Written questions by Blake.

What steps he is taking to help ensure that cervical screening appointments can be booked via the NHS app.

NHS England takes a digital first approach to issuing invitations and results in the National Health Service cervical screening programme, using the NHS App and SMS.NHS England is committed to making it as easy as possible for those wishing to participate in cervical screening to book an appointment.For many people registered with a general practice (GP), they can already book appointments using the NHS App.However, as NHS England finalises the first phase of its digital approach to correspondence, it is exploring the feasibility of providing a direct link from the screening invitations on the NHS App to GP booking systems, making it even easier to make appointments.Cervical screening sample takers, for example GP nurses, are flagging with patients that results may be sent to them via the NHS App and are encouraging them to use and switch on notifications on the App.

What implication the shortage of Consultant Dermatologists has for NHS waiting lists (i) nationally and (ii) in South Yorkshire.

Cutting waiting lists is a key priority for the Government, including for dermatology. The Department is committed to ensuring that the proportion of patients waiting no longer than 18 weeks from Referral to Treatment, including for dermatology services, returns to 92% by March 2029, and to 65% by March 2026.NHS England’s Getting It Right First Time (GIRFT) programme is working to improve waiting times through its established Further Faster programme to transform patient pathways and improve access and waiting times for patients. Dermatology is one of 24 specialties in focus for GIRFT’s Further Faster work.A Further Faster handbook for dermatology has been produced to share best practices, and the GIRFT team is carrying out regular visits to, and meetings with, challenged departments in order to provide support in improving performance across dermatology.NHS England more widely is pioneering the use of artificial intelligence (AI), including autonomous AI, to manage skin cancer referrals, which now represent approximately 50% of dermatology referrals. This can free up clinicians to see more patients and help to reduce waiting lists. AI is already in use across more than 20 trusts, with seven trusts deploying autonomous AI, and further plans in place to expand adoption safely and effectively.The Department does not hold data on the current shortfall, or vacancies in the National Health Service, for consultant dermatologists, including in South Yorkshire.Local providers are best placed to make decisions on workforce capacity to reflect local service demand and circumstances, including management of their waiting list.The 10-Year Health Plan for England set out that 1,000 more medical specialty training places will be created over the next three years, with a focus on specialties where there is the greatest need. We will set out next steps in due course.

What steps he is taking to reduce Dermatology waiting lists (i) nationally and (ii) in South Yorkshire.

Cutting waiting lists is a key priority for the Government, including for dermatology. The Department is committed to ensuring that the proportion of patients waiting no longer than 18 weeks from Referral to Treatment, including for dermatology services, returns to 92% by March 2029, and to 65% by March 2026.NHS England’s Getting It Right First Time (GIRFT) programme is working to improve waiting times through its established Further Faster programme to transform patient pathways and improve access and waiting times for patients. Dermatology is one of 24 specialties in focus for GIRFT’s Further Faster work.A Further Faster handbook for dermatology has been produced to share best practices, and the GIRFT team is carrying out regular visits to, and meetings with, challenged departments in order to provide support in improving performance across dermatology.NHS England more widely is pioneering the use of artificial intelligence (AI), including autonomous AI, to manage skin cancer referrals, which now represent approximately 50% of dermatology referrals. This can free up clinicians to see more patients and help to reduce waiting lists. AI is already in use across more than 20 trusts, with seven trusts deploying autonomous AI, and further plans in place to expand adoption safely and effectively.The Department does not hold data on the current shortfall, or vacancies in the National Health Service, for consultant dermatologists, including in South Yorkshire.Local providers are best placed to make decisions on workforce capacity to reflect local service demand and circumstances, including management of their waiting list.The 10-Year Health Plan for England set out that 1,000 more medical specialty training places will be created over the next three years, with a focus on specialties where there is the greatest need. We will set out next steps in due course.

What is the size of the shortfall in NHS Consultant Dermatologists as a proportion of the total number of working Consultant Dermatologists needed by the NHS.

The Department does not hold data on the current shortfall, or vacancies in the National Health Service, for consultant dermatologists.The 10-Year Health Plan for England set out that 1,000 more medical specialty training places will be created over the next three years, with a focus on specialties where there is greatest need. We will set out next steps in due course.

What steps his Department is taking to support local authorities with the cost of non-residential adult social care.

The Government is making approximately £4.6 billion of additional funding available for adult social care in 2028/29 compared to 2025/26, to support the sector in making improvements. This includes additional grant funding, growth in other sources of income available to support adult social care, and a £331 million increase to the National Health Service contribution to adult social care via the Better Care Fund, in line with the Department’s Spending Review settlement. Local authorities are best placed to understand and plan for the needs of their population, which is why, under the Care Act 2014, they are tasked with the duty to shape their care market to meet the diverse needs of all local people.

What assessment has been made of the potential merits of using Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation as treatment for post-stroke complications other than depression.

The 2023 National Institute for Health and Care guideline NG236, on recommendations on stroke rehabilitation, reviewed the evidence and concluded that whilst there was some evidence on the effect of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation in the short term, the research does not yet support adoption other than for depression. The guideline NG236 is available at the following link: https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/NG236

If he will provide an update on the rollout of a Fracture Liaison Service, due to be implemented by 2030.

I refer the Hon. Member to the answer I gave to the Hon. Member for Stockton West on 13 October 2025 to Question 77172.

When he will publish the outcome of the Healthy Start extension for families with the No Recourse to Public Funds condition; and whether a timeline has been set for bringing the scheme into law.

The Department is currently considering options following the consultation titled Eligibility for Healthy Start for groups that have no recourse to public funds or are subject to immigration controls. Further information will be available in due course.

What steps his Department is taking to ensure that the commitment to end the discharge of newborn babies into bed and breakfast accommodation or other unsuitable shared housing applies to all families, including those seeking asylum and those subject to No Recourse to Public Funds.

The Government has committed to ending the practice of discharging newborn babies into bed and breakfast or other unsuitable shared accommodation through the Child Poverty Strategy. We are working closely across Government, including with Home Office, to consider its implementation and any other associated impacts.Asylum seeking families can access some of the support set out in the Child Poverty Strategy, including Best Start Family Hubs in England.

To set out the legal status of products containing Melanotan II, including i) tan-enhancing injections; ii) tan-enhancing nasal sprays; iii) other products the Department is aware of.

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is required to determine whether products are medicines on a case-by-case basis, taking into account the definition of a medicine in the Human Medicines Regulations 2012, relevant case law, and any other evidence.There are many products which modify physiological function but which are not medicinal products, and case law has established that products that do so while having no beneficial effects on human health cannot be medicines.Melanotan II injections and pens are considered medicinal products due to their similarity to an authorised medicinal product and potential application to other medical conditions.However, tan-enhancing nasal products which are clearly marketed for self-tanning purposes and which do not have a medical purpose do not fall under medicines regulations and are not within the MHRA’s remit.

Who has responsibility for preventing the availability of products containing Melanotan II in England; and what steps he has taken to tackle the availability of these products.

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is required to determine whether products are medicines on a case-by-case basis taking into account the definition of a medicine in The Human Medicines Regulations 2012, relevant case law, and any other evidence.Melanotan II injections and pens are considered medicinal products due to their similarity to an authorised medicinal product and potential application to other medical conditions.However, tan-enhancing nasal products which are clearly marketed for self-tanning purposes and which do not have a medical purpose do not fall under medicines regulations and are not within the MHRA’s remit.Medicinal products must hold a relevant Marketing Authorisation to be legally sold and supplied in the United Kingdom. This also guarantees that the medicines have been tested for conformity with strict standards of quality, safety, and efficacy.

Whether the Cancer Plan will specifically address the availability of products containing Melanotan II.

The Government is taking steps to prevent, diagnose, and treat cancers more quickly, including skin cancers. The forthcoming National Cancer Plan will cover the entirety of the cancer pathway from referral and diagnosis to treatment and ongoing care. It will set out how we will improve outcomes for cancer patients, including by speeding up diagnosis and treatment, ensuring patients have access to the latest treatments and technology, and ultimately driving up this country’s cancer survival rates. We will publish the National Cancer Plan in the new year to reduce the number of lives lost to cancer over the next 10 years.We received over 11,000 responses to our call for evidence from individuals, professionals, and organisations, and we are reviewing the submissions from skin cancer partners. While no formal assessment has been made of the availability and levels of the use of tan-enhancing products containing Melanotan II, respondents shared concerns about tanning products and their potential links to cancer, particularly melanoma. Our expansive engagement will allow the National Cancer Plan to have patients at its heart.The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is responsible for the regulation of medicinal products and medical devices in the United Kingdom.Although tanning is not considered to be a medical purpose, injectable products containing Melanotan I or Melanotan II have been determined as medicinal products due to their similarity to the authorised medicine Scenesse.In relation to nasal sprays containing Melanotan I or Melanotan II, there are no equivalent authorised medicines, and in the absence of medicinal claims, they are not regarded as medicinal products.Medicinal products must hold a relevant Marketing Authorisation to be legally sold and supplied in the United Kingdom. This also guarantees that the medicines have been tested for conformity with strict standards of quality, safety, and efficacy. The MHRA takes action when a medicinal product without appropriate authorisations is identified.

If he will consider introducing a more centralised process for Freedom of Information requests concerning surgeons across England.

A Freedom of Information (FOI) request is a request for recorded information held by that public authority. The Department is only able to respond to requests for information that it holds at the time of the request, and interaction with other public authorities on FOIs is therefore limited. All requests must be handled in line with the principles of the FOI Act and the guidance issued by the Information Commissioner's Office, as the FOI regulator. There is therefore no ability at present for the Department to operate a separate process for any specific topics or areas of interest.

What assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of excluding unpaid carers from the covid-19 booster shot scheme.

The Government is committed to protecting those most vulnerable to COVID-19 through vaccination, as guided by the independent Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI).In its advice for autumn 2024, the JCVI advised that in the era of highly transmissible Omicron sub-variants, any protection offered by the vaccine against the transmission of infection from one person to another is expected to be extremely limited. Therefore, the indirect benefits of vaccination, vaccinating an individual such as an unpaid carer in order to reduce the risk of severe disease in other people, are less evident now compared with previous years, and therefore unpaid carers were not eligible for a COVID-19 vaccination in autumn 2024.In line with JCVI’s advice, the autumn 2025 programme is focused on targeted vaccination of the oldest adults, those aged 75 years old and over and residents in a care home for older adults, and individuals who are immunosuppressed. These are the two groups who continue to be at higher risk of serious disease, including mortality. Any unpaid carer who is eligible through age or immunosuppression for vaccination in this campaign is encouraged to take up the offer.

What steps his Department is taking to ensure Physician Associates are supported to transition into new roles within the NHS on equal bands to their current roles.

The principal question of the Leng Review was to assess whether the roles of physician assistants (PAs) and physician assistants in anaesthesia, still legally known as physician associates and anaesthesia associates, are safe and effective. The review’s findings were clear that, with changes in line with its recommendations, there remains a place for these roles to continue as supportive, complementary members of medical teams. The review recommendations include ensuring that PAs have the opportunity for ongoing training and development in the context of a formal certification and credentialling programme. Professor Leng will be undertaking a temporary and continuing role to support the implementation of the recommendations, which will include driving wider discussions with a range of system partners including NHS England, the General Medical Council, royal colleges, professional bodies, and higher education institutions to consider further the changes needed to implement the recommendations. We are committed to training the staff we need to ensure patients are cared for by the right professional, when and where they need it. Our forthcoming 10 Year Workforce Plan will look at how to get the right people, in the right places, with the right skills to deliver the best care, and we will consider the findings of the Leng Review when developing the plan.

Whether he plans to take steps to reduce the waiting time for ADHD prescription under Sheffield Adult Autism and Neurodevelopmental Service.

The Government has recognised that, nationally, demand for assessments for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) has grown significantly in recent years and that people are experiencing severe delays accessing such assessments.It is the responsibility of the integrated care boards (ICBs) in England to make available appropriate provision to meet the health and care needs of their local population, including providing access to ADHD assessment and treatment, in line with relevant National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidelines.NHS England 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, and we will carefully consider its recommendations.The NHS South Yorkshire ICB advises that the Sheffield Adult Autism and Neurodevelopmental Service is reviewing its diagnostic pathways and recruiting additional staff in order to improve efficiency within the service. The NHS South Yorkshire ICB has also commissioned the Adult Autism and ADHD Support Hub, delivered by the voluntary sector organisation, Mental Health Matters, to offer free support to autistic people and people with ADHD living in Sheffield. The hub provides a range of practical advice and information on areas such as confidence building, peer support, and wellbeing.

Whether the eligibility criteria for covid-19 boosters has changed for unpaid carers.

The Government’s policy on eligibility for vaccination programmes is based on advice from the independent scientific advisory committee, the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI). For autumn 2025, the JCVI advised that COVID-19 vaccination be offered to:adults aged 75 years old and over;residents in care homes for older adults; andpersons aged six months old and over who are immunosuppressed, as defined in the ‘immunosuppression’ section of tables three and four in the COVID-19 chapter of the UK Health Security Agency’s Green Book.The eligibility of COVID-19 vaccines for unpaid carers in autumn 2025 is the same as it was in 2024 and has not changed this year. Unpaid carers are not eligible for COVID-19 vaccination in the national programme. If unpaid carers quality on other grounds, for example, if they are immunosuppressed, then they can come forward to get a vaccine.The Government has accepted the JCVI’s advice for COVID-19 vaccine eligibility in autumn 2025.

What steps he is taking to reduce regional differences in waiting times for ADHD services.

I commend my honourable friend for her dedication to improving support for people with ADHD and recognise the valuable perspective she brings through her lived experience. This government inherited a broken NHS with too many people facing long waits for assessments.NHS England’s ADHD taskforce is looking at how support for people with ADHD can be improved and I look forward to reading their report when it is published.

What progress NHS England’s ADHD Taskforce has made on improving access to (a) services and (b) support.

The Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) taskforce, established by NHS England, is working to bring together those with lived experience with experts from the National Health Service, education, charity, and justice sectors, to get a better understanding of the challenges affecting those with ADHD, including timely and equitable access to services and support. The taskforce is working closely with the Department for Education’s Neurodivergence Task and Finish Group to ensure consideration of joined up services and support across the health and education systems. The taskforce expects to publish its report in the summer.

What steps he is taking to reduce waiting times for adult ADHD assessments.

Lord Darzi’s independent review of the National Health Service, published September 2024, highlighted the severe delays in access to attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) assessments and that demand for assessments for ADHD has grown significantly in recent years.It is the responsibility of the integrated care boards (ICBs) in England to make appropriate provision to meet the health and care needs of their local population, including ADHD assessments, in line with relevant National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidelines.NHS England has established an ADHD taskforce which is working to bring 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 timely and equitable access to services and support, with the report expected in the summer.In conjunction with the taskforce, NHS England has carried out detailed work to develop an ADHD data improvement plan to inform future service planning. NHS England has also 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.