Written questions by Shannon.

What steps he is taking to help raise awareness of the symptoms of mini stroke.

Information on mini strokes, also known as transient ischaemic attacks, is available on the NHS.UK website, at the following link: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/transient-ischaemic-attack-tia/#:~:text=A%20transient%20ischaemic%20attack%20(TIA,of%20oxygen%20to%20the%20brain The main symptoms of a mini stroke are the same as those of stroke, and the National Health Service encourages people to use the FAST acronym for assessing if a mini stroke is occurring. On 4 November, NHS England is launched a new Act FAST campaign to increase knowledge of the main signs of a stroke and to encourage people to dial 999 immediately in response to any sign, with the phrase ‘Face or Arm or Speech, at the first sign, it’s Time to call 999’. The campaign ran in England across television, television on demand, radio, social media, national press, and ethnic minority television and radio stations. The campaign also included specific communications for multicultural and disabled audiences.

How many men between the ages of 50 and 60 have been diagnosed with prostate cancer in the last six months.

The following table shows the number of diagnoses of prostate cancer, from September 2024 to February 2025, the latest available data:DateNumber of diagnosesSeptember 2024516October 2024579November 2024518December 2024628January 2025696February 2025629Source: the Rapid Cancer Registration Data set for prostate cancer in males aged 50 to 59 years old, with further information available at the following link: https://digital.nhs.uk/ndrs/data/data-outputs/cancer-data-hub/rapid-cancer-registration-data-dashboardsTherefore, the total estimated number of men diagnosed with prostate cancer between 50 to 59 years old, over the most recent six months available, is 3,566.

How many children have been vaccinated against whooping cough in the last 12 months.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) monitors trends in the level of childhood vaccination rates by upper tier local authority, region, and country. From April 2023 to March 2024, 91.2% of children in England who turned 12 months had been fully vaccinated with all three doses against pertussis, also known as whooping cough. Data on coverage of all routine childhood immunisations is published quarterly by UKHSA, and is available at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/cover-of-vaccination-evaluated-rapidly-cover-programme-2024-to-2025-quarterly-dataData on coverage of all routine childhood immunisations is also published annually by NHS England, and is available at the following link:https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/publications/statistical/nhs-immunisation-statistics/england-2023-24

How many people in the UK currently suffer with Lyme disease.

In England, Wales, and Northern Ireland there are approximately 1,000 to 1,500 laboratory confirmed cases every year, and in Scotland there are approximately 500 laboratory diagnosed cases.Previous studies have shown that there are approximately 2,000 additional cases of Lyme disease per year that are not laboratory confirmed in England and Wales. Lyme disease is more common in Scotland, and Southeast and Southwest England, compared to other parts of the United Kingdom such as Northern Ireland, and cases peak in the spring and summer months.Lyme disease is not a notifiable disease in the UK so the exact number in the community is unclear, as many patients are diagnosed with Lyme disease clinically, without sending samples for testing. Further details on Lyme disease are available at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/lyme-disease-guidance-data-and-analysis

If he will take steps with Cabinet colleagues to increase funding for cancer research in UK universities.

Research is crucial in tackling cancer, which is why the Department invests over £1.6 billion per year in health research through the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). NIHR spent £133 million on cancer research in 2023/24, reflecting its high priority.The overall budget for research investment is agreed with the Treasury at the outset of each Spending Review period. Our investments in cancer are pivotal to informing efforts to improve cancer prevention, treatment and care.As well as funding cancer research itself, the Department also invests in centres of excellence, services and facilities to enable and delivery of cancer research in England. This includes NIHR funding for the Experimental Cancer Medicine Centres, a United Kingdom-wide network for delivery of early phase cancer trials, and NIHR’s Biomedical Research Centres, collaborations between world-leading universities and National Health Service organisations, bringing together academics and clinicians to do translational research, including on all cancer types. NIHR also works closely with industry to bring innovative research to the UK. This creates a strong portfolio of work reflecting the need to research early detection and diagnostics to reduce the impact of cancer on the population.NIHR is the UK’s largest funder of health and care research training, working with universities and the wider health and care system to deliver a comprehensive research career pathway for researchers from the full range of professions. NIHR welcomes applications for training awards from the clinical and non-clinical academic workforce conducting research into any aspect of human health, including cancer. In addition to training applications, NIHR also continue to welcome high quality, high impact funding applications for research into health and care.

If he will make an assessment of the potential merits of providing free hypnobirthing classes to pregnant women.

The majority of trusts already offer free antenatal education services. A National Health Service online tool is available for women and families to find a class local to them. These classes include support for pregnant women to make a birth plan, considering the different arrangements for labour and birth, and the choices available to them. The Department is working with NHS England on how to improve the quality of these classes, and to ensure that mothers receive information about their choices so they feel empowered throughout their pregnancy journey, and into motherhood. Pregnant women can discuss additional hypnobirthing courses with their midwife if this is something they wish to explore.

What assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of reading on the mental health of young people.

No such assessment has been made. We know that according to research reading helps to reduce stress levels and could be beneficial to mental health and well-being.

What steps he is taking to improve uptake for jobs in the ambulance service.

As of March 2025, there were over 21,900 full time equivalent ambulance staff in National Health Service trusts and other core organisations in England, representing an increase of over 1,900, or 9.6%, compared to the previous year.We will publish a refreshed workforce plan for staff across the NHS, including ambulance services, to deliver the transformed health service we will build over the next decade, to ensure the NHS has the right people, in the right places, with the right skills to deliver the care patients need when they need it.

What assessment he has made of the adequacy of the supply for blood donation.

NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) is responsible for blood services in England. Blood donation in the devolved nations is run by the Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service, the Northern Ireland Blood Transfusion Service, and the Welsh Blood ServiceThe National Blood Transfusion Committee's shortage plans for red cells and platelets outlines four phases for the supply of blood to hospitals, supported by a framework of actions for NHSBT and hospitals at each phase. Further information on the shortage plans for red cells and platelets is available at the following link:https://nationalbloodtransfusion.co.uk/recommendationsThere has been an Amber Alert, when there is reduced availability of blood for a short or a prolonged period which impacts on clinical activity, in place in England for O group blood since July 2024, due to high hospital demand following a cyber-attack on pathology services in South-East London.NHSBT has been using a number of initiatives to increase blood donations and in turn improve blood stocks, particularly to increase the diversity of the donor base to meet demand for Ro blood needed by sickle cell patients. The opening and reopening of the Brixton and Southampton donor centres respectively have increased NHSBT’s capacity to collect blood, and communications during National Blood Week have pushed for a million people to become regular donors via local, national, and online channels. The Department continues to work closely with NHSBT to ensure there is the right mix of donors across blood groups to meet hospital demand.

What steps he is taking to help improve diagnosis of ADHD.

As health is a devolved matter, each administration of the United Kingdom takes its own decisions on the provision of assessments for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).It is the responsibility of the 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 ADHD assessment and treatment, in line with relevant National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidelines.NHS England has established an ADHD taskforce which is bringing together those with lived experience with experts from the National Health Service, education, charity, and justice sectors to get a better understanding of the challenges affecting those with ADHD, including in accessing services and support, with the report expected in the summer.For the first time, NHS England published management information on ADHD waits at a national level on 29 May 2025 as part of its ADHD data improvement plan, and has released technical guidance for ICBs to improve the recording of ADHD data, with a view to improving the quality of ADHD wait time data. NHS England has also captured examples from ICBs in England who are trialling innovative ways of delivering ADHD services, and is using this information to support systems in tackling ADHD waiting lists and providing support to address people’s needs.

How many men have been diagnosed with testicular cancer in the last 12 months.

The National Disease Registration Service in NHS England, as the national cancer registry, collects and analyses diagnosis and treatment data on cancer patients in England. Using the Rapid Cancer Registration Data set, there were 1,929 diagnoses of testicular cancer, code ICD10 C62*, between March 2024 and February 2025, the latest available data. Further information on the Rapid Cancer Registration Data set is available at the following link:https://digital.nhs.uk/ndrs/data/data-sets/rcrd

What steps his Department is taking to help increase awareness of the (a) symptoms and (b) treatment of prostate cancer among men.

NHS England run Help Us Help You campaigns to increase knowledge of cancer symptoms and address the barriers to acting on them, to encourage people to come forward as soon as possible to see their general practitioner. The campaigns focus on a range of symptoms, as well as encouraging body awareness to help people spot symptoms across a wide range of cancers at an earlier point.The Department continues to advise patients in England to follow National Health Service guidance on the signs and symptoms of several types of cancer, including prostate cancer. This advice is available publicly on the NHS.UK website, at the following link:https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/prostate-cancer/Improving access to treatment and care are key priorities for the Government for all cancer types, including prostate cancer. To achieve this, the NHS in England has delivered an extra 40,000 operations, scans, and appointments each week, to ensure early diagnosis and faster treatment. Additionally, the Government will spend £70 million on new radiotherapy machines in England, to ensure the most advanced treatment is available to patients who need it.The NHS England Cancer Programme also commissions clinical cancer audits, which provide timely evidence for cancer service providers of where patterns of care in England may vary, thereby increasing the consistency of access to treatments, and helping to stimulate improvements in cancer treatment and outcomes for patients, including those with prostate cancer.To increase awareness of treatment options, the Department is committed to ensuring that all cancer patients in England are offered a Holistic Needs Assessment and Personalised Care and Support Planning, ensuring care is focused on what matters most to each person. This is being delivered in line with the NHS Comprehensive Model for Personalised Care, empowering people to manage their care and the impact of their cancer, and maximise the potential of digital and community-based support.The National Cancer Plan for England, planned for publication later this year, will include further details on how the NHS will improve outcomes for cancer patients, as well as improving access to treatment and care.

What estimate he has made of the number of sexual assaults on hospital sites in the last three years.

The Government is committed to tackling the appalling crimes of rape and sexual assault. NHS England has introduced a comprehensive package of measures to improve sexual safety across the National Health Service. The Department feels strongly about this matter, which is why the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Baroness Merron) met with Surviving in Scrubs in February 2025 and agreed further action to address issues of sexism, sexual harassment and sexual assault including a focus on medical students. Actions include ensuring students know how to raise concerns, developing good practice on how investigations should be carried out and strengthening communications on the importance of protecting medical students on placements.NHS providers have a mandatory duty to notify the Care Quality Commission of all incidents that affect the health, safety, and welfare of people who use services, including allegations of sexual abuse.NHS England is investing in improving the collection and analysis of sexual violence data to support organisations to implement policies that reduce incidents of sexual misconduct in the NHS.Data relating to rape and sexual assault would be held at NHS trust level. There is no single national dataset in the NHS which captures information on rape and sexual assault for all combinations of staff, patients or visitors to NHS hospitals. Local police forces hold data where there has been a report to the police of rape or sexual assault.For assaults on staff, the NHS Staff Survey now includes questions about staff experiences of sexual misconduct. Results from the 2024 staff survey show 8.82% of staff received unwanted behaviour of a sexual nature from either patients, service-users or members of the public and 3.66% experienced unwanted behaviour of a sexual nature from colleagues.

What research his Department has undertaken on potential links between dementia and depression.

The Department delivers dementia research via the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). Recently completed NIHR-funded research has found that depression across the life course is associated with an increased risk of dementia, but that this is strongest in mid to late life. Further research is needed to determine whether the strength of this association is due to depression as a risk factor for dementia or the early presentation of neurodegenerative processes.The NIHR is funding the £2.9 million ENHANCE programme, which will develop an app intervention to address risk factors for dementia, including depression, and will test it to see the effects on cognition, risk, quality of life, and affordability. In the long-term, the research will examine health records to see if the app intervention has reduced rates of dementia. NIHR-funded research is also seeking to understand whether compassion focused therapy is an acceptable intervention for people with dementia and depression or anxiety.The NIHR continues to welcome funding applications for research into any aspect of human health and care, including dementia. These applications are subject to peer review and judged in open competition, with awards being made on the basis of the importance of the topic to patients and health and care services, value for money, and scientific quality. Welcoming applications on dementia to all NIHR programmes enables maximum flexibility both in terms of the amount of research funding a particular area can be awarded, and the type of research that can be funded.

What steps his Department is taking to ensure equal access to healthcare treatments in each English region.

The Department sets national priorities for the National Health Service in England through the 2025 mandate to NHS England, reflecting patients’ priorities to be met across all 42 integrated care boards (ICBs).ICBs are responsible for commissioning most health and care services in England and the National Health Service Act 2006, as amended by the Health Care Act 2022, places duties on ICBs to arrange healthcare services to meet the needs of their local population within available resources and reduce inequalities in access to, and outcomes from, healthcare services.ICBs and NHS providers are accountable to NHS England on the delivery of the mandate and provision healthcare treatments across their populations, with the Department holding NHS England to account on this.

What steps his Department is taking to tackle the misuse of weight-loss medications; and what discussions he has had with his counterparts in (a) Northern Ireland, (b) Wales and (c) Scotland on this issue.

When prescribing weight-loss drugs, prescribers, whether National Health Service or private, are accountable for their prescribing decisions, and are expected to take account of appropriate national guidance. In addition to the duty of the prescriber, patients themselves must be honest when providing information to a prescriber so that they receive advice and medicines which are appropriate for themIn response to concerns of unsafe prescribing online, the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) published updated guidance for online pharmacies. The GPhC, the Care Quality Commission, and the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency have the powers to investigate and take action against rogue prescribers, products, and suppliers, and we are clear they have our full support to crack down on services that putting people in danger.We are committed to continuing to work with the devolved administrations to ensure that medicine regulation is keeping patients safe across the United Kingdom. No discussions specific to the misuse of weight loss drugs have been held between my Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care and his counterparts in the devolved administrations thus far.

What assessment he has made of the potential merits of increasing the (a) national minimum wage and (b) national living wage for care workers.

Adult social care is a historically low paid sector, and most care workers are paid at or just above the National Living Wage. In 2023/24, approximately 70% of care workers in the independent sector earned within £1 of the National Living Wage.The Government is introducing the first ever Fair Pay Agreement to the adult social care sector so that care professionals are recognised and rewarded for the important work that they do. Fair Pay Agreements will empower worker representatives, employers, and others to negotiate pay, and terms and conditions in a responsible manner. This will help to address the recruitment and retention crisis in the sector, in turn supporting the delivery of high-quality care.

What steps his Department is taking to reduce the number of drugs-related deaths; and what discussions he has had with his counterparts in (a) Northern Ireland, (b) Wales and (c) Scotland on this issue.

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 evidenced-based, high-quality treatment, to reduce the number of drug related deaths. Local authorities are responsible for assessing the local need for drug and alcohol prevention and treatment in their area, and for commissioning services to meet those needs. 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 drug and alcohol services and recovery support, which includes housing and employment.The Department has an action plan in place to reduce drug and alcohol-related deaths, which is currently being reviewed to ensure that it is grounded in the latest understanding of the drivers of drug and alcohol related deaths, and is responding to these. In 2024, the Department published guidance for local authorities and their partnerships on how to review adult drug and alcohol-related deaths and near-fatal overdoses, to prevent future deaths.Alongside the funding allocations, the Department has a range of existing and forthcoming best practice resources and guidance that supports those working in the sector to tailor drug and alcohol treatment services to meet local needs, to improve treatment outcomes. The commissioning quality standard provides guidance to local authorities on how to ensure they have a shared understanding of local need, including the experiences of diverse populations. The commissioning quality standard is available at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/commissioning-quality-standard-alcohol-and-drug-services The Department continues to work with all local areas to address unmet needs and drug and alcohol misuse deaths, and to drive improvements in the continuity of care. This includes the Unmet Need Toolkit, which can be used by local areas to assess local need and plan to meet it. As health is a devolved matter, each administration of the United Kingdom takes its own decisions on the provision of treatment and other action to address drug related deaths. Nonetheless, it is important that the four nations work together and share learning to tackle the health harms that drugs pose. This includes through our UK wide legislation to expand access to take home naloxone that has been developed in close partnership with devolved administrations. We will continue to work closely with colleagues in the devolved administrations, to share learning and align our approaches where appropriate.

How many people passed away with sepsis in (a) the last 12 months and (b) the previous 12 month period.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) publishes annual data on the number of death registrations where sepsis was the underlying cause of death, and where sepsis was mentioned anywhere on the death certificate, in England and Wales between 2001 and 2023. The ONS has not yet published the number of death registrations for sepsis for 2024.According to the ONS, the number of deaths registered where sepsis was mentioned anywhere on the death certificate in England and Wales was 26,203 in 2023. Published ONS data for deaths involving sepsis is available at the following link:https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/birthsdeathsandmarriages/deaths/adhocs/2111deathsinvolvingsepsisenglandandwales2001to2023

Whether NHS England has made an assessment of the adequacy of the preparedness of NHS trusts to implement new treatments for Duchenne muscular dystrophy, in the context of lessons learned from recent early access programmes.

The Department understands the impact that Duchenne muscular dystrophy has on those living with it and their families, and the urgent need for new treatment options. If new therapies for Duchenne muscular dystrophy are approved by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), then appropriate commissioning plans will be put in place to enable equitable access to treatment through Specialised Neurology Services.The delivery of timely and equitable access to new treatments for Duchenne muscular dystrophy under company-sponsored early access schemes is not the responsibility of NHS England. Individual pharmaceutical companies may put in place Early Access Programmes (EAPs) to allow early access to new medicines that do not yet have a marketing authorisation. Participation in EAPs is decided at an individual National Health Service trust level, and under these programmes, the cost of the drug is free to both patients taking part in it, and to the National Health Service, although NHS trusts must still cover administration costs and provide clinical resources to deliver the EAP.There are no common clinical, data, or regulatory standards for company-sponsored EAPs, meaning each one demands a new protocol to be devised and delivered by each participating trust, which can create significant pressures on clinical and financial resources. Companies providing a sponsored EAP also reserve the right to limit or to close registration of new patients at any time, meaning that any financial and clinical investment made by trusts to establish an EAP could be undermined by a commercial decision that would most likely happen in the event of the treatment not being recommended following an appraisal by NICE.NHS England has published guidance for integrated care systems (ICS) on free of charge (FoC) medicine schemes, including EAPs, providing advice on potential financial, resourcing, and clinical risks.ICSs should use the guidance to help determine whether to implement any FoC scheme, including assessing suitability and any risks in the short, medium, and long term. The guidance is available at the following link:https://www.england.nhs.uk/long-read/free-of-charge-foc-medicines-schemes-national-policy-recommendations-for-local-systems/