Written questions by Morgan.

Pursuant to the Answer of 4 November 2025 to Question 81420 on Coronavirus: Vaccination, how many covid-19 vaccinations were delivered in winter (a) 2025-26, (b) 2024-25 and (c) 2023-24.

COVID-19 vaccination uptake figures are published regularly during the spring and winter campaigns, as part of the national flu and COVID-19 surveillance report. Data is available at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/weekly-national-flu-reportsFor the winter campaigns, the following publications may be of interest:for the 2025/26 campaign, the most recent data from a campaign as of 12 November 2025, information is available at the following link: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/690b75e214b040dfe8292362/COVID19-vaccine-uptake-coverage-report-data-week-45-2025.ods;for the 2024/25 campaign, with the data as of the end of campaign, information is available at the following link: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/67a47b29567402152f553cc8/weekly-influenza-and-COVID-19-report-data-week-6-2025.ods; andfor the 2023/24 campaign, with the data as of the end of campaign, information is available at the following link: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/65c4b8634a6778000d5b8c2f/Weekly-flu-and-COVID-19-surveillance-data-week-6.ods.Note that this data is specific to England.

What assessment he has made of the adequacy of the availability of hysteroscopy procedures under anaesthetic in (a) North Shropshire and (b) England.

No recent formal assessment has been made of the adequacy of the availability of hysteroscopy procedures under anaesthetic in North Shropshire and in England.The information held by NHS England on hysteroscopy waiting times at the NHS Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin Integrated Care Board does not readily allow hysteroscopy procedures with an anaesthetist to be separately identified.It is unacceptable that some women have such poor experiences of hysteroscopies. Women must be given the opportunity to speak to the doctor or nurse before having the procedure about what to expect, and to discuss pain relief options, including the option of local or general anaesthetic. Women can also discuss the option of alternative treatment, such as pelvic ultrasound.For patients in North Shropshire, the gynaecological unit within the Shropshire Women and Children’s Centre at the Princess Royal Hospital in Telford provides women with access to hysteroscopy services.It is our aim to treat all women as individuals, acknowledge they have unique expectations and unique physical, psychological, emotional, and cultural needs. The Shrewsbury and Telford NHS Trust is committed to providing a quality service for women that provides care with courtesy, kindness, and warmth for women and their families.

If he will take steps to make the WID-easy test available in Shropshire.

There are currently no plans to make the WID-easy test available in Shropshire. Decisions regarding resource allocation are made by local commissioners and providers based on identified priorities within the region.The Government is supportive of the implementation of innovative diagnostic tools and tests that play a crucial role in the early detection of cancer. By embracing these advancements, the aim is to not only identify cancer at an earlier, more treatable stage, but also to improve the overall efficiency of the diagnostic process.

If he will make an assessment of the potential merits of making methoxyflurane available to all hysteroscopy patients.

Decisions about what medicines to prescribe are best made by the doctor or healthcare professional responsible for that part of the patient’s care. Prescribers are supported in their decisions by national guidance, for example guidance by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), as well as the local commissioning decisions of their respective integrated care boards (ICBs).NICE is the independent body responsible for translating evidence into authoritative, evidence-based guidance for the health and care system on best practice, in order to drive improved outcomes for patients. NICE has made recommendations on hysteroscopy in its guideline on heavy menstrual bleeding: assessment and management, reference code NG88, but does not make recommendations on whether pain relief, such as methoxyflurane, should be administered during hysteroscopy. NICE currently has no plans to update the guideline but it will be reviewed if there is new evidence that is likely to change the recommendations.

What information his Department holds on waiting times for hysteroscopies with an anaesthetist in North Shropshire.

No recent formal assessment has been made of the adequacy of the availability of hysteroscopy procedures under anaesthetic in North Shropshire and in England.The information held by NHS England on hysteroscopy waiting times at the NHS Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin Integrated Care Board does not readily allow hysteroscopy procedures with an anaesthetist to be separately identified.It is unacceptable that some women have such poor experiences of hysteroscopies. Women must be given the opportunity to speak to the doctor or nurse before having the procedure about what to expect, and to discuss pain relief options, including the option of local or general anaesthetic. Women can also discuss the option of alternative treatment, such as pelvic ultrasound.For patients in North Shropshire, the gynaecological unit within the Shropshire Women and Children’s Centre at the Princess Royal Hospital in Telford provides women with access to hysteroscopy services.It is our aim to treat all women as individuals, acknowledge they have unique expectations and unique physical, psychological, emotional, and cultural needs. The Shrewsbury and Telford NHS Trust is committed to providing a quality service for women that provides care with courtesy, kindness, and warmth for women and their families.

What discussions he has had with NHS England on the steps it is taking to ensure women undergoing outpatient hysteroscopy procedures in (a) North Shropshire and (b) England do not experience pain during those procedures.

It is unacceptable that some women have such poor experiences of hysteroscopies.The National Health Service website page on hysteroscopy was updated in January 2024. This provides information on preparing for and recovering from a hysteroscopy, including pain relief options. The importance of pain relief is reiterated in guidance from both the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, and the College of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare.In Shropshire, Telford, and Wrekin all patients receive comprehensive information about the procedure before their appointment, including advice on pain management. Patients can access both local anaesthetic and general anaesthetic for the procedure.Patients can additionally access local and general anaesthetic and there is a patient advocate always present during the procedure to provide continuous support and aid in pain management.The Government is committed to prioritising women’s health as we build an NHS fit for the future. Through our 10-Year Health Plan and the renewal of the Women’s Health Strategy we are delivering our commitment that never again will women’s health be neglected.

What assessment he has made of the adequacy of the NHS Getting it right first time guidance for hysteroscopies.

The Getting It Right First Time (GIRFT) programme’s role is to provide guidance to National Health Service trusts to help improve the delivery of services and, in doing so, it follows the professional standards and recommendations of the professional bodies.GIRFT has worked closely with the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and the British Society for Gynaecological Endoscopy to support hospital trusts in improving women’s choices and appropriate settings for gynaecological procedures, such as hysteroscopy and endometrial ablation, acknowledging the shift to more day case and outpatient procedures.Since the report was published, GIRFT has responded to feedback from patients, adding an addendum to the 2021 report and amending one recommendation to reiterate the imperative that all women undergoing day case and outpatient procedures are given clear and accurate information to enable them to make informed decisions about their preferred treatment setting and pain control. Ultimately, the decision on care setting for this procedure must be made with the patient, after due consideration of all relevant information.

If he will answer Questions (a) 81421 of 13 October 2025 on Covid-19 (b) 82016 of 14 October 2025 on prostate cancer screening and (c) 83882 of 21 October 2025 on health misinformation.

I refer the hon. Member to the answers I gave on 10 November 2025 to Question 81421, on 26 November 2025 to Question 82016, and on 19 November 2025 to Question 83882.

What steps he is taking to increase (a) awareness of the symptoms, (b) diagnosis and (c) treatment of ovarian cancer in Shropshire.

The Department recognises that many cancer patients are left waiting too long for a diagnosis and treatment, including for ovarian cancer. The Government will get the National Health Service diagnosing cancer earlier and treating it faster so that more patients survive and have an improved experience across the system, including in Shropshire.NHS England is taking a wide range of activity to increase awareness of the symptoms of ovarian cancer. NHS England relaunched the Help Us Help You cancer campaign in 2024, to encourage people to get in touch with their general practitioner if they notice symptoms that could be cancer. Previous phases of the campaign have focused on abdominal symptoms which, among other abdominal cancers, can indicate ovarian cancer. NHS England and other NHS organisations, nationally and locally, publish information on the signs and symptoms of many different types of cancer, including ovarian cancer.As a first step to reducing waiting times for cancer diagnosis and treatment, the NHS has now exceeded its pledge to deliver an extra two million operations, scans, and appointments in our first year of Government, delivering 5.2 million more appointments.To ensure that women have access to the best treatment for ovarian cancer, NHS England commissioned an audit on ovarian cancer. The audit looks at what is being done well, where it’s being done well, and what needs to be done much better. The audit published its second report in September 2025 and officials across the Government are considering its findings.The National Cancer Plan, due for publication in the new year, will include further details on how the NHS will improve care for cancer patients, including those with ovarian cancer in Shropshire.

What steps he is taking to improve the speed of arrhythmia diagnoses in integrated care systems.

As announced by my Rt. Hon. Friend, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, £600 million of capital funding is being provided during 2025/26 to support the reduction of diagnostic waiting lists, which includes continued investment in new and expanded community diagnostic centres (CDCs). Between July 2024 and August 2025, existing CDCs have carried out a total of 286,260 echocardiography tests and 260,040 electrocardiography tests. Many CDCs are also implementing innovative cardiac pathways to speed up diagnosis and access to treatment for patients with symptoms suggestive of cardiac disease.We have committed to achieving the NHS Constitutional standard that 92% of patients should wait no longer than 18 weeks from referral to treatment by March 2029.

Whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of longer duration ambulatory ECG monitoring on stroke prevention.

NHS England continues to monitor data on patient access to ambulatory electrocardiogram (ECG) monitoring to inform future improvements in commissioning and patient access.The Government is committed to reducing premature mortality from heart disease and stroke by 25% in the next 10 years. To accelerate progress, we will publish a new cardiovascular disease modern service framework in 2026. The Department and NHS England are engaging widely throughout its development to ensure that we prioritise ambitious, evidence-led, and clinically informed approaches to prevention, treatment, and care.

What assessment his department has made of trends in the levels of variation in integrated care systems in access to prolonged ambulatory ECG monitoring.

No specific assessment has been made by the Department and data on the provision of prolonged ambulatory electrocardiogram monitoring is not collected centrally.It is for local National Health Service commissioners to work with providers and other stakeholders to take decisions on the provision of services locally in the best interests of their populations.The Government is committed to reducing waiting times for services including for diagnostic services.

If he will take steps to help improve access to public transport for disabled patients at Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital Trust.

The NHS Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin Integrated Care Board recognises that accessible transport is a key enabler for patients to attend hospital appointments independently and safely. To that end, the Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust works closely with local transport providers and system partners to manage transport accessibility for disabled patients.Hospital car parks are the responsibility of individual National Health Service trusts, with no central Government involvement. Where it is possible to accommodate parking, local trusts are responsible for determining the ratio of car parking for patients, hospital users, and staff.We know access to hospital car parking is important for all patients, including disabled patients. All NHS trusts that charge for car parking provide free hospital car parking in England for those most in need. This includes Blue Badge holders, frequent outpatient attenders, parents of sick children staying overnight in hospital, and NHS staff working night shifts. The Department has issued guidance to NHS trusts on the implementation of this commitment. Further information about this policy can be found at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/nhs-patient-visitor-and-staff-car-parking-principles/nhs-patient-visitor-and-staff-car-parking-principles

What assessment he has made of the adequacy of the availability of disabled parking at hospitals.

The NHS Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin Integrated Care Board recognises that accessible transport is a key enabler for patients to attend hospital appointments independently and safely. To that end, the Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust works closely with local transport providers and system partners to manage transport accessibility for disabled patients.Hospital car parks are the responsibility of individual National Health Service trusts, with no central Government involvement. Where it is possible to accommodate parking, local trusts are responsible for determining the ratio of car parking for patients, hospital users, and staff.We know access to hospital car parking is important for all patients, including disabled patients. All NHS trusts that charge for car parking provide free hospital car parking in England for those most in need. This includes Blue Badge holders, frequent outpatient attenders, parents of sick children staying overnight in hospital, and NHS staff working night shifts. The Department has issued guidance to NHS trusts on the implementation of this commitment. Further information about this policy can be found at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/nhs-patient-visitor-and-staff-car-parking-principles/nhs-patient-visitor-and-staff-car-parking-principles

What steps he is taking to increase access to pharmacies in North Shropshire.

The Government recognises that pharmacies, including in North Shropshire are an integral part of the fabric of our communities, as an easily accessible ‘front door’ to the National Health Service, staffed by highly trained and skilled healthcare professionals.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 and must keep these assessments under review. The Shropshire PNA was published in September and is available to view on the council’s website.Commissioning primary care services, including pharmaceutical services, is the responsibility of local integrated care boards (ICBs). ICBs give regard to the PNAs when reviewing applications from the new contractors. Contractors can also apply to open a new pharmacy to offer benefits to patients that were not foreseen by the PNA. If there is a need for a new local pharmacy to open and no contractors apply to open a pharmacy and fill the gap, ICBs can commission a new pharmacy to open outside of the market entry processes and fund the contract from the ICBs’ budgets. In some rural areas where a pharmacy may not be viable, local general practices are permitted to dispense medicines to their patients. In addition, patients can choose to access medicines through any of the distance selling pharmacies that are required to deliver the medicines they dispense free of charge and also provide other pharmaceutical services remotely.

Whether the funding settlement for Start for Life services will reflect (a) the widened age range from 0-2 to 0-5 and the (b) increases in the number of local authorities covered by the programme; whether the updated programme guidance will explicitly promote good practice on (i) parent-infant relationships and (ii) infant mental health; and whether it will ring-fence funding to help (A) sustain and (B) develop those services.

The 10-Year Health Plan sets out a long-term vision to improve the nation’s health by expanding Start for Life services and integrating zero- to five-year-olds health and children’s services into communities, with a strong focus on the critical 1,001 days.Building on the £126 million investment in Family Hubs and Start for Life services in 2025/26, a further £500 million will support the national rollout of Best Start Family Hubs to every local authority in England from April 2026.The Government remains committed to ensuring that local authorities are supported to deliver high-quality Start for Life services. National support includes the promotion of good practice in areas such as parent-infant relationships and infant mental health. Updated programme guidance for all local authorities will be designed to support delivery against the programme’s core objectives, drawing on this learning.

What assessment he has made of the (a) speed and (b) quality of (i) detection and (ii) treatment of tongue ties, also called ankyloglossia, in babies.

The Government is committed to giving every child the best start in life and support for infant feeding plays an important role in achieving this.Midwifery, health visiting, and infant feeding teams are central to supporting families with infant feeding. This includes identifying feeding challenges and providing tailored support for breastfeeding and bottle feeding. We are currently refreshing the guidance for The Healthy Child Programme, which includes health visiting services, to strengthen service quality and promote consistency in service delivery.Dedicated paediatric surgery days are being introduced within integrated care boards, using existing NHS estate in day surgery or hub settings, to boost surgical activity for children and young people. Surgical hubs play a key role in delivering increased activity and ensuring timely access to planned care.We are also strengthening local support for tongue-tie through the Family Hubs and Start for Life programme, which is investing £18.5 million in 2025/26 to improve infant feeding services in 75 local authorities in England. Local authorities are working with local health partners to improve access to timely tongue-tie support and treatment. In some areas, new tongue-tie clinics have been set up so that more families can access timely support.For expectant parents, the majority of NHS trusts offer free antenatal education services, including caring for the baby and feeding. We are working with NHS England to improve the quality of antenatal classes.Information about the symptoms and treatment of tongue-tie is also available on the NHS website and the Best Start in Life email programme for parents.

What steps he is taking to increase levels of awareness of tongue ties, also called ankyloglossia, of (a) midwives and (b) expectant mothers.

The Government is committed to giving every child the best start in life and support for infant feeding plays an important role in achieving this.Midwifery, health visiting, and infant feeding teams are central to supporting families with infant feeding. This includes identifying feeding challenges and providing tailored support for breastfeeding and bottle feeding. We are currently refreshing the guidance for The Healthy Child Programme, which includes health visiting services, to strengthen service quality and promote consistency in service delivery.Dedicated paediatric surgery days are being introduced within integrated care boards, using existing NHS estate in day surgery or hub settings, to boost surgical activity for children and young people. Surgical hubs play a key role in delivering increased activity and ensuring timely access to planned care.We are also strengthening local support for tongue-tie through the Family Hubs and Start for Life programme, which is investing £18.5 million in 2025/26 to improve infant feeding services in 75 local authorities in England. Local authorities are working with local health partners to improve access to timely tongue-tie support and treatment. In some areas, new tongue-tie clinics have been set up so that more families can access timely support.For expectant parents, the majority of NHS trusts offer free antenatal education services, including caring for the baby and feeding. We are working with NHS England to improve the quality of antenatal classes.Information about the symptoms and treatment of tongue-tie is also available on the NHS website and the Best Start in Life email programme for parents.

What steps he is taking to help improve care for bottle-fed babies with tongue ties.

The Government is committed to giving every child the best start in life and support for infant feeding plays an important role in achieving this.Midwifery, health visiting, and infant feeding teams are central to supporting families with infant feeding. This includes identifying feeding challenges and providing tailored support for breastfeeding and bottle feeding. We are currently refreshing the guidance for The Healthy Child Programme, which includes health visiting services, to strengthen service quality and promote consistency in service delivery.Dedicated paediatric surgery days are being introduced within integrated care boards, using existing NHS estate in day surgery or hub settings, to boost surgical activity for children and young people. Surgical hubs play a key role in delivering increased activity and ensuring timely access to planned care.We are also strengthening local support for tongue-tie through the Family Hubs and Start for Life programme, which is investing £18.5 million in 2025/26 to improve infant feeding services in 75 local authorities in England. Local authorities are working with local health partners to improve access to timely tongue-tie support and treatment. In some areas, new tongue-tie clinics have been set up so that more families can access timely support.For expectant parents, the majority of NHS trusts offer free antenatal education services, including caring for the baby and feeding. We are working with NHS England to improve the quality of antenatal classes.Information about the symptoms and treatment of tongue-tie is also available on the NHS website and the Best Start in Life email programme for parents.

What steps his Department is taking to ensure that NHS and care sector equipment is (a) returned and reused or (b) recycled after use.

In October 2024 the Department published the Design for Life roadmap, a new strategy to transition away from all avoidable single-use medical technology (medtech) products towards a functioning circular system by 2045. This means designing, procuring, and processing medtech products and devices in a way that enables reuse, remanufacture, or recycling, thus preserving their value for as long as possible. The document sets out a plan of 30 actions to deliver the 2045 vision, which involve:- driving positive behavioural change;- exploring new commercial incentives to provide circular medtech;- creating new standards to enable innovative products and services;- planning the decontamination and recycling infrastructure of the future; and- establishing new collaborations to accelerate the emergence of transformative science.The Design for Life Roadmap is available at the following link:https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/679ca015a9ee53687470a2ed/design-for-life-roadmap.pdf