Every parliamentary written question tabled by Jim Shannon this session, with the full answer and department. Back to the MP page.
Showing 1–20 of 575 · Department of Health and Social Care
What steps he is taking to ensure that people with epilepsy are represented through the work of the Maternity and Neonatal Taskforce, in the context of levels of risk of death during pregnancy for people with that condition.
It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.
What steps are being taken to reduce ambulance handover delays at major hospitals in England.
It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.
How many patients in the past year have waited longer than 28 days for diagnostic tests related to suspected Lung Cancer.
It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.
What the current average waiting time is for elective orthopaedic surgery in England.
Average waiting times for elective orthopaedic surgery are not separately published in the waiting list statistics. The waiting times for orthopaedic surgery are included in the Trauma and Orthopaedic Services category. As of the latest published waiting list statistics for February 2026, the median waiting time for Trauma and Orthopaedic Services, which includes orthopaedic surgery, was 14.9 weeks in England, with further information available at the following link:https://www.england.nhs.uk/statistics/statistical-work-areas/rtt-waiting-times/rtt-data-2025-26/
What funding is allocated for research into treatments for Motor Neurone Disease.
Government responsibility for delivering motor neurone disease (MND) research is shared between the Department of Health and Social Care, with research delivered by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), and the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, with research delivered via UK Research and Innovation, primarily by the Medical Research Council.It is not the usual process of the NIHR to allocate funds for research into specific conditions. The NIHR welcomes funding applications for research into any aspect of human health and care, including MND. Our approach to funding research is through open and fair competition and peer review to ensure that the highest-quality proposals, most likely to deliver real impact for patients, are funded without imposing financial targets or limits.The Government is investing in MND research across a range of areas, including possible treatments. For example, the MND Translational Accelerator, supported by £6 million of Government funding, has twelve projects all aimed at speeding up the development of treatments for MND.The NIHR has also invested £8 million into EXPERTS-ALS, a pre-clinical study which is designed to accelerate the identification and testing of the most promising treatment candidates for treating amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, the most common form of MND. This will connect to the later phase platform trial, MND SMART.Welcoming applications on MND to all NIHR programmes enables maximum flexibility both in terms of amount of research funding a particular area can be awarded, and the type of research which can be funded.
Whether he plans to expand screening programmes for early detection of Cervical Cancer.
The Government is committed to improving cancer screening services in line with the National Cancer Plan and as part of the 10-Year Health Plan’s shift from sickness to prevention.Later this year, we will start to offer self-testing for human papilloma virus to women who have missed their cervical screening appointments by at least six months. This expansion aims to overcome barriers that stop women from taking up cervical screening which can both prevent and catch cervical cancer early.
What assessment has been made of regional disparities in treatment outcomes for patients diagnosed with Stroke.
It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.
How many patients are currently on waiting lists for specialist assessment for Autism Spectrum Disorder.
NHS England publishes quarterly Autism Waiting Time Statistics, which is available at the following link:https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/publications/statistical/autism-statisticsIn December 2025, there were an estimated 254,108 people with an open referral for suspected autism in England. These are statistics in development and do not yet represent a complete picture of waiting times for autism assessments in England. Work to determine which provider organisations should be submitting data for autistic people is ongoing.The Government has recognised that, nationally, demand for assessments for autism has grown significantly in recent years and that people are experiencing severe delays for accessing such assessments. The Government’s 10-Year Health Plan will make the National Health Service fit for the future, and reforms to the Special Educational Needs and Disabilities focus will improve early intervention and support.It is the responsibility of integrated care boards (ICBs) in England to make appropriate provision to meet the health and care needs of their local population, including providing access to autism assessments, in line with relevant National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidelines.The Medium-Term Planning Framework, published 24 October, was explicit that ICBs and providers are expected to optimise existing resources to reduce long waits for autism assessments and improve the quality of assessments by implementing existing and new guidance, as published. In April 2023, NHS England published a national framework and operational guidance for autism assessment services, which is available at the following link: https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/autism-diagnosis-and-operational-guidance/ This guidance intends to help the NHS improve their autism assessment services and improve the experience for those referred to a service. More broadly, in December 2025, my Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, launched the independent review into the prevalence and support for mental health conditions, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and autism. The review’s interim report, published at the end of March, sets out the evidence reviewed so far on prevalence, describes the impact of rising demand for diagnosis and support, identifies where the evidence is uncertain, and outlines the key questions for the next phase. It does not offer final conclusions or recommendations.The final report, due in the summer, will make recommendations on how the Government, the health system, and wider public services can respond to increasing demand for support more fairly and effectively so that people receive the right support, at the right time, in the right place.
What plans he has to issue guidance to specialised neurology centres on the diagnosis of Primary Progressive Aphasia.
There are no current specific plans to issue guidance to specialised neurology centres on the diagnosis of Primary Progressive Aphasia.The provision of dementia health care services is the responsibility of local integrated care boards (ICBs). NHS England would expect ICBs to commission services based on local population needs, taking account of the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidelines.A timely diagnosis is vital to ensuring that a person with dementia can access the advice, information, care, and support they need. We remain committed to recovering the dementia diagnosis rate to the national ambition of 66.7%. This ambition includes ensuring provision of a validated diagnosis of dementia subtype.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 this year.As we develop this, we will consider what interventions should be supported to improve dementia care and diagnosis.We are committed to publishing an interim product in September this year to feed into National Health Service and local government planning cycles, and will aim to publish the full modern service framework by the end of this calendar year as recommended by Baroness Casey.
How much funding he has provided for services supporting people with post traumatic stress disorder in the last three years.
It is not possible to identify the amount of funding specifically for services supporting post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Many people treated for PTSD will receive treatment in NHS Talking Therapies, which support other common mental health conditions such as depression and anxiety, as well as PTSD.Depending on the circumstances of their case, individuals with diagnosed and undiagnosed PTSD may also be referred or could present themselves to most other forms of mental health provision, including community, crisis, and inpatient services, as well as to specific pathways for other conditions which may be co-occurring for some patients.For 2026/27, overall National Health Service mental health spending is forecast to increase to a record £16.1 billion. The following table shows the amount of mental health spend for the past three years:YearNHS Mental Health Spend2025/26£15.7 billion2024/25£15.1 billion2023/24£13.9 billionNote: the figure for 2025/26 is forecast.
What percentage of people diagnosed with breast cancer began treatment within the 62-day cancer target in the most recent reporting period.
Published data for the 62-day treatment standard of 85% shows that in February 2026, 66.9% of patients diagnosed with breast cancer began treatment within 62 days of an urgent referral. This data is available at the following link: https://www.england.nhs.uk/statistics/statistical-work-areas/cancer-waiting-times/ The Government is committed to improving performance against cancer waiting time standards, including the 62-day standard, and has set an ambition to meet these standards by the end of this Parliament. We are supporting this through expanding diagnostic capacity, streamlining cancer pathways, and providing targeted support to areas with the greatest challenges.
What steps he is taking to increase early diagnosis rates for prostate cancer.
The Government has committed to meeting the cancer waiting time standards in England by the end of this Parliament, by modernising the whole cancer pathway so that patients are diagnosed and treated more quickly.The National Cancer Plan for England was published in February 2026. Patients across England will benefit from faster and more convenient tests, checks, and scans. By expanding diagnostic capacity, using real‑time data to spot delays, and rolling out technologies like robotic surgery, genomic testing, and faster, less invasive diagnostics, this will benefit all patients, including prostate cancer patients.The plan is backed by significant funding committed by the Government at the Spending Review, including £200 million next year for local Cancer Alliances. Alliances are encouraged to allocate a proportion of this funding to the delivery of local early diagnosis plans, to drive progress on data-led priorities. This can include work to support the diagnosis of prostate cancer, but it will vary by alliance depending on local need. In 2025/26, several alliances have undertaken work to support awareness and earlier diagnosis of prostate cancer.To increase knowledge of cancer symptoms, and address barriers to acting on them, the National Health Service in England has run Help Us Help You campaigns. These campaigns focused on recognising a range of symptoms, as well as encouraging body awareness, to help people spot symptoms across a wide range of cancers, including prostate cancer, at an earlier stage. Through the Cancer Programme Innovation Open Call, the Department is piloting the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to assist radiologists using magnetic resonance imaging to detect clinically significant prostate cancer.Cancer will be a priority for NHS Online, which goes live in England from 2027, bringing the best of the NHS to the rest of the NHS. Virtual cancer care will be a priority, beginning with virtual hospital pathways for men with raised prostate-specific antigen levels at risk of prostate cancer.The Department continues to collaborate with Prostate Cancer UK on the TRANSFORM trial to answer the outstanding questions on screening effectiveness, particularly for black men and men with a family history of prostate cancer. 12,500 men are being recruited in phase 1 in sites across the UK, with inclusion into four groups looking at four different prostate health checks. Research phase 1 is expected to last between one to four years, and phase 2 is planned to be five to nine years. Currently, the Government, through the National Institute for Health and Care Research, has agreed to contribute support to phases 1 and 2. Further details can be sought from Prostate Cancer UK who are running the trial. The UK National Screening Committee will be reviewing the evidence that is published by this study, and this will help to inform any future recommendation on creating a national screening programme for prostate cancer.
What the average waiting time is children and young people diagnosed with depression to access child and adolescent mental health services in the last 12 months for which data is available.
The data for this question is unavailable. NHS England does not report waiting times data for specific conditions unless there is an existing waiting times standard, for example Children and Young People eating disorders or Early Intervention in Psychosis.
What steps he is taking to reduce waiting times for psychological therapy.
The Government recognises that waiting times for psychological therapies are too long and is committed to improving timely access to care. We are expanding NHS Talking Therapies, which continue to meet their waiting time standards, and increasing capacity in mental health services generally by recruiting 8,500 additional mental health workers, with over 8,000 already in post. Alongside this, we are rolling out new community‑based and digital models of care, improving data on waits, and supporting self‑referral routes to help people access support earlier and reduce waiting times overall.
How many patients are waiting more than 52 weeks for treatment for Cataracts within the NHS.
As of 12 April 2026, there are 1,124 patients waiting more than 52 weeks for treatment of cataracts within the National Health Service in England.As set out in the Plan for Change and the Elective Reform Plan, we are committed to returning by March 2029 to the NHS constitutional standard that 92% of patients wait no longer than 18 weeks from referral to consultant-led treatment. As part of this ambition, we are continuing to encourage and support providers to reduce waits for patients who have waited longest for treatment.The Elective Reform Plan also provides a range of measures to improve the experience of care for patients, including those experiencing long waits. This includes engaging with patients and carers to publish a set of minimum standards that patients can expect to experience in elective care.
What steps he is taking to reduce preventable admissions in A&E.
We are significantly expanding urgent care across the country, including building and expanding 40 same day emergency care services and urgent treatment centres. This will mean patients are treated more quickly and in the most appropriate setting, while easing pressure on busy accident and emergency departments so they can focus on the most serious cases.Alongside this, we are expanding urgent care outside hospital through new neighbourhood health services. Urgent community care enables people to receive timely, high‑quality care in their own homes or communities, helping to maintain independence and ensuring hospital attendance only where clinically necessary. The Neighbourhood Health model prioritises urgent community response, virtual wards, and coordinated multidisciplinary teams to support people with escalating or acute needs, preventing unnecessary hospital admissions and supporting care closer to home.The Urgent and Emergency Care Delivery Plan 2025/26 also committed to scaling a new “Home First” approach, enabling ambulance services to prioritise the most critical cases while providing alternative pathways for those with less urgent needs. This includes “see and treat” and “hear and treat” approaches, supported by additional clinicians in emergency operations centres and single points of access.
How many GP practices in England are currently accepting new patients.
NHS England does not hold information on the number of general practices (GPs) currently accepting new patients. Decisions to approve or reject GP requests to close their patient lists temporarily to new patient registrations are delegated to integrated care boards (ICBs). NHS England does hold some historic information relating to these decisions.ICBs received a total of 30 applications from GPs to close their patient lists during 2024/25, compared with 51 in 2023/24. 23, or 77%, of the 30 applications were approved in 2024/25, which compares to 42 approved applications, or 82%, in 2023/24. Of the 23 approved applications, 11 GPs, or 48%, had reopened their patients list by the end of 2024/25, compared with 22, or 52%, which reopened by the end of 2023/24.
What steps his Department is taking to improve access to GP services for patients with long-term conditions such as Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.
We know that improving access to general practice (GP) services is key for all patients, including those with long-term conditions, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).In England, we have invested £160 million into the Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme to support the recruitment of over 2,000 individual GPs into primary care networks (PCNs) across England, helping to increase appointment availability and improve care for thousands of patients. We are also introducing a practice-level GP reimbursement scheme using £292 million of repurposed funding from the current Capacity and Access Payment. This funding will be available to practices to hire additional GPs or fund more sessions with existing GPs to improve access in GPs The Government will bring back the family doctor for those who would benefit from seeing the same clinician regularly, for example, those living with chronic illness, such as COPD. In the 2026/27 GP Contract we will make it a core requirement for PCNs to identify and prioritise cohorts for continuity of care using risk stratification tools as part of their core activities. This will make continuity a core expectation within primary care and support future work to embed more meaningful continuity models in subsequent contract reform. As a result of all our measures, we've delivered 8.3 million more GP appointments, and Office for National Statistics data shows that nearly three quarters of patients now report a good experience with their GP.
What assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of staffing levels on accident and emergency waiting times.
We recognise the importance of ensuring that emergency departments operate safely and effectively. Decisions on staffing levels are matters for local National Health Service trusts, working with integrated care boards, who are best placed to assess and manage services in line with local needs and circumstances.Nationally, NHS England sets standards for emergency care and provides guidance to support trusts in maintaining safe staffing.
How many hospital admissions in the last 12 months have been related to complications arising from Type 2 Diabetes.
This data is not collected. Primary diagnosis is recorded on admission to hospital, but not the complications which may have led to the admission. Where a patient is known to have diabetes, this will always be recorded on their Hospital Episode Statistic (HES) record, regardless of the actual reason for their admission.It should be noted that where a patient is known to have diabetes this will always be recorded on their HES record, regardless of the actual reason for their admission. Within HES, the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems 10th Revision code E11 is used to diagnose type 2 diabetes, so it is possible to provide a count of admissions where that is the primary diagnosis. However, this cohort will only comprise a small proportion of the total number of occasions where a complication of type 2 diabetes necessitated that the patient be admitted to hospital since, in most instances where a patient has diabetes, the primary diagnosis is likely to be recorded as something else. There will be many other conditions that could be, but they won’t necessarily actually be complications of type 2 diabetes. For example, the National Health Service website page Complications of type 2 diabetes - NHS mentions ‘stroke’ as something that can potentially be caused by having diabetes. However, where a patient who has diabetes has been admitted to hospital with a stroke, we cannot say for certain whether this was a complication of their having type 2 diabetes or was caused for some other reason. Since diabetes, where known to be present, is always recorded on the patient record, we cannot assume that where it is recorded, the primary diagnosis will be due to a complication arising from it. For this reason, we cannot provide any meaningful data to answer the query.