Written questions by Jarvis.

Whether his Department has considered the potential merits of expanding the range of qualified healthcare professionals able to carry out neurodevelopmental diagnoses in cases where a patient is al

Awaiting answer.

What assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of the provision of Clozapine; whether he has considered the potential merits of ensuring earlier consideration of Clozapine where clinically

Awaiting answer.

What assessment he has made of the number of medically fit patients unable to be discharged from hospitals in Hampshire.

Awaiting answer.

What steps he is taking to tackle elective care waiting times, including joint replacement surgery, in Eastleigh constituency; what assessment his Department has made of the likelihood of the trauma and orthopaedic waiting list meeting the 18-week treatment target set out in the Elective Reform Plan, and what steps his Department is taking to increase access to community musculoskeletal and physiotherapy services to help reduce demand for trauma and orthopaedic referrals, and improve patient outcomes.

Awaiting answer.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of the Medical Training (Prioritisation) Act 2026 on the eligibility of British citizens studying medicine at UK-accredited overseas campuses for NHS Foundation Year 1 posts; whether he has made an assessment of the consistency of eligibility criteria applied to different UK-accredited international medical training pathways; and whether he plans to introduce transitional arrangements for students who enrolled before the implementation of the Act.

Awaiting answer.

What timetable his Department has set for implementing the commitments relating to research, attitudes and education, and support for people living with ME/CFS contained within the Government’s policy paper entitled 'ME/CFS: the final delivery plan'; whether his Department plans to publish regular progress reports or annual reviews on implementation; what assessment he has made of whether NHS bodies have sufficient workforce capacity and resources to deliver the commitments contained within the plan; and whether any delivery timelines or implementation milestones have been revised since the plan’s publication.

Awaiting answer.

What guidance his Department has issued to NHS bodies on the (a) clinical, (b) functional and (c) other criteria to be used when prioritising patients for (i) Autism and (ii) ADHD assessments; what oversight arrangements are in place for decisions made by NHS bodies on the prioritisation of patients for Autism and ADHD assessments; and whether his Department has (A) undertaken and (B) required NHS bodies to undertake an Equality Impact Assessment in relation to restrictions or prioritisation decisions affecting access to Autism and ADHD assessments.

Awaiting answer.

What guidance his Department has issued to GP practices on the application of NHS proxy access policies for children aged 11 to 16; what assessment he has made of the adequacy of current arrangements in providing support for parents and carers of children with autism requiring assistance in accessing healthcare services and medical information; and what steps his Department is taking to ensure consistent interpretation and application of NHS proxy access guidance by GP practices for patients aged 11 to 16.

General practices (GPs) can provide proxy access to parents or carers of a child under the age of 16 years old. The GP surgery must get the child's consent before giving access to their online GP services, if the child is able to understand and make an informed decision. Children aged 11 years old and over are generally presumed to have capacity to consent to, or refuse, proxy access, unless, for example, a medical condition or learning disability affects their understanding.More broadly, the Government is taking steps to improve access to services for patients who may need additional support, including children with autism and their carers. GPs are required to provide online consultation tools, which can support patients and carers to contact their practice remotely, including for appointments, repeat prescriptions, and registration.In addition, NHS England is rolling out the Reasonable Adjustment Digital Flag, which allows services to record where a disabled patient needs reasonable adjustments so that care can be provided more appropriately and consistently.

What assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of the level of NHS provision of continence containment products for people with severe disabilities; and whether he plans to issue guidance to integrated care boards and NHS trusts to ensure that provision levels reflect individual clinical assessments, particularly in cases where current prescribing limits are considered insufficient to meet need.

The Department has not made a specific assessment as integrated care boards are responsible for commissioning continence services in their areas. These services include assessment, treatment, and, where clinically appropriate, the supply of continence products. Decisions on the type and quantity of products are made by clinicians following individual assessment, in line with National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidance on incontinence and professional standards.NHS Supply Chain supports trusts with the procurement of continence products through value-based procurement initiatives to ensure products are safe, effective, and cost-efficient. Further information on continence commissioning is available at:https://www.england.nhs.uk/commissioning/continence/

Whether Mast Cell Activation Syndrome is recognised within NHS England; whether national diagnostic guidelines for MCAS are being developed, including in relation to its association with neurological, psychiatric and autonomic conditions such as dysautonomia and postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome; and what steps his Department is taking to reduce the time taken for diagnosis of patients presenting with multisystem inflammatory, allergic and autonomic symptoms.

NHS England recognises mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS), and that patients may experience a spectrum of clinical presentations and symptoms making diagnosis challenging.NHS England is considering publishing guidance to help integrated care commission services locally that meet the needs for people with MCAS.The Department has published the 10-Year Health Plan which will shift care out of hospitals and into virtual and neighbourhood services in the community. Planned care will be more efficient and patients will wait less time for their care.

What assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of the supply of Ketotifen; and what steps he is taking to support primary care practitioners in the diagnosis and management of multi-system conditions requiring such treatments.

The supplier of ketotifen (Zaditen) one milligram tablets has confirmed there is currently no shortage of this product, and it is in stock and available to order.General practitioners are responsible for ensuring their own clinical knowledge remains up-to-date and for identifying learning needs as part of their continuing professional development. This activity should include taking account of new research and developments in guidance, such as that produced by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, to ensure that they can continue to provide high quality care to all patients.

What discussions his Department has had with Integrated Care Boards in South East England on the suspension of funding for septoplasty, turbinate surgery and functional septorhinoplasty.

Integrated care boards are responsible for commissioning National Health Services for their local populations and for deciding which treatments are routinely offered, based on clinical evidence, local need, and available resources. Decisions about individual services are taken locally, and the Department does not routinely intervene in these commissioning decisions.

What assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of parking fines on care workers providing in-home services; and if he will issue further (a) guidance and (b) introduce measures to support care workers who are required to park in close proximity to patients’ homes while carrying out their duties.

The Department has not made a formal assessment of the impact of parking fines on care workers providing in‑home services.Parking policy is devolved to local authorities, which already have the discretion to offer exemptions or dedicated permit schemes for health and social care workers where appropriate. At present, local authorities remain best placed to determine appropriate support and parking arrangements, taking account of local conditions and existing pressures.We are introducing the first ever Fair Pay Agreement for adult social care. The Fair Pay Agreement will bring together employers, worker representatives, and other to negotiate play and terms and conditions for the sector. This is intended to improve pay, support recruitment, and retention.

If his Department will make an assessment of (a) the prevalence of respiratory disease and (b) the number of emergency hospital admissions for respiratory conditions in Eastleigh constituency compared with national averages.

Data is available for emergency Finished Admission Episodes (FAEs) where there was a primary diagnosis of 'respiratory conditions’. The following table shows the number of FAEs where there was a primary diagnosis of 'respiratory conditions’ for Eastleigh and England, for activity in English National Health Service hospitals and English NHS commissioned activity in the independent sector, for 2024/25 and provisionally for 2025/26:Westminster Parliamentary Constituency of Residence2024/25 (August 2024 to March 2025)2025/26 (April 2025 to November 2025)Eastleigh1,170935England612,855511,558Source: Hospital Episode Statistics, NHS England Available data on trends in respiratory conditions can be found on the Department’s Fingertips dataset. Data is not available by parliamentary constituency. Data is available at regional, county, unitary authority, and integrated care board level. Information for Eastleigh can be found at the following link: https://fingertips.phe.org.uk/search/Respiratory#page/1/gid/1/pat/6/ati/501/are/E07000086/iid/40701/age/163/sex/4/cat/-1/ctp/-1/yrr/1/cid/4/tbm/1

What assessment his Department has made of the access to (a) treatment and (b) support services for people with musculoskeletal conditions.

The Government recognises the importance of access to treatment and support services for people with musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions.To improve access to treatment for those with MSK conditions, we are working to deliver the Getting It Right First Time (GIRFT) MSK Community Delivery Programme. GIRFT teams are working with health system leaders to further reduce MSK community waiting lists, which are the highest of all community waiting lists in England, and improve data, metrics, and referral pathways to wider support services.The 10-Year Health Plan will also support people including those with MSK conditions to better manage their condition and access services and support through the three health shifts.For example, as part of a major transformation of the National Health Service under the 10-Year Health Plan, patients with MSK conditions will also soon be able to bypass their general practices (GPs) and directly access community services, including physiotherapy, pain management, and orthopaedics, in the NHS App. The landmark change will deliver faster treatment for the flare up of existing conditions including arthritis, backpain, and joint pain, while enabling GPs to focus on more complex cases, reducing pressure on hospitals, and freeing up GPs.

What steps his Department is taking to support children and young people with arthritis.

The Government is committed to supporting children and young people with arthritis to ensure they get timely, quality care.Services for children with suspected arthritis are commissioned in line with the national service specification for paediatric rheumatology services.The national service specification helps to reduce waiting times for diagnosis by mandating clear referral pathways and rapid access to specialist paediatric rheumatology teams. It sets national standards requiring timely triage of suspected cases, prioritisation of urgent referrals, and availability of multidisciplinary expertise for early assessment. The specification ensures consistency across regions, minimises delays caused by local variation, and supports faster initiation of diagnostic tests and treatment planning.NHS England’s Getting It Right First Time Paediatric Rheumatology programme is aimed at improving care for children and young people with inflammatory, autoimmune, and rheumatic conditions. Led by specialists, it uses data-driven, "deep-dive" peer reviews of all National Health Service trusts to reduce unwarranted variations, improve transition services, and standardise best practice.Additionally, the 10-Year Health Plan’s commitments to expand community diagnostic centres for quicker access to tests, introduce digital tools to support early symptom monitoring and triage, and improve the integration between primary care and specialist services will further streamline referral pathways and ensure children receive timely assessment and treatment.

What steps his Department is taking to support research into Mast Cell Activation Syndrome; and what steps he is taking to improve training for NHS healthcare professionals in the diagnosis and management of that condition.

The Department funds research through the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). The NIHR funds clinical, public health, and social care research and works in partnership with the National Health Service, universities, local government, other research funders, patients, and the public, and the NIHR also funds global health research.The NIHR welcomes funding applications for research into any aspect of human health and care, including mast cell activation syndrome. 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. Further information is available at the following link:https://www.nihr.ac.uk/get-involved/suggest-a-research-topicNHS England Specialised Commissioning has published a Service Specification for Specialist Allergy Services, which covers the responsibilities of specialised commissioned providers with regard to patients with mastocytosis and related disorders. This includes the expectation for specialist allergy services to be provided by multidisciplinary teams, led by physicians with evidence of training and/or experience in the practice of allergy or immunology. Further information is available at the following link:https://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/specialist-allergy-services-adults-service-specification-v2.9.pdfThe management of service users with mastocytosis is provided by specialised allergy/immunology, dermatology, and haematology services. The lead clinician will vary at different centres, but specialist allergy input should be readily available.

What steps he is taking to improve awareness and prevention of all strains of meningitis among students and school staff; and whether he has reviewed the adequacy of current guidelines relating to meningococcal group B.

Meningococcal disease, both meningitis and septicaemia, is an uncommon but serious disease caused by meningococcal bacteria. The MenACWY vaccine offers good protection against several strains of meningococcal disease and is routinely offered to teenagers in school Years 9 and 10. However, it does not protect against all strains. Other strains, such as Meningitis B (MenB), can circulate among young adults. From 2015, the MenB vaccine has been available on the National Health Service as part of routine childhood immunisations, but most students would not be vaccinated.The importance of raising awareness in parents, teenagers, and other adults about the signs and symptoms of meningitis and septicaemia remains key. There are a range of resources developed by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), co-branded with the NHS, that set out these key messages and their importance, such as the teenage guide to immunisation. The guide is available at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/immunisations-for-young-peopleThe UKHSA collaboratively produces a university vaccine communications toolkit. This is shared with the distribution lists of Universities UK and the Association of Managers of Student Services in Higher Education, and is available at the following link:https://find-public-health-resources.service.gov.uk/University%20vaccine%20communications%20toolkit/UNI24In addition, United Kingdom guidance on the public health management of meningococcal disease provides clear advice on the management of confirmed and probable cases of invasive meningococcal disease, including MenB, to minimise onward transmission and further associated cases. This guidance is available at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/meningococcal-disease-guidance-on-public-health-managementThe Department makes decisions on vaccination programmes following careful consideration of independent expert advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI). The JCVI does not currently recommend a routine MenB booster vaccination for adolescents and young adults. JCVI routinely reviews new evidence as it emerges, and my Rt. Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, announced on 17 March that the JCVI has been asked to reexamine eligibility for meningitis vaccines. Decisions on routine vaccination programmes are taken on the basis of independent advice from the JCVI. As ever, we will carefully consider its advice.

What his Department's expected timetable is for completing consideration of reforms to the Vaccine Damage Payment Scheme; and when he expects to bring forward proposals for reform of that scheme.

We would like to reiterate our deepest sympathies to all those individuals who have experienced harm following vaccination, and to their families.The Government recognises that concerns have been raised in relation to the Vaccine Damage Payment Scheme. Ministers remain committed to looking at the issues raised and to considering a range of options. I will update the House in due course on progress, as appropriate.

Whether his Department has issued guidance to GP practices on the wording of appointment reminder messages to patients; and what assessment he has made of the potential merits of encouraging practices to use confirmation-based reminders rather than cancellation-based reminders to reduce non-attendance rates.

General practices are independent businesses that hold contracts with the National Health Service, and each sets its own policies on managing missed appointments to best meet the needs of its local population. We know that many practices already use automated reminder systems that include the option for patients to cancel if they no longer need their appointment.98.9% of practices now use cloud-based telephony systems, which can provide built‑in functionality to support appointment cancellation. It is for individual practices to determine how and if these functionalities are implemented.The 10-Year Health Plan sets out that the NHS App will be the front door to the NHS, where patients will be able to book, move, and cancel their appointments, and communicate with their health team, with ease, helping reduce no-shows by allowing easier management and notifications.