Written questions by Maguire.

What steps his Department is taking to increase funding for research into (a) neuroblastoma and (b) other childhood cancers.

The Department invests £1.6 billion each year on research through its research delivery arm, the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). NIHR research expenditure for all cancers was £133 million in 2023/24, reflecting its high priority.Research is a vital part of improving diagnosis and treatment for children and young people with cancer. The NIHR spent approximately £9.9 million over the last five financial years, from 2019/20 to 2023/24, on directly funded research to improve outcomes for children and young people with cancer, including for neuroblastoma.These investments are pivotal to informing efforts to improve cancer prevention, treatment, and outcomes. An example of a recent award is the RElapse Decision MAking Parent Process trial, for the development of a treatment decision aid for parents of a child with neuroblastoma which has relapsed. The total award value was £308,000.The NIHR funds research in response to proposals received from scientists rather than allocating funding to specific disease areas. The NIHR continues to encourage and welcome funding applications for research into any aspect of human health, including neuroblastoma research and other childhood cancers. Applications are subject to peer review and judged in open competition, with awards being made on the basis of the importance of the topic to patients and health and care services, value for money, and scientific quality.The Department relaunched the Children and Young People’s Cancer Taskforce, which met on 4 March 2025. Caroline Dinenage and Professor Darren Hargrave have been appointed as co-chairs. The taskforce will examine clinical and non-clinical ways to improve outcomes and patient experience for children and young people with cancer, including neuroblastoma research. The taskforce will feed into wider Department work on the National Cancer Plan.

What steps his Department is taking to (a) repair hospitals and (b) improve patient safety.

The safety of National Health Service staff and patients is a top priority for the Government.The NHS was provided with £4.1 billion in operational capital in 2024/25, enabling systems to allocate funding according to local priorities, including hospital repairs and estate safety. In 2025/26, the Government is again backing the NHS with over £4 billion in operational capital, which will continue to be allocated to local system priorities.The Government is also providing significant support through ongoing estates safety programmes delivering vital upgrades, eradicating reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC), and tackling backlog maintenance and critical infrastructure risk. The 2024 Autumn Budget confirmed over £1 billion of additional investment in 2025/26 for these programmes, including £750 million for an estates safety fund to help ensure hospitals are safe and sustainable, and £440 million for RAAC mitigation and eradication.Alongside 2025/26 funding to address hospital repairs, the Government is taking a fresh look at how to make the current system effective and efficient to protect quality of care and improve patient safety. Following last year’s review by Dr Penny Dash into the operational effectiveness of the Care Quality Commission (CQC), the CQC is rebuilding its approach and trust in its regulation. Dr Dash is conducting a second review of patient safety across the health and care landscape. The conclusions of the review are due to be published shortly and will inform our 10-Year Health Plan to transform the NHS and social care system.Our commitment to patient safety is further demonstrated by other key measures that include the introduction of death certification reform and medical examiners, our commitment to introduce professional standards for and regulate NHS managers and reviewing the statutory duty of candour.

If his Department will review the regulatory framework for prescribing cannabis-based medicinal products to allow GPs to prescribe those treatments.

General practitioners (GPs) can only prescribe unlicensed cannabis-based products for medicinal use if under the direction of a specialist.These medicines are not first-line treatments and patients will be at a stage in their treatment pathway where they will be under the care of a specialist doctor. Whilst the evidence-base remains limited on the safety, quality, and efficacy of these products, it is right that the decision to prescribe remains essentially with specialist doctors. As with all laws, we will keep its impact under review.

What steps his Department is taking to improve early diagnosis rates for (a) leukaemia and (b) other non-stageable cancers; and whether he plans to introduce measures in the National Cancer Strategy to track progress on those rates.

We are determined to take all the necessary steps to improve early diagnosis for all cancers, including leukaemia and other non-stageable cancers. To accomplish this, the National Health Service is implementing non symptom specific pathways for patients who present with non-specific symptoms or combinations thereof that can indicate several different cancers. This includes leukaemia, which can present non-specific symptoms, such as unexpected weight loss and night sweats. NHS England’s national evaluation showed that blood cancers are one of the most common cancer types diagnosed through these pathways.The National Cancer Plan will have patients at its heart and will cover the entirety of the cancer pathway, including diagnosis. We are currently exploring interventions to reduce the number of lives lost to cancer and on 4 February we launched a Call for Evidence, in which the views of people across the country will inform our plan to improve cancer care. Those who wish to share their views can do so on the new online platform, via the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/calls-for-evidence/shaping-the-national-cancer-plan

What steps he is taking to improve access to clinical trials and innovative treatments for leukaemia patients.

The Department aims to ensure that all patients have access to cutting-edge clinical research and innovative, lifesaving treatments. The Department funded National Institute of 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 leukaemia.The Department is committed to ensuring clinical trials are people-centred and more accessible, including for leukaemia patients. For example, the NIHR provides an online service called Be Part of Research, which promotes participation in health and care research by allowing users to search for relevant studies and register their interest.

If his Department will issue additional guidance to Integrated Care Boards on determining appropriate levels of funding for hospices to ensure equitable access to palliative care services across different regions.

In England, palliative care services are included in the list of services an integrated care board (ICB) must commission. This promotes a more consistent national approach and supports commissioners in prioritising palliative and end of life care. To support ICBs in this duty, NHS England has published statutory guidance and service specifications for adults, and children and young people. ICBs are responsible for commissioning palliative and end of life care services to meet the needs of their local populations. Further information on palliative and end of life care services’ statutory guidance, the guidance for adults, and the guidance for children is available, respectively, at the following three links:https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/palliative-and-end-of-life-care-statutory-guidance-for-integrated-care-boards-icbs/https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/service-specifications-for-palliative-and-end-of-life-care-adults/https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/service-specifications-for-palliative-and-end-of-life-care-children-and-young-people-cyp/Whilst the majority of palliative and end of life care is provided by National Health Service staff and services, we recognise the vital part that voluntary sector organisations, including hospices, also play in providing support to people at the end of life, and their loved ones.Most hospices are charitable, independent organisations that receive some statutory funding for providing NHS services. The amount of funding each charitable hospice receives varies both within and between ICB areas. The variation is dependent on demand in the area, and on the totality and type of palliative and end of life care provision from NHS and non-NHS services, including charitable hospices, within each ICB footprint.I met with key palliative and end of life care and hospice stakeholders on 3 February to discuss the long-term sustainability of palliative and end of life care, within the context of our 10-Year Health Plan.

What steps his Department is taking to ensure that children with severe epilepsy can access second-generation cannabis-based medicines through the NHS.

The law allows United Kingdom specialist doctors to prescribe cannabis-based products for medicinal use (CBPMs). Cannabis-based medicines licensed by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) are routinely available on the National Health Service, for example Epidyolex, for the treatment of two rare forms of epilepsy and tuberous sclerosis. However, some patients and families are seeking to access unlicensed forms of CBPMs, which have not been assessed by the MHRA. Clinical guidelines from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence demonstrate a clear need for more evidence to support routine prescribing and funding decisions for unlicensed CBPMs. We continue to call on manufacturers to conduct research to prove their products are safe, and clinically and cost effective. NHS England and the National Institute for Health and Care Research have agreed funding for two randomised control trials relating to the use of CBPMs for the treatment of drug-resistant epilepsies. These will be world-first trials and will be crucial in furthering the evidence base and informing future NHS funding decisions.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of aging hospital infrastructure on clinical outcomes.

The safety of National Health Service staff and patients is of vital importance to the Government. That is why repairing and rebuilding our hospital estate is a key part of our ambition to create an NHS that is fit for the future through our 10-Year Health Plan.In July 2024, my Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care commissioned Lord Darzi to conduct an independent and immediate investigation of the NHS. This report provided the Department with an expert of understanding of the current performance of the NHS across England and the challenges facing the healthcare system. As highlighted in Lord Darzi’s independent review of the NHS in England, demand is growing for new and improved health infrastructure that addresses the deteriorating condition of the NHS estate. The Darzi Review highlighted the impact of aging infrastructure on clinical activity, finding that aging infrastructure affected services at 13 hospitals a day in 2022/23.As part of the management of their estate, NHS trusts regularly assess the physical condition of their estate. The Estates Related Information Collection survey collects data from trusts on the quality of their estate annually, including estates related incidents. The latest data is available at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/estates-returns-information-collection-summary-page-and-dataset-for-eric-202223

If his Department will make an assessment of the potential merits of providing additional short term funding to hospitals who are the (a) second and (b) third phase of the New Hospital Programme to help mitigate the impact of deteriorating infrastructure on working conditions.

The safety of National Health Service staff and patients is of vital importance to the Government. That is why repairing and rebuilding our hospital estate is a key part of our ambition to create an NHS that is fit for the future through our 10-Year Health Plan.Integrated care boards will collectively receive over £4 billion in annual capital allocations in 2025/26. These allocations are managed at a local level, with funds allocated according to local priorities, including estate maintenance works at New Hospital Programme sites. In addition, my Rt. Hon. Friend, the Chancellor of the Exchequer also committed over £1 billion to make inroads into the backlog of critical maintenance and to tackle dangerous reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete. Further detail on funding will follow at the earliest opportunity, including local capital allocations and national capital programmes for 2025 to 2026, as part of NHS capital planning guidance. Capital funding levels for future years will be determined through the current Spending Review which concludes in June 2025.

What steps his Department is taking to reduce the waiting time for Emergency Care in Epsom and Ewell constituency.

The Government recognises the pressures on the National Health Service during the winter period and the impact this is having on waiting times for emergency care, including in Epsom and Ewell.We are committed to supporting the NHS to improve performance and achieve the standards set out in the NHS Constitution, but we must be clear that there are no quick fixes.However, we are determined to turn things around through investment and reform. My Rt. Hon. Friend, the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced £25.6 billion of additional healthcare funding over the next two years, and we will set out an urgent and emergency care improvement plan shortly, as well as a 10-Year Health Plan to radically reform the NHS and build a health service that is fit for the future.

What steps his Department is taking to ensure the timely publication of the final results of the Mirocals trial for motor neurone disease; and what steps his Department plans to take to ensure rapid access to Proleukin for patients through NHS pathways if the trial outcomes are positive.

The Department funds research via the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). The NIHR is not a direct funder of the Modifying Immune Response and Outcomes in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (MIROCALS) trial. It was funded by the European Union’s Horizon 2020 programme, the Motor Neurone Disease Association, the Programme Hospitalier de Recherche Clinique, the My Name’5 Doddie Foundation, the Association Francaise contre les Myopathies, MND Scotland, and the Association pour la recherche sur la SLA. The UK’s Health Research Authority recommends that summary results from clinical trials of investigational medicinal products, such as the MIROCALS study, are made available within a year of the study being complete. However, it is the study sponsor’s responsibility, in this case the University Hospital Nimes, to publish the results. Both the Department and the NIHR are committed to publishing the results from research with full transparency and in a timely manner. The Medicines and Healthcare Regulatory Agency (MHRA) does not publish data from clinical trials. It is critical that medicines used in the United Kingdom are safe and effective and as such, medicines cannot be marketed in the UK without a marketing authorisation. These are granted by the MHRA, which assesses all medicines with regard to their quality, safety, and efficacy. Proleukin (interleukin-2, Aldesleukin) has not been licensed by the MHRA as a treatment for motor neurone disease. It is the responsibility of the company to apply to the MHRA for a relevant marketing authorisation. Should an application for it be received, the MHRA will consider this accordingly. In England, newly licensed medicines are also appraised by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) to determine whether they represent a clinically and cost-effective use of National Health Service resources. If the manufacturer of Proleukin seeks a licence from the MHRA for the treatment of motor neurone disease, then the NICE will consider it through its topic selection process. If selected for evaluation, the NICE aims to issue recommendations close to the point of licensing wherever possible.

What assessment his Department has made of the impact of youth services on (a) the Government’s prevention agenda and (b) achieving positive outcomes for public health.

Youth services play a vital role in supporting the Government’s prevention agenda and for achieving positive outcomes for public health. These services provide early intervention and support that can prevent the development of more serious health and social issues, including mental health challenges, substance misuse, and physical health problems. The Department recognises the importance of youth services in promoting healthy behaviours, building resilience, and improving mental and physical wellbeing among young people. In the context of mental health, the Government’s commitment to improving outcomes for babies, children, and young people is outlined in the publication Improving the mental health of babies, children, and young people, which highlights the value of preventative approaches and the role of youth-focused interventions. Further information on this publication is available at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/improving-the-mental-health-of-babies-children-and-young-people/improving-the-mental-health-of-babies-children-and-young-people-a-framework-of-modifiable-factors

What steps he is taking to tackle health inequality caused by childhood poverty.

Tackling child poverty is at the heart of the Government’s mission to break down barriers to opportunity, and its commitment to raising the healthiest generation of children in history.The Department is working closely with the Child Poverty Taskforce to develop and deliver an ambitious strategy to reduce child poverty, tackle the root causes, and give every child the best start in life. An important part of this will be alleviating the negative experience of living in poverty, through supporting families and enhancing public services.The National Health Service also makes a central contribution to tackling inequalities, in access to services, patient experience, and healthcare outcomes. For example, the 2024/2025 NHS Priorities and Operational Planning Guidance makes explicit the requirement to address the inequalities of healthcare facing children and young people.

What steps his Department is taking to improve (a) urology and (b) continence services.

NHS England published the Excellence in Continence Care on 23 July 2018, bringing together evidence-based resources and research for guidance for commissioners, providers, and health and social care staff, and which is available at the following link:https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/excellence-in-continence-care/In addition, the National Institute of Health and Care Excellence has produced guidance on the management of faecal incontinence in adults, which healthcare professionals and commissioners are expected to take fully into account when delivering services for people with bowel incontinence.

What steps his Department is taking to help encourage more people to become organ donors.

NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) is responsible for organ donation across the United Kingdom. The Department works closely with NHSBT to identify opportunities to encourage people to record their wishes on the Organ Donor Register, as we know that approximately nine in 10 families support organ donation going ahead when they know that it is what their loved one wanted. Current examples include building registration into the UK driving licence application and passport renewal process, as well as providing links to the Organ Donor Register in the NHS App. Partnerships like these account for approximately 90% of registrations.NHSBT runs high profile, year-round campaigns, including Organ Donation Week, World Sight Day, and World Kidney Day, in partnership with a wide range of charities and community groups. NHSBT also funds a network of Organ Donor Ambassadors and provides grants to community groups who raise awareness at a local level.

What steps his Department is taking to tackle the (a) mental health and (b) social needs of kidney patients.

Local authorities are responsible for assessing individuals’ care and support needs, including kidney patients, and where eligible, for meeting those needs. Where individuals do not meet the eligibility threshold, they can get support from their local authorities in making their own arrangements for care services, as set out in the Care Act 2014.Local authorities further have a duty to shape their care markets and commission a diverse range of care and support services that enables people to access quality care.We recognise that too many people with mental health issues are not getting the support or care they need, which is why we will fix the broken system to ensure that we give mental health the same attention and focus as physical health and that people, including kidney patients where appropriate, can be confident in accessing high-quality mental health support when they need it.As part of our mission to build a National Health Service that is fit for the future and that is there when people need it, we will recruit an additional 8,500 mental health workers across child and adult mental health services to reduce delays and provide faster treatment, which will also help ease pressure on busy mental health services.The 10-Year Health Plan will ensure a better health service for everyone, regardless of condition or service area. On 21 October, we launched a national conversation on the future of the NHS, inviting views from across the country on how to deliver a health service fit for the future. Patients, staff, and organisations, including those with experience of or expertise in kidney disease, can make themselves heard by logging onto the online portal, which is available at the following link:www.change.nhs.uk