Written questions by Wrigley.

What steps his Department is taking to support dental laboratories affected by rising energy costs in Devon.

We recognise the importance of dental laboratories and the role they play in support of National Health Service dental services.The NHS contracts independent dental providers to deliver NHS dental treatment. Providers are able to make choices about how they operate within the terms of the contract, including choice over the dental laboratory suppliers they use, providing they remain compliant with the appropriate regulations.The independent pay review body for doctors and dentists recommended a 6% pay uplift for 2024/25. The Government accepted the recommendation and has proposed that NHS primary care dentistry contract values be uplifted by 4.64%, net of pay and expenses elements. Laboratory costs are part of the expenses element of this uplift. The Government is acting to implement the overall uplift to contract values as soon as possible.

What steps his Department is taking to support NHS dental laboratories in Devon.

We recognise the importance of dental laboratories and the role they play in support of National Health Service dental services.The NHS contracts independent dental providers to deliver NHS dental treatment. Providers are able to make choices about how they operate within the terms of the contract, including choice over the dental laboratory suppliers they use, providing they remain compliant with the appropriate regulations.The independent pay review body for doctors and dentists recommended a 6% pay uplift for 2024/25. The Government accepted the recommendation and has proposed that NHS primary care dentistry contract values be uplifted by 4.64%, net of pay and expenses elements. Laboratory costs are part of the expenses element of this uplift. The Government is acting to implement the overall uplift to contract values as soon as possible.

What steps his Department to tackle shortages of NHS dentists in Devon.

We are aware of the challenges people face in accessing a dentist, particularly in more rural and coastal areas. The Government plans to tackle the challenges for patients trying to access National Health Service dental care with a rescue plan to provide 700,000 more urgent dental appointments and recruit new dentists to areas that need them most. To rebuild dentistry in the long term and increase access to NHS dental care, we will reform the dental contract, with a shift to focus on prevention and the retention of NHS dentists.Integrated care boards have started to advertise posts through the Golden Hello scheme. This recruitment incentive will see up to 240 dentists receiving payments of £20,000 to work in those areas that need them most for three years.

What steps his Department is taking to help support people with ME in Devon.

Integrated care boards are responsible for commissioning specialist myalgic encephalomyelitis, also known as chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS), services that meet the needs of their population, including in Devon, subject to local prioritisation and funding.NHS England colleagues in the south west of England have engaged with the Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, which is in the process of developing formal pathways for acute admission and emergency admission for patients with ME/CFS.

What steps his Department is taking to help support people with long covid in Devon.

NHS Devon continues to provide long COVID services for patients in Devon. The services are provided by the Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, Livewell Southwest and Torbay, and the South Devon NHS Foundation Trust.

What steps he is taking to improve access to a legal prescription for pharmaceutical cannabis-based epilepsy treatments.

Licensed cannabis-based medicines are routinely available on the National Health Service. Epidyolex is used for the treatment of seizures associated with two rare forms of epilepsy, specifically Dravet syndrome and Lennox-Gastaut syndrome, and tuberous sclerosis complex. However, clinical guidelines from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence demonstrate a clear need for more evidence on the safety and effectiveness of unlicensed cannabis-based medicines, to support routine prescribing and funding decision on the NHS.NHS England and The National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) have agreed funding for two trials relating to the use of cannabis-based medicines for the treatment of difficult-to-treat epilepsies. These will be world-first trials and will be crucial in informing future NHS funding decisions.Manufacturers are responsible for generating evidence to support the use of these products and for seeking regulatory approval. The Government encourages manufacturers to do so, and offers scientific and research advice from the Medicines Healthcare products Regulatory Agency and the NIHR.

Whether he has made an assessment of the potential impact of changes in the budget on dental laboratories; and if he will take steps to ensure that the dental contract reflects actual costs for dental laboratories.

The independent pay review body for doctors and dentists recommended a 6% pay uplift for 2024/25. The Government accepted the recommendation and has proposed that National Health Service primary care dentistry contract values be uplifted by 4.64%, net of pay and expenses elements. Laboratory costs are part of the expenses element of this uplift.The Government is acting to implement the overall uplift to contract values as soon as possible. To rebuild dentistry in the long term, we will reform the dental contract with the sector, with a shift to focus on prevention and the retention of NHS dentists.

When he plans to reply to correspondence of 19 November 2024 from the hon. Member for Newton Abbott on his constituent Hall. A.

I replied to the hon. Member’s letter on 12 December 2024 with Departmental reference PO-1548072.

If he will have discussions with NICE on the potential merits of offering Givinostat for Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

There are no plans to have discussions with the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) on offering givinostat for Duchenne muscular dystrophy. The NICE makes recommendations for the National Health Service on whether new licensed medicines should be routinely funded by the NHS independently, based on an assessment of their costs and benefits. The NHS in England is legally required to fund medicines recommended by the NICE, normally within three months of the publication of final guidance. The NICE is currently evaluating givinostat, and its Appraisal Committee will meet to consider its recommendations in May 2025.

What steps he is taking to support people with Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

The Government is committed to improving the lives of those living with rare diseases, such as Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). The UK Rare Diseases Framework sets out four priorities collaboratively developed with the rare disease community, and these include better coordination of care, and improving access to specialist care, treatment, and drugs. We remain committed to delivering under the framework, and will publish an annual England action plan in 2025 which will report on progress.The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) makes recommendations for the National Health Service on whether new licensed medicines should be routinely funded by the NHS, based on an assessment of their costs and benefits. The NHS in England is legally required to fund medicines recommended by the NICE, normally within three months of the publication of final guidance. The NICE has recently published guidance recommending vamorolone as an option for treating DMD in people four years old and over, and is currently developing recommendations on the use of givinostat, which was granted a conditional marketing authorisation by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency for the treatment of DMD in patients aged six years old and over in December 2024.

What steps he is taking to raise awareness of Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

The Government is committed to improving the lives of those living with rare diseases, such as Duchenne muscular dystrophy. The UK Rare Diseases Framework sets out four priorities, collaboratively developed with the rare disease community, which includes increasing awareness of rare diseases among healthcare professionals. We remain committed to delivering under the framework, and will publish an annual England action plan in 2025, which will report on progress.The NHS England Genomics Education Programme (GEP) has continued to develop the GeNotes digital educational resource aimed at healthcare professionals, and has launched several specialities, including in neurology. Through the education and training of the workforce, the GEP will support earlier recognition, timely diagnosis, and healthcare professionals’ understanding of the genomic testing available for Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

If he will make an assessment of the potential impact of the incoming US presidency on healthcare research in the UK.

The United Kingdom’s world-class health research ecosystem makes us a natural and leading partner for the United States’ research community and life sciences. The United States ranks the highest in the number of co-authorships, between UK researchers and researchers in international organisations, of peer reviewed biomedical journal papers. The Government will continue to encourage close working between our respective research funders to support cutting-edge, collaborative research between the UK and the United States.

Whether his Department plans to monitor the declining charitable income of hospices and the potential link to deterioration in service.

Palliative care services are included in the list of services an integrated care board (ICB) must commission. This promotes a more consistent national approach and supports commissioners in prioritising palliative and end of life care. To support ICBs in this duty, NHS England has published statutory guidance and service specifications.Whilst the majority of palliative and end of life care is provided by National Health Service staff and services, we recognise the vital part that voluntary sector organisations, including hospices, also play in providing support to people at end of life and their loved ones.Individual ICBs oversee palliative care provision by NHS and non-NHS services, including charitable hospices, within each area.The biggest investment in a generation for hospices has been announced by the Government, ensuring that hospices can continue to deliver the highest quality end of life care possible for their patients, families, and loved ones.This was through a £100 million boost for adult and children’s hospices to ensure they have the best physical environment for care, and £26 million of revenue to support children and young people’s hospices. Further details of the funding allocation and dissemination will be set out in the new year.We, alongside key partners NHS England, will continue to proactively engage with our stakeholders, including the voluntary sector and independent hospices, on an ongoing basis, in order to understand the issues they face.

How much funding his Department plans to provide for meeting the Mental Health Investment Standard in the 2025-26 financial year.

We remain committed to the Mental Health Investment Standard. My Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, will set out expectations for mental health funding, including the share of overall National Health Service expenditure in 2025/26, in due course, as required under section 3(2) of the Health and Care Act 2022. NHS England is also expected to issue its priorities and operational planning guidance for the NHS for 2025/26 shortly.

What steps he is taking to mitigate the impact of shortages of medicines for people with (a) epilepsy and (b) Parkinson's disease.

The Department is working hard with industry to help resolve intermittent supply issues with some epilepsy medications. As a result of ongoing activity and intensive work, including directing suppliers to expedite deliveries, some issues, including with some carbamazepine and oxcarbazepine presentations, have been resolved.There is a supply issue with all strengths of lamotrigine tablets, used to manage epilepsy, due to manufacturing issues. A supply issue with one of the strengths of lamotrigine tablets has recently resolved, and the remaining strengths are expected to resolve from early December 2024. Other manufacturers of lamotrigine tablets can meet the increased demand during this time.The Department is aware of supply constraints with one supplier of amantadine 100mg capsules used in the management of Parkinson’s Disease, however stocks remain available from alternative suppliers to cover this demand.The Department continues to work closely with industry, the NHS and others to help ensure patients continue to have access to an alternative treatment until their usual product is back in stock.