Written questions by Taylor.

When he plans to set out a timeframe for the reduction of mental health waiting times.

The long waits for mental health services are being driven by increasing demand in a system in desperate need of change.The Government is already responding by delivering new and innovative models of care in the community. As part of this, we have launched six neighbourhood adult mental health centres that are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to bring together community, crisis, and inpatient care.NHS England’s Planning Guidance for 2025/26 makes clear that for this year, to support reform and improvements, we expect all providers to reduce the variation in children and young people accessing services and improve productivity.We are also improving data quality, so we can support providers to understand the demand across their areas. Since July 2023, NHS England has included waiting time metrics for referrals to urgent and community-based mental health services in its monthly mental health statistics publication, to help services to target the longest waits.

If he will take steps to help elderly people access affordable ear wax removal services.

Integrated care boards (ICBs) have a statutory responsibility to commission cost-effective healthcare to meet the needs of their local population. This includes the arrangement of services for ear wax removal.When ICBs exercise their functions, including commissioning healthcare services such as ear wax removal, they have a duty to reduce inequalities between people with respect to their ability to access health services and to reduce inequalities between patients with respect to their health outcomes.Manual ear syringing is no longer advised by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) due to the risks associated with it, such as trauma to their ear drum or infection, so general practitioners (GPs) will often recommend home treatment remedies to alleviate ear wax build-up.However, in line with the NICE’s guidance, a person may require ear wax removal treatment if the build-up of earwax is linked with hearing loss. A GP could then consider referring the patient into audiology services, which ICBs are responsible for commissioning.

Whether he plans to ask the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence to recognise chronic urinary tract infections as a distinct illness in its guidelines.

Classifying a condition as a distinct illness is outside the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence’s (NICE) remit. The NICE has no plans to develop guidance on chronic urinary tract infections (UTIs) at this time, and the topic has not been considered by their prioritisation board. The NICE has produced a clinical guideline on antimicrobial prescribing for recurrent UTIs, which provides recommendations on treatments and self-care for the prevention of recurrent UTIs.

What steps his Department is taking to provide training for (a) GPs and (b) urologists on recognising the symptoms of chronic urinary tract infections.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence has published guidelines for the referral of patients who present with recurrent urinary tract infections (UTIs), which is available at the following link:https://cks.nice.org.uk/topics/urinary-tract-infection-lower-women/management/recurrent-uti-no-haematuria-not-pregnant-or-catheterized/There are specific referral criteria for women, compared to men and children. There are also guidelines in place for those who present to Pharmacy First. If the patient has had a history of UTIs, they are asked to see their general practice (GP) surgery, rather than being prescribed antibiotics by the pharmacy.Patients with recurrent UTIs should be referred to secondary care to exclude other causes, perhaps through an ultrasound scan or a cystoscopy. Once cleared, patients may be prescribed prophylactic antibiotics.The number of lower urinary tract symptom service clinics are locally managed and commissioned by integrated care boards, in accordance with local population need.While there are no current plans to train GPs and urologists on recognising the symptoms of chronic UTIs, NHS England’s UTI reduction workstream was established as part of the delivery of the UK 5-year action plan for antimicrobial resistance 2019 to 2024. This workstream aims to enhance prevention, support early and accurate diagnosis, and improve the treatment of UTIs through identifying and adopting best practice, and through interventions for different population groups.NHS England has also been working with other public bodies, including the UK Health Security Agency, to strengthen the guidance regarding the appropriate use of diagnostics, including dipsticks. GPs can request testing for chronic UTIs via several pathways, including at point-of-care, via community diagnostic centres, or via laboratories. Laboratories across England adhere to stringent quality standards, including the UK Accreditation Standard ISO 15189, and implement robust internal and external quality assurance schemes, ensuring the accuracy of the tests used.

What steps his Department is taking to help make it easier for patients with chronic urinary tract infections to receive referrals from their GPs.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence has published guidelines for the referral of patients who present with recurrent urinary tract infections (UTIs), which is available at the following link:https://cks.nice.org.uk/topics/urinary-tract-infection-lower-women/management/recurrent-uti-no-haematuria-not-pregnant-or-catheterized/There are specific referral criteria for women, compared to men and children. There are also guidelines in place for those who present to Pharmacy First. If the patient has had a history of UTIs, they are asked to see their general practice (GP) surgery, rather than being prescribed antibiotics by the pharmacy.Patients with recurrent UTIs should be referred to secondary care to exclude other causes, perhaps through an ultrasound scan or a cystoscopy. Once cleared, patients may be prescribed prophylactic antibiotics.The number of lower urinary tract symptom service clinics are locally managed and commissioned by integrated care boards, in accordance with local population need.While there are no current plans to train GPs and urologists on recognising the symptoms of chronic UTIs, NHS England’s UTI reduction workstream was established as part of the delivery of the UK 5-year action plan for antimicrobial resistance 2019 to 2024. This workstream aims to enhance prevention, support early and accurate diagnosis, and improve the treatment of UTIs through identifying and adopting best practice, and through interventions for different population groups.NHS England has also been working with other public bodies, including the UK Health Security Agency, to strengthen the guidance regarding the appropriate use of diagnostics, including dipsticks. GPs can request testing for chronic UTIs via several pathways, including at point-of-care, via community diagnostic centres, or via laboratories. Laboratories across England adhere to stringent quality standards, including the UK Accreditation Standard ISO 15189, and implement robust internal and external quality assurance schemes, ensuring the accuracy of the tests used.

Whether he plans to increase the number of lower urinary tract symptoms service clinics.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence has published guidelines for the referral of patients who present with recurrent urinary tract infections (UTIs), which is available at the following link:https://cks.nice.org.uk/topics/urinary-tract-infection-lower-women/management/recurrent-uti-no-haematuria-not-pregnant-or-catheterized/There are specific referral criteria for women, compared to men and children. There are also guidelines in place for those who present to Pharmacy First. If the patient has had a history of UTIs, they are asked to see their general practice (GP) surgery, rather than being prescribed antibiotics by the pharmacy.Patients with recurrent UTIs should be referred to secondary care to exclude other causes, perhaps through an ultrasound scan or a cystoscopy. Once cleared, patients may be prescribed prophylactic antibiotics.The number of lower urinary tract symptom service clinics are locally managed and commissioned by integrated care boards, in accordance with local population need.While there are no current plans to train GPs and urologists on recognising the symptoms of chronic UTIs, NHS England’s UTI reduction workstream was established as part of the delivery of the UK 5-year action plan for antimicrobial resistance 2019 to 2024. This workstream aims to enhance prevention, support early and accurate diagnosis, and improve the treatment of UTIs through identifying and adopting best practice, and through interventions for different population groups.NHS England has also been working with other public bodies, including the UK Health Security Agency, to strengthen the guidance regarding the appropriate use of diagnostics, including dipsticks. GPs can request testing for chronic UTIs via several pathways, including at point-of-care, via community diagnostic centres, or via laboratories. Laboratories across England adhere to stringent quality standards, including the UK Accreditation Standard ISO 15189, and implement robust internal and external quality assurance schemes, ensuring the accuracy of the tests used.

If he will make an assessment of the potential impact of changes to the NHS Payment Scheme on the availability of ADHD assessment services.

As required by law, NHS England has assessed the impact of the proposed NHS Payment Scheme. This is available at the following link:https://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/25-26-NHSPS-Consultation-notice-C-impact-assessment.pdfThis impact assessment includes consideration of the impact on patient choice, as well as an assessment of the impact on patients, in line with NHS England’s public sector equality duty.Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) patients will continue to benefit from the Right to Choose their provider at the point of referral. None of the proposed changes to the NHS Payment Scheme included in the consultation would change this.Local integrated care boards (ICBs) are responsible for planning service provision in their local area, including for ADHD assessments. In doing so, ICBs should take account of waiting lists, considering how local funding can be deployed to best meet the needs of their local population.

What steps he is taking to help tackle (a) trauma-related mental health issues among asylum seekers fleeing conflict and (b) generational trauma within those communities.

Recognising that asylum seekers may require additional mental health support including for trauma related mental health issues, the Department of Health and Social Care works together with NHS England and the Home Office to provide additional guidance and support where required.The Mental Health Sub-Group of the National Asylum Seekers’ Health Oversight Group, which is co-chaired by the Home Office and NHS England, has published examples of national and local interventions aimed at maintaining and improving the emotional wellbeing and mental health of individuals seeking asylum. These are available at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/asylum-mental-health-workstreams-tools-and-case-studies/workstreams-tools-and-case-studies-by-the-home-office-asylum-mental-health-and-wellbeing-team-accessibleWork is currently ongoing to review and improve the Solace training, designed to provide a foundational understanding of the mental health issues that people face in the context of seeking protection in the United Kingdom, so that it can be endorsed by NHS England and placed on the NHS Learning Hub. This will allow the training to be widely promoted to practitioners to understand better trauma and improve access, experience and outcomes of service.In parallel, NHS England, the Department of Health and Social Care, the UK Health Security Agency and the Home Office have been working on practical ways to re-establish an improved initial health check within a few days from arrival to the UK. This early health check will include a baselining of physical and mental health needs and identify vulnerabilities. It reflects the recommendations of the British Red Cross’s report, Delivering with dignity, published in August 2024, and is cognisant of recommendation 16 in the recent report by the Commission on the Integration of Refugees.

Whether the upcoming National Cancer Strategy will outline what steps the NHS will take to work with cancer support charities to support people with cancer (a) physically and (b) mentally (i) before, (ii) during and (iii) after treatment.

My Rt. Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, has announced that a National Cancer Plan for England will be published this year. The Prime Minister’s health mission sets the objective of building a National Health Service fit for the future, and an essential part of this is achieving our goal to reduce the number of lives lost to cancer.The National Cancer Plan will have patients at its heart and will cover the entirety of the cancer pathway, from referral and diagnosis to treatment and ongoing care. It will seek to improve every aspect of cancer care including both physical and mental health, to improve the experience and outcomes for people with all cancer types, and at all stages, including metastatic cancers. Our goal is to reduce the number of lives lost to cancer over the next ten years.We are committed to working closely with partners and patient groups to shape the long-term vision for cancer. The Department plans to engage cancer partners, charities and those within the cancer community, seeking the views of individuals, professionals and organisations to understand how we can do more to achieve this ambition.To do this, on 4 February 2025, we launched a Call for Evidence, in which the views of people across the country will inform our plan to improve cancer care. Those who wish to share their views can do so on the new online platform, which is available at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/calls-for-evidence/shaping-the-national-cancer-plan

If he take steps to provide mental health support for victims of tool theft.

We want to ensure that mental health support is available for all who need it. As part of our mission to build a National Health Service that is fit for the future, we will recruit an additional 8,500 mental health workers across mental health services in England to reduce delays and provide faster treatment.Anyone in England experiencing a mental health crisis can now to speak to a trained NHS professional at any time of the day through a new mental health option on NHS 111. Trained NHS staff will assess patients over the phone and guide callers with next steps, such organising face-to-face community support or facilitating access to alternatives services, such as crisis cafés or safe havens, which provide a place for people to stay as an alternative to accident and emergency or a hospital admission.

What steps his Department is taking to ensure Integrated Care Boards create more women's health hubs.

The Government is committed to encouraging integrated care boards (ICBs) to further expand the coverage of women’s health hubs and to support ICBs to use the learning from the women’s health hub pilots to improve local delivery of services to women.Women’s health hubs have a key role in shifting care out of hospitals and reducing gynaecology waiting lists. As of December 2024, 39 out of 42 ICBs reported that they had a women’s health hub. Reporting from ICBs to NHS England shows that the pilot funding has been used to open or expand a total of 88 hubs. ICBs are responsible for commissioning services that meet the health care needs of their local population, including women's health hubs.Data on waiting times for women’s health hubs is not collected centrally.

What recent steps he has taken to tackle health inequalities affecting women.

We have committed to develop a 10-year plan to deliver a National Health Service fit for the future. We will carefully be considering policies, including those that impact women’s health, as we develop the plan.We want to ensure that the 10-Year Health Plan reflects the diversity of the people who use the NHS every day, and it is important that everyone can have their say as we develop it. The Department has held ministerial roundtables on women’s health as well as maternity and neonatal care, attended by service users, senior clinicians, and a range of charity partners.We are committed to the Women’s Health Strategy and are continuing work to deliver it. For example, the strategy had an ambition to improve workplace support for menopause, and through the Employment Rights Bill we are making this a reality, by requiring large employers to publish gender equality action plans, including how they are supporting employees through the menopause. Women’s health hubs provide integrated women’s health services in the community, and have a key role tackling health inequalities faced by women. As of December 2024, 39 out of 42 integrated care boards (ICBs) reported to NHS England that they had at least one operational women’s health hub. We continue to engage with and encourage ICBs to use the learning from the women’s health hubs pilots to improve local delivery of services to women.We are also working with NHS England on how to take forward the Women’s Health Strategy, by aligning it to the Government’s Missions and 10-Year Health Plan.

What steps his Department has taken to reduce waiting times at women's health hubs.

The Government is committed to encouraging integrated care boards (ICBs) to further expand the coverage of women’s health hubs and to support ICBs to use the learning from the women’s health hub pilots to improve local delivery of services to women.Women’s health hubs have a key role in shifting care out of hospitals and reducing gynaecology waiting lists. As of December 2024, 39 out of 42 ICBs reported that they had a women’s health hub. Reporting from ICBs to NHS England shows that the pilot funding has been used to open or expand a total of 88 hubs. ICBs are responsible for commissioning services that meet the health care needs of their local population, including women's health hubs.Data on waiting times for women’s health hubs is not collected centrally.

What steps his Department is taking to reduce the waiting lists for gynealogical referals in London.

Patients have been let down for too long whilst they wait for the care they need. At the end of November 2024, the gynaecology waiting list in London stood at 99,018, with 57.1% of patient pathways waiting less than 18 weeks.As set out in the Plan for Change, we have committed to return to the National Health Service constitutional standard that 92% of patients, including those waiting for gynaecology services, wait no longer than 18 weeks from Referral to Treatment by March 2029.There are a range of efforts underway, nationally and in London, to reduce the time patients are waiting for gynaecological care. The Elective Reform Plan, published in January 2025, sets out the productivity and reform efforts we will undertake to return to the 18-week standard, and will ensure that patients have the best possible experience while they wait. This includes commitments to support innovative models that offer patients care closer to home, in the community, and piloting gynaecology pathways in community diagnostic centres for patients with post-menopausal bleeding. We have also committed to increasing the relative funding available to support gynaecology procedures with the largest waiting lists and reviewing support options from the independent sector.

Whether the NHS 10-year plan will incorporate the Women’s Health Strategy for England, published on 20 July 2022.

We are committed to the Women's Health Strategy, which will be taken forward as part of the 10-Year Health Plan.

How the costs for the Specialist Emergency Care Hospital in Sutton were estimated.

Details on the multi-criteria decision support analysis tool, and how it was applied during the review, can be found in the New Hospital Programme Plan for Implementation, published on 20 January on the GOV.UK website, and available at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/new-hospital-programme-review-outcome/new-hospital-programme-plan-for-implementationIntegrated care boards (ICBs) will collectively receive over £4 billion in annual capital allocations in 2025/26, which will be managed locally, with funds allocated according to local priorities, including maintenance at New Hospital Programme sites. Recently published National Health Service planning guidance sets out the NHS’s operational capital envelopes, national capital programmes, including a £750 million estates safety fund, and allocation processes for 2025/26. I would encourage the Epsom and St Helier NHS Trust to discuss options with the South West London ICB, to allocate operational capital and national capital programme allocations towards repairs at their sites.Final costs of schemes are subject to the approval of a Full Business Case. Cost estimates produced to enable planning during the business case development process are based on a variety of data which is generated by both the trust and the programme, and includes the capacity, design, and location of the hospital, the enabling works requirements, and the clinical requirements.

With reference to the guidance entitled New Hospital Programme: plan for implementation, published on 20 January 2025, if he will publish the multi-criteria decision support analysis for the Specialist Emergency Care Hospital in Sutton.

Details on the multi-criteria decision support analysis tool, and how it was applied during the review, can be found in the New Hospital Programme Plan for Implementation, published on 20 January on the GOV.UK website, and available at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/new-hospital-programme-review-outcome/new-hospital-programme-plan-for-implementationIntegrated care boards (ICBs) will collectively receive over £4 billion in annual capital allocations in 2025/26, which will be managed locally, with funds allocated according to local priorities, including maintenance at New Hospital Programme sites. Recently published National Health Service planning guidance sets out the NHS’s operational capital envelopes, national capital programmes, including a £750 million estates safety fund, and allocation processes for 2025/26. I would encourage the Epsom and St Helier NHS Trust to discuss options with the South West London ICB, to allocate operational capital and national capital programme allocations towards repairs at their sites.Final costs of schemes are subject to the approval of a Full Business Case. Cost estimates produced to enable planning during the business case development process are based on a variety of data which is generated by both the trust and the programme, and includes the capacity, design, and location of the hospital, the enabling works requirements, and the clinical requirements.

What steps he is taking to support St Helier Hospital while awaiting the construction of the Specialist Emergency Care Hospital in Sutton.

Details on the multi-criteria decision support analysis tool, and how it was applied during the review, can be found in the New Hospital Programme Plan for Implementation, published on 20 January on the GOV.UK website, and available at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/new-hospital-programme-review-outcome/new-hospital-programme-plan-for-implementationIntegrated care boards (ICBs) will collectively receive over £4 billion in annual capital allocations in 2025/26, which will be managed locally, with funds allocated according to local priorities, including maintenance at New Hospital Programme sites. Recently published National Health Service planning guidance sets out the NHS’s operational capital envelopes, national capital programmes, including a £750 million estates safety fund, and allocation processes for 2025/26. I would encourage the Epsom and St Helier NHS Trust to discuss options with the South West London ICB, to allocate operational capital and national capital programme allocations towards repairs at their sites.Final costs of schemes are subject to the approval of a Full Business Case. Cost estimates produced to enable planning during the business case development process are based on a variety of data which is generated by both the trust and the programme, and includes the capacity, design, and location of the hospital, the enabling works requirements, and the clinical requirements.

What steps the NHS is taking to improve the accuracy of tests used by GPs to diagnose chronic urinary tract infections.

Diagnostic tests for chronic urinary tract infections (UTIs), such as urinalysis and urine culture, are widely available across all pathology networks in England. Ensuring accurate diagnostic testing not only aids more effective identification of infection but can also reduce unnecessary prescribing and overprescribing of broad-spectrum antimicrobials and directly benefit patients who get the right treatment sooner. General practitioners can request testing for chronic UTIs via several pathways, including at point-of-care, via community diagnostic centres, or via laboratories. Laboratories across England adhere to stringent quality standards for diagnostic tests, including the UK Accreditation Standard ISO 15189, and implement robust internal and external quality assurance schemes. Together, these measures ensure the accuracy and reliability of diagnostic testing. The development of new products to diagnose infections more accurately is essential to ensure we can continue to treat infections and protect public health. NHS England is also supporting research into newer, more accurate point-of-care tests for UTIs, such as via the Toucan study. More information on the study is available at the following link: https://www.phctrials.ox.ac.uk/recruiting-trials/toucan-platform-for-uti-diagnostic-evaluation

What steps the NHS is taking to improve training for doctors on (a) understanding and (b) treating chronic urinary tract infections.

The standard of training for doctors is the responsibility of the General Medical Council (GMC). The GMC sets the outcome standards expected at undergraduate level. The curricula for postgraduate training is set by the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges for foundation training, and by individual Royal Colleges and faculties for specialty training. The GMC approves curricula and assessment systems for each training programme. Curricula across the specialties where doctors in training might regularly treat patients with urinary tract infections will contain competencies relating to understanding, identifying and treating urinary tract infections and the associated symptoms. The Academy of Medical Royal Colleges Evidenced-based interventions (EBI) programme includes guidance on chronic UTIs, with more information available at the following link: https://ebi.aomrc.org.uk/interventions/investigation-and-onward-referral-of-women-with-recurrent-uti/ In September 2024, the EBI programme was adopted as standard operating procedure by the National Health Service. The Royal College of General Practitioners also provide e-learning on UTIs, with more information available at the following link: https://elearning.rcgp.org.uk/mod/book/tool/print/index.php?id=12652