Every parliamentary written question tabled by James Wild this session, with the full answer and department. Back to the MP page.
Showing 1–20 of 42 · Department of Health and Social Care
With reference to the answer of the Minister for Care in response to the hon. Member for Bridgwater of 24 February 2026, Official Report, column 169 on Access to NHS Dental Service, if his Department will provide constituency level data on access to NHS dental services for North West Norfolk constituency.
I refer the Hon. Member to the answer I gave on 24 March 2026 to Question 121871.
If he will publish (a) constituency and (b) integrated care board level data on access to NHS dental services in North West Norfolk constituency.
Data is not published at a constituency level. In the Norfolk and Waveney Integrated Care Board (ICB), which includes the North West Norfolk constituency, 45,763 more National Health Service dental treatments were delivered in April to October 2025 compared to the same period before the election. Nationally, 1.8 million more NHS dental treatments were delivered across the same time period.Data is also published annually at ICB level, which includes information on dental treatments delivered, as well as the proportion of adults and children seen by an NHS dentist. Data for 2024/25 can be found at the following link: https://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/statistical-collections/dental-england/dental-statistics-england-202425 Information on the years prior to 2023/24 can be found at the following link: https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/publications/statistical/nhs-dental-statistics
If it is his policy to make interim payments to valporate and pelvic mesh victims this calendar year.
The Government is carefully considering the work done by the Patient Safety Commissioner and her report, which set out recommendations for redress for those harmed by valproate and pelvic mesh, including options for interim payments.The Government has deep sympathy for all those affected and recognises the profound impact that these harms have had on individuals and their families.My Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, has been clear that he wants to make meaningful progress during this Parliament, although a decision to provide compensation has not yet been made. We recognise how difficult and disappointing this uncertainty is for those affected, and will ensure that the public is kept informed as soon as any decision on redress is made.I met with the Patient Safety Commissioner, Dr Henrietta Hughes since I have been in post, and had a very productive discussion about the ongoing health initiatives led by the Department regarding sodium valproate and pelvic mesh. Details of the Government’s work to date are set out in recent letters to the Dr Hughes, which are published on her website.
Pursuant to the oral answer of 25 November 2025, Official Report Column 201, on NHS Dental Services in Norfolk, when he will issue a direction to the Office for Students.
We intend to set out next steps on the dental workforce soon.The independent Office for Students (OfS) has statutory responsibility for allocating funding for dental school places. Allocation outcomes are based on guidance issued by the Government, alongside an OfS assessment of provider capability.
How many emergency dental appointments have been delivered under the Urgent Dental Care Incentive Scheme in (a) Norfolk and Waveney and (b) North West Norfolk; and (b) what progress his Department has made on helping to deliver 21,520 additional urgent care appointments for Norfolk and Waveney ICB.
We have asked integrated care boards (ICBs) to commission extra urgent dental appointments to make sure that patients with urgent dental needs can get the treatment they require. ICBs have been making extra appointments available from April 2025.These appointments are available across the country, with specific expectations for each region. These appointments are more heavily weighted towards those areas where they are needed the most. The Norfolk and Waveney ICB, which includes the North West Norfolk constituency, has been asked to deliver 21,520 additional urgent dental appointments as part of the scheme.We are also incentivising high street dentists to offer even more appointments to maximise the availability to those in need of urgent care.Data on delivery of urgent dental care, will be published annually as part of the NHS Dental Statistics England Official Statistics series. These statistics are released each August and are the primary source of data on the delivery of National Health Service dental care.
Pursuant to the Answer of 7 July 2025 to Question 61217 on Government Departments: Reviews, how many lines of activity in his department were considered as part of the zero based review.
The 2025 Spending Review included a zero-based review of spending. The Department scrutinised every line of spending to ensure that it is delivering value for money. The review covered resource budgets across the full Department Group, defined as the Department and all its arm’s length bodies.
With reference to his oral answer on 21 October 2025, Official Report, col 789, what proportion of the increase in NHS budget was provided to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital King's Lynn Trust.
All National Health Service organisations will benefit from the record funding growth agreed for the NHS this year. Revenue funding is provided to integrated care boards (ICBs) and is informed by a calculation of what would constitute a ‘fair share’ for that system. NHS trusts and foundation trusts are not directly funded in the same way. They finance their spending through income generated from the provision of healthcare services, paid via contracts agreed with their commissioning ICBs. Whilst national funding growth is defined by Spending Review settlements, the level of funding in individual trusts is not set by the Government and income levels are dependent on the level of healthcare activity they undertake for their local communities.
Pursuant to the Answer of 29 January 2025 to Question 25328 on the Queen Elizabeth Hospital King's Lynn, whether he has received a copy of the report; and, with reference to his Department policy paper entitled New Hospital Programme; plan for implementation, published on 20 January 2025, what his planned timetable is for the publication of the site-by-site report of the RAAC hospitals.
The safety of staff and patients at the seven predominantly reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) hospitals remains our utmost priority.The completion date for the report has been extended to ensure a detailed understanding of the complex data and issues considered, including the RAAC condition, planned and current mitigations, and the remaining expected life of the hospital sites. By building a better understanding, we can support each scheme to move forward more effectively. We expect the report will be complete this year. A decision has not yet been taken regarding the publication of the report.In the interim, the seven predominantly RAAC hospitals continue their programme of RAAC mitigation works and the plans for the replacement hospitals continue at pace.
How many ICBs have retained their unspent dental allocation in each of the last five years.
The requested information is not available. Dental budgets have been ringfenced since 2023/24. The Government wants to ensure that every penny we allocate for dentistry is spent on dentistry, and that the ringfenced dental budget is spent on the patients who need it most. Where there are unused resources, NHS England will seek to ensure that these are used to improve dental access. The total underspend for the 2023/24 financial year was £392 million. Information on underspend for the 2024/25 financial year is currently unavailable, as this data has not yet been validated. Prior to the 2023/24 financial year, a dental ringfence was not in place.
How much funding allocated to dentistry was clawed back by NHS England for each ICB area in 2024-5.
Dental budgets have been ringfenced since 2023/24. The Government wants to ensure that every penny we allocate for dentistry is spent on dentistry, and that the ringfenced dental budget is spent on the patients who need it most.The information requested on the amount of funding allocated to National Health Service dentistry that was recovered from underperforming contracts by NHS England in respect of each integrated care board area in 2024/25 is currently unavailable, as this data has not yet been validated. Once validated, data on any funding recovered from underperforming contracts by NHS England will be published in the NHS financial accounts.
What steps he is taking to expand Overseas Registration Examination (ORE) capacity beyond the additional (a) 1,800 places for part 1 and (b) 576 places for part 2.
We recognise that there is a considerable waiting list for candidates to sit the General Dental Council’s (GDC) Overseas Registration Exam (ORE). I have asked the GDC to urgently develop an action plan of concrete measures to reduce the ORE waiting list, and will be regularly meeting with them to monitor progress.I have welcomed the additional sittings of both parts of the ORE that the GDC has put in place, and their ongoing procurement of new ORE provider contracts. I will continue to discuss the new arrangements with the GDC, with a focus on understanding how they will further increase the availability of the ORE exam in the short and longer term.We will not be providing the GDC with any additional legislative powers for international registration at this time. Having considered the options for a provisional registration scheme, the Government’s view is that other, more cost-effective and efficient routes to registration should be the immediate priority.Meanwhile, we expect the GDC to make full use of the flexibility afforded by the international registration reforms introduced in 2023 to ensure that those who have the right skills and experience are able to join its registers as quickly and efficiently as possible.
Whether he plans to introduce a provisional registration scheme for trained international dentists to practice (a) under supervision and (b) with training support in the UK.
We recognise that there is a considerable waiting list for candidates to sit the General Dental Council’s (GDC) Overseas Registration Exam (ORE). I have asked the GDC to urgently develop an action plan of concrete measures to reduce the ORE waiting list, and will be regularly meeting with them to monitor progress.I have welcomed the additional sittings of both parts of the ORE that the GDC has put in place, and their ongoing procurement of new ORE provider contracts. I will continue to discuss the new arrangements with the GDC, with a focus on understanding how they will further increase the availability of the ORE exam in the short and longer term.We will not be providing the GDC with any additional legislative powers for international registration at this time. Having considered the options for a provisional registration scheme, the Government’s view is that other, more cost-effective and efficient routes to registration should be the immediate priority.Meanwhile, we expect the GDC to make full use of the flexibility afforded by the international registration reforms introduced in 2023 to ensure that those who have the right skills and experience are able to join its registers as quickly and efficiently as possible.
What recent progress he has made in the procurement process for a new examination board for applicants wanting to take the Overseas Registration Examination (ORE).
We recognise that there is a considerable waiting list for candidates to sit the General Dental Council’s (GDC) Overseas Registration Exam (ORE). I have asked the GDC to urgently develop an action plan of concrete measures to reduce the ORE waiting list, and will be regularly meeting with them to monitor progress.I have welcomed the additional sittings of both parts of the ORE that the GDC has put in place, and their ongoing procurement of new ORE provider contracts. I will continue to discuss the new arrangements with the GDC, with a focus on understanding how they will further increase the availability of the ORE exam in the short and longer term.We will not be providing the GDC with any additional legislative powers for international registration at this time. Having considered the options for a provisional registration scheme, the Government’s view is that other, more cost-effective and efficient routes to registration should be the immediate priority.Meanwhile, we expect the GDC to make full use of the flexibility afforded by the international registration reforms introduced in 2023 to ensure that those who have the right skills and experience are able to join its registers as quickly and efficiently as possible.
Whether funding for valproate (a) financial redress and (b) interim payments were included in the Spending Review 2025.
The Government is carefully considering the work done by the Patient Safety Commissioner and her report, which set out options for redress for those harmed by valproate and pelvic mesh. This is a complex issue involving input from different Government departments. The Government will provide a further update to the Patient Safety Commissioner’s report in due course.
With reference to the Spending Review 2025, published on 11 June 2025, what recent discussions his Department have had with HM Treasury on the provision of funds for valproate (a) financial redress and (b) interim payments.
The Government is carefully considering the work done by the Patient Safety Commissioner and her report, which set out options for redress for those harmed by valproate and pelvic mesh. This is a complex issue involving input from different Government departments. The Government will provide a further update to the Patient Safety Commissioner’s report in due course.
Pursuant to the Answer of 17 June 2025 to Question 59412 on Government Departments: Reviews, if his Department will publish the line by line review of its spending conducted for the Spending Review 2025.
The Government has used this Spending Review to maximise the value from every taxpayer pound. Phase 2 of the Spending Review marks the first zero-based review in nearly 18 years, with every line of Government spending scrutinised, to make sure it is delivering value for money.The Government published robust delivery plans that set out exactly how departments will achieve their efficiency targets. HM Treasury published an overview of departmental efficiency targets and delivery plans for the 2025 Spending Review on 11 June 2025. These are available at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/departmental-efficiency-delivery-plans
With reference to his oral statement of 13 March 2025 on NHS England Update, Official Report, column 1300, what recent steps he has taken to streamline the business case approvals process for the New Hospitals Programme.
The New Hospital Programme is transforming the way that hospital infrastructure is constructed by using a national standardised approach, called Hospital 2.0. The average lifespan of new hospitals is expected to be in excess of 50 years, and is being designed in line with Hospital 2.0 principles, which will comply with regulatory building standards. This is the minimum expected lifespan, where some elements, such as the structure, will have a longer life expectancy, and other elements, such as internal doors, fixtures, and flooring, may need to be replaced after approximately 15 years. The lifespan of each individual hospital can vary based on external factors such as environmental conditions, maintenance, and usage.The existing process for approving business cases has been agreed with the Department, NHS England, and HM Treasury, with the explicit purpose of clarifying roles and responsibilities, and where appropriate, delegating authority for faster approvals and for reducing duplication.
What estimate he has made of the average lifespan of hospitals that will be built under the New Hospitals Programme.
The New Hospital Programme is transforming the way that hospital infrastructure is constructed by using a national standardised approach, called Hospital 2.0. The average lifespan of new hospitals is expected to be in excess of 50 years, and is being designed in line with Hospital 2.0 principles, which will comply with regulatory building standards. This is the minimum expected lifespan, where some elements, such as the structure, will have a longer life expectancy, and other elements, such as internal doors, fixtures, and flooring, may need to be replaced after approximately 15 years. The lifespan of each individual hospital can vary based on external factors such as environmental conditions, maintenance, and usage.The existing process for approving business cases has been agreed with the Department, NHS England, and HM Treasury, with the explicit purpose of clarifying roles and responsibilities, and where appropriate, delegating authority for faster approvals and for reducing duplication.
How many hospitals in England provide office space to Unison representatives; and what rental charges are paid in each case.
The Department does not hold the information requested. Trade union representatives are entitled to time off to enable them to carry out their trade union duties or to take part in union training.It is important that, where possible, employers make available to union representatives the facilities necessary for them to fulfil their duties, and to communicate effectively with their members. Section 25 of the NHS Terms and Conditions of Service (Agenda for Change) sets out that where resources permit, the facilities for recognised trade unions should include the use of dedicated office space.
What the salaries are for the (a) Chairman and (b) Chief Executive of the new Norfolk and Waveney University Hospitals Group.
The Department does not hold the information requested. Information on the remuneration of senior staff is published by hospital trusts as part of their annual report and accounts.As the Chair and the Chief Executive of the new Norfolk and Waveney University Hospitals Group are both recent appointments, details of their salaries will appear in future published accounts.