Written questions by Morrison.

Whether (a) integrated care boards and (b) local GP federations will be able to reprioritise bids for funding under the Primary Care Utilisation and Modernisation Fund.

We recently announced schemes which will benefit from the £102 million Primary Care Utilisation and Modernisation Fund (PCUMF) to deliver upgrades this financial year to more than a thousand general practice (GP) surgeries across England.These schemes will create additional clinical space within existing building footprints to enable practices to see more patients, boost productivity, and improve patient care. By working within existing footprints there will be no additional revenue costs associated to the work funded by the PCUMFThis will directly address the issue of staff who cannot work at full capacity due to space limitations and will enable practices to offer more appointments with their existing workforce through better use of space. The Government has already hired more than 1,500 extra GPs and announced an £889 million funding boost, the biggest for the sector in years.To ensure good management of public money, the schemes that have been selected will of course be subject to final business case approvals and due diligence. Integrated care boards and GP federations will not be able to unilaterally realign the schemes which have already been agreed, however if an individual surgery is not able to proceed, then local leaders will select another priority scheme to utilise the funding.

How much and what proportion of the Primary Care Utilisation and Modernisation Fund has been allocated to practices in Greater Manchester.

The Government is committed to delivering a National Health Service that is fit for the future and recognises the importance of strategic, value for money investments in capital projects. We recently announced schemes which will benefit from the £102 million Primary Care Utilisation and Modernisation Fund (PCUMF) to deliver upgrades this financial year to more than a thousand general practice surgeries across England.We have made sure that every single region across the country receives part of the funding, so benefits are felt nationwide. Decisions were made based on the highest priority of need and where the investment would quickly create additional clinical space, specifically to deliver more appointments.NHS England worked with all the integrated care boards (ICBs), including in Greater Manchester, to prioritise the schemes that local health leaders identified as meeting their communities’ most urgent needs.The Greater Manchester ICB has been allocated £5.6 million from the PCUMF to be spent on physical improvements resulting in additional clinical space and increased access to appointments. Digital transformation projects were not considered to be in scope for the £102 million of funding.

What criteria were used to determine which GP surgeries received funding under the Primary Care Utilisation and Modernisation Fund in the 2025-26 financial year; and what role integrated care boards had in the decision-making process.

The Government is committed to delivering a National Health Service that is fit for the future and recognises the importance of strategic, value for money investments in capital projects. We recently announced schemes which will benefit from the £102 million Primary Care Utilisation and Modernisation Fund (PCUMF) to deliver upgrades this financial year to more than a thousand general practice surgeries across England.We have made sure that every single region across the country receives part of the funding, so benefits are felt nationwide. Decisions were made based on the highest priority of need and where the investment would quickly create additional clinical space, specifically to deliver more appointments.NHS England worked with all the integrated care boards (ICBs), including in Greater Manchester, to prioritise the schemes that local health leaders identified as meeting their communities’ most urgent needs.The Greater Manchester ICB has been allocated £5.6 million from the PCUMF to be spent on physical improvements resulting in additional clinical space and increased access to appointments. Digital transformation projects were not considered to be in scope for the £102 million of funding.

How much of the Primary Care Utilisation and Modernisation Fund is being used for (a) digitisation projects and (b) physical improvements to GP premises.

The Government is committed to delivering a National Health Service that is fit for the future and recognises the importance of strategic, value for money investments in capital projects. We recently announced schemes which will benefit from the £102 million Primary Care Utilisation and Modernisation Fund (PCUMF) to deliver upgrades this financial year to more than a thousand general practice surgeries across England.We have made sure that every single region across the country receives part of the funding, so benefits are felt nationwide. Decisions were made based on the highest priority of need and where the investment would quickly create additional clinical space, specifically to deliver more appointments.NHS England worked with all the integrated care boards (ICBs), including in Greater Manchester, to prioritise the schemes that local health leaders identified as meeting their communities’ most urgent needs.The Greater Manchester ICB has been allocated £5.6 million from the PCUMF to be spent on physical improvements resulting in additional clinical space and increased access to appointments. Digital transformation projects were not considered to be in scope for the £102 million of funding.

What steps the is taking to help increase the number of midwifery staff in hospitals in Greater Manchester.

Decisions about the recruitment of midwifery staff are a matter for individual National Health Service trusts. NHS trusts manage their recruitment at a local level to ensure they have the right number of staff in place, with the right skill mix, to deliver safe and effective care.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 he is taking to increase the number of midwives in Stepping Hill hospital.

Decisions about the recruitment of midwifery staff are a matter for individual National Health Service trusts. NHS trusts manage their recruitment at a local level to ensure they have the right number of staff in place, with the right skill mix, to deliver safe and effective care.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 he plans to take through the NHS 10 year plan to increase the number of NHS midwives.

A central part of the 10-Year Health Plan will be our workforce and those who support our workforce, and how we ensure the National Health Service has the right people, in the right places, with the right skills to deliver the care patients need when they need it.Getting the NHS back to working for patients means ending the workforce crisis across the health service. We intend to take a fresh look at the Long Term Workforce Plan, to ensure it fully aligns with the level of ambition and reforms required following the 10-Year Health Plan. Decisions about recruitment are matters for individual NHS trusts.

What the average waiting time was for a wheelchair-bound patient to access an NHS appointment in (a) Stockport Borough and (b) Greater Manchester in the latest period for which data is available.

Cutting waiting lists is a key priority for the Government. We promised change, and we’ve delivered early, with a reduction in the list of over 219,000 pathways from July 2024 to February 2025.We do not hold data on the average waiting time for a wheelchair-bound patient to access a National Health Service appointment. This patient characteristic is not collected in the data which is used to assess waiting times.The current waiting list for all patients at the Stockport NHS Foundation Trust currently stands at 35,824 patients waiting, with a median average waiting time of 16 weeks. The current total waiting list for all patients in Greater Manchester stands at 436,509 as of February 2025, with a median average waiting time of 16 weeks.

What recent assessment he has made of the potential impact on waiting for an NHS dental appointment for (a) people in wheelchairs and (b) able- bodied people.

No specific assessment has been made on the impact of waiting for a National Health Service dental appointment for people in wheelchairs or able-bodied people. The Government is committed to NHS dental services being available for all who need them. We recognise that certain groups of patients may be vulnerable to oral health problems, and may find it more difficult to access dental care.We are tackling the challenges for all patients trying to access NHS dental appointments with a rescue plan providing 700,000 more urgent dental appointments and by recruiting new dentists to the areas that need them most.Many high street dental practices are wheelchair-accessible and patients can contact local practices directly to inquire about their facilities. If patients in wheelchairs have difficultly locating a high street dentist that caters to their specific accessibility requirements, community dental services provide specialised dental services to people with additional needs. Integrated care boards are responsible for assessing the needs of their population and ensuring that the relevant dental services are available.

What the average waiting time was for an able-bodied patient to access an NHS appointment in (a) Stockport Borough and (b) Greater Manchester in the latest period for which data is available.

Cutting waiting lists is a key priority for the Government. We promised change, and we have delivered early, with a reduction in the list of over 219,000 pathways from July 2024 to February 2025.We do not hold data on the average waiting time for able-bodied patients to access a National Health Service appointment. This patient characteristic is not collected in the data which is used to assess waiting times.The current waiting list for all patients at the Stockport NHS Foundation Trust currently stands at 35,824 patients, with a median average waiting time of 16 weeks. The current total waiting list for all patients in Greater Manchester stands at 436,509 as of February 2025, with a median average waiting time of 16 weeks.

What discussions he has had with relevant stakeholders on how to provide long term, sustainable funding for transforming palliative and end of life care services.

In February, I met with key palliative and end of life care and hospice stakeholders, in a roundtable format, with a focus on long-term sector sustainability within the context of our 10-Year Health Plan. I also recently met Rachael Maskell MP and Baroness Finlay to discuss the progress of their independent commission into palliative and end of life care. As part of the work to develop the 10-Year Health Plan, we will be carefully considering policies, including those that impact people with palliative and end of life care needs, with input from the public, patients, health staff, and our partners. We want a society where every person receives high-quality, compassionate care from diagnosis through to the end of life. The Government is determined to shift more healthcare out of hospitals and into the community, to ensure patients and their families receive personalised care in the most appropriate setting, and palliative and end of life care services will have a big role to play in that shift.

What estimate his Department has made of the increase in the number of people that will have palliative care needs over the next 10 years.

Currently, approximately 600,000 people die per year in the United Kingdom. It is estimated that up to 90% of deaths could benefit from palliative and end of life care. The Office for National Statistics has projected that, by 2040, approximately 800,000 people a year will die in the UK. Also, current trends point to a growing proportion of people dying from chronic disease, particularly cancer and dementia. Taking these considerations together, it has been estimated that the number of people needing palliative and end of life care could increase by 42% by 2040.We have committed to develop a 10-Year Plan to deliver a National Health Service fit for the future, by driving three shifts in the way health care is delivered, from hospital to community, from treatment to prevention, and from analogue to digital. We will carefully be considering policies, including those that impact people with palliative and end of life care needs, with input from the public, patients, health staff, and our stakeholders as we develop the plan.In February, I met with key palliative and end of life care and hospice stakeholders, in a roundtable format with a focus on long-term sector sustainability within the context of our 10-Year Health Plan. I have followed up with meetings with officials from the Department and NHS England. I also recently met with my Hon. Friend the Member for York Central, and Baroness Finlay of Llandaff, to discuss the progress of their independent commission into palliative and end of life care, including the commission’s first of three reports, published on 13 May, to which we will formally respond in the coming weeks.

What steps his Department is taking to resolve the shortage of Estradot hormone replacement therapy patches; and when supply is expected to return to normal levels.

There are over 70 hormone replacement therapy (HRT) products, and the vast majority are in good supply. Previously there have been issues with the supply of a limited number of these products, primarily driven by very sharp increases in demand. Following the Department’s intensive engagement with industry, the supply position has improved considerably. As part of this we have previously met with individual suppliers on a very regular basis. We have also hosted nine HRT supply roundtables since April 2022, with the most recent in September 2024, attended by suppliers, wholesalers, and community pharmacists, to provide updates on the supply position and the actions being taken to address them, to share data, and to discuss relevant policy developments and their potential impacts.Currently, there are limited supplies of Estradot (estradiol) 37.5, 50, 75, and 100 microgram/24 hour patches, which may be available to local pharmacies to order. We are working with the sole supplier of Estradot to expedite further resupplies, where possible. Further deliveries of all patches are expected in May 2025, except for the 37.5 microgram/24 hour patches, which will be resupplied in July 2025. Alternative brands of the same medicine remain available.We have issued comprehensive management guidance to the National Health Service, including Serious Shortage Protocols (SSPs) for Estradot 25, 50, 75, and 100 microgram/24 hour patches, allowing community pharmacists to supply the equivalent strength patch of an alternative brand without the need for a new prescription.All SSPs are developed with the input of clinical and patient safety experts and include advice for pharmacists about any potential risks. Pharmacists may decide not to supply a patient in accordance with an SSP if they have any concerns. In the case of some SSPs, pharmacists are required to notify prescribers that they have supplied a patient in accordance with an SSP rather than the prescription. Pharmacists and prescribers are informed by an email to their NHS email address whenever a new SSP is issued, or changes are made to an SSP currently in effect. All currently active and expired SSPs are available to view on the NHS Business Services Authority’s website, at the following link:https://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/pharmacies-gp-practices-and-appliance-contractors/serious-shortage-protocols-ssps

What guidance he has provided to (a) GPs and (b) pharmacists to support patients unable to access Estradot patches.

There are over 70 hormone replacement therapy (HRT) products, and the vast majority are in good supply. Previously there have been issues with the supply of a limited number of these products, primarily driven by very sharp increases in demand. Following the Department’s intensive engagement with industry, the supply position has improved considerably. As part of this we have previously met with individual suppliers on a very regular basis. We have also hosted nine HRT supply roundtables since April 2022, with the most recent in September 2024, attended by suppliers, wholesalers, and community pharmacists, to provide updates on the supply position and the actions being taken to address them, to share data, and to discuss relevant policy developments and their potential impacts.Currently, there are limited supplies of Estradot (estradiol) 37.5, 50, 75, and 100 microgram/24 hour patches, which may be available to local pharmacies to order. We are working with the sole supplier of Estradot to expedite further resupplies, where possible. Further deliveries of all patches are expected in May 2025, except for the 37.5 microgram/24 hour patches, which will be resupplied in July 2025. Alternative brands of the same medicine remain available.We have issued comprehensive management guidance to the National Health Service, including Serious Shortage Protocols (SSPs) for Estradot 25, 50, 75, and 100 microgram/24 hour patches, allowing community pharmacists to supply the equivalent strength patch of an alternative brand without the need for a new prescription.All SSPs are developed with the input of clinical and patient safety experts and include advice for pharmacists about any potential risks. Pharmacists may decide not to supply a patient in accordance with an SSP if they have any concerns. In the case of some SSPs, pharmacists are required to notify prescribers that they have supplied a patient in accordance with an SSP rather than the prescription. Pharmacists and prescribers are informed by an email to their NHS email address whenever a new SSP is issued, or changes are made to an SSP currently in effect. All currently active and expired SSPs are available to view on the NHS Business Services Authority’s website, at the following link:https://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/pharmacies-gp-practices-and-appliance-contractors/serious-shortage-protocols-ssps

What steps his Department is taking to ensure that the serious shortage protocols introduced for Estradot patches are (a) communicated clearly to (i) pharmacies and (ii) prescribers and (b) implemented to ensure (A) patient safety and (B) continuity of care.

There are over 70 hormone replacement therapy (HRT) products, and the vast majority are in good supply. Previously there have been issues with the supply of a limited number of these products, primarily driven by very sharp increases in demand. Following the Department’s intensive engagement with industry, the supply position has improved considerably. As part of this we have previously met with individual suppliers on a very regular basis. We have also hosted nine HRT supply roundtables since April 2022, with the most recent in September 2024, attended by suppliers, wholesalers, and community pharmacists, to provide updates on the supply position and the actions being taken to address them, to share data, and to discuss relevant policy developments and their potential impacts.Currently, there are limited supplies of Estradot (estradiol) 37.5, 50, 75, and 100 microgram/24 hour patches, which may be available to local pharmacies to order. We are working with the sole supplier of Estradot to expedite further resupplies, where possible. Further deliveries of all patches are expected in May 2025, except for the 37.5 microgram/24 hour patches, which will be resupplied in July 2025. Alternative brands of the same medicine remain available.We have issued comprehensive management guidance to the National Health Service, including Serious Shortage Protocols (SSPs) for Estradot 25, 50, 75, and 100 microgram/24 hour patches, allowing community pharmacists to supply the equivalent strength patch of an alternative brand without the need for a new prescription.All SSPs are developed with the input of clinical and patient safety experts and include advice for pharmacists about any potential risks. Pharmacists may decide not to supply a patient in accordance with an SSP if they have any concerns. In the case of some SSPs, pharmacists are required to notify prescribers that they have supplied a patient in accordance with an SSP rather than the prescription. Pharmacists and prescribers are informed by an email to their NHS email address whenever a new SSP is issued, or changes are made to an SSP currently in effect. All currently active and expired SSPs are available to view on the NHS Business Services Authority’s website, at the following link:https://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/pharmacies-gp-practices-and-appliance-contractors/serious-shortage-protocols-ssps

If he will make an assessment of the potential implications for the 10-year Health Plan of the report by the National Clinical Homecare Association entitled Best Kept Secret: The Value Of Clinical Homecare To The NHS, Patients And Society, published in July 2024.

We have committed to develop a 10-Year Health Plan to deliver a National Health Service fit for the future. As part of these reforms, we are determined to shift more healthcare out of hospitals and into the community, to ensure patients and families receive the care they need when and where they need it.The use of evidence is embedded in our development of the 10-Year Health Plan, both by informing the proposals developed by the working groups supporting the plan, and in our ongoing assessment of the plan’s potential impacts. Both areas of work draw on a broad range of evidence, including published sources outside of the Department and NHS England.

If his Department will make an assessment of the potential merits of creating a national strategy on the efficiency and effectiveness of community equipment services.

Individual National Health Service trusts and foundation trusts are responsible and accountable for their own purchasing decisions, which will include community equipment. NHS organisations are independent commercial entities, and it is for an NHS procuring authority to satisfy itself on how best to obtain quality and value for money through its procurement activity.Local NHS organisations have access to a wide range of procurement routes, but the Government has put in place a range of initiatives to help NHS bodies make informed choices about products and the route through which they are bought. These include the NHS Supply Chain, a national body which is responsible for procuring and delivering the majority of consumables, equipment, and other supplies to the NHS. The NHS Supply Chain was set up to leverage the collective buying power of the NHS to drive savings and provide a standardised range of clinically assured quality products at the best value.

Whether he has made a recent assessment of the potential merits of providing additional funding for clinical homecare.

My Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care has made no recent assessment of the merits of providing additional funding for clinical homecare. The Department and NHS England recognise the importance of strengthening homecare medicine services, and continue to prioritise improvements in this area following the House of Lords Public Services Committee’s report, Homecare medicines services: an opportunity lost.Work is ongoing to explore a range of options to improve homecare services, including through the implementation of the recommendations accepted by the Department and NHS England. An update on this will be provided to the House of Lords Public Services Committee later this year.

What steps his Department is taking to support research into the use of digital cognitive assessments to improve early diagnosis of dementia.

The Department funds dementia research via the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). The NIHR has invested nearly £11 million of funding to develop new digital approaches for the early detection and diagnosis of dementia via the Invention for Innovation programme.In addition to NIHR funding, the Government’s Dame Barbara Windsor Dementia Goals programme has provided funding to develop several digital cognitive assessments. For instance, through Innovate UK, the programme has awarded four United Kingdom based companies a share of the £4 million of funding to enable their biomarkers to be tested and validated in a large, diverse group of people, as part of the Bio-Hermes-002 study, which includes a series of tests which look at memory, language, and other cognitive skills.The programme has also committed to investing £2 million into a quick and easy digital test of patients’ cognitive functions, to be included in the READ-OUT study, which could lead to more accurate diagnoses when administered with blood biomarker tests for Alzheimer’s disease and other causes of dementia. Some of these innovations could support improved diagnosis in the future, if validated for clinical use.The NIHR welcomes funding applications for research into any aspect of human health and care, including dementia. These applications are subject to peer review and judged in open competition, with awards being made on the basis of the importance of the topic to patients and health and care services, value for money, and scientific quality. Welcoming applications on dementia to all NIHR programmes enables maximum flexibility both in terms of the amount of research funding a particular area can be awarded, and the type of research which can be funded.

What steps his Department is taking to ensure a (a) consistent and (b) sustainable funding framework for community equipment provision across local authorities and NHS bodies.

At the 2024 Autumn Budget, the Government announced a £22.6 billion increase in day-to-day health spending and a £3.1 billion increase in the capital budget over 2024/2025 and 2025/2026. Departmental budgets beyond 2025/26 will be set through phase two of the Spending Review, which will conclude and be published in June 2025.Local authorities and National Health Service procuring authorities are responsible for discussing and agreeing contracts with community equipment suppliers, which will take into account the resources available to them. Economic growth is the Government’s number one mission and the Government supports businesses to invest, grow and export, creating jobs and opportunities across the country. To support the growth mission, the Government is driving forward work to implement a modern Industrial Strategy, to reset trade relations, to support small business and deliver a new deal for working people.