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Stephen Kinnock
LAB✓ Current MP
🏛️ Aberafan Maesteg
📅 2015–2026
1,131 speeches on Hansard record
⚠️ Votes attended: 67.24% (#439 of 649 MPs)
🟢 Rebelled against party: 0.32%
📝 Topics: Asylum: Rwanda, Refugees: Afghanistan, Asylum
🤝 Member of 4 All-Party Parliamentary Groups
Written Answers
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Department of Health and Social Care
Local authorities are best placed to understand and plan for the needs of their population. That is why, under the Care Act 2014, local authorities are tasked with the duty to shape their care market and to commission a range of high-quality, sustainable, and person-centred care and support…
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We're setting the Advice and Guidance (A&G) clock start so it's the same as outpatient referrals, ensuring no patient will have to wait longer for an appointment as a result of A&G As set out in the Medium Term Planning Framework, the National Health Service will move toward delivering care through…
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No specific guidance has been issued on recording suspected topical steroid withdrawal in patient medical records, including to general practitioners. The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency has issued guidance documents on topical steroid withdrawal, which are available at the…
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Advice and Guidance (A&G) is designed to support quicker, clearer clinical decision making, by enabling general practitioners (GPs) and specialists to discuss and agree on the most appropriate next steps for a patient. The 2026/27 GP Contract does not mandate the use of A&G in all circumstances.…
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Under section 9(5) of the Care Act 2014, local authorities are required to involve the adult concerned and, where appropriate, their carers, family members, or others with an interest in their welfare, when carrying out a needs assessment and considering how care and support needs should be…
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The Single Point of Access (SPoA) triage process is consistent with Jess’s Rule.Jess’s Rule is an NHS England patient safety initiative for primary care. It is designed for general practitioners (GPs) and supports them to reconsider a patient’s presentation and/or diagnosis where…
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Neither NHS England nor the Department have considered introducing a national prescribing indicator and thematic audit on long-term and high-potency topical corticosteroid use.Auditing of general practice (GP) prescribing data is usually undertaken by practice pharmacists or medicines optimisation…
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We recognise that certain groups of patients may be particularly vulnerable to oral health problems and may find it difficult to access dental care. Specialised dental services are in place to provide dental treatment in several settings, including care homes, and are commissioned by integrated…
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Decisions on mandatory and additional General Ophthalmic Services contract fees are informed by an Equality Impact Assessment, in line with the Public Sector Equality Duty.
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I refer the Hon. Member to the answer I gave on 24 March 2026 to Question 121871.
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National Health Service guidance is clear that patients should only attend accident and emergency (A&E) for emergencies that cannot be dealt with by a patient’s general practice (GP), NHS 111, or walk-in centres. GPs are independent contractors to the National Health Service and are…
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Free National Health Service sight tests are provided by community optometrists to eligible groups, including children, people aged 60 years old and over, people on low incomes, and those at risk of diabetic retinopathy and glaucoma.Children and young people with learning disabilities and/or autism…
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The Department has not undertaken a formal risk assessment for the changes made to the GP Contract regarding Advice and Guidance (A&G) due to be implemented from 1 April 2026. However, in developing this policy, the Department and NHS England have carefully considered the potential risks, benefits,…
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In early 2026, we concluded the 2026/27 GP Contract consultation. This year, we expanded the consultation to engage with wider stakeholders, which were the General Practitioners Committee England, the Royal College of General Practitioners, National Voices, the Institute of General Practice…
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The Department does not collect data on the causes of care home closures in England. Adult social care services are provided through a largely outsourced market of commercial organisations and charities. Local authorities are best placed to understand and plan for the care needs of their…
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In early 2026, we concluded the consultation on the changes to the GP Contract for 2026/27. As part of this process, we expanded the consultation to engage with a wider set of primary care stakeholders, these were the British Medical Association’s General Practitioner’s Committee…
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Government responsibility for delivering dementia research is shared between the Department for Health and Social Care, with research delivered by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), and the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, with research delivered via UK…
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In England, local authorities are required by the Care Act 2014 to undertake carers assessments to support people caring for their family and friends who appear to have a need for support at their request. As stipulated in the Care and Support Statutory Guidance, a carer’s mental health must…
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Integrated care boards (ICBs) are responsible for commissioning primary and secondary eye care services to meet the needs of their local population. National Health Service sight tests are widely available across the country, with no known access issues. ICBs can also commission enhanced eye care…
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General practices operate as independent businesses, providing National Health Services, and practices are eligible for reimbursement of certain costs. Terms depend on the ownership or occupation arrangements for the property, as set out in the Premises Costs Directions (PCDs) 2024.The PCDs are…
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The Department has not made a specific assessment of the impact of removing the caps on online requests on patient safety and general practice (GP) workload. Data on online consultation submissions is collected, monitored, and published.This is because there is no change to clinical responsibility,…
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Decisions about care placements are made locally, based on individual assessments of need and personal circumstances. Under the Care Act 2014, local authorities are tasked with the duty to shape their care markets and commission services to meet the diverse needs of all local people. This includes…
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The intention of Care Quality Commission (CQC) Regulation 19 Fit and proper persons employed of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014 is to make sure providers only employ 'fit and proper' staff who are able to provide care and treatment appropriate to their…
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The intention of Care Quality Commission (CQC) Regulation 19 Fit and proper persons employed of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014 is to make sure providers only employ 'fit and proper' staff who are able to provide care and treatment appropriate to their…
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Integrated care boards can already commission community-based eye care services. Improvements in IT connectivity and the development of single points of access between primary care optometry and secondary care will also support more care being delivered in the community, including under shared care…
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The provision of dementia health care services is the responsibility of local integrated care boards (ICBs) and may include speech and language therapy. We expect ICBs to commission services based on local population needs, taking account of National Institute for Health and Care Excellence…
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The Government is committed to improving care for everyone with dementia, which is why we have funded the work of Dementia 100: Assessment Tool Pathway programme. This brings together multiple resources into a single, consolidated tool and will help simplify best practice. A number of experts,…
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The Department and NHS England have launched national campaigns to raise awareness of urgent National Health Services. The Pharmacy First campaign, from October 2025 to January 2026, encouraged people to seek treatment for seven common conditions at pharmacies, helping to relieve pressure on…
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The Department does not hold data on the number of avoidable attendances to accident and emergency departments have been prevented by Pharmacy First. Pharmacy First is a complex service that links to multiple parts of the healthcare system. The service aims to offer eligible patients a complete…
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The Neighbourhood Health Framework is designed to provide clarity and consistency to integrated care boards (ICBs), local authorities, and their partners, in developing and scaling neighbourhood health.The framework outlines the national minimum aims and objectives of Neighbourhood Health Services.…
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The Department does not hold data on either the number of people waiting for a glaucoma follow-up appointment or the length of waiting time for any such glaucoma follow-up appointment. Therefore, no current estimate has been made.Data is published on ophthalmology waiting times from referral…
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The Department does not collect data specifically on the number of adults with learning disabilities who are placed outside their local authority area. However, national statistics on adults with learning disabilities receiving long-term support are published annually in the Adult Social Care…
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The Department does not hold data on either the number of people waiting for a glaucoma follow-up appointment or the length of waiting time for any such glaucoma follow-up appointment. Therefore, no current estimate has been made.Data is published on ophthalmology waiting times from referral to…
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Decisions about care placements are made locally, based on individual assessments of need and personal circumstances. Under the Care Act 2014, local authorities are tasked with the duty to shape their care markets and commission services to meet the diverse needs of all local people. This includes…
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When a local authority has reasonable cause to suspect an adult in the local authority’s area has care and support needs, is at risk of, or experiencing abuse or neglect, and cannot protect themselves because of those needs, it must carry out a safeguarding enquiry.Local authorities must work…
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Anyone who is concerned that an adult with care and support needs is at risk of, or experiencing abuse or neglect, can contact the safeguarding adults team at the relevant local authority to raise a safeguarding enquiry.Where a local authority has reasonable cause to suspect that an adult in the…
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Integrated care boards are continuing to recruit dentists through the Golden Hello scheme. The scheme offers a £20,000 recruitment incentive payment to dentists to work in those areas that need them most for three years. The recruitment of dentists in underserved areas remains a…
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Data is not published at a constituency level. In the Norfolk and Waveney Integrated Care Board (ICB), which includes the North West Norfolk constituency, 45,763 more National Health Service dental treatments were delivered in April to October 2025 compared to the same period before the election.…
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The Local Authority Social Services and National Health Service Complaints (England) Regulations 2009 require local authorities that provide adult social care services to have complaints procedures that follow a certain process. They should work with the person raising the complaint to try and…
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Patients in England are not registered with a National Health Service dental practice, although many NHS dental practices do tend to see patients regularly. There is no geographical restriction on which practice a patient may attend and there are no centrally held national waiting lists for NHS…
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We know people are waiting too long for community services and that is why we have set a clear target for systems to work to reduce long waits in NHS England’s Medium Term Planning Framework. By 2028/29 at least 80% of community health service activity should take place within 18 weeks. In…
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All United Kingdom registered doctors are expected to meet the professional standards set out in the General Medical Council’s Good Medical Practice. The standards cover personal beliefs and medical practice, and set out that in assessing a patient’s conditions and taking a history,…
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We are committed to delivering fundamental reform of the dental contract before the end of this Parliament. As well as working towards a full consultation, we are continuing to engage with the sector regularly, including the British Dental Association and other representatives, to scope potential…
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We are committed to reforming the dental contract, with a focus on matching resources to need, improving access, promoting prevention, and rewarding dentists fairly. As a first step, from April 2026, we will be implementing reforms to the current National Health Service dental contract which are…
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Participation in the programme is voluntary, and sites are sponsored locally by their integrated care board and local authority chief executive officers to help accelerate progress in delivering neighbourhood health. Sites have received nationally funded support, including coaching, analytical and…
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As part of the 2026/27 GP Contract, we are embedding the current Advice and Guidance enhanced service funding within core practice funding. The core expectations for general practices (GPs) broadly remain unchanged, and practices will be required to use Advice and Guidance prior to or in place of a…
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The data requested is not held centrally. Thanks to actions taken by the Government, we have the highest number of fully qualified general practitioners (GPs) since 2015, and steps are being taken to grow the GP workforce further.We are investing £485 million in GPs in 2026/27, bringing the…
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The first phase of the Carr-Hill review is expected to conclude in March 2026. Subject to ministerial decision, further work would be undertaken to technically develop and model any proposed changes to the formula. Findings from the review will be published in due…
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NHS England has advised that, within the Nottingham and Nottinghamshire, and Lincolnshire clustered Integrated Care Board (ICB) boundary, 65 out of 81 practices, or 81%, in Lincoln are general practice (GP) partnership model practices. 115 out of 126 of practices, or 91%, in Nottingham and…
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The first phase of the Carr-Hill review is expected to conclude in March 2026. Subject to ministerial decision, further work would be undertaken to technically develop and model any proposed changes to the formula. Findings from the review will be published in due course by the National Institute…
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In 2025/26, the Quality and Outcomes Framework incentive payment for maintaining a palliative care register was retired, meaning general practices (GPs) no longer receive a payment for this activity. However, the use of palliative care registers did not cease, with GPs still able to actively…
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I refer the Hon. Member to the answer I gave to the Hon. Member for Battersea on 18 March 2026 to Question 119439.
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Data is not held on National Health Service dentists transitioning to private-only practice in the past 12 months.
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I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Suffolk Coastal on 3 March 2026 to Question 115220.
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While the Department regularly engages with local authorities, including in Essex, there have not been discussions about pressures facing adult social care services specifically. The Better Care Fund (BCF) is a mechanism to support Essex and other areas to manage pressures, strengthen prevention,…
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The Government is developing a Palliative Care and End of Life Care Modern Service Framework (MSF) for England. We will publish an interim update in spring 2026, ahead of the full MSF in Autumn 2026.The MSF will drive improvements in the services that patients and their families receive at the end…
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We know there are inequalities in access to palliative care and end of life care, and the Government is looking at how best to reduce these.Integrated care boards (ICBs) are responsible for the commissioning of palliative care and end of life care services, to meet the needs of their local…
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Integrated care boards (ICBs) are responsible for commissioning palliative care and end-of-life care services to meet the reasonable needs of their local populations, including hospice provision. To support ICBs in this duty, NHS England has published statutory guidance and service…
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Jess’s Rule is an NHS England patient safety initiative for primary care. It is designed for general practitioners and supports them to reconsider a patient’s presentation and/or diagnosis where the patient has attended general practice three or more times and symptoms have escalated,…
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Jess’s Rule was published in September 2024 as formal clinical guidance, developed with the Royal College of General Practitioners and NHS England, to support and strengthen general practitioners’ (GPs’) clinical judgement. It encourages GPs to pause, review recurrent…
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In 2025/26 funding for the core community pharmacy contractual framework was increased to £3.1 billion. This represented the largest uplift in funding of any part of the National Health Service at the time, over 19% across 2024/25 and 2025/26. This included funding for the Pharmacy Access…
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The Department have made no assessment of the potential impact of social care workforce shortages on delayed discharges from hospitals in Essex.It is important that people are discharged promptly from hospital with the right support, both for their outcomes and to free up beds for other…
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Following feedback from the 2026/27 GP Contract consultation, we are introducing a practice-level general practice reimbursement scheme using £292 million of repurposed funding from the current Capacity and Access Payment. This funding will be available to practices to hire additional general…
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As part of the 2026/27 GP Contract, we are embedding the current Advice and Guidance (A&G) enhanced service funding within core practice funding. Practices will be required to use A&G prior to or in place of a planned care referral, where clinically appropriate, and to follow locally agreed…
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Palliative care services are included in the list of services an integrated care board (ICB) must commission. This promotes a more consistent national approach and supports commissioners in prioritising palliative care and end-of-life care. To support ICBs in this duty, NHS England has published…
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The changes to the 2025/26 GP Contract that came into force on 1 October requires practices to make all routes for contacting the practice, including online consultations, available throughout core hours, 8:00am to 6.30pm. This is intended to provide more consistent access for patients and help…
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Over the past year, integrated care boards have been commissioning additional urgent dental appointments and there is now an urgent care safety net available in all areas of the country. 1.8 million additional courses of National Health Service dental treatment have been delivered in the seven…
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We are aware of the challenges faced in accessing a dentist, particularly in more rural and coastal areas. From April 2026, we will be implementing reforms to the current National Health Service dental contract to improve access for patients with urgent and complex needs. A full impact assessment…
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The Government is committed to ensuring people can access urgent dental care when they need it. Over the past year, integrated care boards (ICBs) have been commissioning additional urgent dental appointments and there is now an urgent care safety net available in all areas of the country. We will…
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We are committed to training the staff we need to ensure patients are cared for by the right professional, when and where they need it, including at the end of life.The training of health and care professionals is the statutory responsibility of the United Kingdom’s independent regulatory…
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The Department does not collect data on the number of patients who have experienced a delay in receiving a prescription.Pharmacy contractors in England are required by the NHS Terms of Service to dispense medicines and appliances ordered on National Health Service prescriptions with reasonable…
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The Care Act 2014 places a statutory duty on local authorities, under Section 5, to promote a sustainable and high-quality adult social care market. This includes ensuring that care providers can operate effectively and that fee structures support the delivery of high-quality services. While the…
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We recognise that 24/7 advice lines can support people nearing the end of life to remain at home where appropriate and to reduce avoidable hospital admissions.NHS England has published statutory guidance on palliative care and end of life care to support commissioners. The guidance makes specific…
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Early diagnosis of chronic kidney disease (CKD) is supported through widespread access to blood and urine tests across the National Health Service. Phlebotomy is a key part of this pathway. The NHS delivers over one billion blood tests each year, supporting the diagnosis and monitoring of a wide…
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Integrated care boards are responsible for assessing the health needs of their local population, and for commissioning primary and secondary eye care services, to meet them. This can already include the commissioning of community-based glaucoma services, including glaucoma repeat readings and…
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Improving the integration between community mental health services and other physical health services and meeting the holistic needs of people with severe mental health problems is a priority, as set out in the Community Mental Health Framework.The National Health Service in Somerset, including…
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Guidance for clinicians and patients called Symptoms sometimes referred to as Breast Implant Illness, including autoimmune conditions, was published by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency in 2020 and updated in 2023. Healthcare professionals and anyone experiencing any symptoms…
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The Government will provide £11 million per annum at steady state, to increase the number of new dental school places by 50 each year. This is the first sustained expansion of domestic dental training places since 2007 and will take effect from the 2027/28 academic year.The Minister of State…
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The 2026/27 GP Contract introduces new incentives through the Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF) for general practitioners to prescribe weight loss drugs. At this stage, the Department has not made quantified estimates of net costs to the National Health Service over one-, five- or ten-year…
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The 2026/27 GP Contract introduces new incentives through the Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF) for general practitioners to prescribe weight loss drugs. At this stage, the Department has not made quantified estimates of net costs to the National Health Service over one-, five- or ten-year…
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The contractual change made on 1 October 2025 required general practices to keep their existing online systems open during core hours, allowing patients to contact the practice online between 8am and 6.30pm. Telephone and in-person routes continue to operate as before. As non-digital routes remain…
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Over the past five years, 399 nursing homes registered with the Care Quality Commission have deactivated their locations in England. The following table shows the number of beds impacted (please note, this data does not include any data for new beds):…
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The safety of all patients, whether they are treated in the National Health Service or the independent sector, is a top priority for the Government.Integrated care boards (ICBs) are responsible for the provision and commissioning of local wheelchair services, based on the needs of their local…
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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 majority of hospices are charitable, independent organisations and, therefore, the Government does not collect or keep data on hospice bed capacity nationally. There are no current plans to make a formal assessment of the adequacy of hospice bed capacity.Integrated care boards (ICBs) are…
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The majority of hospices are charitable, independent organisations and, therefore, the Government does not collect or keep data on hospice bed capacity nationally. There are no current plans to make a formal assessment of the adequacy of hospice bed capacity.Integrated care boards (ICBs) are…
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The Government is committed to ensuring people can access urgent dental care when they need it. Over the past year, integrated care boards have been commissioning additional urgent dental appointments and there is now an urgent care safety net available in all areas of the country. 1.8 million…
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For 2025/26, funding for the core community pharmacy contractual framework was increased to £3.1 billion. This represented the largest uplift in funding of any part of the National Health Service at the time, at over 19% across 2024/25 and 2025/26.On 25 February 2026, the Department began a…
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The Carr-Hill review has been commissioned through the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) and commenced in October 2025. The purpose of the review is to ensure that funding for general practices (GPs) is distributed equitably and is targeted towards areas that need it most. It…
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In Summer 2025, we held a public consultation on a package of proposals of changes to the current National Health Service contract, to address some of the pressing issues that dentists and dental teams are experiencing. The Government response has been published and received a total of 2,289…
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Client Level Data was mandated from 2023 and is a data collection that draws directly from local authorities’ own administrative records. The first time that Client Level Data was used to inform the adult social care activity report was in October 2025. This report did not publish statistics…
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As part of the usual annual cycle, NHS England will refresh the operational delivery framework to ensure it remains aligned with the updated contractual requirements. The GP Contract changes for 2026/27 are underpinned by regulations, which will be laid before Parliament in the usual way, alongside…
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Integrated care boards are responsible for the planning and commissioning of community health services. In doing so, integrated care boards (ICBs) must take into account the needs of their local population, which includes meeting the healthcare needs of their rural populations as part of the shift…
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NHS England does not publish a single national average waiting time for patients referred to community healthcare services.Community healthcare services cover a wide range of different service types, with varying referral routes and urgency profiles, and waiting times can differ significantly…
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Integrated care boards (ICBs) are responsible for commissioning primary care services, including National Health Service dentistry, to meet the needs of the local population. For the Newton Abott constituency, this is the One Devon ICB.The Government is committed to ensuring people can access…
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As part of the 2026/27 GP Contract, we are amending the core contract to explicitly require that requests identified as clinically urgent must be dealt with on the same day. It is for practices to use their clinical judgement to determine which requests are clinically urgent.
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Data on GP practices, including closure dates, is published as part of the ‘GP and GP practice related data’ set, available at the following link:https://digital.nhs.uk/services/organisation-data-service/data-search-and-export/csv-downloads/gp-and-gp-practice-related-dataData on GP…
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The following table shows the number of registered patients at each practice in the Calder Valley constituency on 1 July 2025, and on 1 February 2026, as this is the most recent available data:Practice codePractice nameRegistered patients, 1 February 2026Registered patients, 1 July…
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The Government recognises the vital role of unpaid carers and is committed to ensuring they have the support they need. I chair a cross-Government ministerial group that meets regularly, made up of ministers from the Department for Work and Pensions, the Department for Business and Trade, and the…
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My Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, has regular discussions with a range of Cabinet Office colleagues on improvements to National Health Services. There has not been a recent specific meeting on stroke rehabilitation.As set out in the Government’s 10-Year…
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The following table shows the 2026/27 Better Care Fund (BCF) allocations for Essex broken down by local authority:Local authorityBCF allocationProportion of overall BCFSouthend-on-Sea£31,301,8270.3%Thurrock£24,849,3170.3%Essex£219,500,8412.4%
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Children and young people’s hospices have been informed of their allocations for 2026/27 by NHS England. Communications regarding future allocations, for 2027/28 and 2028/29, will be sent once the 2026/27 process is complete.
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No specific assessment has been made on the potential impact of local authority funding pressures on recruitment and retention in the adult social care workforce.English local authorities have a responsibility under the Care Act 2014 to meet social care needs and statutory guidance directs them to…
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We have provided a £125 million capital funding boost for eligible adult, and children and young people’s, hospices in England. This can be used by hospices to improve IT systems, making it easier for general practices and hospitals to share…
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The 10-Year Health Plan confirms that child dental health is a priority. We are introducing changes to dental access that will benefit children. Following public consultation, from April 2026 we will introduce a new course of treatment for fluoride varnish for children to be applied by suitably…
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We are introducing three new care pathways for patients with significant dental decay and gum disease, with payments to dentists ranging from £248 to £709.Under the new care pathways, patients will agree a single care plan with their dentist, setting out the prevention, treatment, and…
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As a result of actions taken by the Government, we have the highest number of fully qualified general practitioners (GPs) since 2015. As of 31 December, there are also over 43,000 full-time equivalent (FTE) direct patient care staff working in GPs. We are investing £485 million into GPs in…
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As a result of actions taken by the Government, we have the highest number of fully qualified general practitioners (GPs) since 2015. As of 31 December, there are also over 43,000 full time equivalent direct patient care staff working in GPs. We are investing £485 million in GPs in 2026/27,…
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While the majority of palliative care and end-of-life care is provided by National Health Service staff and services, we recognise that voluntary sector organisations, including hospices, play a vital part in providing support to people at the end of their life, as well as their loved ones.The…
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Practices sign up to deliver the Minor Surgery Directed Enhanced Service. The Primary Medical Services (Directed Enhanced Services) Directions 2025 set out the national requirements for the Minor Surgery Directed Enhanced Service, with further information available at the following…
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The Government takes the findings from Safeguarding Adult Reviews (SARs), including those where substance dependence was a feature in deaths very seriously, and expects them to inform practice, guidance, and commissioning at both a local and national level.The processes for this is through the SAR…
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We want disabled people’s access to, and experience of, healthcare services to be equitable, effective, and responsive to their needs.Under the Equality Act (2010), health and social care organisations must make reasonable adjustments to ensure that disabled people are not…
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Changes introduced as part of the 2025/26 GP Contract consultation included the introduction of the Enhanced Service for Advice and Guidance (A&G). This built upon existing use of A&G pathways by general practice over previous years, which helped to ensure patients received care at the right place…
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Community health services are a fundamental part of the health and care system and an essential building block in developing a neighbourhood health service. Integrated care boards (ICBs) are responsible for the provision and commissioning of community health services, including audiology, to meet…
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The Government took the cost pressures facing adult social care, including changes to employer National Insurance contributions and increases to the National Living Wage, into account as part of the wider consideration of local government spending.To enable local authorities to deliver key services…
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The Department regularly assesses the demand and cost pressures facing adult social care. These pressures were taken into account as part of the wider consideration of spending within the Spending Review process.The Government is making additional funding available for adult social care to support…
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Integrated care boards (ICBs), with oversight from NHS England, are responsible for operational delivery of NHS Continuing Healthcare (CHC).Fast Track CHC supports individuals with a rapidly deteriorating condition who may be entering a terminal phase by putting a care package in place quickly.…
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No assessment has been made of the adequacy of the support available to people of working age living with dementia, including primary progressive aphasia, in the Surrey Heath constituency.Employers must make reasonable adjustments to make sure workers with disabilities, or physical or mental health…
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A timely diagnosis is vital to ensuring that a person with dementia can access the advice, information, care, and support that can help them to live well and remain independent for as long as possible.As part of development of the Modern Service Framework for Frailty and Dementia, we will consider…
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NHS England publishes monthly data on General Practice Appointments, including the approximate length of time between appointments being booked and taking place, including same day appointments, for instance for patients needing more urgent care. However, this can’t be used as a proxy for…
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The Government recognises the vital role of unpaid carers, including those caring for people with mental ill-health, and is committed to ensuring they have the support they need.We have raised the Carer’s Allowance earnings limit from £151 to £196 per week, the equivalent of 16…
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The provision of dementia health care services is the responsibility of local integrated care boards (ICBs) and may include speech and language therapy. We expect ICBs to commission services based on local population needs, taking account of National Institute for Health and Care Excellence…
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General practitioners (GPs) and nurses are responsible for ensuring their own clinical knowledge, including on endometriosis and women’s health issues in general, remains up to date and for identifying learning needs as part of their continuing professional development, within their scope of…
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We are committed to improving timely access to general practice appointments. Last year, we delivered 6.8 million more appointments in general practices. Since October 2024, we have invested £160 million into the Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme (ARRS) to support the recruitment of over…
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Integrated care boards (ICBs) are responsible for commissioning primary care services, including National Health Service dentistry, to meet the needs of the local population. For the South Shropshire constituency, this is the NHS Shropshire, Telford, and Wrekin ICB.The Government is committed to…
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Patients in England are not registered with a National Health Service dental practice, although many NHS dental practices do tend to see patients regularly. There is no geographical restriction on which practice a patient may attend and no national waiting list. Some dental practices may operate…
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Participants shared their experiences of using and/or working in or with the National Health Service and their views on what it should look like in the future, which were used to shape the 10-Year Health Plan. A report detailing the views of members of the public and health and care staff as…
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General practices are independent businesses that hold contracts with the National Health Service, and each sets its own policies on managing missed appointments to best meet the needs of its local population. We know that many practices already use automated reminder systems that include the…
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No specific assessment has been made of the potential impact of the time taken to publish guidance on community health services. We are developing guidance on Neighbourhood Health Plans to provide greater clarity and consistency for systems in developing and scaling neighbourhood health. We expect…
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General practices (GPs) are independent businesses contracted by the National Health Service to deliver essential services, and as part of these contracts they are required to provide modern telephony systems, online consultation tools, and ensure that receptions are open during core hours. In the…
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Almost one million people in the United Kingdom are living with dementia, and that figure is expected to rise. Each of those people, alongside their friends, families, and unpaid carers, have their own unique and important story of living with dementia.The Government wants a society…
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Everyone working in the National Health Service has a fundamental right to be safe at work without fear of violence or abuse.Individual employers are responsible for the health and safety of their staff, and they put in place measures, including, security, training, and emotional support for staff…
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We remain committed to recovering the dementia diagnosis rate to the national ambition of 66.7%. The estimated dementia diagnosis rate for patients aged 65 years old and over at the end of January 2026 was 66.1%.To support recovery of the dementia diagnosis rates and implementation of the Dementia…
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Under the 10-Year Health Plan, those living with dementia and frailty will benefit from improved care planning and better services. We will deliver the first ever Modern Service framework for Frailty and Dementia to deliver rapid and significant improvements in…
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The Care Quality Commission (CQC) is the independent regulator for health and social care in England. The CQC monitors, inspects, and regulates adult social care services to make sure they meet fundamental standards of quality and safety. Where concerns on quality or safety are identified, the CQC…
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In 2024/25, the latest year for which data is available, the total value of expenditure on all primary care was £19.8 billion. This includes expenditure on commissioning optometry, pharmacy, and dental services and excludes prescribing and secondary dental care. At this time, the total value…
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General practice (GP) is the cornerstone of the Neighbourhood Health Service. GPs have a deep understanding and experience of their local population needs and a key role to play in maintaining the health and wellbeing of their neighbourhoods. We will encourage GPs to work over larger geographies by…
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In May 2025, we announced schemes which were prioritised by integrated care boards (ICBs) to benefit from the £102 million Primary Care Utilisation and Modernisation Fund (PCUMF). This fund is to deliver upgrades to more than a thousand general practice (GP) surgeries across England this…
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I refer the Rt Hon. Member to the answer I gave to the Hon. Member for Farnham and Bordon on 23 February 2026 to Question 113205.
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Both integrated care boards (ICBs) and local health systems will design Neighbourhood Health Services that reflect the needs of their local populations as part of their wider responsibilities within their funding allocations. Nationally, we are developing guidance to provide greater clarity and…
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The following table shows the nominal and real terms funding through retained margin as part of the Community Pharmacy Contractual Framework (CPCF) each year since 2015/16:YearNominal valueGross domestic product deflator at December 2025Real terms value 2025/26…
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We have pledged to end the 8:00am scramble by introducing a modern booking system. As part of this, we have introduced a new requirement for general practices to make online appointment requests available throughout the duration of core opening hours, which will help reduce pressure on phone lines…
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In September 2025, we launched the National Neighbourhood Health Implementation Programme (NNHIP) in 43 places across England.The NNHIP is a large-scale change programme for all partners involved in delivering neighbourhood health: the National Health Service; local government; social care…
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This data is not held by the Department or NHS England.
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The Government will consider the capital funding needs of adult social care as part of the next Spending Review. We have recently announced an additional £50 million for the Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) in 2025/26. This could fund approximately 5,000 home adaptations supporting older and…
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The provision of dementia health care services is the responsibility of local integrated care boards (ICBs). Therefore no central assessment has been made of the adequacy of care for people who have received dementia diagnoses in the context of the contribution of continued activity and social…
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No central assessment has been made of the adequacy of Dementia Assessment Services in Shropshire. The provision of dementia health care services is the responsibility of local integrated care boards and ensuring they are responsive to the needs of local communities.However, NHS England does…
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The following table shows the available data for the number of National Health Service urgent dental treatments and total courses of dental treatments delivered each month from July 2024 to October 2025:Treatment month (July 2024 to October 2025)The number of urgent dental treatments deliveredThe…
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The Government is committed to ensuring people can access urgent dental care when they need it. Over the past year, integrated care boards (ICBs) have been commissioning additional urgent dental appointments and there is now an urgent care safety net available in all areas of the country.We are…
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As part of the Government’s National Health Service 10‑Year Health Plan commitment to deliver a single patient record, we are supporting healthcare professionals to access important medical information about patients by investing £20 million in the Connecting Care Records…
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We are progressing towards a National Care Service based on greater choice and control, joined up services, and higher quality of care, with over £4.6 billion of additional funding available for adult social care by 2028/29 compared to 2025/26. We have no direct plans designed to incentivise…
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By law, all health and social care services must have a procedure for dealing efficiently with complaints, and anyone who has seen or experienced poor-quality care has the right to complain to the organisation that provided or paid for the care.If an individual has raised a complaint and is not…
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The Government is developing a Palliative Care and End-of-Life Care Modern Service Framework (MSF) for England. The MSF will drive improvements in the services that patients and their families receive at the end of life and will enable integrated care boards (ICBs) to address challenges in access,…
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The Government is committed to ensuring that people at the end of life can access the medicines they need, including outside of normal pharmacy opening hours.Palliative care services are included in the list of services an integrated care board (ICB) must commission. This promotes a more consistent…
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There are no current plans to make training in palliative care and end-of-life care mandatory for health and care professionals.We are committed to training the staff we need to ensure patients are cared for by the right professional, when and where they need it. To ensure the health and social…
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The 10-Year Health Plan sets out that the NHS App will also allow patients to book appointments, communicate with professionals, receive advice, draft or view their care plan, and self-refer to local tests and services. These developments will streamline how patients move through the system and…
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The Modern Service Framework for Frailty and Dementia will reduce unwarranted variation and narrow inequality in diagnosis and care for those living with dementia. It will set national standards and redirect National Health Service priorities to provide the best care and support.Central to this…
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The following table shows the number of National Health Service dental treatments delivered in the first seven months of the 2025/26 financial year, in the Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated Care Board, which includes Preston and Lancashire: Financial yearNumber of NHS dental treatments…
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The Government is developing a Palliative Care and End-of-Life Care Modern Service Framework (MSF) for England, for publication later this year.The MSF will drive improvements in the services that patients and their families receive at the end of life and will enable integrated care boards to…
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The Government assesses the funding required for adult social care, which considers a wide range of factors. This assessment is considered alongside other Government priorities through the Spending Review process to inform decisions about how available public sector funding is distributed. Under…
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The Government wants a society where every person with dementia receives high-quality, compassionate care from diagnosis through to the end of life. The Government is developing a Palliative Care and End-of-Life Care Modern Service Framework (MSF) for England. The MSF will drive…
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The number of patients per full time equivalent (FTE) fully qualified general practitioner (GP) was 1,938 in September 2015 compared to 2,133 in January 2026, including GPs employed by primary care networks. To reach the same number of patients per fully qualified GP today, we would need an…
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The following table shows the number of National Health Service dental treatments delivered in the first seven months of the 2025/26 financial year, in the Lincolnshire Integrated Care Board: Financial yearNumber of NHS dental treatments delivered in the first 7 months of the financial…
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The Government has committed to guarantee a face-to-face appointment for all those who want one. The National Health Service is clear that general practices must provide face-to-face appointments, alongside remote consultations, and patients’ input into consultation type should be sought and…
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Pharmacists are highly trained and skilled healthcare professionals. As part of dispensing medicines, pharmacists have a professional responsibility to inform patients about the medicines they are taking, and this may include mentioning any ingredients in the medicines based on any allergies or…
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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 Government is committed to ensuring that people approaching the end of life receive high-quality, compassionate care whenever it is needed.Urgent community response (UCR) services play a key role in this. UCR provides a two-hour community-based response to adults experiencing a sudden…
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There are currently no dental schools in Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, or the East Midlands. Consequently, no dental students have undertaken undergraduate training in Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, or the East Midlands. The following table shows the number of entrants to undergraduate dentistry…
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We recognise the challenges in accessing general practices (GPs). That’s why we are expanding capacity across England, including in Slough. Since October 2024, we have invested £160 million into the Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme to support recruitment of over 2,000 GPs, exceeding…
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Integrated care board (ICBs) are responsible for commissioning primary care services, including National Health Service dentistry, to meet the needs of the local population. For the Slough constituency, this is the Frimley ICB.The Government is committed to ensuring people can access urgent dental…
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As part of the evolving NHS Genomic Medicine Service infrastructure, a new delivery model will be in place from April 2026 to deliver the genomics commitments in the 10-Year Health Plan, the National Cancer Plan, and other national strategies.Currently, there is variable access to freezers for…
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The National Cancer Plan will support England to be a world leader on cancer research and innovation. The Department’s actions will support patients in England to get access to the latest breakthroughs in care and treatment. This will aid the health and care system to prevent, detect, and…
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The Department is aware of research that shows differences in bystander response in providing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) to men versus women. Research also shows that training is key to improving bystander confidence in providing CPR to women and use of female manikins may assist in…
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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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The Department will use training more directly as a lever to support improvements in operational performance, prioritising training places in trusts, often those in rural or coastal areas, where vacancy rates are higher and performance is lower. This also includes targeting grants to train cancer…
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Healthy Life Expectancy (HLE) at birth for females and males in Sandwell was fairly stable from the beginning of our current consistent data series, 2011 to 2013, up until 2018 to 2020, at which point it peaked temporarily. Since then, the steady decline in HLE in Sandwell is reflective of the…
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NHS England’s updated Service Specification for Adult Specialised Neurology Services, published in August 2025 and due to come into effect on 1 April 2026, sets a clear expectation that neurology patients, including those with functional neurological disorder (FND), should have timely access…
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NHS England is delivering a comprehensive programme to improve the diagnosis, treatment, and outcomes of people with kidney disease through the renal services transformation toolkit published in 2023. Eight commissioned regional renal clinical networks are implementing the toolkit in collaboration…
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Our 10-Year Health Plan for England set out the decisive action we are taking on the obesity crisis, to ease the strain on our National Health Service and to create the healthiest generation of children ever. As part of this, we implemented United Kingdom-wide restrictions on the advertising of…
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NHS England has undertaken detailed modelling to understand the diagnostic and workforce capacity required to support a reduction in the faecal immunochemical test (FIT) threshold within the Bowel Cancer Screening Programme in England. NHS England has worked with early adopter sites to test the…
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As set out in our National Cancer Plan, we want oncologists to use artificial intelligence (AI) to assist with radiotherapy treatment, for example through contouring during treatment planning, which will lead to better outcomes for patients. Local systems are able to spend money on introducing AI…
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The Government is committed to prioritising women’s health as we fix the National Health Service and tackling women’s heart health will be key aspect of our mission.To accelerate progress on the Government’s ambition to reduce premature deaths from heart disease and stroke by 25%…
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The Department is taking steps to ensure that women at increased risk of breast cancer are provided with the best information, support, preventative care, and testing.Through our National Cancer Plan, we will develop and deliver more proactive approaches to identifying people at risk of cancer,…
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The Department recognises that there are currently limited treatment options available for people who have been diagnosed with brain tumours.The National Cancer Plan, published on 4 February 2026, complements the 10-Year Health Plan and sets out how the National Health Service will improve outcomes…
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The effect of the growing no and low alcohol products market on alcohol consumption and public health is still emerging. The World Health Organization’s 2023 report A Public Health Perspective on zero-and low alcohol beverages consolidated the available scientific evidence, but the evidence…
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The Department has noted the publication of the report Protecting Consumers and Supporting Producers: Regulatory Report 2025, which provides the Portman Groups review of its regulation in 2025.The Portman Group are the alcohol industry’s self-regulatory body with responsibility for the…
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The Department, the National Health Service, the UK Health Security Agency and local partners are working together at the national, regional and local level to improve uptake of measles vaccination, with an aim of preventing future measles outbreaks.Actions at the national level, which would…
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The Department engaged with relevant stakeholders, including representatives of the vending and automated retail sector, prior to publishing its proposals for banning the sale of high-caffeine energy drinks.Building on initial engagements, the Department ran a 12 week consultation, which was open…
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The Government is guided by the independent scientific advice of the UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC). It is only where the offer to screen provides more good than harm that a screening programme is recommended. The UK NSC makes its recommendations based on internationally recognised…
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The National Cancer Plan, published on the 4 February 2026, sets out several commitments and ambitions, to be delivered within the next 10 years. The role of the reformed National Cancer Board will be to support and monitor the delivery of the commitments and ambitions and provide regular updates…
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The Government is committed to raising 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 2026, NHS England…
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For screening programmes, the Government is guided by the independent scientific advice of the UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC). It is only where the offer to screen provides more good than harm that a screening programme is recommended.The UK NSC considers all of the latest scientific…
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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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he latest data for technology appraisals published up until the end of September 2025 shows that the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has recommended a greater proportion of medicines for advanced cancer since the severity modifier was introduced compared with NICE’s…
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We are currently working with experts, including general practitioners, to co-design the menopause content for the NHS Health Check.The inclusion of menopause in the NHS Health Check will support eligible women across England to access high quality information on the menopause, including advice on…
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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…
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After reasonable checks, neither the Department or NHS England have given any formal support or engagement to the City of Sanctuary.
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Any changes to services must follow established statutory processes, including full clinical engagement, consideration of patient impact, and public consultation where required. These processes are designed to ensure that any proposed reconfiguration maintains or improves the quality, safety, and…
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The Government is guided by the independent scientific advice of the UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC). It is only where the offer to screen provides more good than harm that a screening programme is recommended. The UK NSC makes its recommendations based on internationally recognised…
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The UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC) is currently re-examining the evidence for sudden cardiac death screening in young people and will open a public consultation on this in the spring. The UK NSC secretariat is not aware of the audit referred to in this question. However, as the literature…
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