Every parliamentary written question tabled by Helen Maguire this session, with the full answer and department. Back to the MP page.
Showing 321–340 of 356 · Department of Health and Social Care
What recent assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of polluted rivers on public health.
The Department is currently undertaking work to assess the human health impacts associated with recreational activities in inland waterways such as rivers.
What assessment he has made of the adequacy of the timeline for the New Hospital Programme; and what steps he is taking to ensure that programme meets revised completion targets.
The review of the New Hospital Programme (NHP) has provided a credible plan and timeline to deliver the schemes, as set out in the NHP Plan for Implementation published in January 2025 on the GOV.UK website, and which is available at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/new-hospital-programme-review-outcomeWe are working at pace to ensure that the seven hospitals built wholly or primarily from reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete in the NHP will be replaced as quickly as possible, to protect patient and staff safety.The NHP continues to work with trusts in the programme to progress their schemes in line with the timelines set out in the published Plan for Implementation.
What his Department's timetable is for publishing the results of the consultation entitled Pharmacy supervision, which closed on 29 February 2024.
The Government is committed to publishing the response to the public consultation entitled Pharmacy Supervision, and to bringing forward the associated legislation later this year.
What steps he is taking to prevent community pharmacies from operating at a financial loss when dispensing medicines for which the purchase price exceeds the NHS drug tariff reimbursement rate.
We have now concluded the consultation on funding for 2024/25 and 2025/26, and have agreed with Community Pharmacy England to increase the community pharmacy contractual framework to £3.073 billion. This deal represents the largest uplift in funding of any part of the National Health Service, over 19% across 2024/25 and 2025/26.There are two arrangements in place to avoid pharmacy contractors dispensing at a loss and to ensure that overall, they are paid enough as part of the Community Pharmacy Contractual Framework (CPCF) funding. These are the medicine margin and the concessionary price arrangements.The community pharmacy reimbursement arrangements include an amount of medicines margin, the difference between the reimbursement price and the price the pharmacy was charged by the supplier, that pharmacies are allowed to retain as part of the CPCF funding. The Department assesses the medicine margin through a quarterly medicine margin survey, which ensures that overall, pharmacies are paid more than what it cost them to purchase medicines.The concessionary prices are granted to ensure that pharmacy contractors are fairly reimbursed for any prescriptions dispensed during that given month, where they may suddenly face challenges in obtaining stock at the Drug Tariff reimbursement price. In addition, there is a ‘retrospective top-up payment for concessionary prices’, which provides an additional payment to contractors when the margin survey indicates that despite a concessionary price, there was an under payment.
If he will make an estimate of the current number of hospital beds occupied by patients who are medically fit for discharge.
Data collections that monitor the number of patients who are medically fit for discharge but who are not discharged are available at the following link:https://www.england.nhs.uk/statistics/statistical-work-areas/discharge-delays/acute-discharge-situation-report/
What processes his Department undertook in its impact assessment into proposals for the Care Quality Commission to regulate sporting and cultural events; and if he will publish that work.
The Manchester Arena Inquiry Volume Two report recommended that the Government make changes to the law to enable the Care Quality Commission (CQC) to regulate event healthcare at sporting venues and gymnasiums and at temporary 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, which looked at a range of options and considered the impact on the event sector and event healthcare providers. The assessment includes costs, benefits, and risks.An updated de minimis assessment will be published before the Statutory Instrument is laid before Parliament. This will outline the direct cost to business. The Government and the CQC continue to engage with stakeholders within the health, sports, and events sector regarding the changes in the regulations and their impact.
What assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of implementing nurse-led mobile PSA blood testing clinics in deprived communities on (a) costs to and (b) staff productivity in the NHS.
Tackling health inequalities is a priority for the Government. Men aged 50 years old or over can ask their general practitioner for a Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) test, even if they do not have symptoms. This applies to anyone aged 50 years old or over in any part of England.Screening for prostate cancer is currently not recommended in the United Kingdom. This is because of the inaccuracy of the current best test. Whilst it is recognised that the PSA test can be a valuable diagnostic tool in certain contexts, such as for men who present with symptoms, its limitations mean it is not currently recommended for population-level screening.We are finding the best way to test for prostate cancer, which is why we are investing £16 million towards the Prostate Cancer UK led TRANSFORM screening trial, which is seeking to find better ways of catching prostate cancer in men.The UK National Screening Committee, an independent scientific committee which advises ministers on screening, is also currently reviewing the evidence for both population wide screening and targeted prostate cancer screening. If the UK National Screening Committee makes a positive recommendation regarding screening for prostate cancer, an impact assessment will be produced using the HM Treasury Green Book methodology, which considers wider social and economic impacts.
What assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of providing mobile PSA blood testing clinics in deprived communities on rates of early prostate cancer detection.
Tackling health inequalities is a priority for the Government. Men aged 50 years old or over can ask their general practitioner for a Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) test, even if they do not have symptoms. This applies to anyone aged 50 years old or over in any part of England.Screening for prostate cancer is currently not recommended in the United Kingdom. This is because of the inaccuracy of the current best test. Whilst it is recognised that the PSA test can be a valuable diagnostic tool in certain contexts, such as for men who present with symptoms, its limitations mean it is not currently recommended for population-level screening.We are finding the best way to test for prostate cancer, which is why we are investing £16 million towards the Prostate Cancer UK led TRANSFORM screening trial, which is seeking to find better ways of catching prostate cancer in men.The UK National Screening Committee, an independent scientific committee which advises ministers on screening, is also currently reviewing the evidence for both population wide screening and targeted prostate cancer screening. If the UK National Screening Committee makes a positive recommendation regarding screening for prostate cancer, an impact assessment will be produced using the HM Treasury Green Book methodology, which considers wider social and economic impacts.
What steps his Department is taking to help increase research into the causes of prostate cancer in men of sub-Saharan African ancestry.
The Department funded National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) funds research and research infrastructure, which supports patients and the public to participate in high-quality research, including clinical research on prostate cancer. NIHR research expenditure for all cancers was £133 million in 2023/24, reflecting its high priority.These investments are pivotal towards efforts to improve cancer prevention, treatment, and outcomes. The TRANSFORM trial is an important example of this. On 19 November 2023, the Government and Prostate Cancer UK announced the £42 million TRANSFORM screening trial to find the best way to screen men for prostate cancer, to find it before it becomes advanced and harder to treat.Prostate Cancer UK is leading the development of the trial with the Government contributing £16 million through the Department. One of the aims of the trial is to address some of the inequalities that exist in prostate cancer diagnosis today. For example, one in four black men will develop prostate cancer, double the risk of other men, and often at a younger age. The trial will ensure that at least 10% of the men who are invited to participate in the trial are black.The NIHR provides an online service called Be Part of Research, which promotes participation in health and social care research by allowing users to search for relevant studies and register their interest. This makes it easier for people to find and take part in health and care research that is relevant to them.The NIHR continues to encourage and welcome applications for research into any aspect of human health, including prostate cancer.
What steps he is taking to reduce the late diagnosis of (a) rare and (b) less common cancers.
Improving early diagnosis rates is a key priority for the Government for all cancer types, including rare and less common cancers. We are improving public awareness of cancer signs and symptoms, streamlining referral routes, and increasing the availability of diagnostic capacity through the roll-out of more community diagnostic centres.NHS England runs Help Us Help You campaigns to increase knowledge of cancer symptoms and address barriers to acting on them, to encourage people to come forward as soon as possible to see their general practitioner. The campaigns focus on a range of symptoms as well as encouraging ‘body awareness’ to help people spot symptoms across a wide range of cancers at an earlier point.We are also committed to improving waiting times for cancer treatment, so that people with cancer, including rarer cancers, can get access to the care they need more quickly. The National Health Service has delivered an extra 40,000 operations, scans, and appointments each week, as the first step to ensuring early diagnosis and faster treatment.Finally, the National Cancer Plan will include further details on how we will improve outcomes for cancer patients, as well as speeding up diagnosis and treatment, ensuring patients have access to the latest treatments and technology. The plan will seek to improve every aspect of cancer care, to improve the experiences and outcomes for people with cancer, including rare and less common cancers.
What assessment he has made of the potential impact of the number of anaesthetists on maternity care.
There has been no such assessment. Decisions about recruitment are matters for individual National Health Service employers. NHS trusts manage their recruitment at a local level, ensuring they have the right number of staff in place, with the right skill mix, to deliver safe and effective care.We are committed to training the staff we need, including anaesthetists and all other medical specialities, to ensure patients are cared for by the right professional, when and where they need it.We have launched the 10-Year Health Plan which will set out a bold agenda to reform and repair the NHS. A central part of the 10-Year Health Plan will be our workforce and how we ensure we train and provide the staff, technology, and infrastructure the NHS needs to care for patients across our communities.We will publish a refreshed Long Term Workforce Plan to deliver the transformed health service we will build over the next decade, and treat patients on time again.
If he will take steps to increase the level of research into (a) multi-cancer early detection tests and (b) other innovative cancer screening methods.
Research is crucial in tackling cancer, which is why the Department, through the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), invests over £1.6 billion per year in health research. In 2023/24, the NIHR invested £133 million on cancer research.Our investment plays a crucial role in underpinning the research funded by our partners. Examples of research into multi-cancer early detection tests currently funded by the NIHR in partnership with the Offices for Life Sciences are miONCO-Dx, a novel test which aims to detect 12 of the most lethal and common cancers at an early stage, and Enlighten, which explores a new means of detecting cancerous cells by analysing protein traces in blood samples. The NIHR also co-funds Cancer Data Driven Detection (CD3), a major new national research initiative in partnership with Cancer Research UK, which uses data to revolutionise our understanding of individual cancer risk, and to allow early detection of cancers. On 4 February 2025, the Department announced that nearly 700,000 women across the country will take part in a world-leading trial to test how cutting-edge artificial intelligence tools can be used to catch breast cancer cases earlier. The Early Detection using Information Technology in Health trial is backed by £11 million of Government support via the NIHR. The NIHR continues to encourage and welcome applications for research into any aspect of human health, including early detection and innovative cancer screening methods.
If she will make an assessment of the potential merits of implementing a target for at least 75% of children and young people to be (a) diagnosed and (b) have cancer ruled out within 10 days of their first symptom presentation to a clinician.
We are committed to getting the National Health Service diagnosing cancer earlier and treating it faster so that more patients survive, including children and young people. The forthcoming National Cancer Plan will outline our approach to delivering this.In the meantime, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence has set out detailed guidance for general practitioners on the symptoms of cancer in children and young people, recommending referral within 48 hours for those presenting with a range of potential cancer symptoms.The Department is also taking steps to improve waiting times for cancer diagnosis and treatment across all cancer patient groups, including children and young people. This will be achieved by delivering an extra 40,000 scans, appointments, and operations each week to ensure that patients are seen and treated as quickly as possible.To further support timely investigation after referral, we are working with the NHS to maximise the pace of the roll-out of additional diagnostic capacity, delivering the final year of the three-year investment plan for establishing community diagnostic centres, with capacity prioritised for cancer.On 4 February 2025, the Department relaunched the Children and Young People Cancer Taskforce. The taskforce will explore a range of issues, including early detection and diagnosis, in order to identify areas of improvement for this patient group.
What assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of the Institute of Cancer Research's report entitled Cost-utility analysis of adding abiraterone acetate plus prednisone/prednisolone to long-term hormone therapy in newly diagnosed advanced prostate cancer in England: Lifetime decision model based on STAMPEDE trial data, published on 2 June 2022.
Abiraterone has a United Kingdom marketing authorisation for the treatment of metastatic hormone-relapsed prostate cancer before chemotherapy is indicated, and for castration-resistant metastatic prostate cancer previously treated with a docetaxel-containing regimen. It has been recommended by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) for use within these licensed indications. It is currently routinely funded by the National Health Service in England for its NICE-recommended indications, in line with the legal requirement.Abiraterone does not have a UK marketing authorisation for use in the treatment of hormone sensitive, non-metastatic prostate cancer. Decisions on routine NHS funding for cancer medicines outside of their licensed indications, or “off-label”, are taken by NHS England through its specialised commissioning function, taking into account the available evidence and affordability.NHS England considered abiraterone as an off-label treatment for hormone sensitive, non-metastatic prostate cancer through its clinical policy development process in 2024/25. Through this process, NHS England confirmed that there was sufficient supporting evidence to support the routine commissioning of abiraterone in this indication, and it was ranked in the highest priority level. However, NHS England could not identify the necessary recurrent funding to support commissioning of abiraterone, or any other treatments within the prioritisation round.
What steps his Department is taking to improve accessibility to NHS dental services for disabled users without access to transport.
The Government’s ambition is to make sure that everyone who needs a dentist can get one, and we are tackling the challenges for patients trying to access National Health Service dental care with a rescue plan to provide 700,000 more urgent dental appointments and by recruiting new dentists to areas that need them most. Community dental services are available to people whose additional needs may mean they are not able to be treated at high street dental practices. Under the Equality Act 2010, health and social care organisations must make reasonable adjustments to ensure that disabled people are not disadvantaged. Further information is available at the following link:https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2010/15/contentsThe NHS contracts with independent dental providers to deliver NHS dental treatment in primary care settings. Dental practices are businesses and are therefore able to decide how they operate, providing they remain compliant with the appropriate regulations.Integrated care boards are responsible for undertaking special care oral health needs assessments, to identify areas of oral health need, to inform local commissioning intentions, and to determine the local priorities for investment.
What steps his Department is taking to improve access to NHS dental services for people in wheelchairs.
The Government’s ambition is to make sure that everyone who needs a dentist can get one, and we are tackling the challenges for patients trying to access National Health Service dental care with a rescue plan to provide 700,000 more urgent dental appointments and by recruiting new dentists to areas that need them most. Community dental services are available to people whose additional needs may mean they are not able to be treated at high street dental practices. Under the Equality Act 2010, health and social care organisations must make reasonable adjustments to ensure that disabled people are not disadvantaged. Further information is available at the following link:https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2010/15/contentsThe NHS contracts with independent dental providers to deliver NHS dental treatment in primary care settings. Dental practices are businesses and are therefore able to decide how they operate, providing they remain compliant with the appropriate regulations.Integrated care boards are responsible for undertaking special care oral health needs assessments, to identify areas of oral health need, to inform local commissioning intentions, and to determine the local priorities for investment.
(a) what percentage of NHS dental appointments for people with disabilities were (i) missed, (ii) cancelled and (iii) delayed in the year 2024 and (b) if he will provide comparative figures for the same year on these metrics for non-disabled people that used NHS dental services.
Data is not held on the percentage of National Health Service dental appointments that were missed, cancelled or delayed. The Government recognises that certain groups of patients such as people with disabilities may find it difficult to access dental care. We are committed to ensuring NHS dental services are available to all who need them.The responsibility for commissioning primary care services, including NHS dentistry, to meet the needs of the local population has been delegated to integrated care boards (ICBs) across England.
What assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of access to NHS community dental services for people with disabilities.
We are committed to ensuring National Health Service dental services are available to all who need them. The January 2025 Getting It Right First Time (GIRFT) report on community dental services (CDS) highlighted several known challenges in the operation and monitoring of CDS. NHS England and the Department have taken the recommendations on board and are working to improve the data reporting process to increase oversight of CDS activity, including current waiting lists and performance reporting.Integrated care boards (ICBs) are responsible for undertaking special care oral health needs assessments, to identify areas of oral health need, to inform local commissioning intentions, and determine the local priorities for investment.On 5 October 2024, NHS England announced a new dental check-up service for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities. The dental check-ups will be offered to all special residential schools and colleges across England from next year and will reach around 18,000 children and young people. More information is available at the following link:https://www.england.nhs.uk/2024/10/nhs-rolls-out-free-eyesight-hearing-and-dental-checks-for-children-at-residential-special-schools/
What steps his Department is taking to improve access to specialist NHS dental services for people with disabilities.
We are committed to ensuring National Health Service dental services are available to all who need them. The January 2025 Getting It Right First Time (GIRFT) report on community dental services (CDS) highlighted several known challenges in the operation and monitoring of CDS. NHS England and the Department have taken the recommendations on board and are working to improve the data reporting process to increase oversight of CDS activity, including current waiting lists and performance reporting.Integrated care boards (ICBs) are responsible for undertaking special care oral health needs assessments, to identify areas of oral health need, to inform local commissioning intentions, and determine the local priorities for investment.On 5 October 2024, NHS England announced a new dental check-up service for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities. The dental check-ups will be offered to all special residential schools and colleges across England from next year and will reach around 18,000 children and young people. More information is available at the following link:https://www.england.nhs.uk/2024/10/nhs-rolls-out-free-eyesight-hearing-and-dental-checks-for-children-at-residential-special-schools/
What discussions he has had with NICE on expanding the list of weight-related comorbidities on their tirzepatide guidance to include polycystic ovarian syndrome.
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has published technology appraisal guidance that recommends tirzepatide to treat obesity, alongside a reduced calorie-diet and increased physical activity, in adults with a body mass index of 35 or over and at least one weight-related comorbidity.The NICE’s recommendation itself, once fully implemented, does not specify the weight-related comorbidity needed to be eligible. Under the recommendation, if polycystic ovarian syndrome is considered to be weight-related for an individual, they would be eligible if they met the other criteria in the recommendation.NHS England submitted a funding variation request, on behalf of National Health Service providers and integrated care boards, to extend the time needed to comply with the recommendations. NHS England will now publish an interim commissioning policy outlining how patient cohorts should be prioritised and the service models that are recommended during the initial three-year implementation period. During this time, evidence will be generated, which will inform a NICE re-evaluation of the remaining roll out period to the wider group of eligible patients.