Written questions by Perteghella.

How many patients over 25 in (a) Coventry and Warwickshire and (b) Stratford-on-Avon constituency are on waiting lists for ADHD (i) assessment and (ii) treatment.

There is, at present, no single, established dataset that can be used to monitor waiting times for assessment and diagnosis of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) for individual organisations or geographies in England. Although the data requested is not held centrally, it may be held locally by individual National Health Service trusts or commissioners.On 29 May, NHS England published management information on ADHD waiting lists at a national level for the first time, as part of its ADHD data improvement plan.NHS England has released technical guidance to integrated care boards (ICBs) to improve the recording of ADHD data, with a view to improving the quality of ADHD waiting list data and publishing more localised data in future, and has also captured examples from ICBs who are trialling innovative ways of delivering ADHD services. This information is being used to support systems to tackle ADHD waiting lists and provide support to address people’s needs.NHS England also established an ADHD taskforce which brought together those with lived experience with experts from the NHS, education, charity and justice sectors to get a better understanding of the challenges affecting those with ADHD, including in accessing services and support. An interim report was published on 20 June, with the final report expected later this year.

How many people in (a) England, (b) Warwickshire and (c) the Stratford-on-Avon District Council area sold their homes to pay for care costs in the most recent year for which data is available.

The Department of Health and Social Care does not hold data on the number of individuals who have sold their homes to pay for care costs.

What steps his Department is taking to ensure that people over 25 with suspected ADHD in Coventry and Warwickshire have timely access to (a) assessment and (b) treatment.

NHS England, not my Rt. Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, engage directly with Coventry and Warwickshire Integrated Care Board (ICB), on this matter.It is the responsibility of ICBs in England to make appropriate provision to meet the health and care needs of their local populations, including attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) treatment, in line with relevant National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidelines.The ICB advises that in March 2025, it introduced a new interim policy under which the ICB will only fund new ADHD referrals for people aged under 25 years old at the point of referral. The ICB advises that this is due to concerns about the effectiveness of the current system locally, particularly for children and young people, and this policy will free up clinical time and funding to be reinvested in children’s ADHD services. The ICB has committed to undertake a comprehensive review of the entire ADHD assessment pathway, working with children, young people, and adults with ADHD, to ensure it meets their needs.Nationally, NHS England has captured examples from ICBs who are trialling innovative ways of delivering ADHD services and is using this information to support systems to tackle ADHD waiting lists and provide support to address people’s needs.

What discussions he has had with Coventry and Warwickshire Integrated Care Board on suspending ADHD referrals for people over 25.

NHS England, not my Rt. Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, engage directly with Coventry and Warwickshire Integrated Care Board (ICB), on this matter.It is the responsibility of ICBs in England to make appropriate provision to meet the health and care needs of their local populations, including attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) treatment, in line with relevant National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidelines.The ICB advises that in March 2025, it introduced a new interim policy under which the ICB will only fund new ADHD referrals for people aged under 25 years old at the point of referral. The ICB advises that this is due to concerns about the effectiveness of the current system locally, particularly for children and young people, and this policy will free up clinical time and funding to be reinvested in children’s ADHD services. The ICB has committed to undertake a comprehensive review of the entire ADHD assessment pathway, working with children, young people, and adults with ADHD, to ensure it meets their needs.Nationally, NHS England has captured examples from ICBs who are trialling innovative ways of delivering ADHD services and is using this information to support systems to tackle ADHD waiting lists and provide support to address people’s needs.

If he will make an assessment of the potential merits of increasing the current capital threshold of £23,250 for eligibility for local authority support with residential care costs.

The capital limits for support with adult social care costs are reviewed annually. The rates for the next financial year (2026/27) will be published via a Local Authority Circular in due course.The capital limits represent minimum thresholds, and local authorities retain discretion to apply higher limits if they choose, provided they act in accordance with the Care Act 2014.Additionally, 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's Terms of Reference are sufficiently broad to enable Baroness Casey to define its remit to independently consider how to build a social care system fit for the future, including looking into capital limits as she sees fit.

Whether he is taking steps to help ensure that health professionals are able to refer patients directly to a mental health unit.

The intensive support provided by an inpatient admission is an important part of the mental health pathway. However, a decision to admit a patient needs to be made by mental health professionals who can assess the needs and preferences of an individual alongside their knowledge of which local provision, either within community or within hospital, will best meet them.Substantial progress has been achieved in building more robust crisis care pathways across all ages, and more people are accessing community mental health services than ever before. We are committed to building on this, so that people can access timely, high-quality community support, closer to home. This also aligns with our commitment in the 10-Year Health Plan to shift more care into the community.NHS England is currently piloting new models of neighbourhood mental health care through six neighbourhood mental health centres. These are designed to enhance continuity of care by providing accessible, round-the-clock mental health support in local communities.Access to inpatient services will remain available for those who require more intensive support. When a health professional thinks that an individual needs urgent admission as they are posing a risk to themselves or others, they can refer them for an assessment under the Mental Health Act.

If he will extend the Children's Hospice Grant.

Funding arrangements for children and young people’s hospices for 2026/27 will be confirmed in due course. The Government wants a society where every child receives high-quality, compassionate care from diagnosis through to the end of life.Whilst most palliative care and end of life care is provided by National Health Service staff and services, we recognise the important contribution that children and young people’s hospices make to care and support for babies, children and young people with life-threatening and life-limiting conditions, as well as to their families.NHS England has provided £26 million in revenue funding for children and young people’s hospices for 2025/26, through what was, until recently, known as the Children and Young people’s Hospice Grant. Additionally, we are also supporting both the child and adult hospice sector with a £100 million capital funding boost for 2024/25 and 2025/26, to ensure that eligible hospices throughout England have the best physical environment for care.I have tasked officials to look at how to improve the access, quality and sustainability of all- age palliative and end of life care, including services provided at, or closer to, home, in line with the 10-Year Health Plan. It is our intention to work together with stakeholders to ensure that everyone has access to the care they need, in the right place, at the right time, at the end of life.

What steps is he taking to improve NHS access for people with postural tachycardia syndrome requiring specialist care.

It is the responsibility of local integrated care boards to work with clinicians, service users, and patient groups to develop services and care pathways that are convenient and meet the needs of patients with postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (PoTS). The National Institute for Care Excellence (NICE) has published a clinical knowledge summary on the clinical management of blackouts and syncope, that provides advice for clinicians in the United Kingdom on best practice in the assessment and diagnosis of PoTS. This was last updated in November 2023, and is available at the following link: https://cks.nice.org.uk/topics/blackouts-syncope/diagnosis/assessment/ General practitioners (GPs) have been asked to investigate symptoms to ensure that it is not misdiagnosed. Following referral, patients are treated within National Health Service cardiology and neurology services. Where more specialist advice is required, a referral will be made to an appropriate clinician. To improve awareness of PoTS amongst healthcare professionals, and specifically GPs, the Royal College of General Practitioners provides training on PoTS as part of its Syncope toolkit, which is available at the following link: https://elearning.rcgp.org.uk/course/view.php?id=500

What funding he is allocating to repair NHS estates in Warwickshire.

In 2025/26, the Coventry and Warwickshire Integrated Care Board (ICB) will benefit from the £750 million estates safety fund. The estates safety fund will begin addressing the poorest quality estates, delivering vital safety improvements, enhancing patient and staff environments, and supporting National Health Service productivity. Funding will be issued to NHS trusts on the basis of individual schemes. Descriptions of the planned works and funding allocations, including those in Warwickshire, can be found at the following link: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/68398c46c99c4f37ab4e86ef/estates-safety-fund-2025-to-2026.csv/preview This investment is in addition to the £38.6 million of operational capital provisionally allocated to the Coventry and Warwickshire ICB for 2025/26 to allocate to local priorities, including investment in maintenance and repairs.Funding for repairs to the NHS estate for future years will be confirmed following planning, allocation, and approval processes.

What steps he is taking to hold (a) NHS and (b) water providers to account for hospital sewage leaks.

National Health Service trusts are legally responsible for maintaining their estates and facilities, to ensure they support high-quality health and care services and minimise the risk of infrastructure-related incidents impacting delivery, including sewage leaks. They should work with all necessary partners to achieve this, including water providers. To support this, the Government has provided £750 million of capital funding in 2025/26 to address critical infrastructure and safety risks in NHS buildings, on top of the £4 billion in operational capital for systems to allocate to local priorities, including investment in maintenance and repairs. Information on clinical service incidents relating to infrastructure failure at individual NHS trusts, which would include incidents relating to sewage leaks, is collected and published by NHS England through the Estates Returns Information Collection, which is available online at the following link:https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/publications/statistical/estates-returns-information-collection/summary-page-and-dataset-for-eric-2023-24

What steps his Department is taking to help ensure that the 10 Year Health Plan will help people with arthritis.

The 10-Year Health Plan will deliver the three big shifts our National Health Service needs to be fit for the future: from hospital to community; from analogue to digital; and from sickness to prevention. All of these are relevant to improving arthritis care in all parts of the country.More tests and scans delivered in the community, better joint working between services, and greater use of apps and wearable technology will all support people to manage their long-term conditions, including arthritis, closer to home.

What assessment he has made of the adequacy of support services available to women affected by vaginal mesh implants in (a) Warwickshire and (b) the West Midlands.

There are nine specialist mesh centres across England, ensuring that women in every region with complications of mesh inserted for urinary incontinence and vaginal prolapse get the right support. Each mesh centre is led by a multi-disciplinary team to ensure patients get access to the specialist care and treatment that they need, including pain management and psychological support. The mesh centre that serves the West Midlands is located in Nottingham.NHS England is working with these nine specialist mesh centres to review mesh centre outcomes and patient experience, to ensure they are supporting patients as planned. NHS England has been working with Sling the Mesh and the Rectopexy Mesh Victims and Support Group on this work.

What steps his Department is taking to help ensure that dementia specialists are involved in NHS continuing healthcare assessments for people living with dementia.

The National Framework for NHS Continuing Healthcare and NHS-funded Nursing Care sets out the process for determining eligibility for NHS Continuing Healthcare (CHC). This statutory guidance is clear that the multidisciplinary team involved in CHC assessments should include someone with specialist knowledge of the individual’s condition, such as dementia, or have information available to them from the relevant specialists.It is important that those contributing to the assessment process have the relevant skills and knowledge. To support staff working in health and social care to apply the principles of the national framework, NHS England has developed and published a comprehensive set of online learning resources.CHC eligibility is not determined by diagnosis or condition. It is assessed on a case-by-case basis, taking into account the totality of an individual’s needs, including the ways in which these needs interact with one another.

What training is provided to NHS continuing healthcare assessors to support their understanding of the health needs associated with dementia.

The National Framework for NHS Continuing Healthcare and NHS-funded Nursing Care sets out the process for determining eligibility for NHS Continuing Healthcare (CHC). This statutory guidance is clear that the multidisciplinary team involved in CHC assessments should include someone with specialist knowledge of the individual’s condition, such as dementia, or have information available to them from the relevant specialists.It is important that those contributing to the assessment process have the relevant skills and knowledge. To support staff working in health and social care to apply the principles of the national framework, NHS England has developed and published a comprehensive set of online learning resources.CHC eligibility is not determined by diagnosis or condition. It is assessed on a case-by-case basis, taking into account the totality of an individual’s needs, including the ways in which these needs interact with one another.

What steps he is taking to help improve post diagnostic support for people diagnosed with young onset dementia.

Everyone with dementia should have meaningful care following their diagnosis. This includes information on local services and access to relevant advice and support on what happens next.The provision of dementia health care services is the responsibility of local integrated care boards (ICBs). NHS England would expect ICBs to commission services based on local population needs, taking account of the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence’s guidelines. It is the responsibility of ICBs to work within their geographical area to offer services that meet the needs of their population.Local authorities are required to provide or arrange services that meet the social care needs of the local population under the Care Act 2014. The Government is committed to improving dementia care and empowering local leaders with the autonomy they need to provide the best services to their local community, including those with young onset dementia.This is why we have published the D100: Assessment Tool Pathway programme, which brings together multiple resources into a single, consolidated tool. This will help simplify best practice for system leaders and help create communities and services where the best possible care and support is available to those with dementia, including those with young onset dementia. The D100: Pathway Assessment Tool is available at the following link:https://www.rcpsych.ac.uk/improving-care/nccmh/service-design-and-development/dementia-100-pathway-assessment-tool

What steps he is taking to ensure that social care reform supports (a) deafblind people and (b) other disabled people with complex needs.

The Government recognises the challenges facing the adult social care system, and that people are suffering without the care they need or fighting a complicated system just to receive poor quality care.The independent commission into adult social care, chaired by Baroness Louise Casey, will work with people who draw on care and their families, as well as sector partners, to make clear recommendations for how to rebuild the adult social care system to meet the current and future needs of the population, including for deafblind people and other disabled people with complex needs.At the same time, we are committed to making immediate improvements. We will give disabled people more independence in their own homes through continued investment in the Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG), which funds practical changes that suit individual people’s needs. We have provided an uplift of £172 million across this and the last financial year, bringing the total funding for the DFG to £711 million in 2024/25 and 2025/26.The Government understands the vital importance of coproduction, working directly with people who draw on care and support, including deafblind people and others with complex needs, to design policies that work for them to make their lives better.

If he will take steps to prevent pharmacy closures in Warwickshire.

The Government recognises that pharmacies, including in Warwickshire, are an integral part of the fabric of our communities, as an easily accessible ‘front door’ to the National Health Service, staffed by highly trained and skilled healthcare professionals.We have now concluded the consultation on funding for 2024/25 and 2025/26 and have agreed with Community Pharmacy England to increase the community pharmacy contractual framework to £3.073 billion. This deal represents an uplift of over 19% across 2024/25 and 2025/26 and demonstrates a commitment to rebuilding the sector.Local authorities are required to undertake a pharmaceutical needs assessment (PNA) every three years to assess whether their population is adequately served by local pharmacies and must keep these assessments under review. Integrated care boards give regard to the PNAs when reviewing applications from the new contractors. Contractors can also apply to open a new pharmacy to offer benefits to patients that were not foreseen by the PNA. If there is a need for a new local pharmacy to open and no contractors apply to open a pharmacy and fill the gap, integrated care boards (ICBs) can commission a new pharmacy to open outside of the market entry processes and fund the contract from the ICBs’ budgets. The Pharmacy Access Scheme helps protect access to pharmacies in areas where there are fewer pharmacies and higher health needs, so that no area is left without access to local, physical NHS pharmaceutical services.

What steps he is planning to take to support community pharmacies in the forthcoming 10-Year Health Plan.

The Government is determined to shift more healthcare out of hospitals and into the community, to ensure patients and their families receive personalised care in the most appropriate setting, and community pharmacies will have a big role to play in that shift. As part of the work to develop a 10-Year Health Plan, we have been carefully considering policies, with input from the public, patients, health staff, and our partners, including from the community pharmacy sector.

What steps his Department is taking to ensure the adequacy of community pharmacy provision in Stratford-on-Avon constituency.

The Government recognises that pharmacies, including in Stratford-on-Avon, are an integral part of the fabric of our communities, as an easily accessible front door to the National Health Service, staffed by highly trained and skilled healthcare professionals.We have now concluded the consultation on funding for 2024/25 and 2025/26, and have agreed with Community Pharmacy England to increase the community pharmacy contractual framework to £3.073 billion. This deal represents the largest uplift in funding of any part of the NHS, over 19% across 2024/25 and 2025/26. This shows a commitment to rebuilding the sector.Local authorities are required to undertake a pharmaceutical needs assessment (PNA) every three years to assess whether their population is adequately served by local pharmacies and must keep these assessments under review. Integrated care boards (ICBs) give regard to the PNAs when reviewing applications from the new contractors. Contractors can also apply to open a new pharmacy to offer benefits to patients that were not foreseen by the PNA. If there is a need for a new local pharmacy to open and no contractors apply to open a pharmacy and fill the gap, ICBs can commission a new pharmacy to open outside of the market entry processes, and fund the contract from the ICB’s budget. The Pharmacy Access Scheme helps protect access to pharmacies in areas where there are fewer pharmacies and higher health needs, so that no area is left without access to local, physical NHS pharmaceutical services.

If she will introduce a Young Cancer Patient Travel Fund to provide financial support for children and young people travelling to specialist cancer centres for treatment.

The Department knows that the cost of travel is an important issue for many young cancer patients and their families. NHS England and the integrated care boards are responsible for commissioning and ensuring the healthcare needs of their local communities are met, including providing support for travel. The National Health Service in England runs the Healthcare Travel Costs Scheme (HTCS) to provide financial assistance for travel to a hospital or other NHS premises for specialist NHS treatment or diagnostics tests, when referred by a doctor or other primary healthcare professional. Patients who do not qualify for the HTCS and who are on a low income may be able to claim the costs from the Department for Work and Pensions through Universal Credit or a Personal Independence Payment. There are also a number of charities in the United Kingdom who provide support, including financial support, for patients with cancer. The Department of Health and Social Care has not made an estimate of the average distance travelled and cost incurred by children and young people when attending cancer appointments in the North Cornwall constituency. On 4 February 2025, the Department relaunched the Children and Young People Cancer Taskforce to identify tangible ways to improve outcomes and experiences for young cancer patients. The taskforce will explore opportunities for improvement, including detection and diagnosis, genomic testing and treatment, research and innovation, and patient experience. The taskforce will also ensure that the unique needs of children and young people with cancer are carefully considered as part of the National Cancer Plan.