Written questions by Hayes.

What steps he is taking to help support healthcare services to (a) recruit and (b) retain speech therapists in (i) South Holland and the Deepings constituency and (ii) Lincolnshire.

Decisions about recruitment are matters for individual National Health Service trusts. NHS trusts manage their recruitment at a local level, ensuring they have the right number of staff in place, with the right skills mix, to deliver safe and effective care.The Government is committed to making the NHS the best place to work, to ensure that we retain more of our skilled and dedicated staff. NHS England is leading work nationally through its retention programme to drive a consistent, system-wide approach to staff retention across NHS trusts. This ensures trusts have access to proven retention strategies, data-driven monitoring, and can foster a more stable, engaged, productive, and supported workforce.

What steps his Department is taking to improve diagnosis time for young people with cancer in Lincolnshire.

The Department is committed to getting the National Health Service diagnosing cancer earlier and treating it faster so that more patients survive this horrible set of diseases, including children and young people. To achieve this, the NHS has delivered an extra 40,000 operations, scans, and appointments each week as the first step to ensuring early diagnosis and faster treatment.On 4 February 2025, the Department relaunched the Children and Young People Cancer Taskforce to identify tangible ways to improve outcomes and experiences for children and young people with cancer. The taskforce is exploring opportunities for improvement across genomic testing and treatment, research and innovation, patient experience, and early detection and diagnosis.The forthcoming National Cancer Plan will include further details on improving outcomes for cancer patients, including for children and young people with cancer, and will highlight how the Department will support the NHS to improve diagnosis rates for people in all parts of England, including Lincolnshire.

What steps he is taking to help improve early (a) detection and (b) diagnosis of raised cholesterol levels in Lincolnshire.

The NHS Health Check, a core component of England’s cardiovascular disease (CVD) prevention programme, plays an important role in detecting people aged 40 to 74 years old with high cholesterol and engages over 1.4 million people a year. Annually, through the NHS Health Check, approximately 900,000 people are found to have raised cholesterol levels.During 2023/24, the number of people in Lincolnshire who received an NHS Health Check reached its highest level since the programme’s delivery was paused due to COVID-19 in 2020. To further improve access and engagement with the programme, we are developing a new NHS Health Check Online service that people can use at home to understand and act on their CVD risk.Data on the early detection and diagnosis of raised cholesterol levels is not collected at an integrated care board level.

What steps he is taking to help improve early (a) detection and (b) diagnosis of high blood pressure in Lincolnshire.

The NHS Health Check, a core component of England’s cardiovascular disease (CVD) prevention programme, plays an important role in detecting high blood pressure in people aged 40 to 74 years old, and engages 1.4 million people a year. Each year, 343,000 cases of high blood pressure are identified, resulting in 40,000 diagnoses of high blood pressure.The latest published Quality Outcomes Framework data shows that the number of people diagnosed with high blood pressure in 2023/24 for the NHS Lincolnshire Integrated Care Board (ICB) was 18.34%, the highest recorded prevalence for any ICB in the country, and is compared to a 14.79% national average.Over 90% of community pharmacies in the NHS Lincolnshire ICB are providing the NHS Community Pharmacy Blood Pressure Check Service. The ICB is also participating in the national blood pressure pilot in dentistry and optometry, aimed at detecting high blood pressure early in people who might not regularly visit their general practice, but who do attend dental or optometry appointments.

How many people seen by the NHS Cervical Screening Programme in (a) 2022, (b) 2023 and (c) 2024 did not identify as female.

This information is not held centrally.

What recent assessment has he made of the adequacy of access to emergency dentistry in South Holland and the Deepings constituency.

The Government plans to tackle the challenges for patients trying to access National Health Service dental care with a rescue plan to provide 700,000 more urgent dental appointments and recruit new dentists to the areas that need them most. To rebuild dentistry in the long term, we will reform the dental contract with the sector, with a shift to focus on prevention and the retention of NHS dentists.The responsibility for commissioning primary care services, including NHS dentistry, to meet the needs of the local population has been delegated to the integrated care boards (ICBs) across England. For the South Holland and the Deepings constituency, this is the Lincolnshire ICB. ICBs have been asked to start making extra urgent dental appointments available from April 2025. The Lincolnshire ICB is expected to deliver 12,017 additional urgent dental appointments as part of the scheme.

Whether the Food Standards Agency has offered apprenticeships since 2010.

The Civil Service is committed to using apprenticeships to break down barriers to opportunity, support skills development, and deliver more effective public services.The Food Standards Agency (FSA) uses apprenticeships to develop the skills of existing staff, and also fills some vacancies with apprentices. Commonly used apprenticeship frameworks in the organisation are Data and Digital, and Economics.While data is not available prior to 2018, the following table shows the number of apprenticeship starts in the FSA per year, from 2018 to 2025 to date:YearNumber of apprenticeship starts20185201912020320212202262023102024520251Total33

How many registered dentists were treating patients in (a) South Holland and (b) South Kesteven local authority areas in each year since 2015.

Data is not held on the number of registered dentists who have treated patients. We have provided data on the number of dentists who delivered National Health Service care in the Lincolnshire Integrated Care Board (ICB), which is the ICB for the South Holland and South Kesteven local authority areas. The following table shows the number of dentists who delivered some NHS dental care each year in Lincolnshire ICB, from 2015/16 to 2023/24:Financial yearNumber of dentists who performed NHS work2015/163102016/173002017/182992018/193102019/203202020/212922021/223012022/232922023/24287Source: the latest figures are published by the NHS Business Services Authority, and the figures prior to 2023/24 were published by NHS Digital, with further information on both available, respectively, at the following two links:https://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/statistical-collections/dental-england/dental-statistics-england-202324 https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/publications/statistical/nhs-dental-statisticsNote: figures before 2019 are not directly comparable.

How many families are receiving support through the Healthy Start scheme in South Holland and the Deepings constituency.

The NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) operates the Healthy Start scheme on behalf of the Department. Monthly figures for the number of people on the digital Healthy Start scheme are published on the NHS Healthy Start website, which is available at the following link:https://www.healthystart.nhs.uk/healthcare-professionals/The NHSBSA does not hold data on the number of families receiving Healthy Start. The NHSBSA does not hold data on local constituencies. The South Holland and the Deepings constituency is included within the local authority area of South Holland. The number of people on the scheme in March 2025 for South Holland was 493.

What steps he is taking to ensure that brain injury survivors have access to community-based specialist neurorehabilitation services.

The Government wants a society where every person, including those with a long-term condition such as an acquired brain injury (ABI), receives high-quality, compassionate continuity of care.The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence is currently developing the guidance Rehabilitation for chronic neurological disorders including acquired brain injury, which is expected to be published in September 2025. Further information is available at the following link:https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/indevelopment/gid-ng10181NHS England is in the process of updating its Specialised Neurology service specification, the revised version of which will cover ABI.The former Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Public Health and Prevention met the original proponent of the ABI strategy, Sir Chris Bryant MP, at the end of 2024 to discuss ABIs, and had a very fruitful discussion about what might be achievable in the both the short and longer term. Sir Chris remains a huge advocate for those that have suffered an ABI, and the Department fully agrees with him that the Government should, and importantly will, do more.The Department and NHS England are keen to showcase those areas that have effectively integrated post-hospital care and support, including rehabilitation, to other areas where patients are not getting the care and support they deserve.A decision on next steps on ABI at the national level will be taken in due course. More broadly, our 10-Year Health Plan will deliver three big shifts, from hospital to community, from analogue to digital, and from sickness to prevention. More tests and scans delivered in the community, better joint working between services, and greater use of apps and wearable technology will all help people manage their long-term conditions, including ABI, closer to home.

When he plans to publish his Department's brain injury strategy.

The Government wants a society where every person, including those with a long-term condition such as an acquired brain injury (ABI), receives high-quality, compassionate continuity of care.The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence is currently developing the guidance Rehabilitation for chronic neurological disorders including acquired brain injury, which is expected to be published in September 2025. Further information is available at the following link:https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/indevelopment/gid-ng10181NHS England is in the process of updating its Specialised Neurology service specification, the revised version of which will cover ABI.The former Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Public Health and Prevention met the original proponent of the ABI strategy, Sir Chris Bryant MP, at the end of 2024 to discuss ABIs, and had a very fruitful discussion about what might be achievable in the both the short and longer term. Sir Chris remains a huge advocate for those that have suffered an ABI, and the Department fully agrees with him that the Government should, and importantly will, do more.The Department and NHS England are keen to showcase those areas that have effectively integrated post-hospital care and support, including rehabilitation, to other areas where patients are not getting the care and support they deserve.A decision on next steps on ABI at the national level will be taken in due course. More broadly, our 10-Year Health Plan will deliver three big shifts, from hospital to community, from analogue to digital, and from sickness to prevention. More tests and scans delivered in the community, better joint working between services, and greater use of apps and wearable technology will all help people manage their long-term conditions, including ABI, closer to home.

What steps his Department is taking following hospital discharge to ensure the adequate provision of rehabilitation for patients with head injuries.

The Government wants a society where every person, including those with a long-term condition such as an acquired brain injury (ABI), receives high-quality, compassionate continuity of care.The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence is currently developing the guidance Rehabilitation for chronic neurological disorders including acquired brain injury, which is expected to be published in September 2025. Further information is available at the following link:https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/indevelopment/gid-ng10181NHS England is in the process of updating its Specialised Neurology service specification, the revised version of which will cover ABI.The former Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Public Health and Prevention met the original proponent of the ABI strategy, Sir Chris Bryant MP, at the end of 2024 to discuss ABIs, and had a very fruitful discussion about what might be achievable in the both the short and longer term. Sir Chris remains a huge advocate for those that have suffered an ABI, and the Department fully agrees with him that the Government should, and importantly will, do more.The Department and NHS England are keen to showcase those areas that have effectively integrated post-hospital care and support, including rehabilitation, to other areas where patients are not getting the care and support they deserve.A decision on next steps on ABI at the national level will be taken in due course. More broadly, our 10-Year Health Plan will deliver three big shifts, from hospital to community, from analogue to digital, and from sickness to prevention. More tests and scans delivered in the community, better joint working between services, and greater use of apps and wearable technology will all help people manage their long-term conditions, including ABI, closer to home.

If he will take steps to reduce the time taken by doctors to issue medical certificates giving the cause of death following a death in hospital.

The Government is monitoring the impact of the death certification reforms, which came into legal effect on 9 September 2024, through the Death Certification Strategic Board and a cross-government data strategy group. Since the introduction of the reforms, the median time taken to register a death appears to have risen by two days, from seven days to nine days. This figure is for all deaths, as it includes those certified by a doctor and those investigated by a coroner. Working with the Office for National Statistics, weekly data is now published on the time taken to register a death by region and by setting. This is supporting NHS England and the Welsh Government to offer support and challenge.The median time taken to register a death varies depending on the type of certification. Deaths certified by a doctor, that comprise approximately 80% of deaths registered each week, have typically had a median time to registration of seven days, though there can be variation at a local level. It is important to note that the medical examiner system was active on a non-statutory basis before the introduction of the statutory system on 9 September 2024, and this makes direct ‘before’ and ‘after’ comparisons challenging to draw conclusions from.The introduction of medical examiners is in part about making sure deaths are properly described and about improving practice, but the impact on the bereaved is also central. The reforms aim to put the bereaved at centre of the process and the medical examiner office must offer a conversation with representatives of the deceased, so they can ask any questions they have about the death or raise concerns. Ensuring the system is appropriately resourced and works for all those who interact with it is crucial, and something we will continue to monitor with NHS England.

What steps he is taking to provide patient transport to specialist treatment centres for young cancer patients living in (a) South Holland and the Deepings constituency and (b) Lincolnshire.

National Health Service patient transport services in South Holland and the Deepings and Lincolnshire are provided by the East Midlands Ambulance Service NHS Trust.The local NHS Lincolnshire Integrated Care Board (ICB) is responsible for the commissioning decisions in its local community, including patient transport services. ICBs are best placed to work and consult with their local stakeholders, health and care organisations and local authorities to decide how to best meet and deliver for the needs of their local population.

What steps he is taking to support access to phlebotomists in Lincolnshire.

The Government is committed to putting patients first, including in Lincolnshire. This means making sure that patients, including those waiting to see a phlebotomist, are seen on time, and ensuring that people have the best possible experience during their care.The Government recognises that care, including phlebotomy, needs to be easily accessible, and in locations convenient to patients, in order to support the shift towards greater care being provided in the community.That is why in January 2025, we published the Elective Reform Plan. The plan sets out the productivity and reform efforts needed to return to the 18-week constitutional standard by the end of this Parliament. The Elective Reform Plan commits to transforming and expanding diagnostic services and speeding up waiting times for tests, a crucial part of reducing overall waiting times and returning to the 18-week constitutional standard.Community diagnostic centres, including those in Lincolnshire, are supporting one of the Government’s key strategic shifts, moving care from the hospital to the community. They offer local populations a wide range of diagnostic tests, including those related to phlebotomy, closer to home, as well as greater choice on where and how they are undertaken, reducing the need for hospital visits and speeding up diagnosis, whilst also reducing pressure on hospitals.

What steps his Department is taking to support people with leukaemia in Lincolnshire.

It is a priority for the Government to support the National Health Service to diagnose cancer, including leukaemia, as early and quickly as possible, and to treat it faster, to improve outcomes for all patients across England, including in Lincolnshire. To improve early diagnosis, the NHS is implementing non-specific symptom pathways for patients who present with symptoms such as weight loss and fatigue, which do not clearly align to a tumour type. Blood cancers are one of the most common cancer types diagnosed through these pathways. NHS England has committed to ensuring that every person diagnosed with cancer, including leukaemia, has access to personalised care. This includes needs assessments, a care plan, and health and wellbeing information and support. Through the provision of information, personalised care empowers people to manage their care and the impact of their cancer. This approach ensures that each person’s care is planned holistically, covering mental and physical health, as well as any practical or financial concerns. Following publication of the 10-Year Health Plan, we will publish a new National Cancer Plan. The plan will include details on how we will further improve cancer outcomes and support for all cancer patients, including those with leukaemia.

If he will take steps to increase the number of vision rehabilitation specialists in (a) South Holland and the Deepings constituency and (b) Lincolnshire.

It is the responsibility of local authorities and the National Health Service integrated care boards to commission therapy-led rehabilitation, reablement, and recovery services, including vision rehabilitation specialists, based on their assessment of local capacity and demand.The Government understands the importance of having effective rehabilitation services available for people who need them, to assist recovery and return to their day-to-day activities. Intermediate care and reablement support services, including vision rehabilitation, can play a key role in providing alternatives to hospital admission and improving patient outcomes, by providing appropriate rehabilitation and reablement options following hospital discharge.

What steps he is taking to tackle the sale of illegal vapes in (a) South Holland and the Deepings constituency and (b) Lincolnshire.

The Tobacco and Vapes Bill will strengthen enforcement and crack down on rogue retailers by enabling ministers in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland to introduce a licensing scheme for the retail sale of tobacco, vapes, and nicotine products. The bill also enables the introduction of a new registration scheme for tobacco, vape, and nicotine products sold in the United Kingdom’s market. This will help ensure products are compliant with product safety standard requirements, and enable Trading Standards to remove non-compliant products from the market quickly and efficiently.In 2025/26 we will invest £10 million of new funding into Trading Standards, to enhance their work in tackling the illicit and underage sale of tobacco and vapes, and to support the implementation of the bill. This funding will be used to recruit approximately 80 new regionally coordinated apprentices in England. This will benefit all regions, including the East Midlands, which covers South Holland and the Deepings and Lincolnshire.The introduction of a new Vaping Products Duty in October 2026 will provide civil and criminal powers for HM Revenue and Customs to assess for duty and seize products and equipment used to produce or transport illicit vapes.

What steps he is taking to help ensure brain injury survivors have access to community-based specialist neurorehabilitation services.

The Government wants a society where every person, including those with a long-term condition such as an acquired brain injury (ABI), receives high-quality, compassionate continuity of care.The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence is currently developing guidance ‘Rehabilitation for chronic neurological disorders including acquired brain injury’, which is expected to be published in September 2025. More information is available at the following link:https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/indevelopment/gid-ng10181The former Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Public Health and Prevention along with officials met the original proponent of the ABI strategy, Sir Chris Bryant MP, at the end of 2024 to discuss ABI, and had a useful discussion about what might be achievable in both the short term and the longer term. Sir Chris remains a huge advocate for those that have suffered an ABI, and the Department fully agrees with him that the Government should, and importantly will, do more. The Department and NHS England are keen to showcase those areas that have effectively integrated post-hospital care and support, including rehabilitation, to other areas where patients are not getting the care and support they deserve.A decision on next steps on ABI at the national level will be taken in due course.More widely, our 10-Year Health Plan will deliver three big shifts from hospital to community, from analogue to digital, and from sickness to prevention. More tests and scans delivered in the community, better joint working between services, and greater use of apps and wearable technology will all help people manage their long-term conditions, including ABI, closer to home.

What recent assessment he has made of the sustainability of local brain injury reablement services.

The Government wants a society where every person, including those with a long-term condition such as an acquired brain injury (ABI), receives high-quality, compassionate continuity of care.The former Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Public Health and Prevention met the original proponent of the ABI strategy, Sir Chris Bryant MP, at the end of 2024 to discuss acquired brain injuries and had a very fruitful discussion about what might be achievable in both the short and long term. Sir Chris remains a huge advocate for those that have suffered from an ABI, and the Department fully agrees with him that the Government should, and importantly will, do more.As such, whilst no assessment been made on the sustainability of local brain injury reablement services, the Department and NHS England are keen to showcase those areas that have effectively integrated post-hospital care and support, including rehabilitation, to other areas where patients are not getting the care and support they deserve.A decision on the next steps for ABIs at the national level will be taken in due course.