Written questions by Ribeiro-Addy.

How many NHS patients have waited longer for elective procedures in the last 12 months due to administrative issues.

Data is not held in the format requested.

How many NHS appointments have been missed in the last 12 months due to administrative issues.

Data is not held in the format requested.

What assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the Care Quality Commission's regulatory oversight of South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust's adult community mental health services in

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) is an independent regulator, responsible for assessing and monitoring providers in line with its statutory remit. The Department holds the CQC to account for its overall performance and delivery of its regulatory function...

What assessment he has made of the adequacy of Care Quality Commission processes to record, retrieve and act upon safety intelligence submitted by members of the public about NHS trust services pre

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has established systems and processes to receive, record, assess, and act on safety intelligence about providers submitted by members of the public, employees of registered providers, people using services and their famil...

Whether he has considered the potential merits of reviewing the training framework for NHS administrative staff.

The Department is not currently planning a review of the training framework for National Health Service administrative staff. In most cases, training arrangements for these staff, particularly non-clinical training, are determined by local NHS employers, ...

What discussions he has had with the Care Quality Commission on its decision not to exercise urgent powers under section 31 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 in respect of South London and Mau

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) is an independent regulator, and decisions about enforcement action are a matter for the CQC, exercised in line with its statutory remit and published enforcement policy. The Department has been informed of the CQC’s appr...

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of administrative issues within the NHS on patients.

No assessment has been made, but as set out in the Elective Reform Plan, we are committed to improving communication between patients, clinicians and hospital, including through the NHS App, as we shift from analogue to digital. This will make it quicker ...

Whether he has considered the merits of increasing funding for training of NHS administrative staff.

The responsibility for the training of National Health Service administrative staff generally sits with local NHS employers. In most cases, training arrangements for these staff, particularly non-clinical training, are determined locally by NHS employers ...

What assessment he has made of the adequacy of (a) training, (b) hiring, (c) management and (d) performance of NHS administrative staff.

The Department does not centrally oversee the training, recruitment, management, and performance of National Health Service administrative staff in individual organisations. These matters are primarily the responsibility of local NHS organisations, which ...

With reference to Imkaan’s research paper, Out of Sight Out Of Mind, published in March 2026, what mechanisms are in place to ensure that Integrated Care Boards tackle health inequalities faced by

As part of the cross-Government Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) Strategy, the Department has committed to roll-out a domestic abuse and sexual violence referral service, Steps to Safety, across all integrated care boards (ICBs) by 2029. This will ...

With reference to Imkaan’s research paper, Out of Sight Out Of Mind, published in March 2026, what mechanisms are in place to ensure that Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) are tacking health inequalities for Black and minoritised survivors of VAWG through commissioning by and for services.

It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

When his Department intends to publish the draft statutory guidance for the Mental Health Act 2025 for consultation; and if he will commit to consulting by and for specialist VAWG organisations in the development of that guidance.

Following Royal Assent of the Mental Health Act 2025, our priority for 2026 is to update the revised Code of Practice. We will engage extensively, including with people with lived experience and their families and carers, staff, and professional groups, commissioners, providers, voluntary, community, and social enterprise organisations, and others to do this. There will also be a formal public consultation in early 2027, where we will encourage responses from anyone who wishes to input, including specialist violence against women and girls organisations.We will be updating the Code of Practice, not just to reflect the new primary legislation, but to provide further guidance and clarity on non-legislative aspects relevant to the reforms, as well as more broadly to make general improvements and updates.

What steps his Department is taking to ensure that the Mental Health Act 2025 and accompanying statutory guidance adequately address disparities in access, quality of care, and outcomes in commissioned mental health services for Black and minoritised women who are survivors of VAWG.

We recognise that there are significant and concerning racial disparities in the rates of detention under the previous Mental Health Act and driving reductions in inequalities is a guiding principle for the Mental Health Act 2025. The Government will be working very carefully with the wider mental health system to support the effective implementation of the provisions in the 2025 act, to reduce racial disparities in decision making under the act. The updating of the Code of Practice will be a key way in which we achieve this, and we will be formally consulting on the updated code.We also recognise that some of the disparities arise from social, economic, and environmental factors outside the scope of the act, and these are being addressed separately. For example, earlier access to mental health support prior to mental health crisis is being driven through improved community-based mental health services and NHS England’s Patient and Carer Race Equality Framework is looking at transforming culture in wider mental health services, not just under the Mental Health Act.Domestic abuse, sexual violence, and other forms of trauma are known risk factors for mental ill health, and we are committed to improving our national response to trauma through cross-Government action. The Department is taking specific steps to improve trauma-informed support for victims and survivors of abuse. This includes implementing the “Steps to Safety” referral service for domestic abuse and sexual violence across all integrated care boards, and investing £5 million each year for the next three years to support victims and survivors of domestic abuse and sexual violence.

What assessment his Department has made of the potential implications for its policies of barriers preventing women from accessing the full range of contraceptive methods, including long-acting reversible contraception, and what steps he is taking to address those barriers.

The Government is committed to ensuring equitable access to a range of contraceptive methods including long-acting reversible contraception.The renewed women’s health strategy will set out how the Government will take the next steps to improve women's healthcare as part of the 10-Year Health Plan and create a system that listens to women, including consideration of barriers to access. Steps to improve access to contraception are being considered as part of the renewal.

What steps his Department is taking to ensure that commitments within the Women’s Health Strategy refresh are implemented equitably to improve access to contraception at a local level.

The Government is committed to ensuring equitable access to a range of contraceptive methods including long-acting reversible contraception.The renewed women’s health strategy will set out how the Government will take the next steps to improve women's healthcare as part of the 10-Year Health Plan and create a system that listens to women, including consideration of barriers to access. Steps to improve access to contraception are being considered as part of the renewal.

What assessment his Department has made of the potential health impacts of repeated exposure to contaminated cabin air on aircrew.

In 2024, the UK independent advisory Committee on Toxicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment (COT) published its latest statement on aircraft cabin air quality following a request from the Department for Transport. This followed a COT statement published in 2007, and a position paper published in 2013.Overall, the latest COT statement concluded that the concentrations of the chemical contaminants (organophosphates, volatile organic compounds including as mixtures, carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide) reported in aircraft cabin air are unlikely to cause adverse health effects in aircrew following acute or long-term exposures.The 2024 statement on statement on aircraft cabin air quality is available at the following link:https://cot.food.gov.uk/Statement%20on%20Aircraft%20Cabin%20Air%20Quality

What steps his Department has taken to ensure that GP practices are able to provide NHS-funded ear wax removal services, particularly for patients at risk of hearing loss.

Integrated care boards (ICBs) have a statutory responsibility to commission cost-effective healthcare to meet the needs of their local population. This includes commissioning ear wax removal services in line with the recommendations for ear wax removal as set out in guidance produced by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), which is available at the following link: https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng98/chapter/Recommendations This may involve commissioning general practices (GPs) or other providers, to whom GPs may refer patients, to provide ear wax removal services. Manual ear syringing is no longer advised by NICE due to the risks associated with it, such as trauma to their ear drum or infection, so GPs will often recommend home treatment remedies to alleviate ear wax build-up. However, in line with the NICE’s guidance, a person may require ear wax removal treatment if the build-up of earwax is linked with hearing loss. A GP may then refer the patient into audiology services, which ICBs are responsible for commissioning.

Whether his Department plans to (a) reinstate and (b) standardise NHS provision of ear wax removal in primary care.

Integrated care boards (ICBs) have a statutory responsibility to commission cost-effective healthcare to meet the needs of their local population. This includes commissioning ear wax removal services in line with the recommendations for ear wax removal as set out in guidance produced by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), which is available at the following link: https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng98/chapter/Recommendations This may involve commissioning general practices (GPs) or other providers, to whom GPs may refer patients, to provide ear wax removal services. Manual ear syringing is no longer advised by NICE due to the risks associated with it, such as trauma to their ear drum or infection, so GPs will often recommend home treatment remedies to alleviate ear wax build-up. However, in line with the NICE’s guidance, a person may require ear wax removal treatment if the build-up of earwax is linked with hearing loss. A GP may then refer the patient into audiology services, which ICBs are responsible for commissioning.

What assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of trends in the level of access to NHS ear wax removal services on long-term costs to the NHS associated with avoidable hearing loss, including on a) mental health and b) falls of elderly persons.

The Department has not made a specific assessment. Integrated care boards (ICBs) are responsible for commissioning local National Health Servies, including ear wax removal services, and must consider how best to improve population health and achieve best value for money.ICBs commission these services in line with the recommendations for ear wax removal as set out in guidance produced by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, which is available at the following link:https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng98/chapter/Recommendations

For what reason the Sickle Cell day unit in Whitechapel was closed.

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 sickle cell disease who were experiencing acute pain. This was alongside the normal route of being treated through accident and emergency, which patients can still access. During the pilot, the trust has gathered internal evaluation data to monitor the impact of the pilot for patients locally, allowing them to plan for the delivery of future sickle cell services. Although NHS England did not commission this pilot, they remain committed to the reducing health inequalities faced by people living with sickle cell and will continue to work in collaboration with system partners to address these inequalities through evidence-based approach.Sickle cell disease patients still receive specialist care through the Haematology Day Unit at the Royal London Hospital, and this remains open. There has been no change for patients with regards to routine or emergency management of their condition. There are several innovations in the sickle cell service currently being implemented such as the expansion of the red cell exchange transfusion service and the delivery of novel curative gene therapies.