Written questions by Creasy.

If he will publish the outcome of the NHSE patient safety investigation into Community Health and Eye Care Services as reported in The Sunday Times in May 2025.

The safety of all patients, whether they are treated in the National Health Service or the independent sector, is a top priority for the Government. All providers of healthcare are regulated by the Care Quality Commission and follow a set of fundamental standards of safety and quality, below which care should never fall.Those providers in receipt of NHS contracts must meet additional requirements, including meeting the provisions of the NHS Provider License and the NHS Standard Contract. These additional measures put in place specific standards which must be met. Contracts to private providers can be and are terminated where these are not met.We take all claims relating to patient safety seriously. The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has carried out inspection activity at a majority of community health and eye care services locations. All locations have been either rated as Good or Requires Improvement, and there have not been any significant concerns identified. The CQC has also not taken any enforcement action. Currently the CQC does not have on-going concerns, but will continue to monitor the providers as part of relevant ongoing engagement.

To provide the latest register of interest for the Department's Senior Civil Servants and Non Executive Board Members as of 1 February 2026 including any updates following the publication of the Department's annual report and accounts for 2024-5.

Non-executive board members’ (NEBM) declarations of interest and any updates to them are published on the GOV.UK website, in alignment with Government policy. Updates to NEBM interests following the 2024/25 annual report and accounts publication can be found in the 2025/26 Department register of board members’ interests, at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dhsc-register-of-board-members-interests-2025-to-2026/dhsc-register-of-board-members-interests-2025-to-2026 The Department is required to publish the relevant interests of its Permanent Secretary, and other Senior Civil Servants who are Board Members at least annually within its annual report and accounts. Further information is available at the following link: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/69412aa329501ea90654a4ba/dhsc-annual-report-and-accounts-2024-2025-web-accessible-corrected.pdf The next publication will be later this year.

If he will make an assessment of the potential impact of the restriction on pursuing clinical negligence cases to direct financial dependents only in cases where an individual has died on the justice system.

No assessment has been made of the potential impact of the restriction on pursuing clinical negligence cases to direct financial dependents only in cases where an individual has died on the justice system.As announced in the 10-Year Health Plan for England, David Lock KC is providing expert policy advice on the rising legal costs of clinical negligence and how we can improve patients’ experience of claims. The review is ongoing, following initial advice to ministers and the recent National Audit Office report.We welcome the recent report by the National Audit Office on the costs of clinical negligence. The results of David Lock’s work will inform future policy making in this area. No decisions on policy have been taken at this point, and the Government will provide an update on the work done and next steps in due course.

What progress the NHS Counter Fraud Authority has made on its investigations into providers of NHS-funded cataract care.

Independent providers play an important role supporting the National Health Service to deliver eyecare services, ensuring patients receive the treatment and care they need. However, we were clear in the 10-Year Health Plan that we will neither tolerate ‘gaming’ the national payment tariff to cherry pick the simplest, most profitable cases, nor any quality shortcomings.The NHS Counter Fraud Authority operates as an independent body conducting data analysis to prevent fraud and other economic crime within the NHS, with all suspicions of fraud and investigations managed with the utmost confidentiality. Any updates on cases will be reported at the appropriate time.