Written questions by Thomas.

What steps is his Department taking to increase recruitment of paediatric pathologists.

NHS England established a national programme in late 2022 to address paediatric and perinatal pathologist workforce challenges and has undertaken significant work in relation to workforce funding, training, and incentives. This has included making additional funding available to support training posts in areas where there have been interested candidates but no training post available and changes to the national training course and examination structure. The number of training posts has increased across several recruitment rounds and the perinatal and paediatric training pathway will be at a full complement of 16 training posts from February 2026.

What recent assessment has he made of the potential implications for his policies of trends in the length of the waiting list for post-mortem examinations for children.

NHS England is aware of the workforce challenges within perinatal pathology, which can impact on waiting times. A national programme was established in late 2022 to address this, and significant work has been undertaken in relation to workforce funding, training, and incentives. Actions taken include:- the 2024 launch of a fully funded international recruitment campaign;- a £20,000 golden handshake for doctors entering paediatric and perinatal pathology training;- additional funding being made available to support training posts in areas where there have been interested candidates but no training post for them at a specific provider/location;- the appointment of a new National Training Programme Director role which has revised the examination structure and aspects of the national training course, and supported an increase in the number of training posts across several recruitment rounds; and- the perinatal and paediatric training pathway, which will be at a full complement of 16 training posts from February 2026, and with applications for the next specialty training level three having exceeded expectations.NHS England is also pursuing medium-long-term options to increase service capacity alongside workforce initiatives.A system of national mutual aid was established in late 2022 to maintain timely access to National Health Service post-mortems in areas with workforce shortages. This has been supported by over £1 million of additional funding in 2025/26.

What steps his Department is taking to ensure timely access to post-mortem examinations for children.

NHS England is aware of the workforce challenges within perinatal pathology, which can impact on waiting times. A national programme was established in late 2022 to address this, and significant work has been undertaken in relation to workforce funding, training, and incentives. Actions taken include:- the 2024 launch of a fully funded international recruitment campaign;- a £20,000 golden handshake for doctors entering paediatric and perinatal pathology training;- additional funding being made available to support training posts in areas where there have been interested candidates but no training post for them at a specific provider/location;- the appointment of a new National Training Programme Director role which has revised the examination structure and aspects of the national training course, and supported an increase in the number of training posts across several recruitment rounds; and- the perinatal and paediatric training pathway, which will be at a full complement of 16 training posts from February 2026, and with applications for the next specialty training level three having exceeded expectations.NHS England is also pursuing medium-long-term options to increase service capacity alongside workforce initiatives.A system of national mutual aid was established in late 2022 to maintain timely access to National Health Service post-mortems in areas with workforce shortages. This has been supported by over £1 million of additional funding in 2025/26.

What steps his Department is taking to ensure adequate funding for post-mortem examinations for children.

NHS England is aware of the workforce challenges within perinatal pathology, which can impact on waiting times. A national programme was established in late 2022 to address this, and significant work has been undertaken in relation to workforce funding, training, and incentives. Actions taken include:- the 2024 launch of a fully funded international recruitment campaign;- a £20,000 golden handshake for doctors entering paediatric and perinatal pathology training;- additional funding being made available to support training posts in areas where there have been interested candidates but no training post for them at a specific provider/location;- the appointment of a new National Training Programme Director role which has revised the examination structure and aspects of the national training course, and supported an increase in the number of training posts across several recruitment rounds; and- the perinatal and paediatric training pathway, which will be at a full complement of 16 training posts from February 2026, and with applications for the next specialty training level three having exceeded expectations.NHS England is also pursuing medium-long-term options to increase service capacity alongside workforce initiatives.A system of national mutual aid was established in late 2022 to maintain timely access to National Health Service post-mortems in areas with workforce shortages. This has been supported by over £1 million of additional funding in 2025/26.

What steps he is taking to ensure that patients with ADHD have reliable access to prescriptions for essential medication.

The Department has made significant progress in improving the availability of medicines for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), working closely with industry and key stakeholders to overcome previous supply challenges. Through intensive collaboration with industry, NHS England and the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, supply issues have now been fully resolved. All ADHD medicines, across all formulations and strengths, are readily available for prescribing. We continue to work closely with ADHD medicine suppliers to address any challenges promptly and to strengthen the resilience of the supply chain. This includes securing additional stock, expediting deliveries, and broadening the United Kingdom’s supplier base to meet future demand. To ensure a robust and sustainable supply, we are partnering with NHS England’s ADHD taskforce to develop growth forecasts and share them with industry, enabling effective planning and continuity of supply.

What steps he is taking to improve the efficiency of ADHD services.

The Government has recognised that, nationally in England, demand for assessments for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) has grown significantly in recent years and that people are experiencing severe delays accessing such assessments. The Government’s 10-Year Health Plan for England will make the National Health Service fit for the future, recognising the need for early intervention and support.This Government is committed to publishing a 10 Year Workforce Plan to set out action to create a workforce ready to deliver the transformed service set out in the 10-Year Health Plan.The 10 Year Workforce Plan will ensure the NHS has the right people in the right places, with the right skills to care for patients, when they need it. We are working through how the Plan will articulate the changes for different professional groups.It is the responsibility of integrated care boards (ICBs) in England to make appropriate provision to meet the health and care needs of their local population, including providing access to ADHD assessment and treatment, in line with relevant National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidelines. Through local commissioning, the Government will ensure that Neighbourhood Health Services work in partnership with family hubs, schools, nurseries and colleges to offer timely and joined-up support to children, young people and their families including those with special educational needs and disabilities.My Rt. Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, announced on 4 December 2025 the launch of an Independent Review into Prevalence and Support for Mental Health Conditions, ADHD and Autism. This independent review will inform our approach to enabling people with ADHD and autistic people to have the right support in place to enable them to live well in their communities.

What steps he is taking to ensure adequate levels of staffing for ADHD services.

The Government has recognised that, nationally in England, demand for assessments for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) has grown significantly in recent years and that people are experiencing severe delays accessing such assessments. The Government’s 10-Year Health Plan for England will make the National Health Service fit for the future, recognising the need for early intervention and support.This Government is committed to publishing a 10 Year Workforce Plan to set out action to create a workforce ready to deliver the transformed service set out in the 10-Year Health Plan.The 10 Year Workforce Plan will ensure the NHS has the right people in the right places, with the right skills to care for patients, when they need it. We are working through how the Plan will articulate the changes for different professional groups.It is the responsibility of integrated care boards (ICBs) in England to make appropriate provision to meet the health and care needs of their local population, including providing access to ADHD assessment and treatment, in line with relevant National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidelines. Through local commissioning, the Government will ensure that Neighbourhood Health Services work in partnership with family hubs, schools, nurseries and colleges to offer timely and joined-up support to children, young people and their families including those with special educational needs and disabilities.My Rt. Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, announced on 4 December 2025 the launch of an Independent Review into Prevalence and Support for Mental Health Conditions, ADHD and Autism. This independent review will inform our approach to enabling people with ADHD and autistic people to have the right support in place to enable them to live well in their communities.

What steps his Department has taken to reduce the financial cost of blood ketone tests.

The Department is updating the NHS Drug Tariff Part IX, starting with the category of Point of Care Testing and Hypodermic Equipment, which includes blood ketone testing strips. The intention behind these updates is to ensure that the products listed on the NHS Drug Tariff, which can be prescribed in the National Health Service, are of good quality. It will also help to minimise unnecessary price discrepancies the NHS pays between similar items. These products are being renewed in 2026 and reflected in the updated Drug Tariff around October 2026.NHS England has published guidance for prescribers on the quality and cost-effectiveness of blood ketone meters and testing strips available in the NHS. The combined effect of these two steps is expected to reduce the financial cost of blood ketone tests

What assessment his Department has made of the potential implications for its policies of the preliminary findings of the ELSA Study that screens children for Type 1 diabetes.

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 that screening would provide more good than harm that a screening programme is recommended, as all medical interventions carry an inherent risk.The UK NSC is aware of the ELSA study and looks forward to receiving the results of this study when the trial is complete.

What steps his Department has taken to improve diagnosis of Type 1 diabetes in children.

The Early Surveillance for Autoimmune diabetes (ELSA) study is currently screening children across the United Kingdom to identify those at risk of developing type 1 diabetes. More information is available at the following link: https://www.elsadiabetes.nhs.uk/ The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) is developing guidance on the use of Teplizumab for delaying the onset of stage 3 type 1 diabetes in people aged eight years and over with stage 2 type 1 diabetes. Further information is available at the following link: https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/indevelopment/gid-ta10981 In addition, a RightCare toolkit has been published by NHS England which sets out what good quality diabetes care looks like for children and young adults and includes guidance on timely and accurate diagnosis. The toolkit is available at the following link:https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/children-and-young-people-diabetes-toolkit/

What steps his Department is taking to support the development of experimental treatments for Type 1 diabetes.

The Early Surveillance for Autoimmune diabetes (ELSA) study is currently screening children across the United Kingdom to identify those at risk of developing type 1 diabetes. More information is available at the following link: https://www.elsadiabetes.nhs.uk/ The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) is developing guidance on the use of Teplizumab for delaying the onset of stage 3 type 1 diabetes in people aged eight years and over with stage 2 type 1 diabetes. Further information is available at the following link: https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/indevelopment/gid-ta10981 In addition, a RightCare toolkit has been published by NHS England which sets out what good quality diabetes care looks like for children and young adults and includes guidance on timely and accurate diagnosis. The toolkit is available at the following link:https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/children-and-young-people-diabetes-toolkit/

What recent assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of online appointment bookings for GP surgeries on the elderly population and those who experience digital exclusion.

The Department recognises the importance of ensuring equitable access to general practice (GP) services for all patients, including elderly individuals and those who may experience digital exclusion. Since 1 October, GPs have been required to offer access to online services throughout core hours, from 08:00 to 18:30, bringing online access in line with walk-in and phone access. This change aims to improve convenience for many patients and reduce long phone queues for those who prefer to contact their practice by telephone.The GP Contract is clear that patients should always have the option of telephoning or visiting their practice in person, and all online tools must always be provided in addition to, rather than as a replacement for, other channels for accessing a GP. Practice receptions should be open so that patients without access to telephone or online services are in no way disadvantaged.

What steps he will take in the forthcoming National Cancer Plan to improve diagnosis and treatment for penile cancer.

Reducing the number of lives lost to cancer, including penile cancer, is a key aim of the National Cancer Plan. The plan will be published early this year. It will include further details on how we will improve outcomes for patients with cancer, as well as speeding up diagnosis and treatment, ensuring patients have access to the latest treatments and technology, and ultimately driving up this country’s cancer survival rates. This will benefit all cancer patients, including penile cancer patients.The Government supports Scott Arthur’s Private Members Bill on rare cancers which will make it easier for clinical trials into rare cancers, including penile cancer patients, to take place in England by ensuring the patient population can be easily contacted by researchers. This will ensure that the National Health Service will remain at the forefront of medical innovation and is able to provide patients with the newest, most effective treatment options, and ultimately boost survival rates.

What steps he will take in the forthcoming National Cancer Plan to improve diagnosis times for myeloma.

It is a priority for the Government to support the National Health Service to diagnose cancer, including blood cancers, as early and quickly as possible, and to treat it faster, to improve outcomes.To tackle the late diagnoses of blood cancers, the NHS is implementing non-specific symptom pathways for patients who present with symptoms such as weight loss and fatigue, which do not clearly align to a tumour type. We will get the NHS diagnosing blood cancers earlier and treating them faster, and we will support the NHS to increase capacity to meet the demand for diagnostic services through investment, including for magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography scanners.The National Cancer Plan will have patients at its heart and will cover the entirety of the cancer pathway, from referral and diagnosis to treatment and ongoing care, as well as prevention, and research and innovation. It will seek to improve every aspect of cancer care to better the experience and outcomes for people with cancer. Our goal is to reduce the number of lives lost to cancer over the next 10 years. This will benefit all cancer patients, including leukaemia and myeloma patients.

Pursuant to the Answer of 1 December 2025 to Question 93580 on Eating Disorders: Mental Health Services, which external stakeholders his Department is engaging with in the development of the modern service framework for mental health.

The Government plans to publish the modern service framework for severe mental illness in the latter half of 2026.Engagement on the modern service framework will involve a wide range of stakeholders, such as people with lived experience, clinicians, allied professionals, social workers, the voluntary, community and social enterprise sector, commissioners, and National Health Service Leaders. We have recruited a third Co-Chair for the Modern Service Framework, Jo Lomani, who is a national mental health co-production lead and expert by lived and living experience, to support the implementation of our lived-experience involvement and co-production strategy. This aims to ensure that people who use mental health services stay at the centre of everything we do.

What recent assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of issuing guidance to Independent Care Boards on the commissioning of providers for audiology care as an alternative to hospital services.

In line with the direction of travel set by 10-Year Health Plan, we expect integrated care boards (ICBs) to commission services to meet the reasonable needs of their populations rather than being prescriptive and adopting a one size fit all model for England. This is intended to allow services to be tailored in accordance with the local area needs. This means that National Health Service audiology services are locally commissioned.We have also published for the first time an overview of the core community health services, Standardising Community Health Services, which includes audiology, that ICBs should consider when planning for their local populations to support improved commissioning and delivery of community health services.

Pursuant to the Answer of 1 December 2025 to Question 93580 on Eating Disorders: Mental Health Services, when the Government expects to publish the modern service framework for mental health.

The Government plans to publish the modern service framework for severe mental illness in the latter half of 2026.Engagement on the modern service framework will involve a wide range of stakeholders, such as people with lived experience, clinicians, allied professionals, social workers, the voluntary, community and social enterprise sector, commissioners, and National Health Service Leaders. We have recruited a third Co-Chair for the Modern Service Framework, Jo Lomani, who is a national mental health co-production lead and expert by lived and living experience, to support the implementation of our lived-experience involvement and co-production strategy. This aims to ensure that people who use mental health services stay at the centre of everything we do.

What steps he is taking to help ensure that people with Ehlers-Danlos syndromes are quickly and accurately diagnosed.

We recognise that doctors can find it challenging to diagnose Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS) because of the wide range and variability of symptoms, and that the most common type, hypermobile EDS, currently has no specific genetic test.Resources such as the Royal College of General Practitioners’ EDS Toolkit, now maintained by Ehlers-Danlos Support UK, are helping general practitioners (GPs) to better recognise, respond to, and manage EDS and hypermobility spectrum disorders (HSD) in primary care. For rarer genetically confirmed types of EDS, NHS England commissions a national diagnostic service for EDS.A primary goal of the national diagnostic service is to educate referring doctors about the diagnosis, investigation, and management of patients with complex and atypical forms of EDS. While the service focuses on rare types and accepts referrals from secondary and tertiary care, its development of guidelines and educational initiatives also benefit GPs who are on the front line of patient care.Through the 10-Year Health Plan, we are introducing neighbourhood health centres, and deploying multidisciplinary teams to provide holistic support to people with EDS. Patients will benefit from enhanced NHS App functionality, including My Medicines and My Health, and will be able to self-refer to specialist services where appropriate.Additionally, the 10-Year Health Plan’s commitments on artificial intelligence will give clinicians advanced tools for faster diagnosis, predictive analytics, and personalised care planning. For people with long-term conditions like EDS, this means earlier interventions, better monitoring of complex needs, and more time for clinicians to focus on patient-centred care rather than administrative tasks. The plan also commits to 95% of people with complex needs to have a personalised care plan by 2027.The Government will publish the 10 Year Workforce Plan in spring 2026. It will set out action to create a workforce ready to deliver the transformed service set out in the 10-Year Health Plan. By setting out how we will train and provide the staff, technology, and infrastructure the NHS needs, the 10 Year Workforce Plan will ensure that services are more accessible, proactive, and tailored for all patients, including those with EDS.

What steps he is taking to help improve treatment and specialist care of those with Ehlers-Danlos syndromes.

We recognise that doctors can find it challenging to diagnose Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS) because of the wide range and variability of symptoms, and that the most common type, hypermobile EDS, currently has no specific genetic test.Resources such as the Royal College of General Practitioners’ EDS Toolkit, now maintained by Ehlers-Danlos Support UK, are helping general practitioners (GPs) to better recognise, respond to, and manage EDS and hypermobility spectrum disorders (HSD) in primary care. For rarer genetically confirmed types of EDS, NHS England commissions a national diagnostic service for EDS.A primary goal of the national diagnostic service is to educate referring doctors about the diagnosis, investigation, and management of patients with complex and atypical forms of EDS. While the service focuses on rare types and accepts referrals from secondary and tertiary care, its development of guidelines and educational initiatives also benefit GPs who are on the front line of patient care.Through the 10-Year Health Plan, we are introducing neighbourhood health centres, and deploying multidisciplinary teams to provide holistic support to people with EDS. Patients will benefit from enhanced NHS App functionality, including My Medicines and My Health, and will be able to self-refer to specialist services where appropriate.Additionally, the 10-Year Health Plan’s commitments on artificial intelligence will give clinicians advanced tools for faster diagnosis, predictive analytics, and personalised care planning. For people with long-term conditions like EDS, this means earlier interventions, better monitoring of complex needs, and more time for clinicians to focus on patient-centred care rather than administrative tasks. The plan also commits to 95% of people with complex needs to have a personalised care plan by 2027.The Government will publish the 10 Year Workforce Plan in spring 2026. It will set out action to create a workforce ready to deliver the transformed service set out in the 10-Year Health Plan. By setting out how we will train and provide the staff, technology, and infrastructure the NHS needs, the 10 Year Workforce Plan will ensure that services are more accessible, proactive, and tailored for all patients, including those with EDS.

What steps he is taking to help improve recruitment and training of specialists in Ehlers-Danlos syndromes.

We recognise that doctors can find it challenging to diagnose Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS) because of the wide range and variability of symptoms, and that the most common type, hypermobile EDS, currently has no specific genetic test.Resources such as the Royal College of General Practitioners’ EDS Toolkit, now maintained by Ehlers-Danlos Support UK, are helping general practitioners (GPs) to better recognise, respond to, and manage EDS and hypermobility spectrum disorders (HSD) in primary care. For rarer genetically confirmed types of EDS, NHS England commissions a national diagnostic service for EDS.A primary goal of the national diagnostic service is to educate referring doctors about the diagnosis, investigation, and management of patients with complex and atypical forms of EDS. While the service focuses on rare types and accepts referrals from secondary and tertiary care, its development of guidelines and educational initiatives also benefit GPs who are on the front line of patient care.Through the 10-Year Health Plan, we are introducing neighbourhood health centres, and deploying multidisciplinary teams to provide holistic support to people with EDS. Patients will benefit from enhanced NHS App functionality, including My Medicines and My Health, and will be able to self-refer to specialist services where appropriate.Additionally, the 10-Year Health Plan’s commitments on artificial intelligence will give clinicians advanced tools for faster diagnosis, predictive analytics, and personalised care planning. For people with long-term conditions like EDS, this means earlier interventions, better monitoring of complex needs, and more time for clinicians to focus on patient-centred care rather than administrative tasks. The plan also commits to 95% of people with complex needs to have a personalised care plan by 2027.The Government will publish the 10 Year Workforce Plan in spring 2026. It will set out action to create a workforce ready to deliver the transformed service set out in the 10-Year Health Plan. By setting out how we will train and provide the staff, technology, and infrastructure the NHS needs, the 10 Year Workforce Plan will ensure that services are more accessible, proactive, and tailored for all patients, including those with EDS.