Written questions by Slade.

Whether he will take steps to provide free NHS prescriptions to younger onset Parkinson's patients.

Awaiting answer.

Whether he plans to develop a formal care pathway for Parkinson's disease.

Awaiting answer.

If he will take steps to increase funding for research into Parkinson's disease.

Awaiting answer.

Whether he has made an assessment of the potential benefits of making clinically beneficial cancer treatments available to patients according to (a) patient need and (b) clinical effectiveness and (c) clinicians' assessments, rather than treatment-line status alone.

The Government remains committed to improving access to innovative cancer treatments through the National Cancer Plan for England and to reducing inequalities in cancer outcomes and patient experience. Treatment decisions for individual patients are made by clinicians and multidisciplinary teams, who apply National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidance alongside their clinical judgement to determine the most appropriate care.NICE is the independent body responsible for making independent recommendations on whether medicines and treatments should be routinely funded by the National Health Service in England, based on an assessment of their clinical and cost effectiveness.NICE recommendations take account of both the clinical effectiveness and cost effectiveness of treatments and interventions. Recommendations are informed by the available evidence for specific patient groups and treatment settings, including where evidence relates to different lines of therapy. NICE’s existing approach already takes account of clinical effectiveness, patient need, and the appropriateness of treatments at different stages of the pathway, informed by clinical evidence and expert input.The National Health Service is legally required to fund treatments recommended by NICE, helping ensure equitable access for eligible patients across England. In addition, the Cancer Drugs Fund supports earlier access to promising cancer medicines while further evidence is collected. Differences in access between first-line, second line, and later-line treatments reflect the available clinical evidence, licensing, and cost effectiveness of treatments in specific settings, rather than inequity. NICE’s methodology is designed to ensure that patients with similar clinical characteristics are treated consistently and that access decisions are applied uniformly across the NHS.

What assessment he has made of the equity of access to cancer treatment options for patients with the same cancer diagnosis, who are differentially classified as (a) first-line, (b) second-line and (c) third-line treatment patients.

The Government remains committed to improving access to innovative cancer treatments through the National Cancer Plan for England and to reducing inequalities in cancer outcomes and patient experience. Treatment decisions for individual patients are made by clinicians and multidisciplinary teams, who apply National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidance alongside their clinical judgement to determine the most appropriate care.NICE is the independent body responsible for making independent recommendations on whether medicines and treatments should be routinely funded by the National Health Service in England, based on an assessment of their clinical and cost effectiveness.NICE recommendations take account of both the clinical effectiveness and cost effectiveness of treatments and interventions. Recommendations are informed by the available evidence for specific patient groups and treatment settings, including where evidence relates to different lines of therapy. NICE’s existing approach already takes account of clinical effectiveness, patient need, and the appropriateness of treatments at different stages of the pathway, informed by clinical evidence and expert input.The National Health Service is legally required to fund treatments recommended by NICE, helping ensure equitable access for eligible patients across England. In addition, the Cancer Drugs Fund supports earlier access to promising cancer medicines while further evidence is collected. Differences in access between first-line, second line, and later-line treatments reflect the available clinical evidence, licensing, and cost effectiveness of treatments in specific settings, rather than inequity. NICE’s methodology is designed to ensure that patients with similar clinical characteristics are treated consistently and that access decisions are applied uniformly across the NHS.

What steps his Department is taking to expand places for neurology at medical school.

The Government keeps the total number of medical school places under close review to ensure it meets England’s workforce requirements.Neurology is a medical specialty, with doctors undertaking speciality training in neurology following medical school, foundation and core training.In the 10-Year Health Plan, the Government committed to creating 1,000 new specialty training posts over the next three years with a focus on specialties where there is greatest need. Further information on which specialties will receive these places, and when, will be announced in due course.

What steps he is taking with Cabinet colleagues to improve the (a) diagnosis rate and (b) treatment of migraines.

Awaiting answer.

What steps he is taking to support people with Addison's disease, in the context of the discontinuation of the manufacture of hydrocortisone sodium phosphate.

I refer the Hon. Member to the answer I gave to the Hon. Member for Birmingham Northfield on 21 April 2026 to Question 127384.

Whether she plans to take steps to ensure consistent (a) diagnosis, (b) clinical management and (c) dietary support for coeliac patients.

People with coeliac disease should have access to timely diagnosis, appropriate clinical management, and clear dietary advice to support long‑term health. Diagnosis and management of coeliac disease in England are informed by national clinical guidance, including recommendations from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), which set out best practice for testing, referral, and follow‑up care. Following NICE guidelines helps integrated care boards (ICBs) to deliver care that is proven to work, use National Health Service resources wisely, and provide fair and consistent services for patients.ICBs are responsible for commissioning services that meet the needs of their local populations, including gastroenterology and dietetic services, and are best placed to consider how care pathways are delivered locally. The NHS continues to focus on improving earlier diagnosis and more coordinated care for long‑term conditions through integrated, personalised approaches, supported by wider improvement programmes to reduce unwarranted variation in care.The Department will continue to work with NHS England to support consistent, high‑quality care for people living with coeliac disease, within existing NHS frameworks and evidence‑based guidance.

If he will make an assessment of the potential merits of integrating (a) Ehlers-Danlos syndromes and (b) hypermobility spectrum disorders with overlapping conditions such as (i) Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome, (ii) Myalgic Encephalomyelitis and (iii) Long Covid in (A) NHS service specifications, (B) long-term condition strategies and (C) clinical frameworks.

The Government recognises that hypermobile Ehlers–Danlos syndrome (hEDS), hypermobility spectrum disorders (HSD), and overlapping conditions such as postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome, myalgic encephalomyelitis, also known as chronic fatigue syndrome, and Long Covid can have a significant impact on people’s health and quality of life, and that symptoms may be complex, multisystem, and fluctuate over time.In England, services for these conditions are commissioned locally by integrated care boards, which have a statutory responsibility to meet the needs of their populations. Care is typically delivered through existing primary, community, and secondary care pathways, including musculoskeletal, rehabilitation, pain, cardiology, neurology, and mental health services.There is no single national service specification or clinical framework covering these conditions, reflecting the variability of presentations and the absence of definitive diagnostic tests for some conditions. These conditions are best managed through personalised, multidisciplinary care across existing services rather than a standardised national specification or framework.More broadly, the Government’s 10-Year Health Plan sets out reforms to improve care for people living with long‑term and complex conditions, including greater use of multidisciplinary teams, improved coordination between services, and a shift towards more personalised, community‑based care, which will benefit people with hEDS, HSD and related conditions.

Whether the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation has any newly available (a) evidence or (b) modelling related to carriage studies and the potential impact of routinely offering Meningitis B vaccinations for people aged 13-25 on their health.

The Department makes decisions on vaccination programmes following careful consideration of independent expert advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI). The JCVI does not currently recommend a routine MenB booster vaccination for adolescents and young adults. The JCVI routinely reviews new evidence as it emerges and my Rt. Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, announced on 17 March that the JCVI has been asked to reexamine eligibility for meningitis vaccines. However, decisions on routine vaccination programmes are taken on the basis of independent scientific advice from the JCVI. As ever, we will carefully consider their advice.In the meantime, a targeted vaccination programme has been extended to everyone who has been offered preventative antibiotic treatment as part of this outbreak.

If he will make an assessment of the potential impact of reductions in (a) overtime pay for full-time nurses working additional hours, (b) bank shift rates and (c) pay rates for unfilled shifts by NHS trusts on the (i) morale and (ii) retention of NHS nursing staff.

These specific assessments have not been made. The national provisions for the payment of unsocial hours premia and overtime are set out in the NHS Terms and Conditions of Service Handbook. These provisions are specific to Agenda for Change (AfC) staff, which includes nurses. Overtime payments for substantive AfC staff on national contracts in England can only be paid to individuals once they have worked more than 37.5 hours per week. The NHS Staff Council is responsible for maintaining the handbook, and we are not aware of any current discussions around reducing overtime rates.Where an additional agreement exists between staff and their employing organisation on payment of any additional hours, including hours worked in excess of 37.5 hours per week, for example via a bank contract, then this is considered a local matter.National Health Service bank contracts are local contracts, the terms of which the employer has discretion over. The expectation is that the terms offered under a bank contract are agreed in partnership between employers and trade unions via local negotiating committees.The Department does not hold information on locally negotiated arrangements that individual NHS organisations offer as incentives to cover staff shortages.It is the responsibility of local organisations to ensure they have the right numbers of staff with the right skills to deliver services, supported by guidelines by national and professional bodies, including the management of any staff shortages.

If he will take steps to offer routine mammography through the NHS for men who (a) have a personal history of breast cancer and (b) who are otherwise at high risk of developing breast cancer.

Men who have had breast cancer themselves should be followed up by the clinical services who cared for them while they had breast cancer. General practitioners (GPs) can refer symptomatic men for tests and scans at a breast clinic including a chest examination, mammogram, ultrasound and biopsy. In addition, GPs can refer men to a genetics clinic for assessment if they think someone is at increased risk. Further information is available at the following link: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/breast-cancer-in-men/tests-and-next-steps-for-breast-cancer-in-men/ The UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC) has never been asked to examine breast screening for men at high risk. Any person or organisation can submit a proposal for a new screening topic during the UK NSC’s three-month open call process, which will next run from 1 July 2026 to 30 September 2026.

What assessment he has made of the potential merits of introducing the gluten-free subsidy card scheme operating in Wales across England.

No assessment has been made of the potential merits of introducing the gluten-free (GF) subsidy card scheme used in Wales across England.In the UK, health is a largely devolved matter and local health arrangements such as the Welsh GF subsidy card are a matter for the devolved administrations. The devolved nations make their own decisions on GF prescription and other charges and may choose to spend proportionately more of their budget on the provision of gluten free food against other competing priorities.The national prescribing position in England is that gluten-free bread and mixes can be provided to coeliac patients on National Health Service prescription and a wide range of these items are listed in Part XV of the Drug Tariff. However, local Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) can restrict or end the prescribing of GF food locally. ICBs are autonomous bodies and as such they retain the right to make prescribing policies that meet the needs of their local population within their allocated resource.Targeted financial support schemes have been shown to introduce additional complexity for patients and the NHS. Similar schemes piloted at a local level for gluten free food were discontinued due to lack of patient engagement and the administrative burden involved.

If he will take steps to issue neighbourhood health guidelines for maternal services.

While there are currently no plans to issues guidelines specifically for maternal services, we are developing guidance to provide greater clarity and consistency for systems in developing and scaling neighbourhood health.We expect neighbourhood teams and services to be designed in a way that reflects the specific needs of local populations, and involve National Health Service, local authority, and voluntary sector services.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of the removal of ringfenced funding for maternity services on (a) numbers of NHS midwives, (b) maternal safety and (c) infant safety.

The Government has instructed the National Health Service to improve maternity services, as part of a drive to improve quality, as a priority in the Medium‑Term Planning Framework.While the ring-fenced funding for maternity services has been removed, the same level of funding is being delivered. This is to allow local healthcare system leaders more autonomy to meet the needs of their local population. The Government will continue to monitor integrated care board investment in maternity services.

Pursuant to the Answer of 4 February 2026 to Question 109011 on Kidney Diseases: Health Services, when he plans to bring forward a Modern Service Framework for kidney disease.

The Government will consider long-term conditions for future waves of modern service frameworks (MSFs). The criteria for determining other conditions for future MSFs will be based on where there is potential for rapid and significant improvements in the quality of care and productivity. After the initial wave of MSFs is complete, the National Quality Board will determine the conditions to prioritise for new MSFs as part of its work programme.

Pursuant to the Answer of 27 October 2025 to Question 82544 on Respiratory System: Health Services, if he will outline a timeline he expects to bring forward a Modern Service Framework for respiratory health.

Modern service frameworks (MSFs) will define an aspirational, long-term outcome goal for a major condition and then identify the best evidenced interventions and the support for delivery. Early priorities will include cardiovascular disease, severe mental illness, and the first ever service framework for frailty and dementia.The Government will consider other long-term conditions for future waves of MSFs, including respiratory conditions. The criteria for determining other conditions for future MSFs will be based on where there is potential for rapid and significant improvements in the quality of care and productivity. After the initial wave of MSFs is complete, the National Quality Board will determine the conditions to prioritise for new MSFs as part of its work programme.

What steps he is taking to improve the transition for NHS patients between paediatric and adult care in the NHS.

The Government is committed to raising the healthiest generation of children ever. This includes ensuring that children receive the appropriate care and support whenever they need it.The 10-Year Health Plan sets out how the Government aims to support children and young people as they navigate the National Health Service, ensuring they feel comfortable and confident in managing their own health and care from 16 years old where appropriate. This includes supporting young people as they move from child to adolescent and adult services, making sure that care is developmentally appropriate throughout. NHS England has developed guidance for integrated care boards and healthcare providers to aid the design of transition pathways that improve health outcomes for all young people. This guidance will be published in due course.

What steps he is taking to improve treatment for patients with Pectus Excavatum.

There are a number of non-surgical management options to support people diagnosed with a pectus deformity, including posture and exercise programmes, bracing, and psychological support.For surgical treatments, NHS England reviewed the evidence to treat pectus excavatum in patients and issued an interim clinical commissioning urgent policy statement published in April 2023. NHS England concluded that there is enough evidence to make surgical treatment available as a routine commissioning treatment option for patients of all ages with pectus excavatum resulting in very severe physiological symptoms. The criteria for surgery can be found at the following link:https://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/PRN00394-interim-clinical-commissioning-urgent-policy-statement-pectus-surgery.pdf