Written questions by Evans.

Whether the (a) cost of abolishing NHS England and (b) resulting redundancy package will be paid for from his Department’s settlement at the Spending Review 2025.

We have recently announced the Spending Review settlement, which provides an additional £29 billion of annual day-to-day spending in real terms by 2028/2029 compared to 2023/2024. Ahead of asking the National Health Service to commence a multi-year planning round, we are now carefully reviewing how the settlement is prioritised, including making provision for redundancy costs. At this stage, it is too early to say what the upfront costs of integration are, including any redundancy, while transition planning is ongoing.While there will be some upfront costs, we expect the reform to eliminate duplication and drive a smaller centre, based in a single organisation, that will generate significant savings in the long run, which can be diverted to the front line.

With reference to his Department's policy paper entitled 10 Year Health Plan for England: fit for the future, published on 3 July 2025, if he will publish his Department’s assumptions of NHS productivity increases for the reduction in projected staff numbers in 2035 compared to the 2023 Long-Term Workforce Plan.

We will publish our 10 Year Workforce Plan by the end of this year. The plan will set out the workforce needed to deliver the transformed service, and the key assumptions used in determining that workforce. That plan will set out assumptions about productivity used in determining projected staff numbers.The approach set out in our 10-Year Health plan means that we will need a very different kind of workforce strategy. Instead of asking ‘how many staff do we need to maintain our current care model over the next 10 years?’, our new 10 Year Workforce Plan will ask ‘given our reform plan, what workforce do we need, what should they do, where should they be deployed, and what skills should they have?’

When his Department expects NHS England to publish updated guidance on children's and young people's eating disorders; and which third party bodies were consulted on updates to that guidance.

NHS England is in the process of refreshing its guidance on children and young people's eating disorders, which includes increasing the focus on early identification and intervention across the care pathway, including in settings such as schools and primary care. The guidance focuses on community provision of care, whilst ensuring swift access to specialist support as soon as an eating disorder is suspected. It is not yet known when the updated guidance will be published. The updated guidance is being produced in partnership with a task and finish group comprising of internal and external clinical, academic, and policy stakeholders, including from royal colleges, regional and system children and young people and eating disorder leads and children, young people, and parents with lived experience.

What steps he is taking to ensure that updates made to NHS England guidance help inform the NHS 10 Year Health Plan; and which stakeholders in the eating disorders sector have provided views in his Department's consultation processes.

The 10-Year Health Plan was developed jointly between the Department and NHS England. All relevant NHS England guidance has been considered as part of the development of the plan.We received 1,650 submissions to the 10-Year Health Plan from partner organisations. This included responses from the Faculty of Eating Disorders and BEAT, the eating disorder charity. We also received responses from 120 mental health organisations who may have an interest in eating disorders. However, this information is not held in a format that allows this interest to be identified separately.

Whether he has had discussions with the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency on reducing overprescribing.

I have discussed with the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) concerns raised by Members of Parliament about the adverse effects of antidepressant prescribing, and what the MHRA can do to improve communication on the risks of different medicines.

Whether his Department plans to publish a national carers strategy.

The Government is committed to ensuring that families have the support that they need. The Government has heard the calls for a National Carers Strategy. This must be addressed in the wider context of the urgent need for a renewed vision for adult social care.We have launched an independent commission into adult social care as part of our critical first steps towards delivering a National Care Service. The commission will start a national conversation about what care and support working age adults, older people, and their families expect from adult social care, including exploring the needs of unpaid carers, who provide vital care and support.I also chair a cross-Government meeting, made up of ministers from the Department of Health and Social Care, the Department for Work and Pensions, the Department for Business and Trade, and the Department for Education, to consider how we can provide unpaid carers with the recognition and support they deserve.

What steps he is taking to improve the quality of dementia diagnosis data.

To support recovery of the dementia diagnosis rates and implementation of the Dementia Care Pathway, we have developed a memory service dashboard for management information purposes. The aim is to support commissioners and providers with appropriate data and enable targeted support where needed. Commissioned by the Healthcare Quality Improvement Partnership and funded by NHS England and the Welsh administration, the National Audit of Dementia Memory Service Spotlight reports include data on aspects of the diagnostic process, including waiting times and variation in service delivery in terms of diagnosis speed, neuroimaging use, and post-diagnostic support. The aim is to aid commissioners and providers in planning and targeting improvement where appropriate. To enhance dementia diagnosis rate data further, dementia sub types have been included in the Core GP Contract data collection from April 2023 onwards. This plays an important role in improving diagnosis accuracy and care planning, enabling clinicians to refine diagnostic criteria and tailor treatments more effectively.To help address and reduce variation in dementia diagnosis rates, the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities’ Dementia Intelligence Network developed a data tool for local systems, which includes an assessment of population characteristics such as rurality and socio-economic deprivation. This enables systems to investigate local variation in diagnosis and take informed action to enhance their diagnosis rates.

If he will make an assessment of the potential merits of amending the NHS 2025/26 priorities and operational planning guidance to include a target on dementia diagnosis.

The Government remains committed to recovering the dementia diagnosis rate to the national ambition of 66.7% and agrees that timely diagnosis is vital to ensure that people with dementia can access the treatment and support they need. The Darzi Investigation found that there were too many targets set for the National Health Service, which made it hard for local systems to prioritise their actions or to be held properly accountable. This is why we have taken a new approach to NHS Planning Guidance this year, reducing the number of national directives from 32 to 18. We will only turn the NHS around by doing things differently. These are the first steps on our journey for long-term reform of the NHS. NHS Planning Guidance is not an exhaustive list of everything the NHS does, and the absence of a target does not mean it is not an area of focus.

Whether his Department plans to publish a dementia strategy.

The Government wants a society where every person with dementia receives high-quality, compassionate care from diagnosis through to the end of life.The 10-Year Health Plan will address the challenges diagnosed by Lord Darzi in his independent investigation into the National Health Service in England, and will set the vision for what good joined-up care looks like for people with a combination of complex health and care needs, including people living with dementia. We are carefully considering policies, including those that impact people with dementia, with input from the public, patients, health staff, and our partners, as we develop the plan.As part of this work, we will consider how best to meet the needs of people with dementia, including whether it is appropriate to develop a dementia strategy.

Whether he has carried out an impact assessment for the removal of the dementia diagnosis target from NHS planning guidance.

The Government remains committed to recovering the dementia diagnosis rate to the national ambition of 66.7% and agrees that timely diagnosis is vital to ensure that people with dementia can access the treatment and support they need. The Darzi Investigation found that there were too many targets set for the National Health Service, which made it hard for local systems to prioritise their actions or to be held properly accountable. This is why we have taken a new approach to NHS Planning Guidance this year, reducing the number of national directives from 32 to 18. We will only turn the NHS around by doing things differently. These are the first steps on our journey for long-term reform of the NHS. NHS Planning Guidance is not an exhaustive list of everything the NHS does, and the absence of a target does not mean it is not an area of focus.

Whether he has had recent discussions with NICE on reducing overprescribing.

The Department has had no recent discussions with either the Royal Pharmaceutical Society or the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence on reducing overprescribing.

Whether he has had recent discussions with the Royal Pharmaceutical society on reducing overprescribing.

The Department has had no recent discussions with either the Royal Pharmaceutical Society or the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence on reducing overprescribing.

Whether he has made an assessment of the adequacy of the recovery pathways for the care of sudden cardiac arrest survivors.

In December 2024, to support local systems to commission high quality cardiac rehabilitation, NHS England published the document, Commissioning standards for cardiac rehabilitation, which is available at the following link:https://www.england.nhs.uk/long-read/commissioning-standards-for-cardiovascular-rehabilitation/These standards of care complement the British Association of Cardiovascular Prevention and Rehabilitation’s Standards and Core Components document, published in 2023, to support the delivery of high-quality care and adherence to evidenced-based practice.The NHS Long Term Plan committed to improve community first response and build defibrillator networks to help save 4,000 lives by 2028. This is being supported by educating the public, including young people of school age, about how to recognise and respond to out-of-hospital cardiac arrest.NHS England is also working with partners such as the British Heart Foundation to harness new technology and ensure the public and emergency services can rapidly locate this life saving equipment in an emergency.Patients who survive cardiac arrest and their families are supported through referral to local services within the National Health Service; this will include rehabilitation such as cardiac and neurological rehabilitation and mental health services for psychological support.There are different pathways for cardiac arrest survivors, depending on the severity of the damage caused by the cardiac arrest. For people being discharged from secondary care and those with ischemic heart disease, namely myocardial infarction, cardiac rehabilitation services are available in every region.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of changes to the number of hyperbaric chamber on divers based in the Midlands.

NHS England is committed to ensuring equitably accessible, high-quality services, for anyone who requires hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT). We will meet our obligations to do so through implementing plans to deliver the commissioning intentions set out during the public consultation which took place last year. Further information on the public consultation is available at the following link:https://www.england.nhs.uk/long-read/reviewing-hyperbaric-oxygen-services-consultation-guide/#:~:text=Background-,Background,Manual%20of%20Prescribed%20Specialised%20ServicesIt is proposed that the number of commissioned HBOT centres in England is reduced from eight centres to six centres. The geographical scope of these services will ensure that there is no more than four hours travelling time, by road, from coastal locations, the furthest borders, or between neighbouring commissioned HBOT centres, which is in line with good practice guidelines.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of reducing the number of hyperbaric chambers on accessibility for patients.

NHS England is committed to ensuring equitably accessible, high-quality services, for anyone who requires hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT). We will meet our obligations to do so through implementing plans to deliver the commissioning intentions set out during the public consultation which took place last year. Further information on the public consultation is available at the following link:https://www.england.nhs.uk/long-read/reviewing-hyperbaric-oxygen-services-consultation-guide/#:~:text=Background-,Background,Manual%20of%20Prescribed%20Specialised%20ServicesIt is proposed that the number of commissioned HBOT centres in England is reduced from eight centres to six centres. The geographical scope of these services will ensure that there is no more than four hours travelling time, by road, from coastal locations, the furthest borders, or between neighbouring commissioned HBOT centres, which is in line with good practice guidelines.

Pursuant to the Answer of 9 June 2025 to Question 54369 on Non-surgical Cosmetic Procedures: Advertising, which bodies his Department has had discussions with on further regulation in the non-surgical cosmetic procedure sector.

In considering options for further regulation of the non-surgical cosmetics sector, the Department has had discussions with a wide range of stakeholders. This includes representatives from professional associations of practitioners operating in the sector, representatives from statutory professional regulatory bodies overseeing healthcare professionals, officials from the Care Quality Commission, representatives from the Professional Standards Authority accredited registers programme, and representatives from local government and legal professionals. The Department has also liaised with officials in the Devolved Administrations and other Government departments.The Government has considered how the current regulatory landscape of the cosmetics sector operates and what additional levers are available to increase safety in this area. This includes a consideration of the powers granted through the Health and Care Act 2022 to introduce a licensing scheme for non-surgical cosmetic procedures in England and the previous government’s proposals for licensing, which were consulted on in 2023.We will set out the details of what action we will take in the response to the consultation on the licensing of non-surgical cosmetic procedures in England, which we intend to publish in due course.

What his planned timetable is to respond to the consultation on potential further regulation in the non-surgical cosmetic procedure sector.

In considering options for further regulation of the non-surgical cosmetics sector, the Department has had discussions with a wide range of stakeholders. This includes representatives from professional associations of practitioners operating in the sector, representatives from statutory professional regulatory bodies overseeing healthcare professionals, officials from the Care Quality Commission, representatives from the Professional Standards Authority accredited registers programme, and representatives from local government and legal professionals. The Department has also liaised with officials in the Devolved Administrations and other Government departments.The Government has considered how the current regulatory landscape of the cosmetics sector operates and what additional levers are available to increase safety in this area. This includes a consideration of the powers granted through the Health and Care Act 2022 to introduce a licensing scheme for non-surgical cosmetic procedures in England and the previous government’s proposals for licensing, which were consulted on in 2023.We will set out the details of what action we will take in the response to the consultation on the licensing of non-surgical cosmetic procedures in England, which we intend to publish in due course.

Pursuant to the Answer of 9 June 2025 to Question 54369 on Non-surgical Cosmetic Procedures: Advertising, what options he is considering for further regulation in the non-surgical cosmetic procedure sector.

In considering options for further regulation of the non-surgical cosmetics sector, the Department has had discussions with a wide range of stakeholders. This includes representatives from professional associations of practitioners operating in the sector, representatives from statutory professional regulatory bodies overseeing healthcare professionals, officials from the Care Quality Commission, representatives from the Professional Standards Authority accredited registers programme, and representatives from local government and legal professionals. The Department has also liaised with officials in the Devolved Administrations and other Government departments.The Government has considered how the current regulatory landscape of the cosmetics sector operates and what additional levers are available to increase safety in this area. This includes a consideration of the powers granted through the Health and Care Act 2022 to introduce a licensing scheme for non-surgical cosmetic procedures in England and the previous government’s proposals for licensing, which were consulted on in 2023.We will set out the details of what action we will take in the response to the consultation on the licensing of non-surgical cosmetic procedures in England, which we intend to publish in due course.

Whether he is taking steps to support people who received help from NHS and Care Volunteer Responders.

The NHS and Care Volunteer Responders (NHSCVR) programme was first established as part of the COVID-19 response and then adapted to respond to other organisational pressures. Most patients were referred into the programme by a health professional for short-term support through the NHSCVR programme. However, a model that worked well in a national crisis is no longer the most cost-effective way of facilitating the important contribution of our much-valued volunteers. Referrers have been informed of the change in service, so that they can source alternative support for their patients if needed, and those that used the Pick up and Deliver service most frequently have been offered support from the NHS England team to identify alternative forms of support.The NHSCVR programme is just one part of a volunteering system that supports people’s health and care needs, and there are many local voluntary sector organisations that provide other forms of support. Whilst the NHSCVR service is ending, volunteers are being redirected to other National Health Service and voluntary sector organisations to ensure patients continue to be supported.The NHS Volunteer recruitment portal is already available, with 70 health and care organisations advertising opportunities. As the service grows, every NHS or voluntary organisation in health will be able to post opportunities and recruit volunteers to support their local communities, with a full launch of the service planned for later this year.In addition, there are over 72,000 volunteers who continue to support NHS trusts directly in over 300 different volunteer roles, which are unaffected by the closure of the NHSCVR.The decision to close the NHSCVR was based on NHS England’s assessment that the programme was not delivering value for money. The Department will continue to work with NHS England colleagues following the closure of the programme to mitigate risks to national health volunteer resilience.

Pursuant to the Answer of 24 April 2025 to Question 45881 on NHS England: Redundancy Pay, what his planned timetable is for providing further details on the (a) costs and (b) benefits of abolishing NHS England.

Detailed plans are being formulated by a joint Department and NHS England programme team. Work is progressing to develop the design and operating model for the new integrated organisation, and to plan for the smooth transfer of people, functions, and responsibilities. The remit of work includes formulation of the relevant costs.Further detail on the costs and funding mechanisms will be provided as this work develops.