Every parliamentary written question tabled by Helen Morgan this session, with the full answer and department. See how every department answers, or back to the MP page.
Showing 461–480 of 520 · Department of Health and Social Care
When the 2025-26 Public Health Grant allocations will be published.
The Government published the 2025/26 Public Health Grant allocations to local authorities on 7 February 2025. These are available at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/public-health-grants-to-local-authorities-2025-to-2026
What assessment he has made of the prevalence in the use of off-framework agency staff by NHS providers; and if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of using these staff on NHS finances.
The National Health Service is now operating at the lowest levels of off-framework on record, since a peak in month four of 2022/23, with the highest compliance on capped rates since the introduction of the Agency Rules in 2016.The Government is committed to reducing off-framework agency use, the cost of which is at a premium above the agreed framework rates. Additionally, staff hired through off-framework agencies are not subject to the same pre-employment checks as those carried out by on-framework agencies. Off-framework use is actively monitored through NHS England’s governance mechanisms, with additional oversight applied to trusts with recurring non-compliance.The 2025/26 NHS priorities and operational planning guidance aims to improve procurement, contract management, and work to accept operating models that meet commercial standards. The NHS Planning Guidance states that trusts should reduce their agency spend by a minimum of 30%, and the accompanying Revenue Finance and Contracting Guidance sets the ambition that agency spend should be eliminated in the coming years.
Pursuant to the Answer of 3 February 2025 to Question 26911 on Dental Services: Contracts, how many NHS dental providers have had to return their contracts in each month since January 2020.
The following table shows the total number of general dental practice contracts that were terminated by contractors each financial quarter since the first financial quarter of 2020, to September 2021:QuarterNumber of contractor terminationsApril to June 20201July to September 20201October to December 20207January to March 20210April to June 202111July to September 202118 The data collection period changed from quarterly to monthly from October 2021. Therefore, the following table shows the total number of general dental practice contracts that were terminated by contractors in each month from October 2021 to December 2024:MonthNumber of contractor terminationsOctober 20219November 20216December 20216January 20223February 20225March 202222April 202210May 20222June 20227July 20227August 20226September 202210October 20223November 20228December 20220January 20235February 20236March 202320April 20237May 20234June 202328July 20234August 20239September 202317October 20239November 20237December 20239January 202415February 20242March 202412April 20244May 20247June 20247July 20246August 20245September 20245October 20244November 20243December 20241Notes:the data for November and December 2022 has been combined, as there were eight contract terminations between the 1 November and the 31 December; anddata for December 2024 is incomplete and only includes contracts terminated between 1 and 28 December.
How many nursing shifts went unfilled at acute NHS trusts in each month since January 2020.
The Department does not hold the information requested. The Government is committed to ensuring that the National Health Service has the right people, in the right places, with the right skills to deliver the care patients need when they need it.In summer 2025, 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.
Whether public health monies under section 7A of the National Health Service Act 2006 will be ringfenced in 2025.
Currently, there is no ring-fence funding for public health functions delegated by my Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care to NHS England, known as section 7A services. Funding for section 7A services is allocated as part of NHS England’s Mandate funding total.
What the annual (a) budget and (b) spend was for public health monies under section 7A of the National Health Service Act 2006 in each year since 2022.
Funding for public health functions delegated by my Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care to NHS England, known as section 7A services, is allocated as part of NHS England’s mandate funding total. The following table shows the allocation for section 7A services set by NHS England, and the spend for the financial years 2022/23 and 2023/24, as well as the allocation set for 2024/25:Total NHS England section 7A funding2022/232023/242024/25Allocation£1,804,000£1,675,100£1,650,900Expenditure including COVID-19 vaccinations£1,768,200£1,639,200 Source: NHS England’s validated but unpublished data on section 7A expenditure.Notes:for 2024/25, the allocation figure includes assumptions for demand-led spending on COVID-19 vaccinations so this figure may change; andactual expenditure for 2024/25 will be available after the publication of the 2024/25 NHS England annual report and accounts.
When he plans to announce the unit of dental activity rate for 2025-26; and from what date dentists will receive payments at that rate.
From 1 April 2024, the Department raised the minimum Unit of Dental Activity (UDA) rate to £28 to support practices with historically low UDA rates. Minimum UDA rates are not uplifted annually by the Department, however overall contract values are uplifted annually following the recommendations of the Review Body on Doctors’ and Dentists’ Remuneration. Integrated care boards have the flexibility to influence the UDA rate locally, which may help to support local interventions, and there are differential UDA rates across England. Differential UDA rates allow providers to use differing pay rates to reflect local market rates.
How many NHS dental providers have had to return their contracts in each month since April 2024.
The following table shows the total number of general dental practice contracts that were terminated by contractors each month from April to December 2024:MonthNumber of contractor terminationsApril4May7June7July6August5September5October4November3December1Source: data for December is incomplete, as it only includes contracts terminated between 1 and 28 December.
When NHS dentists will receive payment for the 2024-25 unit of dental activity rate increase.
The independent pay review body for doctors and dentists recommended a 6% pay uplift for 2024/25. The Government accepted the recommendation and has uplifted National Health Service primary care dentistry contract values by 4.64%, net of pay and expenses elements.We have also increased payments for training practices for the first time in more than a decade. The Government implemented the overall uplift to contract values on 29 January. Uplifted payments will be made in March, backdated to 1 April 2024.
What assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of delays to 2024-25 dental payments on NHS dental provision.
The independent pay review body for doctors and dentists recommended a 6% pay uplift for 2024/25. The Government accepted the recommendation and has uplifted National Health Service primary care dentistry contract values by 4.64%, net of pay and expenses elements.We have also increased payments for training practices for the first time in more than a decade. The Government implemented the overall uplift to contract values on 29 January. Uplifted payments will be made in March, backdated to 1 April 2024.
What estimate he has made of the (a) capital and (b) non-capital spend on the New Hospital Programme by hospital trusts that are part of waves 2 and 3.
As set out in our New Hospital Programme: plan for implementation, the exact profile of funding for the New Hospital Programme will be confirmed in rolling five-year waves at regular Spending Reviews. Further information on the plan for implementation is available at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/new-hospital-programme-review-outcome/new-hospital-programme-plan-for-implementationUp to and including December 2024, the Department’s spend on the New Hospital Programme was £1.808 billion for capital expenditure, and £268 million for non-capital expenditure. This includes the year-to-date position for 2024/25, and as such remains provisional and subject to final audit.The current future estimates of costs for schemes in waves two and three were published in the plan for implementation. The previous budget allocated to trusts in the New Hospital Programme was published in the annual Financial assistance under section 40 of the National Health Service Act 2006, and is available at the following link:https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/676161a094c0d990c1ef3953/dhsc-financial-assistance-under-section-40-of-the-national-health-service-act-2006-report-2023-2024.pdfAll spend allocated to hospital trusts in the New Hospital Programme is capitalised, and as such we do not record any non-capital spend.
What his Department's (a) capital and (b) non-capital spend is on the New Hospitals Programme.
As set out in our New Hospital Programme: plan for implementation, the exact profile of funding for the New Hospital Programme will be confirmed in rolling five-year waves at regular Spending Reviews. Further information on the plan for implementation is available at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/new-hospital-programme-review-outcome/new-hospital-programme-plan-for-implementationUp to and including December 2024, the Department’s spend on the New Hospital Programme was £1.808 billion for capital expenditure, and £268 million for non-capital expenditure. This includes the year-to-date position for 2024/25, and as such remains provisional and subject to final audit.The current future estimates of costs for schemes in waves two and three were published in the plan for implementation. The previous budget allocated to trusts in the New Hospital Programme was published in the annual Financial assistance under section 40 of the National Health Service Act 2006, and is available at the following link:https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/676161a094c0d990c1ef3953/dhsc-financial-assistance-under-section-40-of-the-national-health-service-act-2006-report-2023-2024.pdfAll spend allocated to hospital trusts in the New Hospital Programme is capitalised, and as such we do not record any non-capital spend.
What his Department's projected completion dates are for each project delivered by the New Hospital Programme.
Expected completion dates for schemes in the New Hospital Programme will be confirmed following the approval of a Full Business Case, as set out in HM Treasury’s Green Book, and as is usual for large infrastructure projects.
How many people employed by his Department have worked on (a) the review into the New Hospital Programme and (b) the New Hospital Programme in each year since 2019.
The review into the New Hospital Programme (NHP) was led by a Director from the NHP team in the Department of Health and Social Care. They were supported by several officials from within the NHP sponsor team in the Department of Health and Social Care along with officials in NHS England, with input from officials in HM Treasury.The following table shows the figures for the number of people employed by the Department of Health and Social Care to work on the NHP Sponsor Team at the end of each financial year up to March 2024 and then until December 2024:DateHeadcount31 March 2019Prior to the Programme being established31 March 2020Prior to the Programme being established31 March 20212131 March 20226031 March 20234531 March 20241831 December 202422 Notes:The NHP was established in October 2020 and comprises of staff in the Department of Health and Social Care and NHS England. In July 2023, the NHP moved to a Sponsor and Delivery Model with numerous Departmental roles being transferred to NHS England.The table only shows the number of people employed in the Department of Health and Social Care working in the NHP Sponsor Team and does not include any individuals on loan in and not on Departmental payroll or contingent labour.
If he will publish (a) a year by year forecast of expected investment in the New Hospitals Programme and (b) the projected total budget for that programme.
As set out in our New Hospital Programme: plan for implementation, the exact profile of funding for the New Hospital Programme will be confirmed in rolling five-year waves at regular Spending Reviews. Further information on the plan for implementation is available at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/new-hospital-programme-review-outcome/new-hospital-programme-plan-for-implementationUp to and including December 2024, the Department’s spend on the New Hospital Programme was £1.808 billion for capital expenditure, and £268 million for non-capital expenditure. This includes the year-to-date position for 2024/25, and as such remains provisional and subject to final audit.The current future estimates of costs for schemes in waves two and three were published in the plan for implementation. The previous budget allocated to trusts in the New Hospital Programme was published in the annual Financial assistance under section 40 of the National Health Service Act 2006, and is available at the following link:https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/676161a094c0d990c1ef3953/dhsc-financial-assistance-under-section-40-of-the-national-health-service-act-2006-report-2023-2024.pdfAll spend allocated to hospital trusts in the New Hospital Programme is capitalised, and as such we do not record any non-capital spend.
If he will take steps to include contractual obligations for organisations receiving public funding for biomedical research and development to ensure (a) equitable and (b) affordable access to their innovations for (a) people in low- and middle-income countries and (b) other people.
Contracts for researchers funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) have mechanisms to ensure the effective dissemination of research outputs. They also adhere to the NIHR Open Access Policy to ensure academic research is published freely, immediately, and is permanently available online for anyone to read, share, and reuse. The NIHR also uses standard contracts which ensure that intellectual property generated by research benefits the public. Further information on the NIHR Open Access Policy is available at the following link:https://www.nihr.ac.uk/nihr-open-access-publications-funding-guidanceIn addition, all research funded through the Department’s Official Development Assistance (ODA) research programmes delivers direct and primary benefit to the ODA-eligible countries on the Development Assistance Committee list. The scope of the Department’s ODA research is set in consultation with stakeholders in low and middle income countries so that it is relevant, and all research findings are published so that they are available for all. Further information on ODA-eligible countries on the Development Assistance Committee list is available at the following link: https://www.oecd.org/en/topics/sub-issues/oda-eligibility-and-conditions/dac-list-of-oda-recipients.html
With reference to his Oral Statement of 15 January 2025 on Winter Update, if he will publish a list of the locations of the 24 critical incidents declared in the week of 6 January 2025.
On 7 January 2025, there were a total of 24 active critical incidents reported, as referenced by my Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care in his oral statement of 15 January 2025. The following table shows a list of the 24 National Health Service organisations where the critical incidents were declared:NHS organisationMid and South Essex NHS Foundation TrustCambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation TrustSomerset NHS Foundation TrustNHS England East of England RegionUniversity Hospitals of North Midlands NHS TrustMersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospital NHS TrustRoyal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation TrustTorbay & South Devon NHS Foundation TrustUniversity Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation TrustNHS Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly Integrated Care BoardJames Paget University Hospitals NHS Foundation TrustNorth West Anglia NHS Foundation TrustSouth Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation TrustEast Midlands Ambulance Service NHS TrustLiverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation TrustHampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation TrustNHS Northamptonshire Integrated Care BoardUniversity Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation TrustUniversity Hospitals Plymouth NHS TrustNorth Middlesex University Hospital NHS TrustSouth Warwickshire University NHS Foundation TrustRoyal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation TrustGreat Western Hospitals NHS Foundation TrustNHS Devon Integrated Care BoardAs of 21 January 2025, 23 of the critical incidents declared above have been stood down. Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust remains active. University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Foundation Trust also declared a critical incident on this date but stood down the next day.
With reference to his statement of 6 January 2025 on Health and Social Care Reform, Official Report, columns 595 to 598, what steps he is taking to ensure equal access to healthcare in rural and urban areas.
The Government recognises the health inequalities faced by rural communities in England, particularly around access to healthcare services. In response, we are working closely across the department, with NHS England and regional Directors of Public Health to develop approaches that address these inequalities so that no person or community is left behind.The Government is committed to putting patients first, including in both rural and urban areas. This means making sure that all patients are seen on time and ensuring that people have the best possible experience during their care.On 6 January 2025, NHS England published the new Elective Reform Plan, part of the Government’s Plan for Change, which sets out a whole system approach to hitting the 18-week Referral to Treatment target by the end of this Parliament. The plan sets out the reform and productivity efforts needed to ensure that patients are seen on time and have the best possible experience during their care. A copy of the plan is available at the following link:https://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/reforming-elective-care-for-patients.pdfWe have set an ambition to make progress on the 18-week standard in 2025/26, to 65% nationally and for all trusts to deliver a minimum five percentage point improvement by March 2026. At the end of November 2024, the rate at The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust was 48.5%.
With reference to his statement of 6 January 2025 on Health and Social Care Reform, Official Report, column 597, what his definition is of working class areas.
The Department is committed to improving health outcomes across geographies and demographic groups to ensure that there is no two-tier system for healthcare in this country, where those who can afford it pay to go private, and those who cannot are left behind.The Index of Multiple Deprivation, produced by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, is most commonly used as the means to determine the most deprived areas of the country, which are often where health needs are greatest. As an example of targeted support, the Further Faster 20 (FF20) initiative will support 20 trusts with long waits in areas of highest economic inactivity to tackle their waiting lists by improving productivity. Trust teams will work with the FF20 team of clinicians and managers to look at their pathways and ways of working with the aim of improving the way that outpatients, diagnostics, and theatres are run.On 6 January 2025, NHS England published the new Elective Reform Plan, part of the Government’s Plan for Change, which sets out a whole system approach to hitting the 18-week referral to treatment target by the end of this Parliament. The plan sets out the reform and productivity efforts needed to ensure that patients are seen on time and have the best possible experience during their care. The Plan for Change commits that by the end of this parliament, 92% of all patients will wait no longer than 18 weeks for treatment following a referral.The Elective Reform Plan sets out a range of new measures to address health inequalities, including that people living in disadvantaged areas are 1.8 times more likely to wait over a year than someone living in one of the least deprived areas. This is why the plan commits not only to make progress on the 18-week standard in 25/26, to 65% nationally, but for all trusts to deliver a minimum five percentage point improvement by March 2026, recognising that we must have high expectations for progress across the country.
Whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of allowing a Physician Associate to Junior Doctor conversion course.
There is no training pathway specifically designed for a physician associate to become a doctor in the United Kingdom. To become a doctor in the UK, an individual is required to complete either an undergraduate degree or a graduate-entry programme in medicine from a UK medical school which meets the standards set by the General Medical Council.