Written questions by Kirkham.

What (a) physical, (b) mental and (c) financial support is available to people diagnosed with endometriosis.

The Government recognises the challenges faced by women with endometriosis and the impact it has on their lives.The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence’s (NICE) guideline on endometriosis diagnosis and management recognises that endometriosis can be a long-term condition, and can have a significant physical, sexual, psychological, and social impact. On 11 November 2024, NICE published its updated version of this guideline, making firmer recommendations on referral and investigations which will help women receive a diagnosis and effective treatment faster.Research has led to new treatments being made available for endometriosis, including the NICE approval of two pills to treat endometriosis this year, namely Relugolix and Linzagolix.Individuals, including those diagnosed with endometriosis, can self-refer to NHS Talking Therapies or their general practitioner can refer them. NHS Talking Therapies offer evidence-based psychological therapies to help with common mental health problems.Many integrated care boards are taking an innovative approach to endometriosis care. For example, in the North East and West of England there is the endometriosis transformation programme. This programme is addressing long waits for patients with severe endometriosis and improving patient pathways, from presentation in general practice through to management in secondary care.

Whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of a public awareness campaign on endometriosis.

The Government recognises the challenges faced by women with endometriosis and the impact it has on their lives, their relationships, and their participation in education and the workforce.In November 2024, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence updated their guideline on endometriosis, to make firmer recommendations to healthcare professionals on the referral and investigation for women with a suspected diagnosis, in order to help the estimated one in 10 women with endometriosis receive a diagnosis faster. Alongside the updated guidelines, new treatments have been approved, and we are investing £5.6 million into research and taking action to cut gynaecology waiting lists through our Elective Reform Plan.On 15 July, the Department for Education published the revised relationships education, relationships and sex education, and health education statutory guidance. This revised guidance emphasises the importance of ensuring that pupils have a comprehensive understanding of women’s health topics, including endometriosis.We know that women deserve better, which is why we are renewing the Women’s Health Strategy, to assess the progress that has been made so far and to continue progressing delivery while empowering women with information about heavy menstrual bleeding and reproductive health conditions.The 2022 Women’s Health Strategy identified many important issues which remain valid, so we now need to align the strategy with the 10-Year Health Plan and identify areas where we need to go further.

Whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of deploying specialist endometriosis nurses in GP surgeries.

The Government is committed to improving the diagnosis, treatment, and ongoing care for gynaecological conditions including endometriosis.As self-employed contractors to the National Health Service, it is for general practices to determine how they run their operations, including decisions regarding nursing staff.The Department, through the National Institute for Health and Care Research, has also commissioned a number of studies focused on endometriosis diagnosis, treatment, and patient experience.

How much and what proportion of the £25 million funding for the pilot Women’s Health Hubs was allocated to the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly ICB.

The Department invested £25 million in the establishment of Women’s Health Hubs through the two-year pilot from April 2023 to March 2025. Each integrated care board (ICB) received £595,000 of the £25 million of funding for Women’s Health Hubs.We are supporting ICBs to continue improving their delivery of Women’s Health Hubs, in line with their responsibility to commission services that meet the needs of their local populations.

What steps he is taking to help ensure that (a) fathers, (b) families from minority (i) ethnic and (ii) faith backgrounds and (c) other bereaved parents receive (A) timely, (B) equitable and (C) culturally competent support following the loss of a baby.

Following the loss of a baby, all parents should receive timely, equitable, and culturally competent care. To support this, NHS England has provided funding to all integrated care boards (ICBs) to establish seven-day-a-week bereavement services across maternity settings in England, so that support is always available when families need it most. Currently, 38 out of 42 ICBs offer a seven day a week bereavement service.Bereavement care and cultural competence are both included within the Core Competency Framework which sets out the essential training for staff to help to address variations in the quality of support provided. Over 15,400 maternity staff have completed the e-learning module on cultural competency to date.In addition, the leaders of all 150 maternity and neonatal units in England have now participated in the Perinatal Culture and Leadership programme. Recognising that more is needed to ensure families from minority ethnic and faith backgrounds receive the appropriate care, NHS England is rolling out a perinatal equity anti-discrimination programme to equip staff with the skills to provide the best possible care.

What estimate he has made of the number of doctors leaving the UK due to a lack of specialty training posts.

The Department has not made such a specific estimate. Data is published by NHS England on numbers of doctors leaving active service across National Health Service trusts and integrated care boards, but information collected on broad reasons for leaving is not detailed enough to report on drivers such as access to specialty training.The General Medical Council (GMC) publishes data on staff leaving the register in its annual State of Medical Education and Practice in the United Kingdom publication. This shows that the proportion leaving the register in 2024 has remained stable at approximately 4% a year. When asked about reasons for leaving, the three main reasons cited to the GMC where ‘wanting to practice abroad’, ‘retirement’ and ‘wanting to live abroad’.

What steps he is taking to increase the number of specialty training posts for UK-trained doctors in the South West.

As set out in the 10-Year Health Plan published in July, over the next three years we will create 1,000 new speciality training posts in England with a focus on specialities where there is the greatest need. The 10-Year Health Plan also set out that we will work across the Government to prioritise United Kingdom medical graduates for foundation training, and to prioritise UK medical graduates and other doctors who have worked in the National Health Service for a significant period for specialty training. We will set out next steps across the country in due course.

What steps he is taking to help increase the availability of treatments for Ehlers-Danlos syndrome in Cornwall.

Integrated care boards (ICBs), including the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly ICB, are responsible for the commissioning of treatment services for people with Ehlers Danlos syndrome (EDS). NHS England commissions some specialist services for patients with rare forms of EDS, which are currently delivered by two centres in England, namely the London North West University Healthcare Trust and the Sheffield Children’s NHS Foundation Trust. The complex EDS service provides diagnosis and advice to referrers on the treatment and management of complex cases.ICBs, including the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly ICB, have a statutory responsibility to commission services which meet the needs of their local population. It is the responsibility of ICBs, working with clinicians, service users, and patient groups, to develop services and care pathways that are convenient and which meet patients’ needs.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of the transfer of the functions of Healthwatch England to the Patient Experience Directorate of his Department on Healthwatch Cornwall.

The abolition of Healthwatch England and the transfer of its functions and the changes to Local Healthwatch will require primary legislation. Timing of this is subject to the will of Parliament and take place when parliamentary time allows. A full Impact Assessment would be produced and published on the Government website when legislation is introduced in Parliament. No assessment has been made at this time.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of extending the intervals between cervical screenings on instances of cervical cancer.

I refer the Hon. Member to the answer I gave to the Hon. Member for Southport on 30 June 2025 to Question 60149.

What steps he is taking to increase rates of cervical screening amongst women from (a) deprived areas, (b) ethnic minority backgrounds and those with limited access to health education.

NHS England launched its first ever cervical cancer elimination creative campaign and communications toolkit for Cervical Screening Awareness Week, which took place between 16 and 24 June 2025. The campaign included digital resources that create a strong sense of shared responsibility and aim to increase awareness of the elimination goal, educate the public, and build confidence in cervical screening. In March 2025, NHS England published its Cervical cancer elimination plan by 2040 – plan for England, setting out how the National Health Service will improve equitable uptake and coverage across cervical screening to meet the goal to eliminate cervical cancer by 2040. NHS England will build on what is already working well to drive vaccination and screening uptake and coverage, focussing on five cross-cutting themes: increasing access; raising awareness; reducing inequalities; improving digital capabilities; and strengthening workforce capacity. Further information on the Cervical cancer elimination plan by 2040 – plan for England is available at the following link: https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/cervical-cancer-elimination-by-2040-plan-for-england/ From early 2026, screening providers in the NHS Cervical Screening Programme in England will be able to offer human papillomavirus self-sampling kits to women if they have not attended their appointment for six months or more following routine invitation.Barriers to cervical screening for underserved communities and people who experience health inequalities must continue to be addressed. This will include identifying groups using national and local level data who may be at higher risk of developing cervical cancer, to inform national initiatives, such as tailored screening invitations, and support local service planning.

Pursuant to the Answer of 13 May 2025 to Question 50758 on Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors: Sexual Dysfunction, which regulatory options are under consideration; and what his planned timeframe is for the review.

Following the next meeting of the Expert Working group (EWG), the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) will seek advice from the Commission on Human Medicines on the recommendations of the EWG, on a wide range of regulatory options for the communication of the risk of sexual dysfunction where symptoms continue after taking antidepressants.Once the regulatory procedure is completed, a public assessment report will be published which will contain the evidence underpinning any regulatory action. The MHRA anticipates that regulatory action will be finalised in Autumn 2025.

What assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of the recommendations of the report entitled Recipe for health: A plan to fix our broken food system by the House of Lords Food, Diet and Obesity Committee, published on 24 October 2024.

After the House of Lords’ Food, Diet and Obesity Committee report published in October 2024, the Government published its response to the report on 30 January 2025. It is available at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/government-response-to-the-house-of-lords-food-and-health-reportThe Government welcomed the report and gave thanks to everyone involved in giving evidence and producing the recommendations. The response agreed with the committee’s assessment of the challenges in the food environment driving obesity rates. To best direct further policy action here, we are developing the National Health Service’s 10-Year Health Plan as well as a cross-Government Food Strategy, and will make more information available in due course.As part of the Government’s Plan for Change, we are committed to achieving our Health Mission to build an NHS fit for the future, and under the 10-Year Health Plan to shift from sickness to prevention.

What support is available for people discontinuing anti-depressants.

In 2022, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) published the guideline Medicines associated with dependence or withdrawal symptoms: safe prescribing and withdrawal management for adults, which makes recommendations on discontinuing antidepressant medication. This is also addressed in Depression in adults: treatment and management. Further information on the guidelines on medicines associated with dependence or withdrawal symptoms and depression in adults is available, respectively, at the following two links:https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng215https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng222/chapter/RecommendationsIn 2023, NHS England published Optimising personalised care for adults prescribed medicines associated with dependence or withdrawal symptoms: Framework for action for integrated care boards (ICBs) and primary care. The framework includes five actions, resources, and case studies to help develop plans that can support people who are taking medicines associated with dependence and withdrawal symptoms. The framework is available at the following link:https://www.england.nhs.uk/long-read/optimising-personalised-care-for-adults-prescribed-medicines-associated-with-dependence-or-withdrawal-symptoms/NHS England is also encouraging ICBs to address inappropriate antidepressant prescribing and to consider commissioning services for patients wishing to reduce or stop prescribed medicines that can cause dependence and withdrawal. Further information is available at the following link:https://www.england.nhs.uk/long-read/national-medicines-optimisation-opportunities-2023-24/The Government recognises that too many people with mental health issues are not getting the support or care they need, and we know that waits for mental health services are far too long. This is why we are committed to ensuring we give mental health the same attention and focus as physical health, so that people can be confident in accessing high quality mental health support when they need it.

What guidance (a) his Department and (b) NHS England provide to people who are prescribed SSRIs on the risks of developing Post-SSRI Sexual Dysfunction.

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) approved product information provided to healthcare professionals and patients for all selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) was updated in 2019 to inform them that reports had been received of long-lasting sexual dysfunction where symptoms continue despite discontinuation of the SSRI. The MHRA was an integral part of the European Union-wide review of the available evidence, which underpinned the current warnings. An Expert Working Group of the Commission on Human Medicines has been established to review evidence from patients and the scientific literature available since 2019, to address concerns about the ongoing lack of awareness of the existing warnings in the product information. A range of regulatory options are under consideration to help improve the communication of the risk of sexual dysfunction where symptoms continue after taking SSRIs.

If he will recognise Post-SSRI Sexual Dysfunction as a condition.

The current Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) approved product information for selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) has a warning for the risk of sexual dysfunction where symptoms continue despite stopping treatment. The term Post SSRI Sexual Dysfunction was added to the regulatory dictionary in 2021, which will help with the recording and retrieval of Yellow Card data and literature cases, and in the future, will contribute to the much needed research into this important health issue. Persistent sexual dysfunction following withdrawal of an SSRI, as a disorder, was added to the electronic health records system SNOMED in October 2024, as a code that will help with the clinical identification of patients with persistent sexual dysfunction, including after taking SSRIs. An Expert Working Group of the Commission on Human Medicines has been established by the MHRA to consider how the risk of sexual dysfunction which continues after stopping antidepressants use is communicated in patient information leaflets, however this work will not address the clinical recognition of post-SSRI sexual dysfunction, as that is outside the remit of the MHRA.

If he will make an assessment of the potential merits of training convenience store staff and managers on the (a) administration and (b) acceptance of NHS Healthy Start cards.

The NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) runs the Healthy Start scheme on behalf of the Department. Retailers do not need to register to be part of the Healthy Start scheme. Retailers can accept Healthy Start card payments where they sell eligible Healthy Start foods, and where their store accepts Mastercard. Further information is available at the following link:https://www.healthystart.nhs.uk/retailers/The NHSBSA does not provide training for convenience store staff or managers. The NHSBSA provides a range of materials to help retailers promote the scheme and understand where the prepaid card is accepted. The NHSBSA provides a guide for retailers to explain how the scheme works, their role, and how to promote the scheme. A copy of this guide for retailers is attached.

What steps he is taking to ensure that everyone entitled to NHS Healthy Start is registered to receive it.

The NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) operates the Healthy Start scheme on behalf of the Department. Those eligible for Healthy Start must apply to the NHSBSA to receive Healthy Start payments.All applicants, where they meet the eligibility criteria, must accept the terms and conditions of the Healthy Start prepaid card at the point of application. As the prepaid card is a financial product and cannot be issued without the applicant accepting these terms, the NHSBSA is not able to automatically provide eligible families with a prepaid card.We remain open to all viable routes to improve uptake to ensure that as many eligible people as possible are accessing the scheme, to support their children with a healthy start in life. In March 2025 Healthy Start supported over 359,000 people.

If his Department will make an assessment of the potential merits of amending the NHS Find a dentist website in relation to information on accepting new NHS patients to remove the selectable option of When availability allows and instead replace it with options of either Yes or No.

National Health Service dentists are required to update their NHS website profiles at least every 90 days to ensure patients have up-to-date information on where they can access care. This includes information on whether they are accepting new patients. The NHS.UK website was updated in April 2024 to include the ‘when availability allows’ option to reflect that the availability of appointments may change over time, which is more reflective of the way NHS dentists work.Integrated care boards can review which practices in their area have not updated their profile in a 90-day period, and work with practices to ensure that their websites are up to date.Patients in England are not registered with an NHS dental practice, although many NHS dental practices do tend to see patients regularly. There is no geographical restriction on which practice a patient may attend.

When negotiations on the 2024-5 and 2025-6 community pharmacy contractual framework will be agreed.

We are working at pace with Community Pharmacy England to ensure that the funding we have available is used to support community pharmacy in the best way possible to support them in dispensing medicines to patients and to offer a range of clinical services including Pharmacy First.We will announce the outcome of the consultation in the usual manner, by letter to contractors, when the consultation has concluded.