Written questions by Campbell.

What steps he is taking to provide investment into the research of a more accurate and reliable test to screen for prostate cancer.

The Department invests over £1.6 billion each year on research through its research delivery arm, the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). In the financial year 2024/25, the NIHR’s reported spend on cancer research was over £141.6 million through its research programmes and infrastructure, reflecting cancer’s high priority.For example, the Government and Prostate Cancer UK (PCUK) have partnered together on the £42 million TRANSFORM screening trial to find the best way to screen men for prostate cancer to find it before it becomes advanced and harder to treat. PCUK is leading the development of the trial with the Government contributing £16 million through the NIHR.In addition, the NIHR is investing £3.1 million in the GP-TEST-PRO study, exploring the accuracy of a faster and more affordable prostate magnetic resonance imaging, alongside genetic testing, for detecting clinically significant prostate cancer in symptomatic men presenting to primary care.The NIHR continues to welcome funding applications for research into any aspect of human health and care, including prostate cancer.

Whether the Government plans to implement the recommendations of the Independent ADHD Taskforce; and what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of those recommendations on ADHD waiting times, support to people with ADHD and the quality of ADHD services.

NHS England established an attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) taskforce which brought 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 timely and equitable access to services and support. We are pleased that the taskforce’s final report was published on 6 November, and we are carefully considering its recommendations.

What step his Department will take to ensure people who need COVID boosters receive them.

The Government is committed to protecting those most vulnerable to COVID-19 through vaccination, as guided by the independent Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI). The primary aim of the national COVID-19 vaccination programme remains the prevention of serious illness, resulting in hospitalisations and deaths, arising from COVID-19.The JCVI has advised that population immunity to COVID-19 has been increasing due to a combination of naturally acquired immunity following recovery from infection and vaccine-derived immunity. COVID-19 is now a relatively mild disease for most people, though it can still be unpleasant, with rates of hospitalisation and death from COVID-19 having reduced significantly since COVID-19 first emerged.The focus of the JCVI advised programme has therefore moved towards targeted vaccination of the two groups who continue to be at higher risk of serious disease, including mortality. These are the oldest adults and individuals who are immunosuppressed. The JCVI’s advice for autumn 2025 is available at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-vaccination-in-2025-and-spring-2026-jcvi-advice/jcvi-statement-on-covid-19-vaccination-in-2025-and-spring-2026The Government has accepted the JCVI’s advice for autumn 2025 and in line with the advice, a COVID-19 vaccination is being offered to the following groups:adults aged 75 years old and over;residents in care homes for older adults; andindividuals aged six months and over who are immunosuppressed.The campaign in England began on 1 October 2025 and runs until 31 January 2026. General practitioners have been in direct communication with eligible people to encourage them to book their vaccinations, complemented by millions of targeted emails, texts, and letters sent nationally by the National Health Service. Appointments, including walk-in sessions, are available in local pharmacies, general practices, and community clinic drop-in centres across the country.As for all vaccines, the JCVI keeps the evidence under regular review.

For what reason the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation limited eligibility for covid-19 booster vaccinations; and whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of including unpaid carers under 75 within the eligibility for those vaccinations.

The Government is committed to protecting those most vulnerable to COVID-19 through vaccination, as guided by the independent Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI). The primary aim of the national COVID-19 vaccination programme remains the prevention of serious illness (hospitalisations and deaths) arising from COVID-19. Population immunity to COVID-19 has been increasing due to a combination of naturally acquired immunity following recovery from infection and vaccine-derived immunity. COVID-19 is now a relatively mild disease for most people, though it can still be unpleasant, with rates of hospitalisation and death from COVID-19 having reduced significantly since COVID-19 first emerged.The focus of the JCVI advised programme has therefore moved towards targeted vaccination of the two groups who continue to be at higher risk of serious disease, including mortality. These are the oldest adults and individuals who are immunosuppressed.On 13 November 2024, JCVI published advice on who should be offered vaccination in autumn 2025. On 26 June 2025, the Government accepted the JCVI’s advice that in autumn 2025, a COVID-19 vaccination should be offered to the following groups:adults aged 75 years and over;residents in care homes for older adults;individuals aged 6 months and over who are immunosuppressed (as defined in the ‘immunosuppression’ sections of tables 3 or 4 in the COVID-19 chapter of the UK Health Security Agency Green Book).The Government has no plans to change eligibility for autumn 2025. It has accepted the JCVI advice for this campaign in full. As for all vaccines, the JCVI keeps the evidence under regular review.

What steps his Department is taking to support people affected by (a) Fahr's Disease and (b) other genetic, rare and undiagnosed conditions.

The Government is committed to improving the lives of those living with rare diseases, such as Fahr’s Disease. The United Kingdom Rare Diseases Framework sets out four priorities collaboratively developed with the rare disease community. These include: helping patients get a final diagnosis faster; increasing awareness of rare diseases among healthcare professionals; better coordination of care; and improving access to specialist care, treatments, and drugs.We published the annual England Action Plan in February 2025, where we report on the steps we have taken to advance these priorities in the preceding year and set out three new actions for the year ahead.

If his Department will take steps to support clinical research on the impact of menopause and perimenopause on people with Type 1 diabetes mellitus.

The National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), the research delivery arm of the Department, funds a range of research to improve health outcomes for women, including on the impacts of menopause and perimenopause on preexisting conditions such as Type 1 diabetes. For example, the NIHR is currently funding research to identify disparities in key health outcomes in older women, with a focus on the use of hormone replacement therapy. Amongst other aims, this research will explore whether there are differences in outcomes for women who have health conditions, such as sickle cell disease or diabetes. In addition, the NIHR funds the infrastructure of the James Lind Alliance (JLA). In 2024, the JLA updated the Priority Setting Partnership on Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus in Adults. One of the top ten priority questions identified for future research is to investigate the impact of hormonal phases such as the perimenstrual period and menopause on glycaemic management, and to identify what treatments are most effective for managing glucose levels around these times. The NIHR welcomes funding applications for research into any aspect of human health, including the impact of menopause and perimenopause on people with Type 1 diabetes.

What steps he plans to take to help improve the provision of social care in Broxtowe constituency.

Under the Care Act 2014, local authorities are tasked with the duty to shape their care markets to meet the diverse needs of all local people. This includes commissioning a diverse range of care and support services that enable people to access quality care.To ensure high standards of care, local authorities are assessed by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) in how well they are delivering their duties under Part 1 of the Care Act 2014. The CQC has not yet published the assessment report for Broxtowe and Nottinghamshire County Council.The CQC also helps ensure high-quality social care by inspecting services, setting standards, taking enforcement action, listening to feedback, and providing transparent information of assessments on their website to protect and empower service users.To enable local authorities to deliver key services, the Government has made available up to £3.7 billion of additional funding for social care authorities in 2025/26.

If he will hold discussions with NICE on providing up-to-date guidance for clinicians on the provision of HRT to people with Type 1 diabetes mellitus.

There are currently no plans to ask the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) to develop guidance on the provision of HRT to people with Type 1 diabetes mellitus.Topics for new or updated guidance are considered through the NICE prioritisation process. Decisions as to whether NICE will create new, or update existing, guidance are overseen by a prioritisation board, chaired by NICE’s Chief Medical Officer. NICE makes independent, evidence-based recommendations for the health and care system on best practice. It is right that decisions on the topics to be prioritised for guidance development should be based on the evidence and in line with NICE’s process.

What steps he has taken to support workers in the social care sector in Broxtowe constituency.

The Government has an ongoing programme of work to ensure the care profession is recognised and rewarded and to improve domestic recruitment and retention. This includes supporting the professionalisation of the adult social care workforce through the recently expanded Care Workforce Pathway. The pathway provides a framework for progression and development opportunities so people can build their skills and careers in care.In September 2024, we launched the Adult Social Care Learning and Development Support Scheme, providing funding for eligible care staff to complete courses and qualifications. This includes the new Level 2 Adult Social Care Certificate. The scheme is backed by up to £12 million this financial year. We are also introducing the first ever Fair Pay Agreement to the adult social care sector so that care professionals are rewarded for the important work that they do. As we work towards a Fair Pay Agreement, the Government will engage all those who draw upon care, as well as those that work to provide care and support. We will also consult local authorities. unions, and others from across the sector.

How many NHS dentists were employed in (a) Broxtowe constituency, (b) Nottinghamshire and (c) the East Midlands in (i) 2010 and (ii) 2024.

The following table shows how many National Health Service dentists were employed in 2011/12 and 2023/24 in the Nottingham and Nottinghamshire Integrated Care Board (ICB), which includes the Broxtowe constituency, as well as regional figures for the Midlands:YearNumber of dentists employed in Nottingham and Nottinghamshire ICBNumber of dentists employed in the Midlands2011/124484,0162023/245784,454Notes:we do not hold data on how many NHS dentists are employed at constituency level as well as the East Midlands region; andwe have given 2011/12 data as we do not hold data for 2010/11.

What the GP-to-patient ratio was in (a) Broxtowe constituency, (b) Nottinghamshire, (c) the East Midlands and (d) England in (i) 2010 and (ii) 2024.

As of December 2024, the number of full time equivalent doctors in general practice (GP) per 10,000 registered patients was: - 6.9 in the Broxtowe constituency;- 6.5 in Nottinghamshire;- 5.9 in the East Midlands; and- 5.6 in England. Data from before September 2015 is not comparable. Each GP is required to provide services to meet the reasonable needs of their patients. There is no NHS England recommendation for how many patients a GP should have assigned, or the ratio of GPs or other practice staff to patients. The demands each patient places on their GP are different and can be affected by many different factors, including rurality and patient demographics. It is necessary to consider the workforce for each practice as a whole, not only GPs but also the range of health professionals available who are able to respond to the needs of their patients.

What steps his Department is taking to reduce incidents of stillbirths amongst black and Asian families.

The Government recognises that losing a baby or pregnancy loss is extremely difficult for parents and families. We are determined to make sure all women and babies receive safe, personalised, and compassionate care, regardless of their background, location, or ethnicity. While the vast majority of births in England are safe, the stark inequalities in maternity outcomes demonstrate that there are deep-seated issues across maternity and neonatal services.To address these and other issues within maternity and neonatal care, a rapid independent investigation into National Health Service maternity and neonatal services is being launched. This will look at the systemic issues behind why so many women, babies, and families experience unacceptable care, taking into account findings from previous maternity reviews.This includes the Maternity Outcome Signalling System, a new system that will monitor the rates of term stillbirth, neonatal death, and brain injury. It will immediately flag unusually high rates to prompt a rapid review of any safety concerns. We have already made progress in this area, for example through the Saving Babies Lives Care Bundle, which provides maternity units with detailed guidance to reduce stillbirths, neonatal brain injury, neonatal deaths, and preterm births.

What progress his Department has made on the review of the NHS Long Term Workforce Plan; and whether his Department has a planned timetable for publication.

The new workforce plan, to be published later this year, will be influenced by the 10-Year Health Plan and the Spending Review.

How many GP practices (a) opened and (b) closed in (i) Broxtowe constituency, (ii) Nottinghamshire, (iii) the East Midlands and (iv) England between May 2010 and June 2024.

The table attached shows the number of general practices which have opened and closed between January 2014 and May 2024 in the Broxtowe constituency, Nottinghamshire, the East Midlands, and England. This is as far back as the data goes, up to the most recently published data.This analysis only considers head practices and ignores branch practices. If a practice ceases to be a main practice and becomes a branch practice of another, this will count as a “closure” in this data, while in reality general practice provision at the site may well have continued under the new head practice. Practices close for a variety of reasons, including mergers or retirement, and so this data does not necessarily indicate a reduction in the quality of care. When a practice does close, patients are informed of the closure and advised to register at another local practice of their choice within their area.

What steps his Department plans to take to ensure workforce planning aligns with the availability of trained candidates.

We are committed to training the staff we need to ensure that patients are cared for by the right professional, when and where they need it.We will publish a 10-Year Health Plan to reform the National Health Service. The plan will set out a bold agenda to deliver on the three big shifts needed to move healthcare from hospital to the community, from analogue to digital, and from sickness to prevention. Ensuring we have the right people, in the right places, with the right skills will be central to this vision. Later this year, we will publish a refreshed workforce plan to deliver the transformed health service we will build over the next decade, and treat patients on time again.

What steps his Department is taking to support parents looking after ill children (a) in the long-term and (b) immediately after diagnosis.

We are committed to supporting people with long term conditions and to ensuring that they receive the support they need, including referral to specialist services as appropriate. We want a society where every person, including those with a long-term condition, and their families and carers, receive high-quality, compassionate continuity of care.The Department is taking a range of practical steps to support parents caring for ill children. Immediately after diagnosis and in the longer term, parents may be eligible for travel cost support through the NHS Healthcare Travel Costs Scheme. In cases where a child has complex health needs, they can be assessed under the Children’s Continuing Care framework to determine appropriate ongoing support. Wider work is underway, such as the development of initiatives to support parents in hospital settings. Counselling and mental health support are typically provided through local services, and peer support is often offered by voluntary organisations.As per Section 97 (3b) of the Children’s and Families Act 2014, parent carers have the right to request an assessment of their need for support from the local authority. Having been assessed, Section 17 (10b) of the Children’s Acts 1989 makes provision for a child whose physical or mental health is impaired, as well as his or her family, to receive the appropriate support services from the local authority.

What steps his Department is taking to provide final year medical students assigned placeholder jobs with clarity on where they will begin working as doctors in August 2025.

We are aware that there is a delay in NHS England allocating some foundation year one doctors their programme details and work schedules. We have asked NHS England to urgently tackle this issue. We know there is more to do and NHS England is working to ensure that all posts are confirmed as soon as possible, while keeping applicants informed throughout the process, including through webinars. NHS England is due to review the foundation programme allocation process to make sure it works well for applicants. The review is scheduled for after the 2025/26 allocations and is aiming to commence in 2026. NHS England will advise stakeholders on how they can input in due course.

What steps his Department is taking to support people with Multiple Sclerosis.

Integrated care boards (ICBs) are responsible for commissioning services for their local population, including for multiple sclerosis (MS). The Government expects ICBs to assess the demand for service provision when designing their local services. There are initiatives to support better care for patients with neurological conditions like MS, across England. These include the Getting It Right First Time Programme for Neurology, which aims to improve MS care by supporting the National Health Service to address variations in care and by promoting best practice. The Progressive Neurological Conditions Toolkit, published by NHS England’s RightCare Programme, supports healthcare systems in improving the care of individuals living with progressive neurological conditions, including MS. It aims to enhance local services and reduce hospital admissions by focusing on preventative care and by optimising the delivery of services. NHS England’s Neurology Transformation Programme (NTP) is a multi-year programme to develop a new model of integrated care for neurology services. The NTP has collaborated with clinicians and patient groups to create specific pathways for MS, aiming to improve the quality and coordination of care. NHS England is also updating its Specialised Neurology service specification, which includes MS. Service specifications define the standards of care expected from organisations funded by NHS England to provide specialised care. Our 10-Year Health Plan will set out a bold agenda to deliver on the three big shifts needed, to move healthcare from the hospital to the community, from analogue to digital, and from treatment to prevention. We also plan to publish our refreshed Long Term Workforce Plan to deliver a transformed health service over the next decade and to treat patients wherever they live in England, including those with MS, on time again.

What steps his Department is taking to support people with long Covid.

NHS England has invested £314 million since the start of the pandemic to provide care and support for people with long COVID. This includes establishing specialist clinics throughout England to assess adults, children, and young people who are experiencing long-term effects of COVID-19 infection. A further £86.7 million of funding was included in integrated care board core allocations for 2024/25, and specific regional funding was also allocated for assurance and system support.These services offer physical, cognitive, and psychological assessment, and, where appropriate, refer patients onto existing services for treatment and rehabilitation. Further information can be found via the National Health Service website, at the following link:https://www.england.nhs.uk/coronavirus/post-covid-syndrome-long-covid/Between 2019/20 and 2023/24, through the National Institute for Health and Care Research and the Medical Research Council, we have invested over £57 million on research into long COVID, with almost £40 million of this through two specific research calls on long COVID. The funded projects aim to improve our understanding of the diagnosis and underlying mechanisms of the disease and the effectiveness of both pharmacological and non-pharmacological therapies and interventions, as well as to evaluate the effectiveness of clinical care.

If he will make an assessment of the potential merits of providing free Covid-19 vaccine boosters to people with long Covid.

The Government is committed to protecting those most vulnerable to COVID-19 through vaccination, as guided by the independent Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI).The JCVI stated in its advice for the autumn 2024 COVID-19 vaccination programme that there remains considerable uncertainty regarding the impact of additional vaccine doses, beyond the primary vaccination, on the risk, progression, and outcome of post-COVID syndromes. The JCVI advised that better data is needed on the impact of additional vaccine doses on the occurrence and severity of post-COVID syndromes in the current era of omicron sub-variants of the COVID-19 virus, and high population immunity. This advice is available at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-autumn-2024-vaccination-programme-jcvi-advice-8-april-2024/jcvi-statement-on-the-covid-19-vaccination-programme-for-autumn-2024-8-april-2024On 13 November 2024, the JCVI published advice on the COVID-19 vaccination programmes in spring 2025, autumn 2025, and spring 2026. This advice is available at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-vaccination-in-2025-and-spring-2026-jcvi-advice/jcvi-statement-on-covid-19-vaccination-in-2025-and-spring-2026The Government has accepted the JCVI’s advice on eligibility for the spring 2025 COVID-19 vaccination programme, to include those aged 75 years old and above, those aged six months old or above with immunosuppression, and those living in care homes for older adults. The Government response is available at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/news/advice-accepted-on-spring-2025-covid-19-vaccination-programmeThe Government is considering the advice for autumn 2025 and spring 2026 carefully, and will respond in due course.