Written questions by Smart.

When he plans to respond to the correspondence of 22 April 2025 from the hon. Member for Hazel Grove, Ref LS05024.

I replied to the hon. Member’s letter on 14 August 2025.

What assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of allowing qualified non-medical prescribers to prescribe (a) dihydrocodeine, (b) testosterone and (c) other controlled drugs on women’s healthcare.

The Department supports non-medical professions to use legal mechanisms to prescribe, administer and/or supply medicines to patients, where it is safe and appropriate to do so. Some non-medical healthcare professionals train as independent prescribers, allowing them to prescribe a wide range of medicines, including testosterone, dihydrocodeine and some controlled drugs, within their professional scope of practice. In addition, some non-medical professions can also supply and/or administer specified controlled drugs via Patient Group Directions.The Department also supports further expansion of medicines responsibilities of non-medical healthcare professionals. Officials are carefully considering proposals relating to a range of healthcare professionals, as part of wider work concerning non-medical prescribing. However, currently, the Department has made no assessment of the potential impact of allowing qualified non-medical prescribers to prescribe dihydrocodeine, testosterone and other controlled drugs as part of women’s health care.

Whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of including dementia specialist nurses as core members within plans for a new Neighbourhood Health Service.

The Neighbourhood Health Service will bring together teams of professionals closer to people’s homes to work together to provide comprehensive care in the community. We expect neighbourhood teams and services to be designed in a way that reflects the specific needs of local populations, and this could include dementia specialist nurses. While we will be clear on the outcomes we expect, we will give significant licence to tailor the approach to local need. While the focus on personalised, coordinated care will be consistent, that will mean the service will look different in rural communities, coastal towns, or deprived inner cities.The provision of dementia health care services is the responsibility of local integrated care boards (ICBs). We would expect ICBs to commission services, which may include dementia specialist nurses/admiral nurses, based on local population needs, taking account of National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines. NICE recommends providing people living with dementia with a single named health or social care professional who is responsible for coordinating their care.Under the 10-Year Health Plan, those living with dementia will benefit from improved care planning and better services.  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 in 2026.

What steps his Department is taking to ensure that people affected by dementia in the Hazel Grove constituency can access guaranteed specialist care.

The provision of dementia health care services is the responsibility of local integrated care boards (ICBs). We would expect ICBs to commission services, which may include dementia specialist nurses, based on local population needs, taking account of National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidelines. Dementia care in the Hazel Grove constituency is delivered as part of the wider NHS Greater Manchester Integrated Care Partnership.Under the 10 Year Health Plan, those living with dementia will benefit from improved care planning and better services. 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 in 2026.

When he plans to respond to the correspondence of 29 May 2025 from the hon. Member for Hazel Grove, ref LS06945.

The Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Baroness Merron) replied to the hon. Member on 1 August 2025.

What steps his Department is taking to increase the number of available units of dental activity.

The responsibility for commissioning primary care services, including National Health Service dentistry, to meet the needs of the local population has been delegated to the integrated care boards (ICBs) across England. Dentists delivering NHS dental care are contracted to deliver a certain number of Units of Dental Activity (UDAs) per year. ICBs can commission high performing dental practices to deliver up to 110% of their contracted UDAs.The Government’s ambition is to fundamentally reform the dental contract by the end of this Parliament. As a first step, we are consulting on a package of changes to improve access to, and the quality of, NHS dentistry which will deliver better care for the diverse oral health needs of people across England. Further information on the consultation is available at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/nhs-dentistry-contract-quality-and-payment-reformsThe consultation was launched on 8 July and will close on 19 August.

What steps his Department is taking to increase the dermatology workforce.

We will publish a 10-Year Workforce Plan to create a National Health Service workforce in England ready to deliver a transformed service. The 10-Year Workforce Plan will ensure the NHS has the right people in the right places, with the right skills to deliver the best care for patients, when they need it, including those requiring dermatology services. From now on, we will ensure that staff will be better treated, have better training, more fulfilling roles, and hope for the future, so they can achieve more.

What steps his Department has taken to ensure that hospitals are able to provide (a) nutritious and (b) good-quality food for patients.

Access to good quality, nutritious, and aesthetically pleasing hospital food can improve patient morale and contribute to their recovery.All National Health Service trusts, including in Hazel Grove, are expected to follow the NHS National Standards for Healthcare Food and Drink. There are eight mandatory standards all trusts are required to meet. This includes having a food and drink strategy and demonstrating that they have suitable food service provision 24 hours a day, seven days a week, which is appropriate for their demographic.The guidance requires that NHS organisations must show that they comply with the British Dietetic Associations’ Nutrition and Hydration Digest, which identifies actions to be taken in relation to the provision of nutritional food, and which is available at the following link:https://www.bda.uk.com/specialist-groups-and-branches/food-services-specialist-group/nutrition-and-hydration-digest.htmlFurthermore, A key part of the specific standards for retail, staff, and visitors in healthcare settings is the need to comply with the Government Buying Standards for Food and Catering Services mandatory nutrition standards. These standards are available at the following link:https://www.england.nhs.uk/long-read/national-standards-for-healthcare-food-and-drink/

What steps his Department has taken to support medical students with the cost of living.

For the 2025 to 2026 academic year, the Government will increase the NHS Bursary tuition fee contributions, maintenance grants, and all allowances by 3.1%. This is the second consecutive year the Government has increased support for medical students through the NHS Bursary. Prior to this, the maintenance grants had not been uplifted since 2015.The Government has also announced that maximum loans for living costs from Student Finance England, including reduced rate non-means tested loans for students in NHS Bursary years, will increase by 3.1%.The NHS Bursary scheme is reviewed annually at the start of each academic year. At all times the Government must balance the level of support students receive with the need to deliver as much value as possible from taxpayers’ money.

Whether his Department plans to review funding available to medical students under the NHS Bursary.

For the 2025 to 2026 academic year, the Government will increase the NHS Bursary tuition fee contributions, maintenance grants, and all allowances by 3.1%. This is the second consecutive year the Government has increased support for medical students through the NHS Bursary. Prior to this, the maintenance grants had not been uplifted since 2015.The Government has also announced that maximum loans for living costs from Student Finance England, including reduced rate non-means tested loans for students in NHS Bursary years, will increase by 3.1%.The NHS Bursary scheme is reviewed annually at the start of each academic year. At all times the Government must balance the level of support students receive with the need to deliver as much value as possible from taxpayers’ money.

If he will provide a response to Early Day Motion 1076 on Stepping Hill Hospital, tabled on 8 April 2025.

The Government inherited a crumbling National Health Service estate after years of historic underinvestment and neglect. We recognise that hospitals across the country, including Stepping Hill, have challenging and poor-quality infrastructure, and that is why repairing and rebuilding our hospitals is a key part of our ambition to create a health service that is fit for the future.It will take time, but we are beginning to rebuild the health service. The £750 million Estates Safety Fund for 2025/26 is an essential first step towards addressing the poorest quality estates across the NHS and ensuring a safe, sustainable environment for healthcare delivery. The Stockport NHS Foundation Trust will be issued £2.8 million from this fund to deliver vital safety improvements, enhance patient and staff environments, and support NHS productivity at Stepping Hill Hospital.This investment is in addition to the operational capital the Greater Manchester Integrated Care Board will receive in 2025/26, to allocate to local priorities, including investment at Stepping Hill Hospital, and capital investment to support constitutional standards recovery.The current Spending Review, concluding in June 2025, will determine capital funding levels for future years and will consider the needs of the NHS estate.

What steps his Department is taking to encourage (a) Greater Manchester ICB and (b) other ICBs to offer dyspraxia assessments to adults (i) under the right to choose framework and (ii) through other NHS services and pathways.

It is the responsibility of integrated care boards (ICBs) to make available appropriate provision to meet the health and care needs of their local population. The National Health Service website advises that individuals should see a general practitioner (GP) if they think they have undiagnosed dyspraxia or problems with co-ordination. The GP may refer them to a physiotherapist or an occupational therapist for tests. Further information on dyspraxia assessments and treatment is available on the NHS.UK website, at the following link:https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/developmental-coordination-disorder-dyspraxia-in-adults/

Whether NHS England conducted an impact assessment on (a) diver safety and (b) emergency response times before reducing the number of hyperbaric chambers available under the national contract for recompression services.

Last year, NHS England held a public consultation on a revised service specification and changes to commissioning arrangements for hyperbaric oxygen services. This included consideration of the impacts on geographical access to services and traveling times.As a formal public consultation, responses were invited from all those with an interest in these services, and responses were received from a range of experts.Further information regarding the feedback received was published in November 2024, and is available at the following link: Hyperbaric-oxygen-therapy-engagement-report-November-2024.pdfThe updated service specification was published in January 2025, and is available at the following link: Hyperbaric-oxygen-therapy-services-all-ages-Service-specification-January-2025.pdf

What steps NHS England is taking to ensure equitable regional access to hyperbaric treatment services.

Last year, NHS England held a public consultation on a revised service specification and changes to commissioning arrangements for hyperbaric oxygen services. This included consideration of the impacts on geographical access to services and traveling times.As a formal public consultation, responses were invited from all those with an interest in these services, and responses were received from a range of experts.Further information regarding the feedback received was published in November 2024, and is available at the following link: Hyperbaric-oxygen-therapy-engagement-report-November-2024.pdfThe updated service specification was published in January 2025, and is available at the following link: Hyperbaric-oxygen-therapy-services-all-ages-Service-specification-January-2025.pdf

What estimate NHS England has made of average emergency travel times to hyperbaric chambers for cases of suspected decompression illness.

Last year, NHS England held a public consultation on a revised service specification and changes to commissioning arrangements for hyperbaric oxygen services. This included consideration of the impacts on geographical access to services and traveling times.As a formal public consultation, responses were invited from all those with an interest in these services, and responses were received from a range of experts.Further information regarding the feedback received was published in November 2024, and is available at the following link: Hyperbaric-oxygen-therapy-engagement-report-November-2024.pdfThe updated service specification was published in January 2025, and is available at the following link: Hyperbaric-oxygen-therapy-services-all-ages-Service-specification-January-2025.pdf

Whether NHS England plans to include (a) diver safety organisations and (b) medical experts in future consultations on the national contract for recompression services.

Last year, NHS England held a public consultation on a revised service specification and changes to commissioning arrangements for hyperbaric oxygen services. This included consideration of the impacts on geographical access to services and traveling times.As a formal public consultation, responses were invited from all those with an interest in these services, and responses were received from a range of experts.Further information regarding the feedback received was published in November 2024, and is available at the following link: Hyperbaric-oxygen-therapy-engagement-report-November-2024.pdfThe updated service specification was published in January 2025, and is available at the following link: Hyperbaric-oxygen-therapy-services-all-ages-Service-specification-January-2025.pdf

If he will list the dates on which patients who were invited to a first appointment for NHS Children and Young People's Gender Services in April 2025 were first referred, broken down by each service.

Data is not collected in this format. The most recent figures show that the number of children and young people on the waiting list for gender services is 6,225.

What steps his Department is taking to support the employment of qualified counsellors in paid roles within mental health services.

The Department welcomes the appointment of qualified counsellors to roles within National Health Service mental health services. However, employment decisions are for individual employers, and we would expect any such appointments to be based on the successful candidate’s abilities and skills.

What assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of recent reductions in NHSP overtime pay rates on the NHS's ability to meet (a) existing and (b) projected patient demand.

The Department has not made this specific assessment.NHS Professionals Ltd (NHSP) is a company, wholly owned by my Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, providing temporary staffing services to National Health Service trust clients. NHSP’s client trusts determine the rates payable to bank staff supplied by NHSP, and it is a matter for those NHS trusts to assess the impact of bank pay rates on their ability to meet existing and projected patient needs.Shifts made available by trusts through NHS Professionals are not classed as overtime. Trusts request that NHS Professionals fill a shift from its bank membership and specify the pay rate.

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of recent reductions in NHSP overtime pay rates for Band 5 nurses on NHS staff (a) retention and (b) morale.

NHS Professionals, a limited company wholly owned by the Department, contracts on an arm’s length basis with National Health Service trusts to provide flexible workforce solutions, including managed bank services and its National Bank offering.Shifts made available by trusts through NHS Professionals are not classed as overtime. Trusts request that NHS Professionals fill a shift from its bank membership and specify the pay rate, as it may be at the Agenda for Change rate for that assignment, or may be at an enhanced rate.Enhanced rates were initially introduced in response to competition from higher cost agencies, and were always intended to be a temporary measure. A decision to amend the rates was made by the Stockport NHS Foundation Trust following a detailed review of the enhanced bank rates in nursing and midwifery services across the Greater Manchester area. The Government is committed to making the NHS the best place to work, to ensure 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.