Written questions by Morello.

Whether he has made an assessment of the potential impact of incorrect eligibility advice given through the covid-19 helpline on people receiving that advice.

A vaccination telephone booking service, known as the 119 service, is available during COVID-19 and flu vaccination campaigns to provide booking support and guidance to people who may not be able to use online National Health Service booking services.No direct assessment has been made of the potential impact of incorrect eligibility advice given through the telephone vaccination service. The service is commissioned by NHS England. NHS England advises that call handlers are trained to provide standard information rather than give individual eligibility advice.If an individual is concerned that they were given incorrect advice, concerns can be raised with the NHS England Customer Contact Centre.The spring 2025 COVID-19 campaign in England started on 1 April 2025 and runs until 17 June. All those who are eligible, those aged 75 years old and above, those aged six months old and above with immunosuppression, and those living in care homes for older adults, still have time to take up the vaccination offer, and are encouraged to do so.

With reference to Q204 of the oral evidence given by him to the Health and Social Care Committee on 8 April 2025, HC 563, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of an increase in the geographical area of integrated care boards on the adequacy of their relationship with local authorities.

NHS England has asked integrated care boards (ICBs) to act primarily as strategic commissioners of health services and reduce duplication of responsibilities within their structure. NHS England provided additional guidance to ICBs, National Health Service trusts and NHS foundation trusts on 1 April 2025 where ICBs are tasked to develop plans setting out how they will manage their resources to deliver across their priorities. The guidance is available at the following link:https://www.england.nhs.uk/long-read/working-together-in-2025-26-to-lay-the-foundations-for-reform/Local authorities are mandated statutory partner members of ICBs and will maintain their important role to deliver integrated health and care service for their local population. Ministers and the Department will work with the transformation team at the top of NHS England, led by Sir Jim Mackey, to ensure ICBs continue to fulfil their future functions effectively within the running costs cap and unlock the benefit of working at scale to deliver better care for their population.

What steps his Department is taking to ensure accurate information is provided by the covid-19 vaccination helpline.

A vaccination telephone booking service, known as the 119 service, is available during COVID-19 and flu vaccination campaigns to provide booking support and guidance to people who may not be able to use online National Health Service booking services.No direct assessment has been made of the potential impact of incorrect eligibility advice given through the telephone vaccination service. The service is commissioned by NHS England. NHS England advises that call handlers are trained to provide standard information rather than give individual eligibility advice.If an individual is concerned that they were given incorrect advice, concerns can be raised with the NHS England Customer Contact Centre.The spring 2025 COVID-19 campaign in England started on 1 April 2025 and runs until 17 June. All those who are eligible, those aged 75 years old and above, those aged six months old and above with immunosuppression, and those living in care homes for older adults, still have time to take up the vaccination offer, and are encouraged to do so.

What steps his Department is taking to increase the number of nursing apprenticeships.

We will publish a refreshed workforce plan to deliver the transformed health service we will build over the next decade and treat patients on time again. This will include how we ensure we train healthcare staff, through all training routes, to support patients in all of our communities.

What steps his Department is taking to help increase the number of nursing apprenticeship opportunities in West Dorset constituency.

We will publish a refreshed workforce plan to deliver the transformed health service we will build over the next decade and treat patients on time again. This will include how we ensure we train healthcare staff, through all training routes, to support patients in all of our communities.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of nursing apprenticeships on levels of (a) recruitment and (b) retention in the NHS.

Apprenticeships are an important way to widen routes into the nursing profession, by providing opportunities for people from all backgrounds, and for whom a full-time university course may not be practical or preferred. They also offer existing staff new ways to continue to progress and develop in their career.We will publish a refreshed workforce plan to deliver the transformed health service we will build over the next decade and treat patients on time again. This will include how we ensure we train healthcare staff, through all training routes, to support patients in all of our communities.

What recent assessment she has made of emergency service capacity in tourist areas during summer months.

NHS England is responsible for funding allocations to integrated care boards (ICBs). ICBs then decide how that money is spent within the local integrated care system, and are responsible for planning service provision in their local area. In doing so, ICBs, including the NHS Dorset ICB, which is responsible for services in West Dorset, should consider how best to use their funding to meet patient demand, including expected seasonal variation. ICB allocations for 2025/26 were published on 30 January 2025, and are available at the following link:https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/allocation-of-resources-2025-26/The National Health Service’s operational pressures escalation levels (OPEL) framework provides a standardised approach to support an effective, integrated, and coordinated response to acute trust operational pressures. This includes actions locally, regionally, and nationally that support the depressurising of services and ensure patient safety. Further information about the OPEL framework is published by NHS England at the following link:https://www.england.nhs.uk/long-read/integrated-opel-framework-2024-to-2026/

What mechanisms exist for Integrated Care Boards to request additional funding during seasonal tourism peaks in demand for Accident and Emergency services.

NHS England is responsible for funding allocations to integrated care boards (ICBs). ICBs then decide how that money is spent within the local integrated care system, and are responsible for planning service provision in their local area. In doing so, ICBs, including the NHS Dorset ICB, which is responsible for services in West Dorset, should consider how best to use their funding to meet patient demand, including expected seasonal variation. ICB allocations for 2025/26 were published on 30 January 2025, and are available at the following link:https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/allocation-of-resources-2025-26/The National Health Service’s operational pressures escalation levels (OPEL) framework provides a standardised approach to support an effective, integrated, and coordinated response to acute trust operational pressures. This includes actions locally, regionally, and nationally that support the depressurising of services and ensure patient safety. Further information about the OPEL framework is published by NHS England at the following link:https://www.england.nhs.uk/long-read/integrated-opel-framework-2024-to-2026/

What assessment he has made with Cabinet colleagues of the adequacy of access to NHS dentistry in new developments in West Dorset constituency.

Dental Statistics - England 2023/24, published by the NHS Business Services Authority on 22 August 2024, is available from the following link:https://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/statistical-collections/dental-england/dental-statistics-england-202324The data for the NHS Dorset Integrated Care Board, which includes the West Dorset constituency, shows that 36% of adults were seen by a National Health Service dentist in the previous 24 months up to June 2024, compared to 40% in England, and that 52% of children were seen by an NHS dentist in the previous 12 months up to June 2024, compared to 56% in England.The Government plans to tackle the challenges for patients trying to access NHS dental care with a rescue plan to provide 700,000 more urgent dental appointments and recruit new dentists to the areas that need them most. To rebuild dentistry in the long term, we will reform the dental contract with the sector, with a shift to focus on prevention and the retention of NHS dentists.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of increases in employer National Insurance contributions on primary care providers in West Dorset constituency.

We have made the necessary decisions to fix the foundations of the public finances at the Autumn Budget. Resource spending for the Department will be £22.6billion more in 2025/26 than in 2023/24, as part of the Spending Review settlement. The employers’ National Insurance rise was implemented in April 2025. Primary care providers are valued independent contractors. Every year we consult with each sector both about what services they provide, and the money providers are entitled to in return under their contract. Operating costs for these providers are taken into account as a part of this process.

What steps he is taking with Cabinet colleagues to help ensure that new housing developments have adequate access to GPs.

The Department of Health and Social Care continues to work closely with Ministry of Housing, Communities, and Local Government to ensure all new and existing developments have an adequate level of healthcare infrastructure. This is alongside guidance on how developer contributions from new housing developments can be better negotiated and used towards delivering local health services and infrastructure.Integrated care boards are responsible for commissioning, planning, securing, and monitoring general practice services within their health systems through delegated responsibility from NHS England. The National Health Service has a statutory duty to ensure there are sufficient medical services, including general practices, in each local area. It should take account of population growth and demographic changes.

What steps he is taking to ensure community pharmacy provision in new housing developments in Dorset.

Local authorities are required to undertake a pharmaceutical needs assessment (PNA) every three years to assess whether their population is adequately served by local pharmacies. Legislation requires PNAs to include considerations of the future need for pharmaceutical services in the area. The Department has published an information pack to support local authorities in preparation of PNAs, with the pack available at the following link:https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/617bdc31d3bf7f5601cf3168/pharmaceutical-needs-assessment-information-pack.pdfChapter 6 of the information pack provides advice on how future needs, improvement or better access should be articulated in the PNA, including following any new housing developments. These assessments inform commissioning decisions by integrated care boards.

What steps his Department is taking increase the number of optometrists in West Dorset.

NHS England provides an annual grant for supervisors of optometry trainees. This payment is an essential element of ensuring adequate training provision is available for new optometrists.Integrated care boards are responsible for commissioning primary and secondary eye care services and receive an annual allocation of funding to secure services to meet the needs of their local population. Any decisions about the recruitment of optometrists are a matter for individual employers.We will publish a refreshed workforce plan to deliver the transformed health service we will build over the next decade and treat patients on time again.

What estimate he has made of the number of redundancies there will be as a result of the reorganisation of integrated care boards in Dorset.

Proposed changes to integrated care board (ICB) functions and geography are being discussed as part of a wider National Health Service reform programme, to reduce management costs and focus more money on the front line.All ICBs in England are being asked to significantly reduce running costs and shift to a more strategic role, with different responsibilities. Specifically, ICBs have been asked to reduce pay costs by approximately 50%.It is too early to predict the impact of potential redundancy numbers. The Dorset ICB is discussing proposals to form a wider ICB “cluster” with neighbouring colleagues at the NHS Somerset ICB and the NHS Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon, and Wiltshire ICB.Clustering will allow the ICBs to realise efficiencies, releasing resources for frontline care, while maintaining teams of sufficient size in order to be resilient and specialised.

If he will make an assessment of the potential impact of the reorganisation of integrated care boards in Dorset on the NHS estate in the next two years.

NHS England has asked integrated care boards (ICBs) to act primarily as strategic commissioners and reduce duplication of responsibilities within their structure. NHS England will work closely with ICBs to ensure their plans to deliver these changes do not compromise the quality of care or the statutory responsibilities of ICBs.NHS England has circulated the Model ICB blueprint which lists primary care operations and transformation, including estates support, and estates and infrastructure strategy as functions in scope for reviewing for ICBs to transfer over time to neighbourhood health providers and providers respectively. NHS trusts will maintain a statutory responsibility over their assets, including their estate.Currently, Dorset ICB has a small estates function which is predominantly focused on the primary care estate and some capital oversight. There has been significant investment in estates in Dorset over the last few years and continuing this year through the New Hospital Programme (NHP) and other capital programmes which will give improved facilities through the acute sites, namely University Hospitals Dorset and Dorset County Hospital, and hubs in the community including Wimborne, Shaftesbury, Sherborne and Forston. Much of this is already in place and being managed with NHS trusts and through the NHP.

With reference to the letter from the Chief Executive of NHS England entitled Working together in 2025/26 to lay the foundations for reform, published on 1 April 2025, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the (a) proposed funding reductions and (b) organisational reorganisation on staff (i) training, (ii) retention and (iii) morale.

NHS England has asked the integrated care boards (ICBs) to act primarily as strategic commissioners and to reduce the duplication of responsibilities within their structure, to achieve reductions in their running cost allowance. NHS England will work closely with the ICBs to ensure these changes do not compromise the quality of care or the statutory responsibilities of ICBs. ICBs will also consider how these changes impact on staff, and will take the necessary steps to ensure continuity of staff training and support for staff morale, thereby protecting frontline staff.ICBs have drafted and shared their delivery and resource plans in accordance with the guidance set out in Sir Jim Mackey's letter of 1 April and the Model ICB framework. NHS England is working with ICBs to review and implement these plans, including is supporting staff through the transition.

What guidance his Department has provided to Integrated Care Boards on levels of redundancies due by the end of May 2025.

Integrated care boards have been asked to submit plans about how they will reduce their operating costs throughout this financial year. These are currently being assessed. The process of implementing any reductions will follow local employment change processes which will occur over several months. This will include local trade union involvement.

If he will publish the risk assessment for the abolition of NHS England.

The abolition of NHS England will strip out the unnecessary bureaucracy and cut the duplication that comes from having two organisations doing the same job. By the end of the process, we estimate that these changes will save hundreds of millions of pounds a year, which will be reinvested in frontline services.It is only right that with such significant reform, we commit to carefully assessing and understanding the potential impacts, as is due process. These ongoing assessments will inform our programme as appropriate.The Government is committed to transparency and will consider how best to ensure that the public and parliamentarians are informed of the outcomes.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of the abolition of NHS England on the (a) planning and (b) delivery of primary care services.

Ministers and senior Department officials are working with the new executive team in NHS England, led by Sir Jim Mackey, to form a new joint centre. As we bring the two organisations together, we will continue to evaluate impacts of all kinds, and will put plans in place to mitigate any identified risks.

What steps his Department is taking to support farmers experiencing mental health difficulties in rural areas.

We know that too many people are not receiving the mental health care they need, and we recognise that those living and working in isolated communities, including farmers, may face particular challenges in accessing the mental health services that they need.Specifically in relation to farmers and agricultural communities, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs is supporting access to farmer mental health support services by funding the Farmer Welfare Grant. This aids organisations in delivering projects which will support mental health and build resilience in local farming communities. One recipient, the Farming Community Network, is using the funding to expand their FarmWell platform. This online resource provides business and personal resilience advice on topics including mental health, isolation, depression, and suicide.The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs is also developing options in consultation with communities, farming support organisations, and experts across the Government, as to how it can further support the Department for Health and Social Care’s investment in mental health interventions for those in agricultural communities.