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Ashley Dalton
LAB✓ Current MP
🏛️ West Lancashire
📅 2023–2026
230 speeches on Hansard record
⚠️ Votes attended: 67.75% (#468 of 650 MPs)
🟢 Rebelled against party: 0.00%
📝 Topics: Children: Maintenance, Semaglutide: Procurement, Lancashire Constabulary: Vetting
🤝 Member of 2 All-Party Parliamentary Groups
Written Answers
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Department of Health and Social Care
The Department recognises that Ehlers–Danlos syndromes (EDS) and associated cranio‑cervical instability (CCI) are complex conditions that can be challenging to diagnose and manage, and we acknowledge the concerns raised by patients and clinicians about variation in expertise and access…
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The Government recognises the harms associated with alcohol consumption and has taken crucial steps in the 10-Year Health Plan to support people to make healthier choices. There is a balance to be struck, and the Government continues to consider carefully what other measures might be needed to turn…
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Currently alcohol advertising and promotion in the United Kingdom is regulated primarily through the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA), which administers the mandatory Advertising Codes, written by the Committee of Advertising Practice and the Broadcast Committee of Advertising Practice, across…
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The Government has committed to raising the healthiest generation of children ever and recognises the challenges families of children needing regular specialist care can face. On 3 February 2026, Government announced a £10 million financial support package for families of children and young…
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The information requested is not held centrally. The cost of a local anaesthetic transperineal prostate biopsy can vary between National Health Service providers, depending on local commissioning arrangements, workforce models, and operational costs.
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The evidence considered by the UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC) is available in the consultation on their prostate cancer recommendation page at the following link:https://view-health-screening-recommendations.service.gov.uk/prostate-cancer/The pathway considered the use of multiparametric…
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NHS England collected, but does not currently publish, data on the proportion of COVID-19 vaccinations that were administered by community pharmacies in the autumn 2025 vaccination programme. This unpublished data indicates that during the autumn campaign, which ran from 1 October 2025 to 31…
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To help people quit, the Government has invested an additional £70 million in both 2024/25 and 2025/26 to support local authority led Stop Smoking Services in England. We are already seeing the impact this has made, as the first year of additional funding, 2024/25, resulted in a 23% increase…
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The Government is committed to improving cancer screening services in line with the National Cancer Plan and as part of the 10-Year Health Plan’s shift from sickness to prevention.In Yeovil, lung cancer screening is already proving transformational in the early diagnosis of lung cancer, and…
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Data on hospital admission rates for metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), of which metabolic dysfunction–associated steatohepatitis is a stage in some cases, is available at the Department’s Fingertips website, and can be used by regional commissioners to…
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The Department has not made a formal assessment, but the development of the National Cancer Plan has highlighted areas where there are higher vacancy rates in some areas of the country. The Department and NHS England will work with the royal colleges to encourage resident doctors and internal…
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Non-Government spending on preventative health care is estimated in the UK Health Accounts published by the Office for National Statistics, on a United Kingdom basis. The following table shows the preventive healthcare spending by method of financing for the UK, for 2023, based on the current…
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The recently published National Cancer Plan reiterated the commitment made in Fit for the Future: 10-Year Health Plan for England, to strengthen and expand on existing voluntary guidelines for alcohol labelling by introducing a mandatory requirement for alcoholic drinks to display…
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The recently published National Cancer Plan reiterated the commitment made in Fit for the Future: 10-Year Health Plan for England, to strengthen and expand on existing voluntary guidelines for alcohol labelling by introducing a mandatory requirement for alcoholic drinks to display consistent…
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In both the Fit for the Future: 10-Year Health Plan for England and the National Cancer Plan for England, the Government committed to strengthen and expand on existing voluntary guidelines for alcohol labelling by introducing a mandatory requirement for alcoholic drinks to display consistent…
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In Fit for the Future: 10 Year Health Plan for England, the Government committed to strengthening and expanding existing voluntary guidelines for alcohol labelling by introducing a mandatory requirement for alcoholic drinks to display consistent nutritional information and health warning messages.…
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Lipoedema does not currently have a unique standalone diagnostic code within the National Health Service’s primary coding systems. In clinical practice, it is often recorded under broader World Health Organization International Classification of Diseases Tenth Revision categories relating to…
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In order to increase survival rates from out-of-hospital cardiac arrest NHS England has worked in partnership with St John’s Ambulance and others to increase access to cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) training. Local ambulance trusts, charities, including St John’s Ambulance and the…
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The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.
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Funding for the Type 1 Diabetes and Disordered Eating (T1DE) pilots was time-limited with the expectation that once the national funding expires, responsibility for considering the future provision of T1DE services would sit with the relevant integrated care board (ICB) who are responsible for…
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The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.
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The same day emergency care pilot for sickle cell patients at the Royal London Hospital was commissioned locally, via the NHS North East London Integrated Care Board. The pilot finished in January 2026 as planned. The pilot was testing an alternative route for treating emergency patients with…
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The Department knows that the cost of travel is an important issue for many young cancer patients and their families across the United Kingdom.Through the National Cancer Plan, the Government is committing up to £10 million a year to a new fund open to all children and young people in England…
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A reformed National Cancer Board, jointly chaired by the Department and an independent representative, will track progress and provide regular updates to ministers.Across the life of the plan, ministers will publish an annual summary of progress, along with a more in-depth report after three years…
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The 10-Year Health Plan sets out an ambitious agenda on how we will improve the nation’s health by creating a new model of care that is fit for the future.We recognise that local authorities such as Sutton Council are ambitious, seeking to deliver universal support to babies, children, and…
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Integrated care boards (ICBs) are independently responsible for the commissioning of long COVID services which meet the needs of their population, subject to local prioritisation and funding. While this may result in regional and local variation of long COVID services, NHS England has published…
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The National Cancer Plan sets out how we will tackle unwarranted variation head on and end the postcode lottery for cancer care.It will shift healthcare from hospitals to the community and ensure that all cancer patients, regardless of where they live, have access to high-quality, specialist cancer…
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The National Cancer Plan will redesign cancer services around people’s lives, not just around hospitals, recognising that more people are living for longer with and beyond cancer and need ongoing, coordinated support. To achieve this aim, the plan committed to the development of new standards…
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Officials in the Department of Health and Social Care regularly meet with officials from other departments, including HM Revenue and Customs and Border Force, to share intelligence and ensure a coordinated approach to the enforcement of our rules on vaping products. This coordinated approach to…
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Officials from the Department of Health and Social Care and the Office for Product Safety and Standards are considering whether the Office for Product Safety and Standards would be best placed to oversee the future register.Officials in Department of Health and Social Care and the Office for…
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Powers in the Tobacco and Vapes Bill allow us to develop a new registration and testing scheme for all vape, nicotine, and tobacco products. These powers will apply across the United Kingdom, and it is therefore vital that the future registration scheme works for all nations.We are in the process…
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Powers in the Tobacco and Vapes Bill allow us to develop a new registration and testing scheme for all vape, nicotine, and tobacco products. This will replace the current notification system and competent authority function which will remain in place until the new regulations. Our current intention…
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In the Blaydon and Consett area, pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) is primarily delivered by the Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust. Since April 2024, the trust's physiotherapy and occupational therapy services have undertaken a comprehensive redesign of the PR service. This restructure aims to…
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The Government laid legislation in England on 14 November 2024 to introduce the mandatory fortification of non-wholemeal wheat flour with folic acid. Similar legislation in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland has also been laid. The provisions will become mandatory in December 2026.Non-wholemeal…
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The National Diabetes Audit (NDA), and the National Peadiatric Diabetes Audit (NPDA), which are delivered in partnership with NHS England, provide comprehensive data on care processes and outcomes. NHS Digital’s NDA dashboards and the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health’s NPDA…
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The Government has announced the introduction of human papilloma virus (HPV) self-testing in the National Health Service cervical screening programme for the under-screened population in England. The NHS has begun planning an in-service evaluation (ISE) of HPV self-testing in the wider…
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NHS England has invested significantly in supporting people with long COVID. This includes setting up specialist long COVID services nationwide for adults, and children and young people, and investing in ensuring general practice (GP) teams are equipped to support people affected by the condition.…
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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…
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The recently published National Cancer Plan sets out that the National Health Service will use training places more directly as a lever to support improvements in operational performance. This includes prioritising training places in trusts, including in rural and coastal areas, where vacancy rates…
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The National Cancer Plan sets out that we will deliver new quality standards for prehabilitation across the country in 2028 to help patients get healthier before treatment. The new standards will ensure access to prehabilitation services and that they fit around patients’ lives. This will…
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Integrated care boards (ICBs) are responsible for assessing local population need and commissioning appropriate diagnostic and treatment pathways for neurological conditions, including Tourette syndrome. While the Department has not undertaken a national assessment of provision across ICBs, we…
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As set out in our 10-Year Health Plan for England: fit for the future, we will take decisive action on the obesity crisis, easing the strain on our National Health Service and creating the healthiest generation of children ever. As part of this, the Government committed to updating the standards…
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The National Cancer Plan was published on the 4 February 2026.The Department received more than 11,000 responses to a Call for Evidence alongside significant engagement with patients, families, carers, clinicians, researchers, cancer charities and voluntary groups.Now that the National Cancer Plan…
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The Government is currently developing the Tuberculosis National Action Plan for 2026 to 2031. The content of the plan, including any associated funding requirements, has not yet been finalised. Any proposals with financial implications will be subject to the usual cross‑Government processes,…
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It is important that community health teams can access the information they need to provide quality care, including for people who are experiencing homelessness. NHS England and the Phoenix Partnership (TPP), the company that provides SystemOne, already offer several routes for some clinicians to…
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The Department already has established arrangements in place to manage conflicts of interest for both ministers and civil servants, including where these relate to engagement with representatives of unhealthy commodity industries.Ministerial conduct is governed by the Ministerial Code, which sets…
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The Department already has established arrangements in place to manage conflicts of interest for both ministers and civil servants, including where these relate to the alcohol industry.Ministerial conduct is governed by the Ministerial Code, which sets out requirements on the declaration and…
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The final delivery plan on myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS), published in July 2025, includes an action for the Department and NHS England to explore whether a specialised service should be prescribed by my Rt. Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social…
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On 4 February 2026, NHS England and the Department published a National Cancer Plan for England. The National Cancer Plan is part of our work to build a National Health Service that is fit for the future and will make England a world-leader for cancer survival.The orphan drug designation is…
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Poor air quality is a major public health risk in the United Kingdom. An estimated 29,000 to 43,000 deaths were attributable to long-term exposure to ambient air pollution in the UK in 2019 among adults aged 30 years old and over.Indoor residential exposure to damp and mould was associated with…
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The NHS Business Services Authority is the administrator of the Vaccine Damage Payment Scheme (VDPS). The following table shows the total number of awarded claims in each financial year since 2021/22:YearTotal number of VDPS claims awarded2021/2212022/23722023/24992024/25552025/2634Total261Note:…
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The Government is committed to tackling child poverty and to raising the healthiest generation of children ever. Our Children, Our Future: Tackling Child Poverty was published on 5 December 2025 and set out a goal to reduce and alleviate the impact of child poverty, with urgent action to improve…
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Through our National Health Service screening programmes, we can reduce mortality and morbidity from cancer in the population who appear healthy and have no symptoms, by detecting conditions at an earlier, more treatable stage. Each year, over 15 million people are invited for screening, with over…
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The National Cancer Plan sets out how we will strengthen the cancer workforce, including for diagnostics, such as pathology. The plan sets out sustainable workforce growth, focused not on simply expanding numbers but on ensuring staff are properly trained, supported, and able to work at the top of…
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NHS England’s updated Specialised Neurology Service Specification, published in August 2025, includes specific reference to functional neurological disorder (FND). It states that all specialised neurology centres must include access to treatment services for FND. The updated Specialised…
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The Department monitors geographic inequalities in cancer diagnosis and treatment through the NHS Cancer Waiting Time Standards, for which data is published at integrated care board and provider level. The NHS England Acute Provider Table for all 134 providers supports this transparency.Early…
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The National Cancer Plan, published on 4 February 2026, sets out clear actions to expand diagnostic genomic testing and ensure that this is matched by access to targeted therapies. The plan confirms that every cancer patient who would benefit from genomic testing, including those with rare cancers,…
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As set out in the 10-Year Health Plan for England, we are taking decisive action on the obesity crisis to shift the focus from treatment to prevention and ease the strain on our National Health Service, including in Slough.We have fulfilled our commitment to restrict junk food advertising targeted…
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The Tobacco and Vapes Bill, currently being considered in the House of Lords, provides powers for ministers in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland to introduce a licensing scheme, in their respective nations, for the retail sale of tobacco, vapes, and nicotine products. This will strengthen…
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Whilst there is an increasing move towards digital National Health Service communications, NHS letters remain crucial for many patients, particularly those who may be digitally excluded, therefore, they will always be included in the screening offer. For bowel screening, NHS England currently uses…
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The National Cancer Plan sets out how we will tackle unwarranted geographical variation head on and ensure that everyone has access to the best diagnostic and treatment services, no matter their postcode.We recognise that rural and coastal areas have been struggling for too long, which is why this…
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The new and world-leading NHS National Inherited Cancer Predisposition Registry (NICPR), part of the National Disease Registration Service, will help the National Health Service to deliver proactive, targeted prevention, surveillance, and earlier diagnosis for people and their families. Women at…
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The National Health Service in England encourages everyone, including men in the Yeovil constituency, to check their breast and chest regularly for firm lumps, changes or thickened areas of tissue, and to consult their general practitioner straight away if they have any concerns.To increase…
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The Department and the UK Health Security Agency have published a range of information and evidence on health impacts of air pollution, to support action to reduce exposure to harmful emissions.The Chief Medical Officer’s Annual Report 2022: Air Pollution sets out a detailed overview of this…
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Being physically active, including walking and brisk walking, can help with the prevention and management of long-term health conditions, such as some cancers. Movement is an important part of care for people going through cancer treatment, helping to support recovery and boosting mental health and…
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I refer the Hon. Member to the answer I gave to the Hon. Member for Rushcliffe on 19 November 2025 to Question 89687.
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Our 10-Year Health Plan will have profound and positive impacts on care for patients with spinal cord injury. More tests and scans are delivered in the community, better joined-up working between services, and greater use of technology will all support people in the management of long-term…
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Each year, over 15 million people are invited for screening by National Health Service screening programmes, with over 10 million taking up the invitation. Through our NHS screening programmes, we can reduce mortality and morbidity from cancer and other conditions in the population who appear…
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People in Yeovil who are over the age of 71 years old can request breast cancer screening once every three years by contacting their local National Health Service breast screening programme directly.They will be offered an appointment at either the nearest mobile screening van, which rotate around…
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I refer the Hon. Member to the answer I gave to the Hon. Member for York Central on 23 January 2026 to Question 105860.The Government is committed to shortening the amount of time spent in ill health and preventing premature deaths caused by alcohol. Action to prevent…
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Ambient and indoor air pollution have long- and short-term health impacts on children and young people, for example respiratory effects including reduced lung function and exacerbation of asthma. The Committee on the Medical Effects of Air Pollutants has published advice on the susceptibility to…
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Each year, over 15 million people are invited for screening by National Health Service screening programmes, with over 10 million taking up the invitation. Through our NHS screening programmes, we can reduce mortality and morbidity from cancer and other conditions in the population who appear…
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Data is not collected at a constituency level. Data on what proportion of cancer patients in the Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire West Integrated Care Board received a first treatment within the 62-day cancer waiting time standard can be found on the NHS England website at the following…
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In Fit for the Future: 10-Year Health Plan for England, the Government committed to strengthening and expanding on existing voluntary guidelines for alcohol labelling by introducing a mandatory requirement for alcoholic drinks to display consistent nutritional information and health warning…
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Ministers meet regularly through the Keeping Children Safe Ministerial Board and the Inter-Ministerial Group on Child Sexual Abuse, where the Child Protection Authority (CPA) is regularly discussed. Both of these groups will continue to monitor progress on the delivery of the CPA.
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In 2016, the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN) published a robust assessment of the evidence on vitamin D and a wide range of health outcomes resulting in the current advice for everyone to take a 10 microgram, or 400 international units, daily supplement of vitamin D during the…
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The 10-Year Health Plan for England sets out the Government’s ambition to establish Neighbourhood Health Centres in every community. Neighbourhood health will bring more care into local communities, tailoring services to meet those needs through local co-ordinated teams, addressing not just…
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It is a priority for the Government to increase the amount of time people spend in good health and prevent premature deaths, with an ambitious commitment to halve the healthy life expectancy gap between the richest and poorest regions.We know that everyday life poses greater health risks to the…
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Powers in the Tobacco and Vapes Bill allow us to create a new product registration scheme, as well as a new testing regime, for tobacco, vape, and nicotine products. As the bill is not yet enacted, the new scheme has not yet been established and the current notification scheme for nicotine vapes,…
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We know that people with co-occurring substance use and mental health needs do not receive the integrated, person-centred care they require and deserve. The Department and NHS England have recently published the Co-occurring Mental Health and Substance Use Delivery framework, which is available at…
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The Government is committed to delivering the healthiest generation of children ever. The National Health Service is responsible for meeting the health needs of children and young people diagnosed with an illness or medical condition, including long term conditions.On 5 February…
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The Department knows that the cost of travel is an important issue for many young cancer patients and their families across the United Kingdom.Through the National Cancer Plan, the Government is committing up to £10 million a year to a new fund open to all children and young people in England…
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Powers in the Tobacco and Vapes Bill allow us to establish a new testing regime to ensure vape, nicotine, or tobacco products that are sold on the United Kingdom’s market do not contain harmful ingredients or metals, or breach other regulations, for instance on packaging.We launched a call…
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Officials from the Department of Health and Social Care and the Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) have been in discussions to explore whether OPSS, as the Government's primary product safety regulator, would be suitable to oversee the future product registration scheme for tobacco,…
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Officials in the Department regularly meet with officials from other departments, including HM Revenue and Customs and Border Force, to share intelligence and ensure a coordinated approach to the enforcement of our rules on vaping products. This coordinated approach to enforcement will continue…
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Department of Health and Social Care ministers engage regularly with ministerial colleagues on air quality. The 10-Year Health Plan for England details action the Government will take to reduce the health harms of air pollution. This includes the Department for Environment, Food and Rural…
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The published data on cancer waiting times in England does not include average waiting times for patients to begin treatment, and the Department does not publish radiotherapy data broken down by tumour type, as we present tumour type and treatment modality breakdowns separately.However, the…
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Each claim to the Vaccine Damage Payment Scheme (VDPS) is assessed on a case-by-case basis by a medical assessor. All medical assessors are General Medical Council registered doctors, who have undertaken specialised training in vaccine damage and disability assessment.The NHS Business Services…
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The National Cancer Plan, published 4 February 2026, will transform outcomes for people with secondary breast cancer.The National Health Service is piloting the use of self-referral breast cancer pathways to streamline diagnostic pathways using the NHS App and NHS 111 online service. This is in…
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The Department recognises the importance of ensuring that young adults with cerebral palsy, including those without a diagnosed learning disability, can access appropriate, high‑quality services that meet their individual needs.Integrated care boards (ICBs) are responsible for assessing the…
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Long COVID, or post-COVID, services are commissioned by integrated care boards. These services should comprise of an integrated pathway of assessment, medical treatment, and multifaceted rehabilitation, with direct access to required diagnostics. Referral should be via a single point of access…
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Ambient and indoor air pollution are harmful to health in the United Kingdom. Long-term exposure to air pollution, over years or lifetimes, reduces life expectancy, mainly due to cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, dementia and lung cancer. Short-term exposure, over hours or days, to elevated…
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The Government’s 10-Year Health Plan sets out actions to reduce people’s exposure to harmful emissions, improve public understanding of air pollution, and strengthen how air quality information is communicated. The Department continues to work with partners across the Government and the…
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Improving cancer services is a priority for the Government. We will get the National Health Service diagnosing cancer earlier and treating it faster so that more patients survive, and we will improve patients’ experience across the system. Slough is seeing an improvement in bowel screening…
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The Government’s 10-Year Health Plan has set out a long-term vision to reform the National Health Service and make it fit for the future. Addressing healthcare inequity is a core focus of the 10-Year Health Plan, to ensure the NHS is there for anyone who needs it whenever they need it.This…
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Craniocervical instability (CCI) is a complex condition managed through existing specialised neurology and spinal pathways. There is currently no single national diagnostic or treatment pathway for CCI and no plan to change that at this time. Instead, care is provided through existing specialised…
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Local health commissioners and providers in Surrey are responsible for assessing how existing clinical guidance is being applied across primary care settings. NHS England is undertaking a review of options for supporting primary care services in the identification of acute onset Type 1 diabetes in…
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Integrated care boards are responsible for commissioning health services to meet the needs of their populations. In doing so they must have regard to the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidance, including for diabetes. The National Diabetes Audit (NDA), and the National…
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The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) is an independent departmental expert committee which advises the Government on matters related to vaccination and immunisation. In November 2024, the JCVI provided advice to the Government on eligibility for the shingles vaccination…
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Integrated care boards (ICBs) are allocated funding by the National Health Service based on a statistical formula which takes into account population size and needs, so that funding distribution is fair and objective. Further details on ICB funding allocation can be found at the following…
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The number of radiotherapy treatment machines in use across the National Health Service in England is not recorded as part of a nationally mandated data collection.The commissioning of radiotherapy services is overseen by local systems. They have the responsibility to ensure that sufficient…
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The Government is guided by the UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC), an independent scientific advisory committee which makes its recommendations based on internationally recognised criteria and a rigorous evidence review and consultation process. It is only where the committee is confident…
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The Tobacco and Vapes Bill will stop vapes and nicotine products from being deliberately branded, promoted, and advertised to children and provides the Government with new powers to restrict the packaging, device appearance, and display of vapes and other nicotine products to stop the next…
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The Terms of Reference for the Expert Advisory Group on Allergy, which is overseen and supported by external stakeholders, states that the meetings are confidential. Therefore, the meeting minutes are not shared publicly.
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Fresh-freezing, also referred to as snap-freezing, is a standard technique used by pathology networks to preserve tissue architecture without chemical fixatives, allowing for subsequent molecular or histological analysis, typically supporting research or advanced diagnostic applications.No recent…
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Pathology services in England are delivered through 27 regional pathology networks, and offer a comprehensive range of tests, including the analysis of brain tissues.Individual pathology services maintain their own standard operating procedures (SOPs) for fresh, or the snap-freezing of, tissue…
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Pathology services in England are delivered through 27 regional pathology networks, and offer a comprehensive range of tests, including the analysis of brain tissues. Individual pathology services maintain their own standard operating procedures (SOPs) for fresh, or snap-freezing, of tissue…
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Fresh-freezing, also referred to as snap-freezing, is a standard technique used by pathology networks to preserve tissue architecture without chemical fixatives, allowing for subsequent molecular or histological analysis, typically supporting research or advanced diagnostic applications.Pathology…
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The Spending Review prioritised health, with record investment in the health and social care system. The Government is providing £29 billion more day-to-day funding for the National Health Service in real terms compared to 2023/24, which is the equivalent to a 3% average annual real terms…
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I refer the Hon. Member to the answer I gave on 2 February 2026 to Question 108759.
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From this year, all drug and alcohol treatment and recovery funding will be channelled through the Public Health Grant, with over £13.45 billion allocated across three years, including £3.4 billion ringfenced for drug and alcohol treatment and recovery. Local authorities are responsible…
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Improving cancer services is a priority for the Government. We will get the National Health Service diagnosing cancer earlier and treating it faster so that more patients survive, and we will improve patients’ experience across the system.The bowel cancer screening programme primarily focuses…
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The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) monitors uptake of childhood and adolescent vaccinations via the school-based programmes and publishes this in annual coverage reports. Uptake across the programmes has shown a decline since the COVID-19 pandemic, with some evidence of stabilisation during the…
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Improving access to diabetes technologies is a priority for NHS England, which uses routine data from the National Diabetes Audit (NDA) to help integrated care boards and providers benchmark themselves and target improvements. The NDA 2025/26 reports that 64% of people registered as living with…
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Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is now commonly referred to as metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), although the terms are still often used interchangeably.While the Department has not had any recent discussions with medical professionals about care for people with…
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As announced in the 10-Year Health Plan, as well as an overall quality strategy, the National Quality Board is overseeing the development of a new series of service frameworks to accelerate progress in conditions where there is potential for rapid and significant improvements in quality of care and…
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NHS England Screening and Immunisation Teams, including a dedicated team covering Thames Valley, work closely with providers and local partners to ensure cancer screening programmes are delivered in line with national standards for quality, safety and effectiveness.At a local level, the NHS…
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I refer the Hon. Member to the answer I gave on 16 January 2026 to Question 101856.
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The 10-Year Health Plan sets out an ambitious agenda to how we will improve the nation’s health by creating a new model of care that is fit for the future.We recognise that local authorities such as Stockport Council are ambitious, seeking to deliver universal support to babies, children, and…
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The Government has a bold ambition to raise the healthiest generation of children ever and to give every baby the best start in life. Best Start Family Hubs and Healthy Babies plays a crucial role in achieving this. We are committed to delivering the 10-Year Health Plan ambition to match Healthy…
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The National Disease Registration Service (NDRS) in NHS England provides England’s national resource for data and analytics on cancer, rare diseases, and congenital conditions.The NDRS already serves as a national register for women at very high risk of breast cancer. NDRS curates and quality…
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The UKHSA (UK Health Security Agency) Healthcare-Associated Infection (HCAI) Data (public HCAI statistics) does not currently publish routine counts of hospital-acquired pneumonia deaths. Pneumonia is not one of the standard HCAIs in the UKHSA dashboard.The Office of National Statistics is the…
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The Department has access to data from several population health surveys, undertaken by other organisations or departments, which record the religion of respondents, and which include Sikh and Jewish as categories. These include:- Health Survey for England;- General Practice Patient Survey;- Annual…
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Our 10-Year Health Plan sets out how the Government will take action to reduce exposure to harmful emissions, including commitments to increase public understanding of air pollution and to enhance communication of air quality information.The Department of Health and Social Care continues to work…
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The Department does not hold information on the number of children in England with epilepsy. However, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence’s guideline cites evidence that epilepsy affects about 533,000 in England and Wales, 112,000 of which are children and young people.
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The Government is taking men’s health seriously and we want to find the best way of reliably screening for prostate cancer. We are guided by the independent scientific advice of the UK National Screening Committee who are consulting on a draft recommendation relating to prostate cancer…
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The National Health Service and local government provide a range of weight management services. This includes behaviour change support such as the NHS Digital Weight Management Programme, intensive treatments like very low-calorie diets, pharmaceutical treatments, and bariatric surgery. NHS…
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On 28 November, the UK National Screening Committee opened a 12-week public consultation on a draft recommendation on screening for prostate cancer. We anticipate a final recommendation in early 2026. After which, my Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, will make a…
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We have full confidence in the UK National Screening Committee's evidence-based approach, which includes a 12 week public consultation to inform the findings even further. If new peer reviewed published evidence is submitted to the consultation it will be considered before a final decision is made…
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Drawing on the available peer reviewed evidence, the Sheffield Centre for Health and Related Research (SCHARR) has undertaken economic analysis on behalf of the UK National Screening Committee.In their modelling, in line with best practice and the standard academic approach to assessing a new…
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We recognise the devastating impact of sudden unexplained death in childhood (SUDC) on affected families and communities. It is important that grieving families and friends who have lost loved ones have access to the support they need, when they need it. Bereavement support, including for parents…
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The Government is committed to tackling the appalling crime of child sexual abuse. Every registered health professional working across the National Health Service has a professional duty of care to protect children from abuse, harm, or violence. This will be strengthened through the introduction of…
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As part of the Department’s engagement to inform the development of the forthcoming National Cancer Plan, officials from the Department’s cancer team have worked closely with patient organisations, clinicians, cancer partners and have considered over 11,000 responses to the call for…
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The Department is committed to improving outcomes for teenagers and young adults with cancer. The Children and Young People Cancer Taskforce was relaunched on 4 February 2025 to identify tangible ways to improve outcomes and experiences for young cancer patients. The taskforce will explore…
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The Department works closely with the UK Health Security Agency and NHS England to improve vaccination uptake. In Leicester, NHS England has advised that flu vaccination uptake has increased compared with last winter, with notable improvement in school‑age flu vaccination.Across the East…
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It is for individual publicly funded bodies to determine appropriate arrangements for the defibrillators they maintain, taking account of relevant factors such as building operating hours and security. More broadly, local communities themselves are best placed to make decisions about location and…
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The Government is committed to protecting those most vulnerable to COVID-19 through vaccination, as guided by the independent Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI).The primary aim of the national COVID-19 vaccination programme remains the prevention of serious disease, resulting in…
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As the Royal College of Physicians' report outlines, indoor air quality remains an important public health consideration.Our 10-Year Health plan sets out Government actions to improve the quality of the air we breathe, with commitments to increase understanding of indoor and outdoor air pollution…
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The United Kingdom is committed to working with the European Union to strengthen our preparedness and response capabilities to serious cross-border health threats. The UK and the EU are exploring ways to enable improved information exchange and cooperation on health security, including within the…
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Our deepest sympathies are with those who have experienced harm following vaccination and with their families. Ministers recognise that concerns have been raised with the Vaccine Damage Payment Scheme (VDPS) and continue to consider potential reforms to the scheme.In parallel, the Department has…
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Improving cancer services, including diagnostic capacity and treatment infrastructure, is a priority for the Government.The Government is committed to meeting all three National Health Service cancer waiting time standards across England. We are committed to transforming diagnostic services and…
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The Department and the National Health Service in England are committed to ensuring that cancer patients have timely access to treatment and tailored medical support. In 2016, NHS England concluded that there was insufficient evidence to make chemosaturation treatment available to patients on the…
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Residents of Bletchley who access oncology care would most likely attend Milton Keynes University Hospital which offers on-site chemotherapy and radiotherapy, the latter led by the Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. Workforce reviews are currently under way to ensure that this trust…
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NHS England has made good progress in growing and developing the cancer and diagnostics workforce.In 2024/25, approximately 8,000 people received training to either enter the cancer and diagnostics workforce or develop in their roles. As part of this, over 1,600 people were on apprenticeship…
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The UK Rare Diseases Framework was published following the National Conversation on Rare Diseases, which received nearly 6,300 responses. This helped identify the four priorities of the framework in tackling rare diseases: helping patients get a final diagnosis faster; increasing awareness of rare…
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In April 2025, the statutory gambling levy came into effect to fund the research, prevention, and treatment of gambling-related harm across Great Britain. In its first year, the levy has raised nearly £120 million, with 30% allocated to gambling harms prevention activity. The Department for…
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The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.
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The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.
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In 2019, the UK Chief Medical Officers published a commentary on a systematic review of screen-based activities, including social media, and their impact on children and young people’s mental health. They found an association between screen-based activities and mental health but could not…
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The Government is committed to protecting those most vulnerable to COVID-19 through vaccination, as guided by the independent Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI). The primary aim of the national COVID-19 vaccination programme remains the prevention of serious illness, resulting…
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The Department remains committed to ensuring that cancer patients, including those with metastatic ocular melanoma, have timely access to treatment and tailored medical support. The Government supports Scott Arthur’s Private Members Bill on rare cancers which will make it easier for clinical…
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The Government is committed to building a fairer Britain, to ensure people can live well for longer. Our reimagined National Health Service will tackle inequalities in both access and outcomes, as well as give women, no matter who they are or where they come from, the means to engage with the NHS…
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It is a priority for the Government is to increase the amount of time people spend in good health and prevent premature deaths, with a vision of ensuring that all individuals, regardless of background or location, live longer, healthier lives. Our 10-Year Health Plan for the National Health…
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We recognise the pressures people are facing with the rising cost of living and the increased costs incurred by people with coeliac disease because they have to buy gluten-free options, which are often more expensive than their non-gluten-free equivalents.The Department carried out an analysis of…
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Local integrated care boards (ICBs) are responsible for assessing the needs of their populations and for commissioning services that meet those needs, including decisions on the balance between in‑person and remote appointments across primary, community, and hospital care. This includes…
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The Government is committed to supporting women with long-term conditions like arthritis. Through the 10-Year Health Plan’s three big shifts, we will ensure more tests are delivered in the community, improved working between services, and greater use of technology to support women managing…
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To ensure people living with brain tumours have care which addresses their financial concerns, NHS England has committed to ensuring that every person diagnosed with cancer has access to personalised care. This includes needs assessments, a care plan, and health and wellbeing information and…
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All food additives used in the United Kingdom, including preservatives, are subject to rigorous safety assessments before they are authorised for use. These assessments consider the intended purpose, the types of foods they may be added to, and maximum permitted levels to ensure consumer safety.The…
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Approved slaughterhouses may use any legally compliant slaughter method. They are not required to notify the Food Standards Agency (FSA) in advance of the method to be used. Many establishments alternate between stunned and non‑stunned slaughter to meet differing market and trade…
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The Department of Health and Social Care takes seriously addressing harms from ketamine. We are working with partners across Government, including Home Office, to respond to existing and new drug threats and to reduce and prevent the health harms they cause. This includes launching a recent media…
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We want people with Parkinson’s to receive high‑quality care as close to home as possible, and many aspects of Parkinson’s care, such as medication management, routine monitoring, rehabilitation therapies, and community nursing, can be delivered outside specialist settings,…
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In April 2025, the statutory levy on gambling operators came into effect to fund the research, prevention, and treatment of gambling-related harm across Great Britain. In its first year, the levy has raised nearly £120 million, with 50% allocated to gambling harms treatment and…
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As set out in our 10-Year Health Plan for England: fit for the future, we will take decisive action on the obesity crisis, easing the strain on our National Heath Service and creating the healthiest generation of children ever.As part of this, we are committed to updating the standards which…
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Decisions related to public health nursing contracts are taken at a local level.Public health nursing has been funded by local authorities since 2015 through the Public Health Grant. We increased the Public Health Grant by £224 million this year, 2025/26, to support local authorities to…
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We know that many local authorities have strong ties with other areas in their region, and some Healthy Babies services may be delivered across local authority boundaries. Current Family Hubs and Start for Life programme guidance encourages local authorities to consider how best they can…
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The Homelessness Reduction Act 2017 introduced a duty on specified public authorities to refer service users who they think may be homeless or threatened with homelessness to local authority homelessness/housing options teams. The specified public bodies include hospitals, emergency departments,…
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The Department does not collect centralised data on the number of clinicians with specific expertise in Parkinson’s disease. This is because decisions about the staffing, skill mix, and service models required to meet local population needs are made by individual National Health Service…
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In 2024/25, approximately 8,000 people received training to either enter the cancer and diagnostics workforce or to develop in their roles. As part of this, over 1,600 people were on apprenticeship courses, with over 270 additional medical specialty training places funded. Over 1,000 clinical nurse…
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As announced in the 10-Year Health Plan, as well as an overall quality strategy, the National Quality Board is overseeing the development of a new series of service frameworks to accelerate progress in conditions where there is potential for rapid and significant improvements in quality of care and…
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The Government is committed to raising the healthiest generation of children ever. The child health workforce, including health visiting teams, are central to how we support families to give their children the best start in life.Health visitors lead the Healthy Child Programme, England’s…
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Data on chronic kidney disease (CKD) prevalence nationally and locally is available at the following link:https://fingertips.phe.org.uk/search/chronic%20kidney%20disease#page/4/gid/1/pat/159/par/K02000001/ati/15/are/E92000001/iid/258/age/168/sex/4/cat/-1/ctp/-1/yrr/1/cid/4/tbm/1 NHS England’s…
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Data on chronic kidney disease (CKD) prevalence nationally and locally is available at the following link:https://fingertips.phe.org.uk/search/chronic%20kidney%20disease#page/4/gid/1/pat/159/par/K02000001/ati/15/are/E92000001/iid/258/age/168/sex/4/cat/-1/ctp/-1/yrr/1/cid/4/tbm/1 NHS England’s…
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The Department’s Community Automated External Defibrillator (AED) Fund delivered 3080 new AEDs to local communities between September 2023 and February 2025.The Government’s position is that local communities are best placed to make decisions about procuring, locating and maintaining…
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The single greatest risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD) is raised blood pressure and as set out in the 10-Year Health Plan, we will publish a modern service framework for CVD later this year. The framework will identify the best evidenced interventions, set clear quality standards, drive…
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In March 2024, the Department launched a campaign to raise awareness of high blood pressure, or hypertension, and to encourage those eligible to get checked for free at their local pharmacy. The campaign ran for three weeks with advertising on television, video-on-demand, social media, and on…
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We welcome heart awareness month, which raises awareness about heart disease, promoting lifestyle changes for a healthy heart. The Department and NHS England regularly run health-related media campaigns targeting audiences to take preventative action.Throughout January and February, we will be…
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Health is a devolved matter. The Department does not hold information on gastric band and gastric sleeve surgery in Wales.For England, the table below shows the number of gastric band and gastric sleeve surgeries undertaken between 2022 and 2025:Financial YearGastric BandGastric…
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Women with lipoedema can face a number of barriers to seeking diagnosis and referral, including long waits, misdiagnosis, often as obesity or lymphoedema, and low awareness of the condition among both the public and some healthcare professionals. These factors can lead to delayed recognition,…
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The Government already has evidence-based policies in place to embed system-wide infection prevention and control measures to mitigate the impact of infection.For example, the National Infection Prevention and Control Manual (NIPCM) for England provides guidance on infection control for National…
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The Government is committed to its ambition to change the National Health Service so that it diagnoses earlier and treats faster. The NHS Cervical Screening Programme plays a vital role in this. Across the NHS, local systems and partnerships are working together to find ways to make cervical…
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There are a large number of potential food ingredients that may cause allergic reactions in sensitised individuals. The current 14 regulated allergens are recognised as the most common and potent allergens of public health concern across Europe. They must be clearly identified on prepacked foods…
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The Chief Medical Officer’s 2022 Annual Report highlighted that domestic wood burning is a significant source of harmful fine particulate matter, particularly in residential areas.The UK Health Security Agency’s (UKHSA’s) systematic reviews of the association between outdoor and…
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The Government is committed to increasing the amount of time people spend in good health and to preventing premature deaths, with a vision of ensuring that all individuals, regardless of background or location, live longer, healthier lives. Our 10-Year Health Plan for the National Health…
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I have had discussions with ministerial counterparts on this issue.The Department engaged with departments across the Government in developing our 10-Year Health Plan for England, which sets out the steps the Government will take to improve the public's health, including actions to reduce the…
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The Government is committed to raising the healthiest generation of children ever. This ambition is at the heart of our 10-Year Health Plan, which sets out three radical shifts: from treatment to prevention; from hospital to community; and from analogue to digital care.The Department recognises the…
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The Government is committed to raising the healthiest generation of children ever. This ambition is at the heart of our 10-Year Health Plan, which sets out three radical shifts: from treatment to prevention; from hospital to community; and from analogue to digital care.The Department recognises the…
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The National Health Service publishes information for patients and the public to support the understanding of the four key symptoms of type 1 diabetes. These are known as the four Ts: toilet, or frequent urination; thirsty, or constant thirst; tired, or low energy; and thinner, or unexplained…
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The eligibility criteria for hybrid closed loop (HCL) devices for people with diabetes are set in guidance published by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) at the following link:https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ta943NICE is an independent body with their own processes for…
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The National Health Service and local government provide a range of services to help people living with overweight and obesity to manage their weight.Integrated care boards are responsible for commissioning health services within their area in line with local population need and taking account of…
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The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.
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The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.
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The Department and NHS England regularly engage with Kidney Research UK and other experts to consider potential improvements around prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of kidney disease.
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The Government and NHS England are acting to ensure that we train the staff we need to ensure patients are cared for by the right professional, when and where they need it including at Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust (MSEFT).In 2024/25, an estimated 8,000 people received training to either…
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Data on the percentage of physically active adults is published in the Public Health Outcomes Framework. The data is not published at constituency level, but rather at a national level and for local authorities. Further information is available at the following…
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Improving cancer waiting times for patients is a high priority for the Government.We are seeking to achieve this goal through the increased use of community diagnostic centres (CDCs) which will increase the available capacity and bring healthcare closer to the community. CDCs are now delivering…
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All eligible individuals, including in East and West Sussex, are given a timed appointment to attend the screening location closest to their registered general practice address, with the option to change the appointment time or location given by contacting the service. Research has shown that timed…
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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…
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Data from the NHS Business Services Authority, the administrators of the Vaccine Damage Payment Scheme (VDPS), shows that as of 31 December 2025, 246 VDPS awards have been made for claims relating to COVID-19 vaccinations.Information on COVID-19 claims to the VDPS is published on a quarterly basis…
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In 2025/26, we are investing £30 million of new funding for enforcement agencies, including Trading Standards, Border Force, and HM Revenue and Customs, to tackle the illicit and underage sale of tobacco and vapes and help enforce the law. As part of this, the Government is investing £10…
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The future registration scheme will apply to all products sold in the United Kingdom, including distance sales and those sold online, regardless of their origin. The scheme will be designed to ensure the highest level of consumer safety and to reassure retailers that they are selling legitimate…
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