to plan and invest for the medium term. Through the ringfenced funding, Hampshire will receive £10,999,940 in 2026/27, and indicative totals of £11,223,997 and £11,442,554 for 2027/28 and 2028/29 respectively.The Department encourages local authorities to prioritise resourcing long-acting injectable buprenorphine prescribing if current provision is not adequate and has asked to see the specific planning assumptions and ambitions set out in the treatment plans shared with the Department.The Department supports interventions to expand the provision of long-acting injectable buprenorphine. We are currently doing more analysis to understand cost-effectiveness, developing clinical guidance, and scoping how best to expand access to long-acting injectable buprenorphine further.
What estimate he has made of the additional cost of requiring the Human Tissue Authority to regulate the care of corpses throughout the death pathway including in funeral homes.
The Department has not made an assessment of the additional cost of requiring the Human Tissue Authority to regulate the care of the deceased throughout the death pathway, including in funeral homes.The Government is considering the full range of options to strengthen and improve standards to safeguard the security and dignity of the deceased. In this context, an interim update on progress with our response to the Fuller Inquiry Phase 2 report was published 16 December 2025, and is available at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/fuller-inquiry-government-interim-update-on-phase-2-recommendationsWe will provide a full response by summer 2026.
If he will list all the (a) patient representative organisations, (b) clinical associations and (c) providers of NHS-funded autism and ADHD services NHS England has engaged with (i) before and (ii) since publishing proposed guide prices for autism and ADHD services in its 2026/27 payment scheme consultation, in respect of the prices proposed.
The statutory consultation for the NHS Payment Scheme 2026/27, which closed on 16 December 2025, provided an opportunity for all service providers to review the consultation guidance and provide comments and feedback. Further information is available at the following link:https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/2026-27-nhsps-consultation/NHS England is currently reviewing this feedback to inform the final 2026/27 Payment Scheme. This consultation was open to the public, but NHS England specifically reached out to all National Health Service providers, commissioners, and independent sector providers of NHS-funded autism diagnostic assessment services and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) services to ensure they were aware and were able to respond to the NHS Payment Scheme consultation and were invited to an NHS Payment Scheme engagement session in September 2025.Prior to the publication of the consultation, NHS England undertook broad engagement with a number of clinicians, policy professionals, commissioners, and providers of ADHD and autism diagnostic assessment services prior to the publication of the NHS Payment Scheme consultation.In addition to the engagement that was undertaken as part of the wider NHS Payment Scheme consultation, the following engagement took place on this policy area prior to consultation:engagement with the Independent Healthcare Provider Network (IHPN), representing independent sector providers; andengagement with healthcare policy professionals, clinicians, patient representative organisations, commissioners, and providers.In addition, the following engagement took place on this policy area post-consultation:further engagement with the IHPN, representing independent sector providers;engagement with integrated care boards;engagement with independent sector providers;engagement with mental health trusts; andengagement with clinicians.NHS England was informed by a variety of sources when developing the policy and associated guide prices, for instance:the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence’s (NICE) clinical guidelines CG142, CG128, and CG170, and NICE’s quality standards, which are available at the following link: https://www.nice.org.uk/Guidance/QS51;NHS England’s published National framework and operational guidance for autism assessment services, available at the following link: https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/autism-diagnosis-and-operational-guidance/;NHS England’s published reports of the ADHD taskforce, available at the following link: https://www.england.nhs.uk/mental-health/adhd/;local integrated care board service specifications;pricing information in a sample of contracts for provision of autism diagnostic assessment services and ADHD services; anda number of relevant academic papers, including, in particular, Realist evaluation of Autism ServiCe Delivery (RE-ASCeD): which diagnostic pathways work best, for whom and in what context? Findings from a rapid realist review, which contains autism diagnostic assessment costs.
If he will list all the (a) academic papers and (b) other sources of evidence that NHS England has considered in setting its proposed guide prices for autism and ADHD services, as proposed in its 2026/27 payment scheme consultation.
The statutory consultation for the NHS Payment Scheme 2026/27, which closed on 16 December 2025, provided an opportunity for all service providers to review the consultation guidance and provide comments and feedback. Further information is available at the following link:https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/2026-27-nhsps-consultation/NHS England is currently reviewing this feedback to inform the final 2026/27 Payment Scheme. This consultation was open to the public, but NHS England specifically reached out to all National Health Service providers, commissioners, and independent sector providers of NHS-funded autism diagnostic assessment services and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) services to ensure they were aware and were able to respond to the NHS Payment Scheme consultation and were invited to an NHS Payment Scheme engagement session in September 2025.Prior to the publication of the consultation, NHS England undertook broad engagement with a number of clinicians, policy professionals, commissioners, and providers of ADHD and autism diagnostic assessment services prior to the publication of the NHS Payment Scheme consultation.In addition to the engagement that was undertaken as part of the wider NHS Payment Scheme consultation, the following engagement took place on this policy area prior to consultation:engagement with the Independent Healthcare Provider Network (IHPN), representing independent sector providers; andengagement with healthcare policy professionals, clinicians, patient representative organisations, commissioners, and providers.In addition, the following engagement took place on this policy area post-consultation:further engagement with the IHPN, representing independent sector providers;engagement with integrated care boards;engagement with independent sector providers;engagement with mental health trusts; andengagement with clinicians.NHS England was informed by a variety of sources when developing the policy and associated guide prices, for instance:the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence’s (NICE) clinical guidelines CG142, CG128, and CG170, and NICE’s quality standards, which are available at the following link: https://www.nice.org.uk/Guidance/QS51;NHS England’s published National framework and operational guidance for autism assessment services, available at the following link: https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/autism-diagnosis-and-operational-guidance/;NHS England’s published reports of the ADHD taskforce, available at the following link: https://www.england.nhs.uk/mental-health/adhd/;local integrated care board service specifications;pricing information in a sample of contracts for provision of autism diagnostic assessment services and ADHD services; anda number of relevant academic papers, including, in particular, Realist evaluation of Autism ServiCe Delivery (RE-ASCeD): which diagnostic pathways work best, for whom and in what context? Findings from a rapid realist review, which contains autism diagnostic assessment costs.
What assessment NHS England has made of the difference in levels of healthcare resource consumed in conducting (a) children’s autism assessments and (b) children’s ADHD assessments; and what account of this assessment NHS England took in proposing guide prices for autism and ADHD services, as set out in its 2026/27 payment scheme consultation.
The statutory consultation for the NHS Payment Scheme 2026/27, which closed on 16 December 2025, provided an opportunity for all service providers to review the consultation guidance and provide comments and feedback. Further information is available at the following link:https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/2026-27-nhsps-consultation/NHS England is currently reviewing this feedback to inform the final 2026/27 Payment Scheme. This consultation was open to the public, but NHS England specifically reached out to all National Health Service providers, commissioners, and independent sector providers of NHS-funded autism diagnostic assessment services and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) services to ensure they were aware and were able to respond to the NHS Payment Scheme consultation and were invited to an NHS Payment Scheme engagement session in September 2025.Prior to the publication of the consultation, NHS England undertook broad engagement with a number of clinicians, policy professionals, commissioners, and providers of ADHD and autism diagnostic assessment services prior to the publication of the NHS Payment Scheme consultation.In addition to the engagement that was undertaken as part of the wider NHS Payment Scheme consultation, the following engagement took place on this policy area prior to consultation:engagement with the Independent Healthcare Provider Network (IHPN), representing independent sector providers; andengagement with healthcare policy professionals, clinicians, patient representative organisations, commissioners, and providers.In addition, the following engagement took place on this policy area post-consultation:further engagement with the IHPN, representing independent sector providers;engagement with integrated care boards;engagement with independent sector providers;engagement with mental health trusts; andengagement with clinicians.NHS England was informed by a variety of sources when developing the policy and associated guide prices, for instance:the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence’s (NICE) clinical guidelines CG142, CG128, and CG170, and NICE’s quality standards, which are available at the following link: https://www.nice.org.uk/Guidance/QS51;NHS England’s published National framework and operational guidance for autism assessment services, available at the following link: https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/autism-diagnosis-and-operational-guidance/;NHS England’s published reports of the ADHD taskforce, available at the following link: https://www.england.nhs.uk/mental-health/adhd/;local integrated care board service specifications;pricing information in a sample of contracts for provision of autism diagnostic assessment services and ADHD services; anda number of relevant academic papers, including, in particular, Realist evaluation of Autism ServiCe Delivery (RE-ASCeD): which diagnostic pathways work best, for whom and in what context? Findings from a rapid realist review, which contains autism diagnostic assessment costs.
Pursuant to the Fuller Inquiry Phase 2 Report: Government Interim Update on Progress, when he plans to respond to recommendations 29, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 69, 71 and 72.
The Government will publish a full response to the Inquiry’s recommendations in summer 2026, setting out progress and next steps on the 75 recommendations, including the 11 specified.
What assessment he has made of the potential impact of health visiting on the Government’s target of raising the healthiest generation of children ever.
The Government is committed to raising the healthiest generation of children ever. The child health workforce, including health visiting teams, are central to how we support families to give their children the best start in life.Health visitors lead the Healthy Child Programme, England’s universal, community-based public health programme for children and families. The work of health visitors enables early intervention and prevents the need for high-cost NHS treatments down the line. Their impact is vital to realising both our ambition to raising the healthiest generation of children ever and the shifts from hospital to community, and treatment to prevention.As set out in the Best Start in Life strategy, the Government has committed to strengthening health visiting services so that all families have access to high-quality, support they need.
What assessment he has made of the potential impact of NHS Pensions' ability to meet the revised deadlines for issuing Remediable Service Statements set by the Government on 31 March 2025 on NHS members' i) financial resilience ii) ability to make informed choices regarding pension benefits.
The Department recognises the importance of providing NHS Pension Scheme members certainty about when they will receive their McCloud Remediable Service Statements. An independent review of the NHS Business Service Authority’s (NHSBSA) revised plans for the delivery of the McCloud remedy for NHS Pension Scheme members is underway. This will provide an additional level of scrutiny and assurance of the NHSBSA’s delivery plan and the timetable for the remaining statements. I expect to be able to update the House on the review’s progress and the remedy delivery timetable before Christmas recess. In the meantime, the NHSBSA continues to provide Remediable Service Statements to affected members, prioritising those who may be experiencing immediate financial hardship due to the discrimination highlighted by the McCloud judgment. Additionally, members who meet specific criteria can request to receive a prioritised Remediable Service Statement. Further information is available at the following link: https://faq.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/knowledgebase/article/KA-29429/en-us. The Government is committed to ensuring that affected members are not subject to financial disadvantage due to these delays. Pension arrears arising from the McCloud remedy are paid with 8% interest, and a compensation scheme is available for members who have experienced other direct financial losses.
What steps he is taking to ensure Members of NHS Pensions receive timely Remediable Service Statements.
The Department recognises the importance of providing NHS Pension Scheme members certainty about when they will receive their McCloud Remediable Service Statements. An independent review of the NHS Business Service Authority’s (NHSBSA) revised plans for the delivery of the McCloud remedy for NHS Pension Scheme members is underway. This will provide an additional level of scrutiny and assurance of the NHSBSA’s delivery plan and the timetable for the remaining statements. I expect to be able to update the House on the review’s progress and the remedy delivery timetable before Christmas recess. In the meantime, the NHSBSA continues to provide Remediable Service Statements to affected members, prioritising those who may be experiencing immediate financial hardship due to the discrimination highlighted by the McCloud judgment. Additionally, members who meet specific criteria can request to receive a prioritised Remediable Service Statement. Further information is available at the following link: https://faq.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/knowledgebase/article/KA-29429/en-us. The Government is committed to ensuring that affected members are not subject to financial disadvantage due to these delays. Pension arrears arising from the McCloud remedy are paid with 8% interest, and a compensation scheme is available for members who have experienced other direct financial losses.
When he will complete the review into NHS Pensions' ability to meet the revised deadlines for issuing Remediable Service Statements set by the government on 31 March 2025.
The Department recognises the importance of providing NHS Pension Scheme members certainty about when they will receive their McCloud Remediable Service Statements. An independent review of the NHS Business Service Authority’s (NHSBSA) revised plans for the delivery of the McCloud remedy for NHS Pension Scheme members is underway. This will provide an additional level of scrutiny and assurance of the NHSBSA’s delivery plan and the timetable for the remaining statements. I expect to be able to update the House on the review’s progress and the remedy delivery timetable before Christmas recess. In the meantime, the NHSBSA continues to provide Remediable Service Statements to affected members, prioritising those who may be experiencing immediate financial hardship due to the discrimination highlighted by the McCloud judgment. Additionally, members who meet specific criteria can request to receive a prioritised Remediable Service Statement. Further information is available at the following link: https://faq.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/knowledgebase/article/KA-29429/en-us. The Government is committed to ensuring that affected members are not subject to financial disadvantage due to these delays. Pension arrears arising from the McCloud remedy are paid with 8% interest, and a compensation scheme is available for members who have experienced other direct financial losses.
What assessment he has made of the ability of NHS Pensions to provide members with Remediable Service Statements.
The Department recognises the importance of providing NHS Pension Scheme members certainty about when they will receive their McCloud Remediable Service Statements. An independent review of the NHS Business Service Authority’s (NHSBSA) revised plans for the delivery of the McCloud remedy for NHS Pension Scheme members is underway. This will provide an additional level of scrutiny and assurance of the NHSBSA’s delivery plan and the timetable for the remaining statements. I expect to be able to update the House on the review’s progress and the remedy delivery timetable before Christmas recess. In the meantime, the NHSBSA continues to provide Remediable Service Statements to affected members, prioritising those who may be experiencing immediate financial hardship due to the discrimination highlighted by the McCloud judgment. Additionally, members who meet specific criteria can request to receive a prioritised Remediable Service Statement. Further information is available at the following link: https://faq.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/knowledgebase/article/KA-29429/en-us. The Government is committed to ensuring that affected members are not subject to financial disadvantage due to these delays. Pension arrears arising from the McCloud remedy are paid with 8% interest, and a compensation scheme is available for members who have experienced other direct financial losses.
Whether the NHS Workforce plan will include an expansion in the allocation of dental student places at the University of Portsmouth.
The Government is committed to publishing a 10 Year Workforce Plan which will ensure the National Health Service has the right people in the right places, with the right skills to care for patients when they need it. We are working through how the plan will articulate the changes for different professional groups.The independent Office for Students has statutory responsibility for allocating funding for medical and dental school places. The University of Portsmouth would be considered for any possible future allocated dental training places, as would other dental schools in the same position.
How many cancer patients have access to radiotherapy in (a) Gosport, (b) the South East and (c) England.
All cancer patients have access to radiotherapy treatment. Decisions about cancer treatment are typically made by clinicians and multidisciplinary teams of healthcare professionals.
What steps he is taking to ensure that every cancer patient who needs it has access to modern and timely radiotherapy cancer treatment.
The Government is taking decisive action to get the National Health Service diagnosing cancer earlier and treating it faster.We have invested £70 million in replacing outdated radiotherapy machines across the NHS with cutting-edge technology that will speed up treatment for thousands of patients. These new machines are being rolled out across the country.
What plans he has to introduce a universal transferrable record for people with learning disabilities under the Data (Use and Access) Act 2025.
Our 10-Year Health Plan will transform the National Health Service, shifting care from analogue to digital. We know that patients, including those with a learning disability, often have to tell their story at every appointment. The single patient record means that they will only need to tell it once. The record will improve secure access for patients and clinicians and ensure seamless treatment across the NHS. This will connect a patient’s health history in one secure place, accessible through the NHS App. Patients will get a legal right to access their single patient record by default and will be able to check their own information and alert clinicians where there are errors.In addition, the Reasonable Adjustment Digital Flag was developed to enable health and care workers to record, share, and view details of reasonable adjustments, across the NHS and social care, wherever the person is seen or treated.On 30 June 2025, a revised Accessible Information Standard was published. It describes how NHS and adult social care services should identify, record, flag, share, meet, and review people’s information and communication support needs. The revised Accessible Information Standard is available at the following link:https://www.england.nhs.uk/accessible-information-standard/In 2024, NHS England also published guidance on health and care passports, which are designed to be a quick and easy way to give health and social care professionals more information about people with a learning disability and other disabled people so that they can provide the right care and treatment. The guidance on health and care passports is available at the following link:https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/health-and-care-passports/