Written questions by Prinsley.

What discussions he has had with the General Medical Council on ensuring that doctors who are unwell seek professional help for their condition, in the context of the General Medical Council's decision to remove health as a specific grounds for action in fitness to practise investigations.

The Government has committed to bringing forward legislation to modernise the regulation of doctors in the United Kingdom by the General Medical Council (GMC) in this Parliament. Government officials are working closely with the GMC and other stakeholders, and we expect to be in a position to consult on a draft legislative framework for the GMC, which will include proposed grounds for action in fitness to practice cases, by the end of 2025.The GMC and all other healthcare professional regulators will continue to have a duty of care to any of their registrants who have physical or mental health concerns. This includes, where necessary, supporting them to work within a safe scope of practice. Healthcare professional regulators must ensure that any fitness to practice concerns relating to a health condition are handled sensitively and confidentially in a way that balances the rights and interests of the registrant with the need to ensure public protection.

What plans his Department has to mandate (a) NHS trust organisations, (b) health boards and (c) professional regulators to collect and publish annual data on sexual misconduct cases.

We are committed to ensuring that all National Health Service healthcare settings are safe places to work and everyone working in the NHS feels safe at work. There is a zero-tolerance approach to any instances of sexual misconduct in the NHS workplace.NHS England is currently reviewing sexual misconduct data as part of a wider review of Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence (DASV) data to promote better collection of annual data on sexual misconduct cases. Better collection of data will support and strengthen the zero-tolerance approach. NHS England is currently reviewing staff sexual misconduct workforce data as part of wider DASV data improvement work.

What recent discussions he has had with the Care Quality Commission on the introduction of specific metrics to tackle sexual misconduct.

The Department has not had any recent discussions with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) regarding the introduction of specific metrics to tackle sexual misconduct.Nonetheless, the CQC monitors for concerns related to sexual misconduct as part of its regulatory responsibilities. This is in line with Regulation 13 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014, which requires that service providers must have a zero tolerance approach to abuse, including sexual abuse and harassment. Failure to comply with Regulation 13 can have serious consequences, including regulatory action from the CQC, potentially leading to a provider being denied registration, or in some cases, prosecution.

What steps his Department is taking to establish a national anonymous reporting mechanism for sexual misconduct in the NHS.

We are committed to ensuring that all National Health Service healthcare settings are safe places to work and that everyone working in the NHS feels safe and supported at work. There is a zero-tolerance approach to any instances of sexual misconduct in the NHS workplace. The NHS Sexual Safety Charter has been signed by over 400 organisations across the health system to date and requires signatories to ensure appropriate reporting mechanisms are in place, including anonymous reporting. This has been strengthened by the National People Policy Framework on Sexual Misconduct and further evaluation work is ongoing to ensure consistent implementation across all integrated care boards and NHS trusts.

What steps he is taking to help ensure trauma-informed education and training for all staff involved in fitness-to-practice cases within the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service.

The Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service (MPTS) is a statutory committee of the General Medical Council (GMC), the independent regulator of all medical doctors, anaesthesia associates and physician associates practising in the United Kingdom. The MPTS operates separately from the investigatory role of the GMC to make impartial decisions about whether doctors are fit to practise medicine. The MPTS is independent of Government, accountable to the GMC and Parliament. The appointment, training and appraisal of tribunal members is undertaken by the MPTS to ensure independence of tribunal decision making. All tribunal members are required to take part in annual training. In 2024, this included decision making in sexual misconduct cases, supported by case studies, encompassing inappropriate sexual behaviours, sexual motivation and sexual harassment, rape myths and assessing demeanour. The UK's model of healthcare professional regulation is founded on the principle of regulators operating independently from government. My Rt. Hon. friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, has not taken any steps to ensure trauma-informed education and training for all staff involved in fitness-to-practice cases within the MPTS.

What steps he is taking to encourage medical schools to sign the NHS England sexual safety in healthcare organisational charter.

The Government is clear that there is no place for sexual misconduct of any kind in medical education or anywhere else. We expect university leaders, working with National Health Service organisations and all others involved in medical education, to stamp out this issue wherever it occurs.The Department and NHS England are working with medical schools and the Medical Schools Council to improve sexual safety for medical students on placements in the NHS. This includes encouraging those medical schools who are yet to sign up to the NHS sexual safety in health charter to do so, and ensuring that they have in place robust processes and policies and appropriate support for students.To support universities to tackle sexual misconduct, the Office for Students has also introduced new requirements for preventing, addressing, and investigating incidents to take effect in August 2025. The Department for Education is working with sector bodies to help providers prepare to implement the new measures.

If he will make an assessment of the potential merits of bringing forward legislative proposals to protect anaesthetist as a professional title.

The Government recognises that the protection in law of certain professional titles is important for public safety. Protecting a title provides assurance to the public that someone using that title is competent and safe to practise.The title anaesthetist is not protected in law in the United Kingdom. Section 49 of the Medical Act 1983 currently protects the titles physician, doctor of medicine, licentiate in medicine and surgery, bachelor of medicine, surgeon, general practitioner, apothecary, and any name, title, addition, or description implying that a person is registered with the General Medical Council (GMC). The Government has set out its intention to reform the legislative frameworks of all healthcare professional regulators, starting with the GMC. The Government is aiming to consult on draft GMC legislation by the end of this year and it expects to lay the legislation during this Parliament. The Government will review current protection of title offences including those concerning professions regulated by the GMC as part of this work.

What recent discussions he has had with the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service on the revision of sanctions banding for sexual misconduct cases.

The Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service (MPTS) is a statutory committee of the General Medical Council (GMC), which is the independent regulator of all medical doctors, anaesthesia associates, and physician associates practising in the United Kingdom. The MPTS operates separately from the investigatory role of the GMC to make impartial decisions about whether doctors are fit to practise medicine. The MPTS is independent of the Government, and is accountable to the GMC and Parliament. In September 2025, subject to approval from GMC Council, the MPTS will publish a new set of Guidance to MPTS Tribunals, which will replace the current Sanctions Guidance. This updated guidance includes a new decision-making methodology and new sanctions bandings, to improve transparency and support consistent decision making. The UK's model of regulation for healthcare professionals is founded on the principle of regulators operating independently from the Government. My Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care has not had any recent discussions with the MPTS on the revision of sanctions banding for sexual misconduct cases.

Whether he plans to publish a roadmap outlining how NHS trust organisations will implement the national sexual misconduct policy framework.

NHS England published a National Sexual Misconduct People Policy Framework in October 2024 and is currently conducting an evaluation of how this is being implemented across integrated care boards and National Health Service trusts. The results of this will inform next steps in terms of further implementation support, which could include a roadmap if needed for NHS trust organisations.

What recent discussions he has had with professional regulators to ensure consistent management of sexual misconduct cases.

The Professional Standards Authority for Health and Social Care (PSA) oversees the bodies which regulate health and care professionals in the United Kingdom. As with all UK healthcare professional regulators, the PSA is independent of Government, and directly accountable to Parliament. As the oversight body for the UK healthcare regulators, it annually reviews each professional regulators’ performance and publishes its findings.Since 2006, the PSA has published guidance for healthcare regulators, employers and patients on tackling sexual misconduct amongst healthcare professionals as part of the ‘Clear Sexual Boundaries’ project.The recommendations in the reports have been used by all the statutory healthcare regulators as a basis for reviewing and aligning their own guidance to registrants on standards of professional behaviour. In addition, Fitness to Practise Committees consider the guidance when making decisions on sanctions in cases involving sexual misconduct by registrants to ensure they are proportionate and equitable across professions. Regulators have also committed to working with registrants, employers, education providers and other stakeholders to develop more effective ways to prevent sexual misconduct by registrants and to improve the detection of perpetrators of sexual misconduct.My Rt. Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, has not had any recent discussions with professional regulators to ensure consistent management of sexual misconduct cases.

What steps his Department plans to take to help increase the (a) recruitment and (b) retention of clinical academics.

We recognise that clinical academics are crucial to delivering world leading research across the health and care system, and for training future generations of healthcare professionals.NHS England published an Educator Workforce Strategy in 2023 setting out the key priority actions that will lead to the sufficient capacity and quality of diverse educators to allow for the growth in the healthcare workforce needed now and in the future.The National Clinical Impact Awards Scheme serves as a recognition and retention tool for the consultant doctors and dentists, clinical academics, and academic general practitioners who have the highest impact on the wider National Health Service and public health.Through the National Institute for Health and Care Research, the Department has invested substantially in training since 2006, with the Department being the largest funder of research training for clinical academics in the United Kingdom.We will publish a refreshed workforce plan to deliver the transformed health service we will build over the next decade and treat patients on time again.

What steps his Department plans to take to incentivise the recruitment and retention of clinical academics.

We recognise that clinical academics are crucial to delivering world leading research across the health and care system, and for training future generations of healthcare professionals.NHS England published an Educator Workforce Strategy in 2023 setting out the key priority actions that will lead to the sufficient capacity and quality of diverse educators to allow for the growth in the healthcare workforce needed now and in the future.The National Clinical Impact Awards Scheme serves as a recognition and retention tool for the consultant doctors and dentists, clinical academics, and academic general practitioners who have the highest impact on the wider National Health Service and public health.Through the National Institute for Health and Care Research, the Department has invested substantially in training since 2006, with the Department being the largest funder of research training for clinical academics in the United Kingdom.We will publish a refreshed workforce plan to deliver the transformed health service we will build over the next decade and treat patients on time again.

Whether he plans to establish a cross-departmental ministerial taskforce with the Department for Education to support workforce planning between the higher education sector and the health service.

The Department of Health and Social Care works closely with the Department for Education on a wide range of matters to ensure cross-departmental collaboration on workforce planning in higher education and the healthcare service.We have launched the 10-Year Health Plan, which will set out a bold agenda to reform and repair the National Health Service. Ensuring we have the right people, in the right places, and with the right skills, will be central to this vision.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of abolishing NHS England on the number of research partnerships with universities in (a) public health, (b) clinical trials, (c) innovation and (d) other areas.

Ministers and senior Department officials will work with the new executive team at the top of NHS England, led by Sir Jim Mackey, to lead the formation of a new joint centre. As we work to bring the two organisations together, we will ensure that we continue to evaluate impacts of all kinds.We continue to work collaboratively across both organisations to put in place plans to ensure continuity of services.The National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), funded by the Department, is the nation’s largest funder of clinical, public health, and social care research, and is committed to working in partnership with the National Health Service, universities, local government, other research funders, patients, and the public to improve the health and wealth of the nation through research. The Department’s investment in NIHR research partnerships will not be impacted by the formation of a new joint centre.

What progress NHS England has made on becoming the first health service in the world to achieve carbon net zero; and whether this work will continue in the new health service structure.

The National Health Service has made substantial progress in supporting the Government’s Net Zero commitments. These include securing over £1.2 billion in funding through the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme, the NHS-wide decommissioning of desflurane, ongoing reduction in waste from nitrous oxide, and the introduction of requirements for NHS suppliers to disclose their emissions and publish a carbon reduction plan, in line with the NHS Net Zero Supplier Roadmap.Going forward, the Department will continue to work with partners across the NHS and Government to deliver on these aims, including through our recently announced £100 million partnership with Great British Energy, that will increase NHS solar generation by 300%.The Government remains committed to supporting NHS bodies to meet their obligations regarding the environment, and as we work to return many of NHS England’s current functions to the Department, we will ensure that we continue to evaluate impacts of all kinds.

What his Department’s plans are for the Greener NHS Programme.

The Government remains committed to supporting National Health Service bodies to meet their obligations regarding the environment, and we continue to work to ensure that the NHS fulfils its significant potential to contribute to our clean power mission and Net Zero legal commitments.NHS trusts have made significant progress on environmental goals in recent years, including securing £1.2 billion in funding though the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme since 2019. In addition, every trust and integrated care board now has a clear “Green Plan” in place, setting out the key actions that will deliver emissions reductions and support resilience to climate impacts.The Department will continue to work with partners across the NHS and Government to deliver on these aims. For instance, we have recently completed a £95 million investment through the National Energy Efficiency Fund to drive down trust energy bills and emissions. Looking forward, together with the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, we recently announced a £100 million partnership with Great British Energy that will increase NHS solar generation by 300%.

What the potential cost to the public purse was of spending on FeNo machines in the NHS in the last 12 months.

As part of the Respiratory Solutions Framework, NHS Supply Chain supplies fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) devices and related consumables. The spend for the past 12 months is as follows: £127,903.00 for FeNO devices, some of which come with starter consumables; and£483,210.00 for FeNO consumables. Please note that these figures are for spend by NHS Supply Chain, and do not include spending for the whole National Health Service.

What proportion of patients suffering from asthma received a review in the last 12 months.

Across 2023/24, the latest data available, 2.5 million, or 64.6% of, patients on the asthma register received a review. Further information is available at the following link:https://fingertips.phe.org.uk/profile/respiratory-disease/data#page/4/gid/8000009/pat/159/par/K02000001/ati/15/are/E92000001/iid/93790/age/314/sex/4/cat/-1/ctp/-1/yrr/1/cid/4/tbm/1In addition, the most recent asthma hospital admissions data for England is available at the following link:https://fingertips.phe.org.uk/search/asthmaFurthermore, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development holds international comparison data for asthma hospital admissions, up to 2022, which is available at the following link:https://data-explorer.oecd.org/vis?fs[0]=Topic%2C1%7CHealth%23HEA%23%7CHealthcare%20quality%20and%20outcomes%23HEA_HCQ%23&pg=0&fc=Topic&snb=11&df[ds]=dsDisseminateFinalDMZ&df[id]=DSD_HCQO%40DF_HCQO&df[ag]=OECD.ELS.HD&df[vs]=1.0&dq=.A.ADMRASTH..._T.OBS%2BVALUEW&pd=2014%2C&to[TIME_PERIOD]=false&vw=tbThere is no published international comparison data for asthma hospital admissions available for the past 12 months, and the Department currently has no plans to make an assessment of this.

If she will make a comparative estimate of the number of people hospitalised due to asthma compared to other European nations in 2024.

Across 2023/24, the latest data available, 2.5 million, or 64.6% of, patients on the asthma register received a review. Further information is available at the following link:https://fingertips.phe.org.uk/profile/respiratory-disease/data#page/4/gid/8000009/pat/159/par/K02000001/ati/15/are/E92000001/iid/93790/age/314/sex/4/cat/-1/ctp/-1/yrr/1/cid/4/tbm/1In addition, the most recent asthma hospital admissions data for England is available at the following link:https://fingertips.phe.org.uk/search/asthmaFurthermore, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development holds international comparison data for asthma hospital admissions, up to 2022, which is available at the following link:https://data-explorer.oecd.org/vis?fs[0]=Topic%2C1%7CHealth%23HEA%23%7CHealthcare%20quality%20and%20outcomes%23HEA_HCQ%23&pg=0&fc=Topic&snb=11&df[ds]=dsDisseminateFinalDMZ&df[id]=DSD_HCQO%40DF_HCQO&df[ag]=OECD.ELS.HD&df[vs]=1.0&dq=.A.ADMRASTH..._T.OBS%2BVALUEW&pd=2014%2C&to[TIME_PERIOD]=false&vw=tbThere is no published international comparison data for asthma hospital admissions available for the past 12 months, and the Department currently has no plans to make an assessment of this.

Whether his Department has plans to review NHS targets to incentivise improvements in patient experience and outcomes.

The Government is committed to putting patients first. This means making sure patients are seen on time and ensuring people have the best possible experience of care. Our efforts to improve patient experience will be patient-led and co-developed to support and empower the people who use services within the National Health Service.In the Elective Reform Plan, published on 6 January 2025, the Government committed to work with patients, carers and their representatives to publish the standards patients should expect to experience while they wait for care. Once published, these standards will set an expectation to all Trusts about the service they are expected to deliver. We will continue to work with patients and carers to build on this work and establish a gold standard for experience.We will support NHS trusts to prioritise experience of care by ensuring they make customer care training available to non-clinical staff with patient facing roles, as well as ensuring the take up of training already available on the e-Referral Services to support more effective referral, booking and waiting list management processes. NHS trusts will also be required to name an existing director who will be responsible for improving experience of care.The Department will also make improvements to patient experience on a national level; for example, by expanding the NHS App and Manage Your Referral website to improve information and appointment management for patients, as well as parents and carers through proxy access.Additionally, in January 2025, NHS England published NHS Planning Guidance for 2025-26, setting out the first steps for reform, and the immediate actions for systems to take to deliver on the Government’s objectives. Acting on findings from the Darzi review, instructions to the NHS have been stripped down to what matters most to patients, including, for instance, improving patient experience of access to general practice as measured by the Office for National Statistics’ Health Insights Survey and shifting focus from inputs to outcomes for patients.