Written questions by Dewhirst.

What steps his Department is taking to improve access to specialist treatment for people with severe Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) within community mental health services.

It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

How many patients were referred to specialist OCD treatment centres commissioned by NHS England in each of the last five years.

It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

What guidance his Department has issued to NHS mental health providers on continuity of care when therapists leave posts or are absent for extended periods.

NHS England has not produced specific guidance to National Health Service mental health providers on the continuity of care when therapists leave posts or are absent for extended periods, as maximising continuity of care is an important principle that is included in NHS England’s guidance to mental health services.Staff turnover and absence are normal and unavoidable for all employers. Providers would be expected to minimise any impact on service users in such circumstances.As set out in the 10-Year Health Plan, the Government is committed to making the NHS the best place to work, by supporting and retaining our hardworking and dedicated healthcare professionals. We will also publish a 10 year workforce plan later this year to ensure the NHS has the right people in the right places to care for patients when they need it.

What steps his Department is taking to help ensure that patients receiving community mental health care are appropriately involved in decisions relating to their treatment plans and discharge from services.

The Department is committed to ensuring that people receiving community mental health care are meaningfully involved in decisions about their treatment, ongoing support, and discharge.NHS England is introducing a new Personalised Care Framework for secondary mental health services, which sets clear expectations that care and support planning should be collaborative and centred on what matters to the individual. Under the framework, people should have a single, live care plan that reflects their needs, goals, and preferences, is developed jointly with professionals, and is reviewed regularly. This is reinforced through NHS England’s Community Mental Health Framework.Recent reforms through the Mental Health Act 2025, as well as statutory discharge guidance applying to mental health inpatient settings, further strengthen this approach by promoting coproduced and personalised care and discharge planning.

What the average waiting time is for patients referred for Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and Exposure and Response Prevention therapy for OCD within NHS mental health services in England.

In England, people with obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) are supported through NHS Talking Therapies, which provide National Institute for Health and Care Excellence recommended psychological treatments, including cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT).For the most recent published data, in February 2026, the average waiting time from referral to first treatment for referrals where CBT was the first treatment was 28.2 days. In that month, 10,502 referrals began a course of CBT.The recommended psychological treatment for OCD is CBT with Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP). However, current national data does not distinguish between CBT delivered with ERP and CBT delivered without ERP. It is therefore not possible to report separate waiting times specifically for ERP.

Pursuant to the answer of 5 January 2026, to Question 96853, on NHS England: Costs what estimate he has made of the (a) gross and (b) net number of civil servants who will leave the Civil Service due to redundancy.

The Government’s ambition remains to reduce staff numbers by up to 50% across the Department, NHS England, and the integrated care boards, which is the equivalent to up to 18,000 posts, including a number of Civil Servants, through paid exits via voluntary exits and redundancies, natural attrition, and recruitment controls, combined together. These reductions will be made by March 2028. The overall cost of paid exits across organisations is estimated at approximately £1 billion to £1.3 billion. The calculations remain subject to ongoing policy development and refinement, and are also subject to actual take-up of exit schemes and calculated individual costs. Relevant, material financial information relating to this active policy development will be published in due course in line with transparency obligations. The Government remains committed to reducing unnecessary bureaucracy and duplication, to save more than £1 billion a year by the end of Parliament, which will go directly to improving patient outcomes.

Whether NHS staff receive employer pension contributions on dates on which they are on strike.

Contributions to the NHS Pension scheme are based on pensionable earnings. If staff participate in strike action and do not receive pay for those days, there is no pensionable pay for that period, so neither employee nor employer contributions are made.

Pursuant to the Answer of 18 December 2025 to Question 86060 on NHS: Recruitment, what guidance has been provided to NHS bodies on the (a) length and (b) type of criminal conviction that would prevent a person from being employed in the NHS under the Widening Access Demonstrator programme.

The Department commissions NHS Employers to issue employer guidance under the NHS Employment Check Standards, which includes the criminal record check requirements in the National Health Service in England. The standards direct employers in the NHS to use Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) guidance to understand which offences are disclosed or filtered, depending on age, sentence length, and offence type. The DBS applies statutory filtering rules to decide which convictions are shown on DBS certificates in England and Wales. DBS rules apply across all sectors for roles needing criminal record checks. Charities like Unlock and NACRO offer extra advice and guidance for individuals with criminal records and employers hiring them.

With reference to the Government's transparency data entitled Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for government’s most important contracts: Data for July to September 2025 for all departments, published on 25 December 2025, for what reason Tackling Economic Inequality is a Key Performance Indicator for the contract entitled NHSmail Collaboration Licensing Platform that is supplied by Accenture (UK) Limited.

The inclusion of Tackling Economic Inequality as a Key Performance Indicator (KPI) for NHS England’s NHSmail Collaboration Licensing Platform contract reflects the Government’s Social Value Model, introduced to ensure that public procurement delivers wider economic and social benefits alongside core contractual outcomes. Further information is available at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/procurement-policy-note-0620-taking-account-of-social-value-in-the-award-of-central-government-contractsAs for every procurement, NHS England selected the most appropriate Social Value Theme from those set out in the above guidance, based on the subject matter of the contract. In this case, Tackling Economic Inequality was chosen. This theme encompasses measures that promote economic opportunity, support skills and employment, and encourage innovation and productivity across supply chains.Each Social Value Theme in turn contains detailed Model Award Criteria, and for this contract NHS England applied:Innovation and Disruptive Technologies, to support innovation and disruptive technologies throughout the supply chain to deliver lower cost and/or higher quality goods and services; andModernising Delivery and Increasing Productivity, to support the development of scalable and future-proofed new methods to modernise delivery and increase productivity.The KPI was included to ensure those commitments are monitored transparently. This is consistent with the Government’s requirement to publish KPIs for its most important contracts, as part of strengthening accountability and transparency in public procurement.

What the (a) name, (b) job title, (c) annual remuneration, (d) time commitment and (e) expected end date is for each direct ministerial appointment in his Department.

As of 9 December 2025, The Department has ten direct ministerial appointments. The following table shows the name, job title, time commitment, whether they were renumerated, and expected end date for each direct ministerial appointment in the Department:NameRole TitleRenumeratedTime CommitmentExpected End DateGemma AldridgeCommunications Advisor to the Department of Health and Social CarePaidThree days per weekJanuary 2026Baroness Valerie AmosChair of the Independent Maternity and Neonatal InvestigationPaidTwo days per weekMay 2026 (pending approvals)Dame Caroline Dineage MPCo-Chair of the Children and Young People TaskforceUnpaidTwo days per monthMarch 2026 (pending approval)Professor Darren HargraveCo-Chair of the Children and Young People TaskforceUnpaidTwo days per monthMarch 2026 (pending approval)Dr Sharna ShanmugavadivelVice-Chair of the Children and Young People TaskforceUnpaidTwo days per monthMarch 2026 (pending approval)Jess Asato MPAdviser on the Health Contribution to Reducing Violence Against Women and GirlsUnpaidOne day per weekMay 2026Dame Lesley ReganWomen's Health AmbassadorPaidFour days per monthJune 2026Matthew HoodSenior Delivery Advisor to the Secretary of StatePaidup to 260 days per yearSeptember 2027Bishop James JonesChair of the Gosport Family ForumPaidOne day per monthNovember 2027Baroness Louise CaseyChair of the Casey Commission formally (Chair of the Independent Commission into adult social care.)PaidThree days per weekDecember 2028 In line with our departmental policy, we have been unable to provide the annual renumeration and instead indicated which are renumerated.

What plans he has to introduce a modern service framework for cancer.

Everyone in the National Health Service is responsible for delivering high-quality care. 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.Between 1997 and 2010, National Service Frameworks were a clinically-led approach to developing guidance that supported sustained improvement in major condition outcomes, including by narrowing inequality and reducing unwarranted variation. As set out in the 10-Year Health Plan, we will reintroduce and modernise this approach. These Modern Service Frameworks will define an aspirational, long-term outcome goal for a major condition and then identify the best evidenced interventions and the support for delivery.Early priorities will include cardiovascular disease, severe mental illness and the first ever service framework for frailty and dementia. The Government will consider other long-term conditions for future waves of Modern Service Frameworks. The criteria for determining other conditions for future Modern Service Frameworks will be based on where there is potential for rapid and significant improvements in quality of care and productivity.Plans to introduce a modern service framework for cancer will be considered as part of the development of the National Cancer Plan.

If he will set (a) the role of Integrated Health Organisations (IHOs) and (b) how IHOs will align with (i) integrated care boards and (ii) neighbourhood health plans.

As set out in the 10-Year Health Plan, the very best foundation trusts will have the opportunity to be eligible for designation as integrated health organisations (IHOs).An IHO will hold the whole health budget for a local population. IHOs will be required to support integration, shift resources from hospital to community, focus on population health and tackle inequalities.Guidance for providers on IHO designation is available at the following link:https://www.england.nhs.uk/long-read/advanced-foundation-trust-programme-guide-for-applicants-annex-2/Further guidance on the implementation of IHOs will be published by NHS England shortly.

If he will set out how the proposed modern service frameworks will interact with (a) National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidance, (b) the proposed National Cancer Plan and (c) other health plans.

Everyone in the National Health Service is responsible for delivering high-quality care. 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.Between 1997 and 2010, national service frameworks were a clinically led approach to developing guidance that supported sustained improvement in major condition outcomes, including by narrowing inequality and reducing unwarranted variation. As set out in the 10-Year Health Plan, we will reintroduce and modernise this approach. These modern service frameworks will define an aspirational, long-term outcome goal for a major condition and then identify the best evidenced interventions and the support for delivery.Modern service frameworks will work with the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence and others to identify the best evidenced interventions that would support progress towards the outcome goal and set standards on how those interventions should be used.Early priorities will include cardiovascular disease, severe mental illness, and the first ever service framework for frailty and dementia. The Government will consider other long-term conditions for future waves of modern service frameworks. The criteria for determining other conditions for future modern service frameworks will be based on where there is potential for rapid and significant improvements in quality of care and productivity.Plans to introduce a modern service framework for cancer will be considered as part of the development of the National Cancer Plan.

Pursuant to the answer of 13 October 2025 to Question 73329 on NHS: Recruitment and with reference to the his Department's press release entitled NHS App overhaul will break down barriers to healthcare and reduce inequalities, published on 25 June 2025, if he will list the types of convictions that (a) will and (b) will not be eligible for the Widening Access Demonstrator programme.

The Department is unable to provide a list of convictions which would automatically prevent someone from being accepted on the Widening Access Demonstrator (WAD) programme as this depends on the role applied for, the nature and seriousness of the offence, and the safeguarding risks to patients and other colleagues. All National Health Service employers have well-established and robust employment checks in place, including Disclosure and Barring Service checks for eligible roles, to assess a person’s suitability and uphold the safety of patients and staff. Anyone seeking employment through the WAD programme is subject to these same rigorous processes.

What his Department's policy is on levying VAT on (a) private health insurance and (b) private health care.

Both private health insurance and private health care are currently exempt from VAT. However, the responsibility for any future amendments to the VAT regime would not fall to the Department of Health and Social Care, but to HM Treasury.

What estimate he has made of the amount of trade union facility time given to the BMA across the NHS.

This estimate has not been made. The Department for Health and Social Care does not collect data on trade union facility time given to the British Medical Association (BMA) across the NHS in England. The Cabinet Office routinely publishes overall public sector trade union facility data. However, data is not collected to the level of granularity requested. Data is available at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/public-sector-trade-union-facility-time-data

Whether NHS staff who are on strike are permitted to work for (a) non-NHS bodies, (b) other NHS trusts and (c) other NHS organisations during days of industrial action.

NHS staff who are on strike are allowed to work for non-NHS bodies and other NHS organisations including NHS trusts on days of industrial action, as long as they are not provided by an employment business to cover the work of striking workers. Some employment contracts may require employees to either declare to or seek permission from their employer before working for another employer.

With reference to the Department's register of board members' interests 2024-2025, updated on 16 January 2025, whether Alan Milburn has recused himself from (a) discussions and (b) activity relating to NHS dentistry.

Mr Milburn has agreed to recuse himself from discussions and activity relating to National Health Service dentistry. Declarations of interest and any updates to them are published in the Register of Interests in the Department’s Annual Report and Accounts, and on the GOV.UK website, in alignment with Government policy.

Further to the press release entitled NHS App overhaul will break down barriers to healthcare and reduce inequalities, published on 25 June 2025, whether those convicted of (a) violent offences and (b) sexual offences will be eligible for the new recruitment scheme.

Anyone taking part in the Widening Access Demonstrator programme will be subject to the same employment checks as existing NHS and social care staff.Roles providing health or personal care are considered ‘regulated activity’ and are subject to an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service Check (DBS check), which would disclose any details related to violent and sexual offences whether spent or unspent. In addition, these roles are subject to a check against the DBS barred list. The DBS barred lists ensure that individuals who have been convicted of the most serious crimes such as violent and sexual offences, where there is an ongoing risk of harm to vulnerable groups (patients), are prevented from seeking employment to gain access to these groups.

With reference to the Written Statement of 22 May 2025 on NHS Workforce, HCWS663, what the evidential basis is for the reduction of NHS England costs by 50%; and what assessment he has made of the potential impact of that reduction on (a) patient care, (b) access to services and (c) regional health inequalities.

We are intending to reduce the headcount across the Department and NHS England, which will deliver hundreds of millions of pounds of savings each year which can be recycled into front line service delivery. Work is progressing to take forward the detailed design and operating model for the new integrated organisation, along with plans for the smooth transfer of people, functions, and responsibilities. The precise reduction agreed will be done through careful design, deliberation, and consultation, in the spirit of making sure that the set-up is right for the longer term.It is only right that with such significant reform, we commit to carefully assessing and understanding the potential impacts, as is due process. Evidence from these ongoing assessments will inform our programme as appropriate. Furthermore, the Government is committed to transparency, and will consider how best to ensure the public and parliamentarians are informed of the outcomes and impact of both the abolition of NHS England and the reduction in workforce.