Written questions by Johnson.

With reference to information provided below Figure 11 in the UK Health Security Agency's official statistics entitled HIV testing, PrEP, new HIV diagnoses and care outcomes for people accessing HIV services: 2025 report, published on 7 October 2025, if he will publish the underlying data on the years in which newly diagnosed HIV patients first arrived in England.

The number of people newly diagnosed in England in 2025 who were born abroad, by year of arrival, is published in figure 12 of the recently published HIV testing, PrEP, new HIV diagnoses and care outcomes for people accessing HIV services: 2025 report, available at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/hiv-annual-data-tables/hiv-testing-prep-new-hiv-diagnoses-and-care-outcomes-for-people-accessing-hiv-services-2025-reportAmong the 1,669 people born abroad and newly diagnosed with HIV in England in 2024:346 arrived in 2024;434 arrived in 2023;163 arrived in 2022;535 arrived before 2022; and191 did not have year of arrival reported.

What proportion of people receiving NHS HIV care in England were born overseas.

The UK Health Security Agency publishes data on the number of people who were newly diagnosed in England in 2025, which is available at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/hiv-annual-data-tables/hiv-testing-prep-new-hiv-diagnoses-and-care-outcomes-for-people-accessing-hiv-services-2025-reportInformation is not collected on residency status or nationality, and access to HIV testing, care, and treatment is free at the point of contact regardless of residency status. This is crucial to prevent mortality, morbidity, and onward HIV transmission. People who are treated for HIV and attain a suppressed viral load cannot pass on HIV to sexual partners.

What estimate he has made of the average cost of testing an adult for HIV.

Adult HIV testing is commissioned in a range of different circumstances and by different providers, therefore the cost varies depending on these factors. No estimate has been made of the average cost of testing an adult for HIV across all settings.

What estimate he has made of the average annual cost of treating a person with HIV.

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) treatment and care remain world class in England and the success of HIV treatment is today enabling people with HIV to live long healthy lives. Effective HIV treatment also means those with an undetectable viral load cannot pass on HIV.The cost of adult HIV care varies depending at what stage someone is diagnosed, and on their general health and other relevant health conditions. No official estimate has been made of the average cost of treating an adult for HIV for this reason.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of sexually transmitted infections on the future fertility of people.

Bacterial sexually transmitted infections (STI) such as chlamydia and gonorrhoea are a recognised cause of pelvic inflammatory disease, which can in some cases lead to tubal factor infertility.Chlamydia is the most commonly diagnosed STI. It often has no symptoms but, if left untreated, can have serious health complications in women, including pelvic inflammatory disease, ectopic pregnancy, and tubal factor infertility. It has been estimated that 0.5% of untreated chlamydia infections can lead to tubal factor infertility.The National Chlamydia Screening Programme is a public health programme aimed at reducing the reproductive harm caused by untreated chlamydia infections. The programme involves making opportunistic offers of a chlamydia test to young women aged 15 to 24 years old without symptoms, with the primary aim of reducing the health harm caused by untreated chlamydia infection.

If he will make it his policy to develop a modern services framework for (a) arthritis and (b) musculorskeletal disease.

As announced in the 10-Year Health Plan, as well as an overall quality strategy, the National Quality Board will oversee the development of a new series of service frameworks to accelerate progress in conditions where there is potential for rapid and significant improvements in the quality of care and productivity. Early priorities will include cardiovascular disease, mental health, and the first ever service framework for frailty and dementia. The Government will consider other long-term conditions with significant health and economic impacts for future waves of modern service frameworks.

With reference to the oral contribution of the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health and Social Care of 28 October 2025 on World Stroke Day, what the maximum (a) travelling time and (b) distance a thrombectomy service will be from a person's home.

The National Stroke Service Model and the National Service Model for an Integrated Community Stroke Service set out an evidenced based pathway for joined-up stroke care throughout the patient journey. The service model sets out that all acute stroke patients should gain rapid access to a stroke unit within four hours and receive an early multidisciplinary assessment.

What assessment he has made of the potential merits of home testing by post for sexually transmitted infections.

Local authorities in England are responsible for commissioning comprehensive, open access sexual health services, including sexually transmitted infection (STI) services, through the Public Health Grant, which was funded at £3.884 billion in 2025/26. It is for individual local authorities to decide their spending priorities, based on an assessment of local need, and to commission the blend of services that best suits their population, including decisions about online, face to face, or postal testing services.The UK Health Security Agency published the STI prioritisation framework in 2024, which enables local systems to identify the best suite of interventions for their local populations.

What assessment he has made of the trends in the levels of (a) gonorrhea, (b) chlamydia, and (c) syphillis in people.

Official statistics published by the UK Health Security Agency highlight trends in sexually transmitted infection diagnoses in England. Information is available from the GUMCAD STI Surveillance System and the CTAD Chlamydia Surveillance System at the following links respectively:https://www.gov.uk/guidance/gumcad-sti-surveillance-systemhttps://www.gov.uk/guidance/ctad-chlamydia-surveillance-system

For what reason the Government has delayed publication of the cancer plan.

The National Cancer Plan is due to be published in the new year. The decision to publish the plan in the new year was taken in consultation with key stakeholders and patient groups. We have received more than 11,000 responses to our Call for Evidence and have had significant ongoing engagement with patients, clinicians, and charities. It is right to take time to ensure it is ambitious, strategic, and sustainable, setting the direction for the next 10 years. This is essential in achieving the Prime Minister's Health Mission goal to reduce the number of lives lost to cancer and to build a National Health Service that is fit for the future.

What forecast he has made of the cost to the public purse of the planned strike of resident doctors from 14 to 19 November 2025.

The five-day resident doctor strike in July 2025 had an estimated cost to the National Health Service of approximately £240 million, and this is a starting estimate for the planned November strike. The costs were lower than in July 2024 as a result of lower turnout. We continue to update estimates as new data becomes available, in line with receiving business as usual financial data from NHS systems. The NHS has tried and tested plans in place to minimise the disruption and will work with partners to ensure safe care for patients continues to be available, and emergency services continue to operate.

What estimate he has made of the number of (a) operations and (b) appointments that will be cancelled if resident doctors strike from 14 to 19 November 2025.

No formal assessment has been made of any industrial action by resident doctors from 14 to 19 November 2025.

With reference to the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation's report entitled Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) immunisation programme for adults aged 80 years and older: JCVI advice, published on 16 July 2025, whether the NHS is offering the respiratory syncytial virus vaccine to (a) all adults aged 80 years old and over and (b) all residents of adult care homes.

In advice published on 16 July 2025, the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) advised that the routine respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) programme be extended to also include adults aged 80 years and older, and all residents in a care home for older adults.During a debate on Accident and Emergency Waiting Times on 22 July 2025, my Rt. Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, confirmed to the Hon. Member that we had already accepted the JCVI advice to extend the routine RSV programme and reassured you that the Department was working at pace on implementation. He did not confirm plans or timings to implement the advice.At Oral Answers to Questions – Health and Social Care, on 21 October 2025, my Rt. Hon. Friend told the Hon. Member that we had delivered on the commitment to extend the routine RSV programme to adults aged 80 years and older, and all residents in a care home for older adults. His response referred to the acceptance of the JCVI advice and ongoing work to implement that advice. The RSV programme could not be expanded ahead of this winter. However, we have updated the eligibility of the catch-up programme for 7579-year-olds so anyone who turned 80 on or after 1 September 2024 but has not yet come forward for vaccination can continue to do so. Initially, those who turned 80 in the first year of the programme only remained eligible until 31 August 2025, but that has now been extended.The Department is in discussions with NHS England and the UK Health Security Agency on potential implementation. The Department is exploring delivery options and their impact, including on other vaccination programmes, to ensure any changes deliver the best value for money. We will make a final decision about whether and how to implement the JCVI’s advice, including the timing of any expansion to the older adult RSV programme, when this work has concluded.

When he expects to receive a formal recommendation from the UK national screening committee on newborn screening for spinal muscular atrophy.

A recommendation by the UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC) on newborn screening for spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is expected following the conclusion of an in-service evaluation (ISE), which is needed to answer several outstanding questions related to the implementation of a screening programme for SMA.The UK NSC recommended an ISE of newborn blood spot screening for SMA in National Health Services in 2023. Since then, the SMA Newborn Screening ISE Partnership Board was set up to plan and develop work to shape the ISE. The National Institute for Health and Care Research’s Health Technology Assessment Programme is running a tender process to appoint researchers for this work.

When he plans to publish the national cancer plan.

The National Cancer Plan will be published in the new year. We have received over 11,000 responses to our Call for Evidence and have had significant ongoing engagement with patients, clinicians, and charities.The plan will include further details on how we will improve the experience and outcomes for patients with cancer, as well as speeding up diagnosis and treatment, ensuring patients have access to the latest treatments and technology, and ultimately drive up this country’s cancer survival rates.

With reference to the oral contribution of the Minister of State for Health of 23 October 2025 on Impact of NHS workforce levels on cancer patients, what steps his Department is taking to reduce the time taken to publish the NHS workforce plan.

The Government will publish the 10 Year Workforce Plan in spring 2026.This plan will set out action to create a workforce able to deliver the transformed service set out in the 10-Year Health Plan. It is important we do this in a robust and joined up way. We are therefore engaging extensively with partners to ensure this plan delivers for staff and patients.

When he plans to publish the NHS long-term workforce plan.

The Government will publish the 10 Year Workforce Plan in spring 2026.This plan will set out action to create a workforce able to deliver the transformed service set out in the 10-Year Health Plan. It is important we do this in a robust and joined up way. We are therefore engaging extensively with partners to ensure this plan delivers for staff and patients.

What steps he is taking to implement the Getting It Right First Time recommendations on improving the (a) access to and (b) quality of dermatology care.

As set out in the Plan for Change, we will ensure that by March 2029 we return to the standard that 92% of patients wait no longer than 18 weeks from referral to treatment, a standard which has not been met consistently since September 2015. The Government is clear that reforming elective care must be done equitably and inclusively for all adults, children, and young people, and across all services, including dermatology. One of the ways we are improving access to services, including dermatology, is through NHS England’s Getting It Right First Time (GIRFT) programme, which runs a Further Faster programme to deliver rapid clinical transformation with the aim of reducing 52-week waits. It brings together hospital trust clinicians and operational teams to transform patient pathways, helping to reduce waiting lists despite the increase in dermatology demand. It focuses on increasing the use of Advice and Guidance and technology such as teledermatology alongside reducing non-attendance in clinics and unnecessary follow-up appointments.GIRFT has developed a number of practices to ensure high quality care, such as the standardised best practice pathways for dermatological conditions, to ensure that patients have the shortest route to see the right person the first time. GIRFT provides resources so general practitioners can manage patients in community care without needing to wait for hospital referral, and offers direct, targeted support, working with trusts and integrated care boards who have approached GIRFT for support. Further information on the standardised best practice pathways for dermatological conditions is available at the following link:https://gettingitrightfirsttime.co.uk/medical_specialties/dermatology/#dermatology

What plans he has to improve access to dermatology services.

As set out in the Plan for Change, we will ensure that by March 2029 we return to the standard that 92% of patients wait no longer than 18 weeks from referral to treatment, a standard which has not been met consistently since September 2015. The Government is clear that reforming elective care must be done equitably and inclusively for all adults, children, and young people, and across all services, including dermatology. One of the ways we are improving access to services, including dermatology, is through NHS England’s Getting It Right First Time (GIRFT) programme, which runs a Further Faster programme to deliver rapid clinical transformation with the aim of reducing 52-week waits. It brings together hospital trust clinicians and operational teams to transform patient pathways, helping to reduce waiting lists despite the increase in dermatology demand. It focuses on increasing the use of Advice and Guidance and technology such as teledermatology alongside reducing non-attendance in clinics and unnecessary follow-up appointments.GIRFT has developed a number of practices to ensure high quality care, such as the standardised best practice pathways for dermatological conditions, to ensure that patients have the shortest route to see the right person the first time. GIRFT provides resources so general practitioners can manage patients in community care without needing to wait for hospital referral, and offers direct, targeted support, working with trusts and integrated care boards who have approached GIRFT for support. Further information on the standardised best practice pathways for dermatological conditions is available at the following link:https://gettingitrightfirsttime.co.uk/medical_specialties/dermatology/#dermatology

With reference to the 2023 2023 UK surgical workforce census report compiled by the Royal College of Surgeons, what steps he is taking to expand surgical training capacity in the context of bottlenecks in posts.

The 10-Year Health Plan, published on 3 July, set out that over the next three years we will create 1,000 new specialty training posts with a focus on specialties where there is the greatest need.The plan also sets out that we will work across 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 next steps in due course.