Written questions by Evans.

What steps he is taking to ensure that the NHSBSA provide timely payments to pharmacists carrying out Pharmacy First consultations.

Pharmacy First is an essential approach to make greater use of pharmacy professionals and shift more care from hospital into the community. The service allows pharmacists to supply prescription-only medicines for seven common conditions, enabling patients to receive a complete episode of care in the pharmacy setting, reducing pressure on general practitioners and the wider healthcare system. This shift is significant and represents a new way of working for the National Health Service that will offer patients greater choice and improve access to the care they need.As part of delivering the Pharmacy First service, pharmacy contractors receive a monthly fixed payment if they meet specific requirements, which include minimum activity levels. From June 2025, pharmacies delivering 20 to 29 consultations receive £500, while those with at least 30 consultations continued to receive £1,000 monthly. To make this change and facilitate more timely payments, the claim window for Pharmacy First was reduced from three to one month. The new tier of payment supports pharmacies with lower potential for delivery and has increased the number of pharmacies qualifying for Pharmacy First fixed payments. This adjustment was agreed with the sector representative body, Community Pharmacy England (CPE). Advanced notice of the change was provided to contractors by letter and in an article published by NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA).The Department sets out the terms for remuneration for pharmacy and appliance contractors in England in the Drug Tariff, which the NHSBSA is required to follow. The Drug Tariff outlines that contractors must submit claims for payment for Pharmacy First consultations within the permitted grace period. We would expect contractors to have standard operating procedures in place to ensure claims are submitted promptly. The Department does not hold data on the number of Pharmacy First claims which were not submitted in accordance with the Drug Tariff. The Department recognises the importance of ensuring pharmacy contractors are paid promptly and we are committed to making improvements where possible. That is why we have recently moved more service payments to the early advance payment to assist with contractors cashflow.The Department will continue to work with the NHSBSA and CPE recognising where improvement can be made to get the best outcomes for patients, pharmacies and the NHS.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of shortening the Pharmacy First Service claim window in June 2025 on pharmacies carrying out that service.

Pharmacy First is an essential approach to make greater use of pharmacy professionals and shift more care from hospital into the community. The service allows pharmacists to supply prescription-only medicines for seven common conditions, enabling patients to receive a complete episode of care in the pharmacy setting, reducing pressure on general practitioners and the wider healthcare system. This shift is significant and represents a new way of working for the National Health Service that will offer patients greater choice and improve access to the care they need.As part of delivering the Pharmacy First service, pharmacy contractors receive a monthly fixed payment if they meet specific requirements, which include minimum activity levels. From June 2025, pharmacies delivering 20 to 29 consultations receive £500, while those with at least 30 consultations continued to receive £1,000 monthly. To make this change and facilitate more timely payments, the claim window for Pharmacy First was reduced from three to one month. The new tier of payment supports pharmacies with lower potential for delivery and has increased the number of pharmacies qualifying for Pharmacy First fixed payments. This adjustment was agreed with the sector representative body, Community Pharmacy England (CPE). Advanced notice of the change was provided to contractors by letter and in an article published by NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA).The Department sets out the terms for remuneration for pharmacy and appliance contractors in England in the Drug Tariff, which the NHSBSA is required to follow. The Drug Tariff outlines that contractors must submit claims for payment for Pharmacy First consultations within the permitted grace period. We would expect contractors to have standard operating procedures in place to ensure claims are submitted promptly. The Department does not hold data on the number of Pharmacy First claims which were not submitted in accordance with the Drug Tariff. The Department recognises the importance of ensuring pharmacy contractors are paid promptly and we are committed to making improvements where possible. That is why we have recently moved more service payments to the early advance payment to assist with contractors cashflow.The Department will continue to work with the NHSBSA and CPE recognising where improvement can be made to get the best outcomes for patients, pharmacies and the NHS.

What estimate he has made of the (a) number of pharmacy contractors who are due outstanding payments from the NHSBSA for Pharmacy First Services and (b) total value of outstanding payments.

Pharmacy First is an essential approach to make greater use of pharmacy professionals and shift more care from hospital into the community. The service allows pharmacists to supply prescription-only medicines for seven common conditions, enabling patients to receive a complete episode of care in the pharmacy setting, reducing pressure on general practitioners and the wider healthcare system. This shift is significant and represents a new way of working for the National Health Service that will offer patients greater choice and improve access to the care they need.As part of delivering the Pharmacy First service, pharmacy contractors receive a monthly fixed payment if they meet specific requirements, which include minimum activity levels. From June 2025, pharmacies delivering 20 to 29 consultations receive £500, while those with at least 30 consultations continued to receive £1,000 monthly. To make this change and facilitate more timely payments, the claim window for Pharmacy First was reduced from three to one month. The new tier of payment supports pharmacies with lower potential for delivery and has increased the number of pharmacies qualifying for Pharmacy First fixed payments. This adjustment was agreed with the sector representative body, Community Pharmacy England (CPE). Advanced notice of the change was provided to contractors by letter and in an article published by NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA).The Department sets out the terms for remuneration for pharmacy and appliance contractors in England in the Drug Tariff, which the NHSBSA is required to follow. The Drug Tariff outlines that contractors must submit claims for payment for Pharmacy First consultations within the permitted grace period. We would expect contractors to have standard operating procedures in place to ensure claims are submitted promptly. The Department does not hold data on the number of Pharmacy First claims which were not submitted in accordance with the Drug Tariff. The Department recognises the importance of ensuring pharmacy contractors are paid promptly and we are committed to making improvements where possible. That is why we have recently moved more service payments to the early advance payment to assist with contractors cashflow.The Department will continue to work with the NHSBSA and CPE recognising where improvement can be made to get the best outcomes for patients, pharmacies and the NHS.

What estimate he has made of the NHS's refusal rate in paying pharmacies for carrying out Pharmacy First Services.

Pharmacy First is an essential approach to make greater use of pharmacy professionals and shift more care from hospital into the community. The service allows pharmacists to supply prescription-only medicines for seven common conditions, enabling patients to receive a complete episode of care in the pharmacy setting, reducing pressure on general practitioners and the wider healthcare system. This shift is significant and represents a new way of working for the National Health Service that will offer patients greater choice and improve access to the care they need.As part of delivering the Pharmacy First service, pharmacy contractors receive a monthly fixed payment if they meet specific requirements, which include minimum activity levels. From June 2025, pharmacies delivering 20 to 29 consultations receive £500, while those with at least 30 consultations continued to receive £1,000 monthly. To make this change and facilitate more timely payments, the claim window for Pharmacy First was reduced from three to one month. The new tier of payment supports pharmacies with lower potential for delivery and has increased the number of pharmacies qualifying for Pharmacy First fixed payments. This adjustment was agreed with the sector representative body, Community Pharmacy England (CPE). Advanced notice of the change was provided to contractors by letter and in an article published by NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA).The Department sets out the terms for remuneration for pharmacy and appliance contractors in England in the Drug Tariff, which the NHSBSA is required to follow. The Drug Tariff outlines that contractors must submit claims for payment for Pharmacy First consultations within the permitted grace period. We would expect contractors to have standard operating procedures in place to ensure claims are submitted promptly. The Department does not hold data on the number of Pharmacy First claims which were not submitted in accordance with the Drug Tariff. The Department recognises the importance of ensuring pharmacy contractors are paid promptly and we are committed to making improvements where possible. That is why we have recently moved more service payments to the early advance payment to assist with contractors cashflow.The Department will continue to work with the NHSBSA and CPE recognising where improvement can be made to get the best outcomes for patients, pharmacies and the NHS.

What estimate he has made of the number of pharmacies who have not been paid for carrying out Pharmacy First Consultations due to a shortening in the claim window in June 2025.

Pharmacy First is an essential approach to make greater use of pharmacy professionals and shift more care from hospital into the community. The service allows pharmacists to supply prescription-only medicines for seven common conditions, enabling patients to receive a complete episode of care in the pharmacy setting, reducing pressure on general practitioners and the wider healthcare system. This shift is significant and represents a new way of working for the National Health Service that will offer patients greater choice and improve access to the care they need.As part of delivering the Pharmacy First service, pharmacy contractors receive a monthly fixed payment if they meet specific requirements, which include minimum activity levels. From June 2025, pharmacies delivering 20 to 29 consultations receive £500, while those with at least 30 consultations continued to receive £1,000 monthly. To make this change and facilitate more timely payments, the claim window for Pharmacy First was reduced from three to one month. The new tier of payment supports pharmacies with lower potential for delivery and has increased the number of pharmacies qualifying for Pharmacy First fixed payments. This adjustment was agreed with the sector representative body, Community Pharmacy England (CPE). Advanced notice of the change was provided to contractors by letter and in an article published by NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA).The Department sets out the terms for remuneration for pharmacy and appliance contractors in England in the Drug Tariff, which the NHSBSA is required to follow. The Drug Tariff outlines that contractors must submit claims for payment for Pharmacy First consultations within the permitted grace period. We would expect contractors to have standard operating procedures in place to ensure claims are submitted promptly. The Department does not hold data on the number of Pharmacy First claims which were not submitted in accordance with the Drug Tariff. The Department recognises the importance of ensuring pharmacy contractors are paid promptly and we are committed to making improvements where possible. That is why we have recently moved more service payments to the early advance payment to assist with contractors cashflow.The Department will continue to work with the NHSBSA and CPE recognising where improvement can be made to get the best outcomes for patients, pharmacies and the NHS.

What assessment he has made of the adequacy of the number of job places available for newly qualified physiotherapists.

The requested data is not held.

What information his Department holds on the number and proportion of newly qualified physiotherapists that have secured work within 12 months of qualifying.

The requested data is not held.

What the most recent competition ratio is for newly qualified physiotherapists.

The requested data is not held.

Pursuant to the Answer of 15 December 2025 to Question 96945 on Ophthalmic Services, what steps his Department is taking to share best practice between Integrated Care Boards in order to reduce regional inequalities in access to eye care services.

Integrated care boards (ICBs) are encouraged to share best practice to help reduce regional inequalities in access to eye care services via the NHS Future Platform The Getting It Right First Time (GIRFT) programme also has best practice guidance for ophthalmology. More information is available at the following link:https://gettingitrightfirsttime.co.uk/surgical_specialties/ophthalmology/

Whether he has made an assessment of the (a) effectiveness of the Pharmacy First Model in Scotland and (b) potential merits of expanding a similar service in England.

Pharmacy First in England was launched on 31 January 2024. This incorporated existing elements under the former Community Pharmacist Consultation Service and introduced a new clinical pathways element. The new clinical pathways element allows patients to receive treatment for seven common health conditions without the need for a general practitioner (GP) appointment.As health is a devolved matter, the Pharmacy First service in Scotland is commissioned separately to the one in England. The conditions covered by the English and Scottish schemes do differ slightly, but the services operate in a similar manner. Both operate a consultation service under which pharmacists can provide some prescription only medicines without the need to see a prescriber. In addition, Scotland commissions the expanded Pharmacy First Plus service, which has a broader scope and can be provided by pharmacists with a prescribing qualification. In line with the 10-Year Health Plan, we are committed to giving pharmacists in England more ability to prescribe and to manage a range of health conditions.The Department has not formally assessed the Scottish scheme, but the Pharmacy First service design was informed by best practice from similar locally commissioned services and services commissioned by the devolved governments. NHS England will keep the clinical scope of the service under review.

What steps is the Independent Review into Mental Health Conditions taking to capture the views of medical professionals working with patients with mental health conditions, ADHD and autism as part of the review process.

The independent review into the prevalence and support for mental health conditions, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and autism will appoint an advisory working group. This will be a multidisciplinary group of leading academics, clinicians, epidemiological experts, charities, and people with lived experience to directly shape the recommendations and scrutinise the evidence.

What steps is the Independent Review into Mental Health Conditions taking to capture the views of people with lived experience of mental health conditions, ADHD and autism as part of the review process.

The independent review into the prevalence and support for mental health conditions, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and autism will appoint an advisory working group. This will be a multidisciplinary group of leading academics, clinicians, epidemiological experts, charities, and people with lived experience to directly shape the recommendations and scrutinise the evidence.

Pursuant to WPQ 94952 answered on 10 December 2025 about Crohn's Disease and Ulcerative Colitis, when in 2026 will Diagnosis Connect be rolled out across England to provide tailored information and support to newly diagnosed Chohn's Disease and Ulcerative Colitis patients.

Initially, the Diagnosis Connect Service will be piloted across a small number of long-term conditions which will be determined based on conditions diagnosed and referred from primary care, and readiness of the charities to proceed, as well as considerations around which diagnostic pathways might most benefit from this approach.The aim will be to focus more support going to those with greatest need and areas with the worst health outcomes, therefore impacting on inequalities.An open procurement process will enable us to secure a partnership with three or more specialist charities which have the infrastructure, capabilities, and networks to deliver a successful pilot for patients and the National Health Service, ahead of a full rollout across the wider health system.

Pursuant to WPQ 95192 answered on 11 December 2025 about men's health, will he include information about the mental and physical health impact of [a] anabolic steroids and [b] ipeds as part of the men's health literacy programme announced as part of the Men's Health Strategy.

As set out in the Men’s Health Strategy, we have committed to a range of actions to improve men’s health literacy, from building the evidence base to identifying ways to build media and health literacy skills in men.We are now turning our focus to implementing these commitments. We will consider the evidence base on anabolic steroids and image and performance enhancing drugs in defining the scope of our actions.By investing in innovative, evidence-based, and locally led community programs, we aim to address health inequalities, improve health literacy, and challenge societal norms that may hinder men from seeking care. This targeted approach lays the foundation for long-term, meaningful change in men's health outcomes.

Pursuant to WPQ 94952 answered on 10 December 2025 about Crohn's Disease and Ulcerative Colitis, what steps is [a] DHASC and [b} NHS England taking to monitor the effectiveness of the Getting it Right First Time (GIRFT) programme in the field of supporting people living with Chrohn's disease and Ulcerative Colitis.

NHS England supports local integrated care boards to deliver high-quality, timely services through initiatives such as the Getting It Right First Time (GIRFT) programme.As part of its work within the gastroenterology specialty, GIRFT is sharing a template and best practice for the use of advice and guidance, and advice and referencing to promote earlier diagnosis, and is also encouraging the use of single point of access models, which can help patients get earlier access to specialist opinions, advice, and treatment.GIRFT has also recently published a new inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) handbook pulling together examples of innovative practice, proven solutions, and practical actions to help optimise the care of National Health Service patients with IBD. The GIRFT IBD pathway and associated handbook include specific guidance for paediatric care and transition to adult services, recognising the unique needs of children and young people with Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. The handbook is available at the following link:https://gettingitrightfirsttime.co.uk/practical-advice-and-key-actions-in-new-girft-handbook-for-optimising-the-care-of-patients-with-ibd/GIRFT is also working with providers on a Further Faster Follow-Up programme, which introduces key protocols for gastroenterology, with IBD and suspected IBD being included, and is also collaborating on national work to develop a digital IBD pathway. It is too early to assess the effectiveness of these initiatives.

Pursuant to the Answer of 1 December 2025 to Question 87412, if he will make an estimate of the potential cost of the applications received to NHS England’s voluntary redundancy scheme.

The estimated overall cost of redundancy exits across the Department, NHS England, integrated care boards (ICBs) and commissioning support units is estimated at approximately £1 billion to £1.3 billion. This calculated estimate was informed by inputs from subject matter experts across both organisations, including human resources, the transformation team, and other relevant functions, to ensure that the estimate reflected the full range of financial and operational implications, as well as staff exit estimates provided by ICBs. The process included designing modelling frameworks, integrating workforce data, stress-testing scenarios and ensuring alignment between the Department’s and NHS England’s finance teams.The redundancy and restructuring programme is now in the stage of active policy development. Final costs are subject to actual take-up of exit schemes and calculated individual costs, which is being continuously monitored.

Pursuant to the Answer of 1 December 2025 to Question 87412, how many applications have been received to NHS England’s voluntary redundancy scheme.

NHS England’s voluntary redundancy scheme opened on 1 December 2025 and closed for applications on 16 December 2025. Applications to the scheme are currently being reviewed.Our ambition is to let as many people leave voluntarily as possible and alongside ongoing recruitment controls and natural staff turnover, we believe this will allow us to make significant progress towards the 50% headcount reduction.

What materials will be provided by the Government for the (a) the Premier League and (b) Samaritans in the Together Against Suicide Partnership.

As part of England's first ever Men's Health Strategy, the Government announced a groundbreaking partnership with the Premier League to tackle male suicide and improve health literacy. We will work with the Premier League to co-create materials that promote signposting to existing mental health and suicide prevention support. The partnership will also champion NHS England’s new Staying Safe from Suicide guidance, embedding its principles across club staff and driving adoption of the associated e-learning among mental health practitioners within club networks, ensuring best practice reaches those supporting players and fans. Further information on the Staying Safe from Suicide guidance and the associated e-learning is available, respectively, at the following two links:https://www.england.nhs.uk/long-read/staying-safe-from-suicide/#https://www.minded.org.uk/Component/Details/849008

How much funding the (a) Government, (b) Premier League and (c) Samaritans are providing for the Together Against Suicide Partnership.

Through the Men’s Health Strategy, we have established a partnership with the Premier League to tackle male suicide and improve health literacy. This supports the Premier League’s Together Against Suicide initiative with the Samaritans. The funding contributed towards the Together Against Suicide initiative is not within the Department’s remit.

Pursuant to the Answer of 2 December 2025 to Question 87411 on NHS England: Redundancy, what proportion of the £860 million will be spent in each financial year.

The £860 million figure reflects funding brought forward from the Department’s 2025 Spending Review settlement. It will be brought forward to earlier years to bring NHS England into the Department, resulting in one organisation, and significantly reducing integrated care board running costs. This investment now will deliver savings of at least £1 billion per year by the end of this Parliament. This reprofiling was agreed following detailed discussions with HM Treasury and was announced at the Budget in November 2025.The cost estimates to support this reprofiling were calculated jointly by the Department and NHS England’s finance teams, with input from subject matter experts. The calculations remain subject to ongoing policy development and refinement as part of wider transformation planning and prioritisation. Relevant material financial information will be published in due course in line with transparency obligations.The profile by financial year has been published by HM Treasury within table 4.1, page 90, line 38 of the 2025 Budget policy paper, a copy of which is attached. It should be noted that these figures represent United Kingdom-wide allocations informed by the Barnett formula, rather than the England-only value referenced in the question.