Written questions by McMurdock.

What discussions he has had with local councils on the effectiveness of bleed control kits in urban centres with elevated rates of violent crime or road traffic collisions.

The Government has engaged with a range of stakeholders on the effectiveness of a number of trauma and bleed kits in regards to serious violence or for use in other settings. In response to the Manchester Arena Inquiry, the Department for Health and Social Care has worked alongside partners such as the National Counter Terrorism Security Office (NaCTSO), health stakeholders and civil society to standardise the contents of Public Access Trauma Kits (PAcT kits). These kits can be found at venues and public spaces of private and public sector organisations and are suitable to support the treatment of many life-threatening injuries.To ensure PAcT kits can be used by any person regardless of training, instructions on their use have been made clearer and universal signage has also been developed so PAcT kit locations can be better identified.

What assessment he has made of the adequacy of diagnosis rates for rare cancers, broken down by each county.

The Government is committed to supporting the National Health Service to diagnose cancer, including rare and less common cancers, earlier and to treat them faster.The National Disease Registration Service in NHS England, as the national cancer registry, collects diagnosis and treatment data on cancer patients in England. Further information on the National Disease Registration Service is available at the following link:https://digital.nhs.uk/ndrsThe Department has not made a formal assessment of this data broken down by county, however the forthcoming National Cancer Plan will include further details on how the NHS will improve diagnosis and outcomes for all cancer patients in England, including for rare and less common cancers.

What steps is he taking to improve access to innovative treatments for patients diagnosed with rare cancers.

The Department of Health and Social Care is committed to ensuring that all patients, including those with rare cancers, have access to cutting-edge clinical trials and innovative, lifesaving treatments.The National Cancer Plan, which is due to be published later this year, will include details on how cancer research will be supported, ensuring all cancer patients have access to the latest treatments and technology, as well as speeding up diagnosis.The Government also supports the Rare Cancers Bill and its ambitions to incentivise clinical trials and access to innovative treatments for rare cancers. The Department is working to fast-track clinical trials to drive global investment into life sciences, improve health outcomes and accelerate the development of medicines and therapies of the future, including for rare cancers. DHSC 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.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of patients seeking medication from unregulated sources on public health.

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), acting on behalf of the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, is responsible for the regulation of all medicines and medical devices in the UK by ensuring they work and are acceptably safe. This also includes applying the legal controls on the retail sale, supply and advertising of medicines which are set out in the Human Medicines Regulations 2012.Sourcing any medicine from unregulated suppliers significantly increases the risk of getting a product which is either falsified or not authorised for use. Products purchased in this way will not meet the MHRA’s strict quality and safety standards, and can expose patients to incorrect dosages, or dangerous ingredients that can have serious health consequences.Many legitimate medicinal products are prescription-only medicines, meaning that a consultation with a doctor or qualified healthcare professional is needed to assess the patient's suitability for the treatment and consider any potential risks. Usually, they should only be obtained from a registered pharmacy against a valid prescription.Public safety is the number one priority for the MHRA and its Criminal Enforcement Unit (CEU) works hard to prevent and investigate illegal activity involving medicines and medical devices.This year, the CEU and its partners have seized millions of doses of illegally traded medicines. It also works closely with web-based sales platforms and the internet industry to identify and remove non-compliant medicines and medical devices where possible.The MHRA’s Yellow Card scheme collects and monitors information on suspected safety concerns involving healthcare products, including side effects caused by medicines. These reports help the regulator gain a better understanding of medicine interactions and safeguard patients through vigilant monitoring.

What steps he is taking to ensure that patients have continued access to Mounjaro at an affordable price following the planned private price increase in September 2025.

As we shift the focus from treatment to prevention through our 10 Year Health Plan, we are determined to bring revolutionary modern treatments to everyone who needs them, not just those who can afford to pay.NHS England has worked with Eli Lilly to ensure that the list price increase will not affect National Health Service commissioning of tirzepatide in England as a treatment for eligible patients, and we remain committed to the rollout of this medicine as a weight loss treatment based on clinical priority. This will enable 220,000 eligible people to access the medication over the first three years. Not everyone who wants tirzepatide will be able to access it at first, and the initial eligibility criteria will be for people with a body mass index of 40 or more in addition to four or more qualifying comorbidities.Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland have also entered equivalent agreements to maintain their current commissioning approaches.Pricing in the private market is a matter for Eli Lilly and for private providers. Private patients who are impacted by price increases should discuss any concerns with their private provider. This includes their options regarding payment plans, alternative treatments, and/or stopping or tapering off their current medication. Eli Lilly is working with private providers to support continued patient access.

Whether he plans to support early access to clinical trials for patients with rare cancers.

The Department is committed to ensuring that all patients have access to cutting-edge clinical trials and innovative, life-saving treatments, including those with rare cancers.We are also working to fast track clinical trials to drive global investment into life sciences, to improve health outcomes and to accelerate the development of medicines and therapies of the future, including for rare 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 across 2023/24, reflecting their high priority.The forthcoming National Cancer Plan will include further details on how we will improve outcomes for cancer patients across the country, including patients with rare cancers. It will ensure that more patients have access to the latest treatments and technology, and to clinical trials.The Government also supports the Rare Cancers Bill and its ambitions to incentivise clinical trials and access to innovative treatments for rare cancers.

How many and what proportion of mental health inpatients discharged between 2024 and 2025 were readmitted within (a) 30 and (b) 90 days of discharge, broken down by age group.

The following table shows the information requested for inpatients discharged between January 2024 and December 2024 in England: Age bandDischarges eligible for readmissionReadmissions within 30 days of dischargeReadmissions within 90 days of dischargeProportion of discharges readmitted within 30 daysProportion of discharges readmitted within 90 days0-174,1341,4681,92535.5%46.6%18-2410,9121,8683,06817.1%28.1%25-3418,8062,4144,15612.8%22.1%35-4416,7421,7853,27010.7%19.5%45-5412,6151,1772,2109.3%17.5%55-6410,2869101,7048.8%16.6%65+13,2737611,4175.7%10.7%Missing/Invalid records2000.0%0.0%Total86,77010,38317,75012.0%20.5%Source: Mental Health Services Dataset, NHS England Notes:The age band is calculated based on the patient's age at the time of the previous discharge. The number of discharges eligible for readmission covers all discharges from hospital in the reporting period that meet the following criteria:Method of discharge from hospital was NOT the patient dying, discharging themselves, or being discharged by a relative or advocate.Destination of discharge from hospital was NOT a high security of psychiatric hospital or accommodation, a medium secure unit, or an Independent Sector Healthcare Provider run hospital. The number or readmissions within 30 or 90 days of discharge covers all next earliest admissions to hospital following a patient's eligible discharge. Number of days is calculated using the start date of the new admission and the discharge date of the previous discharge.

What the longest inpatient stays were for mental health patients in each age group discharged in 2025.

The information requested for the latest available period (1 January to 30 June 2025) is in the table below. Counts below 5 are suppressed using an asterisk. Age Band at DischargeBed Type at Discharge1Total Number of DischargesLongest hospital stay (days)20 to 17Child and Young Person Learning Disabilities9452,9680 to 17Unknown34002,3850 to 17Acute Mental Health Unit for Adults with a Learning Disability and/or Autism*2,0330 to 17General Child and Young Person Young Person (13 years up to and including 17 years)9308530 to 17Child and Young Person Low Secure Mental Illness*6990 to 17Eating Disorders Child and Young Person1356620 to 17General Child and Young Person Child (up to and including 12 years)2406090 to 17Child and Young Person Psychiatric Intensive Care Unit1105630 to 17Adult Low Secure53920 to 17Adult Eating Disorders*2000 to 17Child Mental Health Services for the Deaf*1140 to 17Acute Adult Mental Health Care30590 to 17Child and Young Person Medium Secure Mental Illness*430 to 17Adult Psychiatric Intensive Care Unit (Acute Mental Health Care)*420 to 17Adult Mental Health Rehabilitation (Mainstream Service)540 to 17Adult Neuro-Psychiatry / Acquired Brain Injury10318 to 64Adult High Secure5510,51418 to 64Adult Medium Secure3807,89718 to 64Adult Mental Health Rehabilitation (Mainstream Service)1,3606,78518 to 64Unknown32,9506,66618 to 64Acute Mental Health Unit for Adults with a Learning Disability and/or Autism7306,19918 to 64Adult Low Secure4205,91618 to 64Acute Older Adult Mental Health Care (Organic and Functional)5555,38118 to 64Adult Neuro-Psychiatry / Acquired Brain Injury1605,25018 to 64Acute Adult Mental Health Care30,9053,92018 to 64Adult Mental Health Rehabilitation for Adults with a Learning Disability and/or Autism (Specialist Service)1553,76318 to 64Child and Young Person Learning Disabilities302,95618 to 64Adult Personality Disorder102,70118 to 64Adult Mental Health Services for the Deaf201,89218 to 64Eating Disorders Child and Young Person351,53818 to 64General Child and Young Person Child (up to and including 12 years)*1,41418 to 64Adult Psychiatric Intensive Care Unit (Acute Mental Health Care)2,5801,18118 to 64Adult Eating Disorders39094318 to 64Child and Young Person Low Secure Mental Illness587618 to 64General Child and Young Person Young Person (13 years up to and including 17 years)3569318 to 64Child and Young Person Medium Secure Mental Illness*60018 to 64Mother and Baby46528518 to 64Severe Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and Body Dysmorphic Disorder - Young Person524518 to 64Child and Young Person Psychiatric Intensive Care Unit1018865+Adult Mental Health Rehabilitation (Mainstream Service)1958,76865+Adult Low Secure206,36165+Adult Neuro-Psychiatry / Acquired Brain Injury456,16765+Acute Older Adult Mental Health Care (Organic and Functional)5,7055,67165+Adult Medium Secure154,96065+Acute Mental Health Unit for Adults with a Learning Disability and/or Autism152,60665+Acute Adult Mental Health Care1,0551,83265+Adult Psychiatric Intensive Care Unit (Acute Mental Health Care)301,57665+Unknown31251,19565+Adult Mental Health Services for the Deaf*53465+Adult Mental Health Rehabilitation for Adults with a Learning Disability and/or Autism (Specialist Service)551465+Severe Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and Body Dysmorphic Disorder - Young Person*31065+Adult Eating Disorders1026065+General Child and Young Person Child (up to and including 12 years)*-Data source: Mental Health Services Dataset, NHS England 1 Bed type is the bed that the patient was in when they were discharged. 2 The length of stay is the patient’s total length of stay during the hospital spell. 3 Where a patient’s bed type is not recorded or cannot be matched to a valid value, the bed type is recorded as unknown.

What plans he has to review the severity threshold used by NICE for appraising treatments for incurable cancers.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) is responsible for the methods and processes that it uses in the development of its recommendations. The severity modifier was introduced in January 2022 as part of a number of changes intended to make NICE’s methods fairer, faster, and more consistent.NICE carried out a review of the implementation of the severity modifier in September 2024 and found that it is operating as intended. This showed that the proportion of positive cancer recommendations is higher, at 84.8%, than with the end-of-life modifier it replaced, at 75%, and the proportion of positive recommendations for advanced cancer treatments is also higher, 81.1% compared to 69%.NICE has commissioned research to gather further evidence on societal preferences that will inform future method reviews.

What steps he is taking to guarantee the inclusion of (a) Admiral Nurses and (b) other dementia specialist nurses as core members of the Neighbourhood Health Service.

The Neighbourhood Health Service will bring together teams of professionals closer to people’s homes to work together to provide comprehensive care in the community. We expect neighbourhood teams and services to be designed in a way that reflects the specific needs of local populations, and so they could include dementia specialist nurses. While we will be clear on the outcomes we expect, we will give significant licence to tailor the approach to local need. While the focus on personalised, coordinated care will be consistent, that will mean the service will look different in rural communities, coastal towns, or deprived inner cities. Provision of dementia health care services is the responsibility of local integrated care boards (ICBs). We would expect ICBs to commission services, which may include dementia specialist nurses/admiral nurses, based on local population needs, taking account of the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines. NICE recommends providing people living with dementia with a single named health or social care professional who is responsible for coordinating their care. Under the 10-Year Plan, those living with dementia will benefit from improved care planning and better services.  We will deliver the first ever Modern Service Framework for Frailty and Dementia to deliver rapid and significant improvements in quality of care and productivity. This will be informed by phase one of the independent commission into adult social care, expected in 2026.

Whether he plans to commission an independent review of how severity is defined in NICE appraisals and its effect on access to new cancer drugs.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) is responsible for the methods and processes that it uses in the development of its recommendations. The severity modifier was introduced in January 2022 as part of a number of changes intended to make NICE’s methods fairer, faster, and more consistent.NICE carried out a review of the implementation of the severity modifier in September 2024 and found that it is operating as intended. This showed that the proportion of positive cancer recommendations is higher, at 84.8%, than with the end-of-life modifier it replaced, at 75%, and the proportion of positive recommendations for advanced cancer treatments is also higher, 81.1% compared to 69%.NICE has commissioned research to gather further evidence on societal preferences that will inform future method reviews.

What steps he is taking to ensure the 10-year dementia plan leads to a consistent standard of care and support for dementia patients across communities.

Our health system has struggled to support those with complex needs, including those with dementia. Under the 10-Year Plan, those living with dementia will benefit from improved care planning and better services.We will deliver the first ever Modern Service Framework for Frailty and Dementia to deliver rapid and significant improvements in quality of care and productivity. This will be informed by phase one of the independent commission into adult social care, expected in 2026.The Modern Service Framework for Frailty and Dementia will seek to reduce unwarranted variation and narrow inequality for those living with dementia and will set national standards for dementia care and redirect National Health Service priorities to provide the best possible care and support.Those with dementia will also benefit from more joined up care through co-created care plans, and by 2027, 95% of those with complex needs will have an agreed care plan.

What plans he has to support partnerships between local pharmacies and drug and alcohol support charities to deliver harm reduction services.

In addition to the Public Health Grant, in 2025/26 the Department is providing a total of £310 million in additional targeted grants to improve alcohol and drug treatment services and recovery support, including housing and employment, in England. This funding can be used by local authorities to support community pharmacies to deliver harm reduction services.Many community pharmacies provide locally commissioned services aimed at reducing harm from the misuse of alcohol and drugs, such as supervised consumption of methadone alongside support for self-care, which is an essential service all pharmacies provide. This includes free healthcare advice, public health interventions, and signposting to relevant organisations and services.The Department is aware of the challenges in the ability of some community pharmacies to provide some substance misuse services such as dispensing, supervised consumption of methadone, and needle and syringe programmes.The Department has been supporting drug and alcohol treatment services to identify local solutions, including increased payment and some alternative models of provision of these services.

What steps he is taking to help reduce the time taken to diagnose brain tumours.

Improving diagnosis rates is a key priority for the Government for all cancer types, including brain cancers. To achieve this, 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.In addition, the Government has now exceeded its pledge to deliver two million extra operations, scans, and appointments, having delivered 4.5 million additional appointments as a first step to delivering on the commitment that 92% of patients will wait no longer than 18 weeks from referral to consultant-led treatment, in line with the National Health Service constitutional standard, by March 2029.Furthermore, NHS England is delivering a range of interventions to support general practices in diagnosing brain cancer earlier, for example through the early cancer diagnosis service specification for primary care networks. This specification is designed to support improvements in rates of early cancer diagnosis by requiring primary care networks to review the quality of their general practices’ referrals for suspected cancer and take steps to improve this, where appropriate.

What steps he is taking to ensure that the UK does not fall behind other countries in access to innovative treatments for secondary breast cancer.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) is the independent body responsible for developing authoritative, evidence-based recommendations for the National Health Service on whether new medicines represent a clinically and cost-effective use of resources. To enable rapid access for NHS patients to new and effective life-extending treatments, NICE aims, wherever possible, to issue recommendations on new medicines close to the point of licensing. The NHS in England is legally required to fund the use of NICE approved cancer medicines. NICE has recommended 24 out of the 25 breast cancer treatments it has assessed since April 2018. These medicines are now available to NHS patients in England.The National Cancer Plan will have patients at its heart and will cover the entirety of the cancer pathway, from referral and diagnosis to treatment and ongoing care, as well as prevention and research. It will seek to improve every aspect of cancer care to better the experience and outcomes for people with cancer. Research and innovation are key focuses of the National Cancer Plan. The plan will look to build on the success of our life sciences sector and projects such as the NHS cancer vaccine launch pad, and will also consider the ways that we can accelerate the uptake of innovative, life-saving treatments so all NHS patients can benefit.The plan is due to be published later this year and 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, and ultimately driving up this country’s cancer survival rates.

What support his Department is providing to NHS trusts to support mental health inpatient wards operating above safe occupancy levels.

Individual mental health trusts and local health systems are expected to effectively assess and manage their bed capacity. NHS England’s mental health, learning disability, and autism inpatient quality transformation programme is supporting cultural change and a new model of care across all National Health Service-funded mental health inpatient services, so that people can access timely, high-quality community support, closer to their families and loved ones. Local health systems have now published their three-year plans for localising and realigning inpatient care, in line with this vision.As set out in our 10-Year Health Plan, we are focussing on treatment that is away from hospital and inpatient care and are making sure that more mental health crisis care is delivered in the community through new models of care and support, so that fewer people need to go into hospital.

What assessment he has made of the impact of third-sector providers on NHS pressures related to drug and alcohol treatment.

The Government is committed to ensuring that anyone with a drug or alcohol problem can access the help and support they need, and we recognise the need for evidence-based, high-quality treatment.No assessment has been made on the impact of third-sector providers on National Health Service pressures related to drug and alcohol treatment. Local authorities are responsible for assessing local need for alcohol and drug prevention and treatment in their area, and for commissioning services to meet those needs. The majority of drug and alcohol treatment services are delivered by charities, with a smaller proportion delivered by the NHS or companies.Dame Carol Black’s independent review of evidence related to drugs, published in February 2020, found that the harms associated with wholly drug-related hospital admissions are estimated at £37 million. This cost includes admissions for mental and behavioural disorders, overdoses and poisonings, and drug-related neonatal disorders. The total cost of all harms associated with partially drug-related hospital admissions is estimated at £156 million. Research shows treatment for drug users can reduce the cost of drug related hospital attendances by 31%.Effective community alcohol treatment can reduce costs to the NHS. The institute of Alcohol Studies estimates that alcohol costs the NHS and healthcare services £4.9 billion a year, based on 2021/22 prices. Accessible specialist treatment services can help people with alcohol dependence access healthcare at an earlier stage for the high levels of comorbidity they experience.

What steps he is taking to improve recruitment and retention in the mental health workforce.

As part of our mission to build a National Health Service that is fit for the future and is there when people need it, we are over halfway towards our target to recruit an extra 8,500 mental health staff. NHS England is also working to improve retention within the mental health workforce through clearer career progression pathways.

What estimate has he made of the average length of stay in mental health inpatient units; and how this compares with the average length of stay for physical health inpatient admissions.

The following table shows the median average length of stay for adults and children who were discharged from mental health inpatient units in England between 1 March and 31 May 2025: People aged 0 to 17 years oldPeople aged 18 to 64 years oldPeople aged 65 years old and overNumber of people discharged73113,6812,737Median average length of stay of people discharged5 days27 days73 daysSource: Mental Health Services Dataset, NHS England.No comparison can be made with the average length of stay for physical health inpatient admissions. NHS England has advised that data is not collected under the description of ‘physical health’ as the term is too broad.

What plans he has to support the continued delivery of SOS buses.

The Department is supportive of the work of volunteer initiatives, such as SOS buses. Voluntary, community, and social enterprise organisations (VCSEs) play a vital role in supporting communities up and down the country with a huge variety of issues. However, I recognise that the last few years have created a difficult environment for VCSEs, due to a number of challenges including those related to the COVID-19 pandemic and cost of living, and many are seeing increased financial pressures.The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport is supporting VCSEs with their financial sustainability, including through the delivery of a number of grant programmes, growing other sources of funding such as the social investment market, and supporting the viability of local government contracts. There are a number of ways in which organisations can find available funding opportunities, including:the Find a Grant service, which allows you to search for Government grants. The filtering system allows you to select grants which are open to applications from non-profits, with further information available at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/find-government-grants;funding opportunities hosted by The National Lottery Community Fund, with further information available at the following link: https://www.tnlcommunityfund.org.uk/funding;funding and income guidance from the National Council for Voluntary Organisations, which includes a section on where to find grants available to charities, with further information available at the following link: https://www.ncvo.org.uk/help-and-guidance/funding-income/#/;most areas of the country have Community Foundations that manage at least one local grant fund, or can offer guidance, with further information available at the following link: https://www.ukcommunityfoundations.org/; andlocal civil society infrastructure organisations may be able to signpost people to local grants and funding. The National Association for Voluntary and Community Action members often provide this type of support, with further information available at the following link: https://www.navca.org.uk/find-a-navca-member.The Government has made it a priority to reset the relationship with civil society and build a new partnership to harness its full potential by developing a Civil Society Covenant.Further, if local healthcare commissioners judge that SOS buses would help meet the healthcare needs of their respective populations, they can choose to commission those services.Such a decision would be taken at the local level as integrated care boards across England are responsible for managing the National Health Service budget and arranging NHS healthcare services which meet the needs of their respective populations.