Every parliamentary written question tabled by Elsie Blundell this session, with the full answer and department. Back to the MP page.
Showing 1–20 of 43 · Department of Health and Social Care
What recent assessment he has made of regional variation in access to care and dietary support for people living with Phenylketonuria in England; and what steps his Department is taking to ensure consistent provision across NHS regions.
Awaiting answer.
What steps his Department is taking to improve patient access to new and emerging treatments for Phenylketonuria, including those available in other countries.
The Government recognises how important it is that patients with rare diseases can benefit from access to effective new medicines. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) makes recommendations for the National Health Service on whether new licensed medicines should be routinely funded by the NHS based on an assessment of clinical and cost effectiveness. NICE aims wherever possible to issue guidance on new medicines close to the time of licensing and the NHS is legally required to fund medicines recommended by NICE, normally within three months of the publication of final guidance.NICE has published guidance recommending sapropterin (brand name Kuvan) for phenylketonuria (PKU) on the NHS as a possible treatment for people with this condition who meet the access criteria, are aged under 22 years old or who are pregnant.NICE is also in the very early stages of developing technology appraisal guidance on sepiapterin for treating hyperphenylalaninaemia in phenylketonuria in people of any age. The evaluation is currently expected to begin in 2027.
Whether he has made an assessment of the adequacy and consistency of access to prescribed low-protein foods and specialist nutritional products for people with Phenylketonuria (PKU); and whether he plans to review current prescribing guidance.
Awaiting answer.
Whether workforce modelling for community healthcare services separately identifies individual allied health professions, including dietitians.
Integrated care boards (ICBs) plan, commission, and oversee the provision of local National Health Services, including community health services, to meet their population’s needs.The Government is committed to training the staff we need to ensure patients are cared for by the right professional, when and where they need it. We will publish a 10 Year Workforce Plan to set out action to create a workforce ready to deliver the transformed services set out in the 10-Year Health Plan.We know people are waiting too long for community health services. That is why, for the first time, we have set a clear target for systems to work to reduce long waits in NHS England’s Medium-Term Planning Framework.By 2028/29 at least 80% of community health services activity should take place within 18 weeks, bringing community health services in line with targets for elective care.In 2025, we published, for the first time, an overview of the core community health services, Standardising Community Health Services, that ICBs should consider when planning for their local populations to support improved commissioning and delivery of community health services, a vital part of Neighbourhood Health. Further guidance was published in February 2026, providing more detailed descriptions of the core components of community health services for ICBs.
Whether his Department centrally holds data on workforce capacity for allied health professions supporting prevention and community healthcare services in England by profession.
The Department does not centrally hold data on workforce capacity for allied health professions supporting prevention and community healthcare services in England by profession.NHS England published monthly data drawn from the Electronic Staff Record, the Human Resources system for the National Health Service, on the number of staff employed in the NHS in England, which is available at the following link:https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/publications/statistical/nhs-workforce-statisticsThis information can be used to identify the number of individual allied health professionals employed but is not able to robustly identify the specific service or setting in which staff are delivering care.The Government is committed to training the staff we need to ensure patients are cared for by the right professional, when and where they need it. We will publish a 10 Year Workforce Plan to set out action to create a workforce ready to deliver the transformed services set out in the 10-Year Health Plan.
Whether her Department has plans to review the current regulatory framework for counselling and psychotherapy; and what steps are being taken to help ensure minimum standards of training and accountability within the profession.
The Government is clear that the professions protected in law must be the right ones and that the level of regulatory oversight must be proportionate to the risks to the public.The Department has no current plans to extend statutory regulation to counsellors and psychotherapists, nor to introduce minimum standards of training and accountability required of individuals providing counselling and psychotherapy services. Any decisions about practice requirements are a matter for employers.The Professional Standards Authority for Health and Social Care’s voluntary registers programme provides a proportionate means of assurance for unregulated professions, that sits between employer controls and statutory regulation by setting standards for organisations holding voluntary registers for unregulated health and social care occupations. There are currently 10 organisations that hold an accredited register linked to the counselling and psychotherapy professions on the Professional Standards Authority’s website.
What assessment the Government has made of the potential impact of introducing statutory regulation for counsellors and psychotherapists on patient safety and public protection.
The Government is clear that the professions protected in law must be the right ones and that the level of regulatory oversight must be proportionate to the risks to the public.The Department has no current plans to extend statutory regulation to counsellors and psychotherapists, nor to introduce minimum standards of training and accountability required of individuals providing counselling and psychotherapy services. Any decisions about practice requirements are a matter for employers.The Professional Standards Authority for Health and Social Care’s voluntary registers programme provides a proportionate means of assurance for unregulated professions, that sits between employer controls and statutory regulation by setting standards for organisations holding voluntary registers for unregulated health and social care occupations. There are currently 10 organisations that hold an accredited register linked to the counselling and psychotherapy professions on the Professional Standards Authority’s website.
What assessment he has made of potential harm of unregulated practise for counselling and psychotherapy, and what assessment he has made of the adequacy of voluntary accreditation for counselling and psychotherapy in safeguarding the public.
The Government is clear that the professions protected in law must be the right ones and that the level of regulatory oversight must be proportionate to the risks to the public.The Department has no current plans to extend statutory regulation to counsellors and psychotherapists, nor to introduce minimum standards of training and accountability required of individuals providing counselling and psychotherapy services. Any decisions about practice requirements are a matter for employers.The Professional Standards Authority for Health and Social Care’s voluntary registers programme provides a proportionate means of assurance for unregulated professions, that sits between employer controls and statutory regulation by setting standards for organisations holding voluntary registers for unregulated health and social care occupations. There are currently 10 organisations that hold an accredited register linked to the counselling and psychotherapy professions on the Professional Standards Authority’s website.
What steps he is taking to ensure that patients who require rehabilitative physiotherapy have access to NHS services.
Integrated care boards across England are responsible for managing the National Health Service budget and arranging the majority of NHS healthcare services to meet the healthcare needs of their respective populations. This includes the provision of some physiotherapy services.We know people are waiting too long for community health services. The Medium-Term Planning Framework sets a clear target for systems to work to reduce long waits. By 2028/29, at least 80% of community health services activity should take place within 18 weeks, bringing community health services more into line with targets for elective care.To support the shift to neighbourhood health, NHS England’s ‘Standardising community health services’ guidance asks systems to increase the capacity in community health services and work to standardise core community health services provision. The recently published 'Standardising community health services - core component descriptions’ guidance clearly defines the core component of community services to help reduce variation and support consistent commissioning, including for physiotherapy.This Government is committed to publishing a 10 Year Workforce Plan to set out action to create a workforce ready to deliver the transformed service set out in the 10-Year Health Plan.
What steps he is taking to ensure that mental health charities are adequately supported in the North West.
Mental health charities make a hugely valuable contribution to the health and wellbeing of local communities around the country, including in the North West.The 10-Year Health Plan set out our commitment to build a Neighbourhood Health Service. This will be integral to how we work in partnership with a full range of public services and other partners, including the voluntary, community, and social enterprise sector. Effective partnerships between these groups will be crucial to better understand and meet the needs of individuals and local populations in a holistic way. This will deliver more preventative, local, personalised and digitally enabled care.Transforming the system will take time, but we are committed to delivering a new approach to mental health. Six community-based 24/7 mental health centres are now operating across England, including one in Copeland, Cumbria. These centres provide open access to treatment and support for adults with severe mental health needs. The centres intend to improve continuity of care, drive down waits and reduce inpatient admissions. They are in the heart of communities and involve multidisciplinary working between psychiatrists, mental health professionals, peer support workers, and voluntary sector staff.
What steps he is taking to ensure GPs are equipped to effectively signpost men facing mental health challenges to appropriate services.
General practitioners (GPs) are responsible for ensuring their own clinical knowledge remains up to date and for identifying learning needs as part of their continuing professional development. This activity should include taking account of new research and developments in guidance, such as that produced by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, to ensure that they can continue to provide high quality care to all patients.All United Kingdom registered doctors are expected to meet the professional standards set out in the General Medical Council’s (GMC’s) Good Medical Practice. In 2012, the GMC introduced revalidation which supports doctors in regularly reflecting on how they can develop or improve their practice, gives patients confidence doctors are up to date with their practice and promotes improved quality of care by driving improvements in clinical governance.We are expanding NHS Talking Therapies which provide psychological support for people with a common mental health condition like stress, anxiety and depression. More than 670,000 people completed a course of Talking Therapies treatment last year and through the 10-Year Health Plan, 915,000 people are expected to complete a course of treatment by March 2029. Individuals can be referred by their GP or can self-refer.
What steps he is taking to ensure that patients who have functional neurological disorder have access to rehabilitative physiotherapy.
NHS England’s updated Service Specification for Adult Specialised Neurology Services, published in August 2025 and due to come into effect on 1 April 2026, sets a clear expectation that neurology patients, including those with functional neurological disorder (FND), should have timely access to the full range of inpatient and outpatient specialised rehabilitation services. Service specifications define the minimum standards all commissioned providers must meet, helping ensure consistent, high‑quality care across England.FND is also specifically included within then guideline on Rehabilitation for Chronic Neurological Disorders, reference code NG252, published by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) in October 2025. This guideline aims to improve access to consistent, multidisciplinary rehabilitation for children, young people, and adults with neurological conditions, including FND. We expect clinicians and commissioners to take full account of the guideline when designing and delivering services.In addition, the National Neurosciences Advisory Group (NNAG) developed an Optimal Clinical Pathway for FND, providing commissioners and clinicians with a clear model for person‑centred, multi‑professional rehabilitation involving neurology, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, and psychological support. The pathway emphasises timely assessment, consistent communication of diagnosis, and coordinated rehabilitation across primary, community, and specialist services to reduce variation in access.As part of wider community provision, NHS England’s Standardising Community Health Services framework sets out the core community health services that integrated care boards should consider, explicitly identifying community rehabilitation for people with neurological conditions as a core component of local service planning. This supports better access to ongoing rehabilitation following diagnosis.
What steps he is taking to help ensure the NHS supports staff with endometriosis.
The Government acknowledges the challenges faced by women with endometriosis and the impact it has on their lives, their relationships, and their participation in education and the workforce.In terms of supporting National Health Service staff with endometriosis, NHS trusts are expected to have local policies and procedures in place to support staff who have long-term health conditions and should be taking a proactive approach to supporting them. NHS England has made tools and resources available to support line managers to hold meaningful conversations with staff to discuss their emotional and psychological health and wellbeing.Staff in need of additional support can also access their employer's occupational health service or employee support programme.
What steps he is taking to help ensure the provision of endometriosis care in deprived communities.
This Government is committed to building a fairer Britain, to ensure people can live well for longer, and spend less time in ill health. Our reimagined National Health Service will tackle inequalities in both access and outcomes, as well as give everyone, no matter who they are or where they come from, the means to engage with the NHS on their own terms.As per the 10-Year Health plan, bringing care from hospitals to communities, care and support will be shaped with local communities in mind. Women’s health hubs and neighbourhood delivery of care aim to address gaps in provision and long waiting times, specifically for those from low socio-economic background or those who are from minority ethnic backgrounds.We are also renewing the Women’s Health Strategy, to assess the progress that has been made so far on women’s health, and to continue progressing delivery.The renewed strategy will update on the delivery of the 2022 Women’s Health Strategy and set out how the Government is taking further steps to improve women’s health as we deliver the 10-Year Health Plan. It will also address gaps from the 2022 strategy and drive further change on enduring challenges such as creating a system that listens to women and tackling health inequalities, including through conditions such as endometriosis.
What steps he is taking to ensure that an increasing number of hospitals and healthcare settings are equipped to diagnose endometriosis swiftly.
The Government is committed to improving the diagnosis, treatment, and ongoing care for gynaecological conditions, including endometriosis.Patients waiting for an endometriosis diagnosis may receive diagnostic tests, such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and ultrasound, though the only definitive way to diagnose endometriosis is by a laparoscopic procedure. The laparoscopy is also used to treat endometriosis.We are taking steps to support the National Health Service to increase diagnostic capacity to meet the demand for diagnostic services, including for MRI and ultrasound. This includes expanding existing community diagnostic centres (CDCs) which, as of January 2026, are now operating at 170 sites across the country. 103 CDCs now offer out of hours service, 12 hours a day, seven days a week, delivering more same-day tests and consultations. We are taking action to ensure that individuals with endometriosis not only receive a timely diagnosis but also receive timely and effective treatment.NHS surgical hubs, funded by the Targeted Investment Fund, are specifically designed to deliver high-volume, low-complexity elective surgeries, including gynaecological procedures. These explicitly include operative laparoscopies, endometrial ablation, hysteroscopies, and laparoscopic hysterectomies. As of November 2025, over half of the 123 operational elective surgical hubs in England provide gynaecology services, and laparoscopies are a key part of this offering.
What steps he is taking to ensure that the appropriate amount of (a) iron and (b) vitamins is in food marketed for children under 36 months.
Children’s early years provide an important foundation for their future health and strongly influence many aspects of wellbeing in later life.The Department has regulations in place that set nutritional, compositional, and labelling standards for commercial baby food for children from six to 36 months. These include maximum levels of iron, and minimum and maximum levels of some vitamins that can be added to commercial baby food. We continue to keep these regulations under review to ensure that the composition of infant food and drinks reflect the latest scientific advice and dietary guidelines. It is the responsibility of individual businesses to ensure they comply with the law and the responsibility of local authorities to enforce the law.
What steps he is taking to ensure that industry follows Commercial Food and Drink Voluntary Industry Guidelines on health claims.
Voluntary guidelines published in August 2025 require commercial baby food and drink businesses for children under 36 months to restrict implied nutrition and health claims on labels. These claims can lead to parents overestimating the healthiness of the product. Businesses are expected to comply by February 2027.We will monitor progress after that time, to ensure businesses have the maximum time available to make these changes.The Government will consider additional or alternative measures if businesses fail to implement these guidelines.
With reference to the recommendations in the report by the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition entitled Feeding young children aged 1 to 5 years, last updated 8 May 2024.whether she plans to take steps to make an assessment on the potential impact of (a) food pouches and (b) highly blended food on the development of (i) chewing skills, (ii) oral motor function and (iii) dental health in children under 36 months.
Two research projects have been commissioned that will consider the impact of commercially manufactured baby foods on dental health. These are based on research recommendations made in the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition report Feeding young children aged 1 to 5 years and are funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR).One is the Studying Health Impacts of Early Diets project, that runs from December 2024 to May 2027. The overall aim of this project is to assess how the diet of children aged between one and five years old in the United Kingdom influences their health in childhood, adolescence and early adulthood.The other is the Growing Well Study running from March 2025 to March 2028. This study aims to understand more about the eating habits of children aged between one and five years old, and how this affects their growth and dental health.No Government-funded research is currently underway that is considering the potential impact of food pouches and highly blended food on the development of chewing skills or oral motor function in children aged under 36 months.The Department commissions research through the NIHR. The NIHR welcomes funding applications for research into any aspect of human health, including the health impacts of infant feeding practices.
What steps he is taking to ensure the Modern Service Framework for cardiovascular disease will (a) reduce disability caused by stroke and (b) improve the lives of stroke survivors living with poor health or a disability post-stroke.
To accelerate the Government’s ambition to reduce premature deaths from heart disease and stroke by 25% within a decade, we will publish a new cardiovascular disease modern service framework (CVD MSF) in 2026. The CVD MSF will consider approaches to reducing poor health and disability caused by heart disease and stroke.The Department and NHS England are working together to deliver the CVD MSF and are engaging widely throughout its development to ensure that we prioritise ambitious, evidence-led and clinically informed approaches to prevention, treatment, and care. At the heart of this is engagement with people and communities, so that the modern service framework is shaped by and meets their needs. We will say more on these plans in due course.
What assessment he has made of the potential merits of establishing a stroke team within his Department.
The Government is committed to improving the outcomes for patients who suffer from a stroke. The teams responsible for the policy and delivery of services related to strokes within the Department and NHS England work closely together.Subject to Parliament passing the primary legislation that will transfer most of NHS England’s functions to the Department, there will be further opportunities to consider how the future Department can best support patients suffering from a stroke.