Written questions by Olney.

How much was spent on the Pharmacy First awareness campaign.

The Pharmacy First advertising campaign has now run on several occasions. Evaluation of the November to December 2024 campaign showed a measurable increase in public awareness and confidence. Awareness that pharmacies can treat Pharmacy First conditions rose from 71% to 79%, trust in advice from the pharmacy team increased from 61% to 70%, and the proportion of people saying they would use a pharmacy if they experienced a Pharmacy First condition increased from 32% to 37%.The campaign was rerun between October 2025 and January 2026 to encourage people to seek treatment for seven common conditions at their local pharmacy, supporting continued efforts to relieve pressure on general practices over the winter period. The campaign used a wide range of media channels, including television, radio, outdoor advertising, social media, and online platforms. In 2025/26, NHS England spent £2.017 million on the Pharmacy First advertising campaign.

When the mid-term review of the Suicide Prevention Strategy will be published.

Officials are reviewing the Suicide Prevention Strategy, including how best to present updates, acknowledging the successes of the strategy so far as well as re-invigorating cross-Government efforts to go further. The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Women’s Health and Mental Health will continue to work with officials and ministerial counterparts across Government to raise the profile of delivering the actions in the suicide prevention strategy, drive progress, and foster collective responsibility around suicide prevention.

What criteria he uses to assess the effectiveness of the Suicide Prevention Strategy.

Data, evidence, and engagement with experts informed the actions that sit within the Suicide Prevention Strategy’s action plan. Government departments and other organisations responsible for delivering suicide prevention activity are accountable for the delivery of these actions to ensure progress is made against the ambitions set out in the strategy.The Department will continue to review emerging evidence and data, to ensure current actions remain suitable and to develop iterative actions, where required, to drive further progress. The Department has regular meetings with the National Suicide Prevention Strategy Advisory Group to aid the monitoring and delivery of the strategy.

What was the average waiting time in 2025 for an NHS Talking Therapy appointment following referral.

The latest published annual statistics for NHS Talking Therapies services in England for 2024/25 show that the mean average waiting time in days between the date the referral request was received and the date of first appointment, where the referral had a first attended appointment in the year, was 21.5 days.As of 31 December 2025, there were 118,988 open referrals to NHS Talking Therapies services in England yet to have a first appointment.

How many people are currently on the NHS Talking Therapy waiting list in the UK.

The latest published annual statistics for NHS Talking Therapies services in England for 2024/25 show that the mean average waiting time in days between the date the referral request was received and the date of first appointment, where the referral had a first attended appointment in the year, was 21.5 days.As of 31 December 2025, there were 118,988 open referrals to NHS Talking Therapies services in England yet to have a first appointment.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of Think Pharmacy First campaign on helping to encourage people use pharmacies for treatment.

The Pharmacy First advertising campaign has now been run on several occasions. Data collected from the campaign run from November to December 2024 showed an increase in public knowledge that pharmacies can treat ‘Pharmacy First’ conditions, from 71% to 79%, and trust in the advice given by the pharmacy team increased from 61% to 70%. Public intention to use the pharmacy if they experienced any of the Pharmacy First conditions increased from 32% to 37%. This positive shift in people’s attitudes is reflected through an increased use of the Pharmacy First service. There were 198,794 completed clinical pathways in October 2024, the month before the advertising campaign. This increased to 259,323 completed clinical pathways during December 2024. A second public advertising campaign on Pharmacy First ran from 20 October 2025 to 4 January 2026. Evaluation of this most recent campaign is underway.

Whether his department uses AI to automate decision making about access to public services.

The Department develops policy and strategy on the regulation and use of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies across health and care. The NHS England Information Governance (IG) Policy Engagement Team are updating their guidance for patients, health care professionals, and IG professionals on the use of AI and patient data in the National Health Service.Decisions regarding the adoption and deployment of AI tools, including those used for automated decision making, are made at a local level by individual NHS trusts. At present, NHS trusts have autonomy to determine the use of such technologies, taking into account the needs and priorities of their respective organisation, and should evaluate and review the impact of AI deployment within their care settings.While some trusts may utilise AI to support processes such as prioritisation, access to NHS services is, and will remain, governed by the NHS Constitution. In particular, principle 2 of the NHS Constitution ensures that access is based on clinical need, not on the technology used.

What assessment he has made of the effectiveness of therapeutic Tier 4 services.

NHS England’s London Region Specialised Commissioning is currently undertaking a tabletop review of Tier 4 (T4) Personality Disorder inpatient provision within the London footprint. This review is being led by the Nursing and Quality and Mental Health teams and covers all units providing national T4 Personality Disorder inpatient services, which are all located in London.The review has been initiated in response to a number of quality and environmental concerns identified within the provision and is assessing the effectiveness of the current service model, its clinical distinctiveness, equity of access, and its alignment with national policy objectives.

What data is collected on patients with complex trauma and personality disorder diagnoses who are placed into private out-of-area placements.

NHS England has advised that all providers of National Health Service-funded mental health services, including private providers, are required to submit the mandatory and required fields, where the service is provided, contained within the Mental Health Services Data Set (MHSDS) Technical Output Specification and follow the extensive guidance available at the following link:https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/data-collections-and-data-sets/data-sets/mental-health-services-data-set/tools-and-guidanceThe MHSDS is able to collect information about out of area placements and people that have had a diagnosis of complex trauma or personality disorder. However, the information requested is not centrally validated.

Whether he has plans to launch a public awareness campaign to help tackle suicide.

The Department currently has no specific plans to launch a public awareness campaign to help tackle suicide. The Suicide Prevention Strategy for England, published in 2023, identifies eight priority groups for targeted and tailored support at a national level. The strategy also identifies key risk factors for suicide, providing an opportunity for effective early intervention. The purpose of the Suicide Prevention Strategy is to set out our aims to prevent suicide through action by working across government and other organisations. One of the key visions of the strategy is to reduce stigma surrounding suicide and mental health, so people feel able to seek help – including through the routes that work best for them. This includes raising awareness that no suicide is inevitable. NHS England published Staying safe from suicide: Best practice guidance for safety assessment, formulation and management to support the Government’s work to reduce suicide and improve mental health services. The guidance requires all mental health practitioners to align their practice to the latest evidence in suicide prevention, and is available at the following link: https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/staying-safe-from-suicide/ The NHS England Medium Term Planning Framework states that in 2026/27, all integrated care boards must ensure mental health practitioners across all providers undertake training and deliver care in line with the ‘Staying safe from suicide’ guidance. The 10-Year Health Plan sets out ambitious plans to boost mental health support across the country. This includes transforming mental health services into neighbourhood mental health centres, improving assertive outreach, expanding talking therapies and giving patients better access to support directly through the NHS App, available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Who requested the table-top review of Tier 4 services for personality disorder by NHS England; who is leading that review; and what that review's aims and purpose are.

NHS England London Region Specialised Commissioning is currently undertaking a tabletop review of Tier 4 (T4) Personality Disorder inpatient provision within the London footprint. This review is being led by the Nursing and Quality and Mental Health teams and covers all units providing national T4 Personality Disorder inpatient services, which are all located in London.The review has been initiated in response to a number of quality and environmental concerns identified within the provision. It will also consider how the current T4 Personality Disorder pathway aligns with national mental health policy, including the NHS Long Term Plan, with a particular focus on the strategic shift from inpatient care towards community-based, multidisciplinary models of support.The review is assessing the effectiveness of the current service model, its clinical distinctiveness, equity of access, and its alignment with national policy objectives.

If he will commission an independent national review into the use of allocation tools in Children’s Continuing Care, with recommendations on legality, safeguarding and transparency, and lay the report before Parliament.

The Government is committed to ensuring that all children, including those with complex health needs, receive appropriate care and support whenever and wherever they need it. Integrated care boards (ICBs) are responsible for the provision and commissioning of services to meet the varied needs of their local populations, including for children’s continuing care. It is for ICBs to judge the appropriateness of using allocation tools in their local context. ICBs should also ensure that any use is in line with regulatory and privacy obligations and with the principles of the National Framework for Children and Young People’s Continuing Care. The framework, published by the Department, provides guidance to support ICBs and local authorities to assess and agree support for children whose needs cannot be met through existing universal or specialist services. For these reasons, there are no plans to commission an independent national review at this time.

How many referrals have the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman received in each year since 2015 regarding Children’s Continuing Care.

The Government is committed to ensuring that all children, including those with complex health needs, receive appropriate care and support whenever and wherever they need it. The National Framework for Children and Young People’s Continuing Care provides guidance to support integrated care boards and local authorities to assess and agree support for children whose needs cannot be met through existing universal or specialist services. The Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO) is an independent organisation. The PHSO publishes statistics on the referrals and complaints they receive categorised by organisation and not by type of service provided or age group. Therefore, the Department does not have access to the information requested.

How many Stage 1 and Stage 2 complaints regarding Children’s Continuing Care were received in each ICB in the last three years, what percentage of those complaints were upheld or partially upheld and what the average time taken was to resolve these complaints.

The Government is committed to ensuring that all children, including those with complex health needs, receive appropriate care and support whenever and wherever they need it. The National Framework for Children and Young People’s Continuing Care, published by the Department, provides guidance to support integrated care boards (ICBs) and local authorities to assess and agree support for children whose needs cannot be met through existing universal or specialist services. The Department and NHS England do not centrally collect data on ICB complaints regarding children’s continuing care. We expect ICBs to commission appropriate services to meet the needs of their local populations, including children with complex health needs, and to provide high-quality care in line with National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidance.

What recent discussions he has had with the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence on approval of Skyclarys; and if he will consider the urgent provision of Skyclarys for patients on an interim basis.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) initiated the appraisal of Skyclarys (omaveloxolone) for the treatment of Friedrich’s Ataxia for people aged 16 years old and over in anticipation of a licence bring granted by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). The MHRA is the independent agency responsible for licensing medicines for use in the United Kingdom based on an assessment of their safety, quality, and efficacy.Although now licensed, following an update from the company, Biogen, NICE has had to terminate its appraisal of this medicine as the company has withdrawn its evidence submission. NICE will review its decision if the company decides to make a new submission. Further information can be found at the following link:https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/TA1061To avoid the possibility of creating a way to circumvent the appraisal process, NHS England is unable to fund medicines where companies have not engaged with NICE.

Whether he plans to conduct a review of blood donation rules for people over the age of 70.

NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) is responsible for blood donation in England, and blood donor selection guidelines are prepared by the Joint United Kingdom Blood Transfusion and Tissue Transplantation Services Professional Advisory Committee (JPAC), with further information available at the following link:https://www.transfusionguidelines.org/JPAC is due to conduct a review of the upper age limit for new and returning donors in 2026, following analysis of adverse events over the preceding 12 months since NHSBT, and other UK blood services, adopted its updated guidelines for returning donors in 2024. A copy of the guidelines is attached.The current maximum age of first-time donors was extended from 60 to 65 years old in line with Blood Safety and Quality Regulations 2005 limits on the safe age range for new donors, with further information available at the following link:https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2005/50/contentsThere is no age limit for regular donors, who may continue to give blood over the age of 72 years old if they remain in good health and have made at least one full donation in the last two years.Returning donors, those who have given blood anywhere in the world without an adverse reaction, can return to donating up to, and on, their 72nd birthday, and then can continue to donate as long as they remain healthy

Whether he plans to provide additional funding for the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill.

The Government is neutral on the passing of this Bill and the principle of assisted dying. Should it be the will of Parliament for this legislation to pass, the Government would address the issue of funding at the appropriate time.In the meantime, I refer the hon. Member to the published impact assessment, which provides a range of potential cost estimates.

If he will include primary progressive aphasia in the list of conditions requiring nationally commissioned services.

There are no current plans to introduce nationally commissioned services for the treatment of Primary Progressive Aphasia.  We are committed to delivering high quality care and support for every person with dementia, and central to this is the provision of personalised care and support planning for post diagnostic support.Provision of dementia health care services is the responsibility of local integrated care boards (ICBs). It is the expectation that ICBs commission services based on local population needs, taking account of the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence 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.

What proportion of Pharmacy First funding had been spent as of 26 November 2024.

Verified data to the end of November 2024 shows that £82 million has been spent in the 2024/25 financial year on the seven common clinical pathways and associated incentive payments, and on expanding blood pressure and contraception services. A comprehensive view of all spending against the Pharmacy First budget will be available after the end of the financial year.

What the average waiting time was for ambulances in the SW13 postcode in each year since 2015.

The Department does not hold the information requested.NHS England publishes monthly official statistics for ambulance response times at a national level and at ambulance trust level. This information is available at the following link:https://www.england.nhs.uk/statistics/statistical-work-areas/ambulance-quality-indicators/In addition, since April 2023, information on ambulance response times to ‘Category 2’ incidents has been provided for each integrated care board (ICB) area.The following table shows the average Category 2 response time information available in minutes and seconds for NHS South West London ICB, which SW13 is within:2023/242024/25 to date (December 2024)32:2635:07Source: NHS England - https://www.england.nhs.uk/statistics/statistical-work-areas/ambulance-quality-indicators/ambulance-management-information/