Written questions by Young.

Whether his Department is implementing contract reforms to help support NHS dental provision and recruitment.

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 changes.As a first step, from April 2026, we will be implementing reforms to the current National Health Service dental contract which are expected to improve access for patients with urgent and complex needs and to better reward dentists for treating these patients. From April, dental practices will be required to deliver a set proportion of their contract as urgent care, supported by increased payments for dentists. We are also introducing three new care pathways for patients with significant dental decay and gum disease, with payments to dentists ranging from £248 to £709 and patients paying one charge for the whole pathway.By better incentivising urgent and complex care, we’re encouraging dentists to treat these patients, benefiting patients across the country.

Whether NHS bodies are permitted to award contracts in which the contractor's remuneration is linked to reductions in patient care expenditure.

National Health Service bodies are permitted to award contracts in which the contractor's remuneration is linked to reductions in patient care expenditure. NHS bodies, which are the contracting authority, design their procurements in a way that is both commercially and legally compliant, delivering the required patient outcomes, and ensuring maximum value for money. They often encourage bidders to propose innovative ways in which the contracts can be delivered, and these may also seek to include proposals for risk/gain sharing, or performance targets/incentive payments linked to delivery ahead of schedule which should also see a reduction in overall costs of patient care and better patient outcomes.

What assessment he has made of the equity of access to preference informed allocation for foundation year posts between UK graduates and international medical graduates.

We have introduced the Medical Training (Prioritisation) Bill to deliver the Government’s commitment in the 10-Year Health Plan to prioritise United Kingdom medical graduates for foundation training places. Alongside UK graduates, the bill prioritises graduates from Ireland and graduates of Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland, reflecting our obligations under international agreements with these countries.We expect that all eligible prioritised applicants for the foundation programme in 2026 will be offered a place. Non-prioritised applicants will still be able to apply and will be offered places if vacancies remain after prioritised applicants have received offers.

What steps he is taking with the Secretary of State for Education to ensure sufficient placements are available to meet the needs of all UK medical graduates.

We have introduced the Medical Training (Prioritisation) Bill to deliver the Government’s commitment in the 10-Year Health Plan to prioritise United Kingdom medical graduates for foundation training places, and to prioritise UK medical graduates and other doctors with significant National Health Service experience for specialty training places. We expect that all eligible prioritised applicants for the foundation programme in 2026 will be offered a place.This bill will ensure a sustainable medical workforce that can meet the health needs of the population, and will mean we are less reliant on an unpredictable labour market and can make best use of the substantial taxpayer investment in medical training. It will reduce competition for places and give homegrown talent a path to become the next generation of NHS doctors.

What discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Education on the adequacy of clinical placement provision for final year medical students in relation to location and accessibility.

No such discussions have taken place. NHS England provides funding to National Health Service providers for undergraduate medical placements that are in scope of the NHS Education and Training (E&T) tariffs. The undergraduate medical tariff price includes a nationally mandated sum as well as regional weighting through the Market Forces Factor. The E&T tariff guidance is reviewed and published annually.From year five of an undergraduate course and year two of a graduate-entry course, eligible medical students can also claim reimbursement towards travel and dual accommodation costs during practice placement through the NHS Bursary scheme.The 10-Year Health Plan, published on 3 July 2025, committed to reforming the undergraduate and postgraduate medical tariffs. We will ensure the system drives clinical placement activity in the right professions and settings, especially community settings, and that it harnesses innovative approaches like simulated learning.

How many dentists have been successfully recruited and retained in the Thornbury and Yate constituency under the 'golden hello' scheme since its inception.

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. The scheme remains a national priority.Golden Hello data will be published this year and will consist of data showing the regional distribution of the original allocation of posts and the number of posts recruited at both a national and regional level.

What assessment he has made of recent trends in levels of regional disparity in Dental Delivery Rates between the South West and London; and what steps he will take to increase delivery in the South West.

Dental Statistics - England 2024/25, published by NHS Business Services Authority on 28 August 2025, is available at the following link:https://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/statistical-collections/dental-england/dental-statistics-england-202425This shows that 31% of adults were seen by a National Health Service dentist in the South West, in the previous 24 months up to June 2025, and that 52% of children were seen by an NHS dentist in the previous 12 months up to June 2025. By comparison, in London 39% of adults were seen by an NHS dentist in the previous 24 months up to June 2025, and 53% children were seen by an NHS dentist in the previous 12 months up to June 2025.In 2024/25, there were 40.5 NHS dentists per 100,000 population in the South West, compared to 52.7 NHS dentists per 100,000 population in London.We are aware of the challenges faced in accessing a dentist, particularly in more rural areas such as the South West.We have asked ICBs to commission extra urgent dental appointments to make sure that patients with urgent dental needs can get the treatment they require. ICBs have been making extra appointments available since April 2025.ICBs are recruiting dentists through the Golden Hello scheme. This recruitment incentive will see dentists receiving payments of £20,000 to work in those areas that need them most for three years.We are committed to delivering fundamental reform of the dental contract before the end of this Parliament. As a first step, on 16 December we published the Government’s response to the public consultation on the quality and payment reforms to the NHS dental contract. The changes will be introduced from April 2026. These reforms will put patients with the greatest need first, incentivising urgent care and complex treatments. Further information is available from the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/nhs-dentistry-contract-quality-and-payment-reforms/outcome/government-response-to-consultation-on-nhs-dentistry-contract-quality-and-payment-reforms

What assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of providing compensation to patients treated with rectopexy mesh for rectal prolapse as part of its work on redress following the recommendations of the Hughes Report, published on 7 February 2024.

As set out in the Hughes Report, the Government is carefully considering the Patient Safety Commissioner’s (PSC’s) recommendations, including the proposed approaches to redress for those harmed by pelvic mesh. The Hughes Report did not cover patients treated with rectopexy mesh for rectal prolapse. This is because rectal prolapse does not fall within the original definition of Pelvic Organ Prolapse that the PSC and the Independent Medicines and Medical Devices Safety Review adopted, namely a pelvic organ bulging into the vagina.However, that is not to dismiss the very real concerns of these patients. We are considering whether rectopexy mesh should be included in the scope of the work on redress, as for example, NHS England has carried out a market engagement event to understand which of its currently commissioned mesh centres would be willing to provide mesh removal surgery for colorectal patients. A decision around which centres will be designated will be made following findings from the audit of existing mesh centres.This is a complex, cross-Government policy area involving multiple organisations. This work requires coordinated input from several departments, and we will provide a further update in due course. I met with the PSC in December 2025, to discuss progress following the Hughes Report. I have subsequently written to Dr Hughes about the actions we are undertaking to ensure service-level interventions are embedded in the National Health Service specific to making a real-life impact on those affected by pelvic mesh and valproate.

What assessment he has made of the implications for his Department's policies of the report by Nazir Afzal entitled the Nursing and Midwifery Council: Independent Culture Review, published in July 2024.

The Department does not collect this information centrally. The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) is the independent regulator of nurses and midwives in the United Kingdom, and nursing associates in England. The UK's model of healthcare professional regulation is founded on the principle of regulators operating independently from the Government.The Department recognises that the contents of the Independent Culture Review of the NMC conducted by Nazir Afzal OBE and Rise Associates were deeply concerning, and several ministerial meetings have taken place with the NMC to ensure the report’s recommendations are implemented. Progress is being tracked via an independent oversight group established by the Professional Standards Authority (PSA) to scrutinise the impact of measures introduced by the NMC and advise on further actions required. The group includes stakeholders from across the UK and relevant experts identified by the PSA. Meeting notes are published on the PSA website, at the following link:https://www.professionalstandards.org.uk/publications/nursing-and-midwifery-council-independent-oversight-group-updates

With reference to the news story by the Nursing and Midwifery Council, published on 18 December 2025, what is (a) the average time and (b) the maximum time taken for the investigations that take more than 15 months to be resolved.

The Department does not collect this information centrally. The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) is the independent regulator of nurses and midwives in the United Kingdom, and nursing associates in England. The UK's model of healthcare professional regulation is founded on the principle of regulators operating independently from the Government.The Department recognises that the contents of the Independent Culture Review of the NMC conducted by Nazir Afzal OBE and Rise Associates were deeply concerning, and several ministerial meetings have taken place with the NMC to ensure the report’s recommendations are implemented. Progress is being tracked via an independent oversight group established by the Professional Standards Authority (PSA) to scrutinise the impact of measures introduced by the NMC and advise on further actions required. The group includes stakeholders from across the UK and relevant experts identified by the PSA. Meeting notes are published on the PSA website, at the following link:https://www.professionalstandards.org.uk/publications/nursing-and-midwifery-council-independent-oversight-group-updates

What steps his Department is taking to support financially disadvantaged people to access private dental services in areas where NHS service are not readily available.

The Government plans to tackle the challenges for patients trying to access National Health Service dental care with a rescue plan to provide 700,000 more urgent dental appointments and recruit new dentists to the areas that need them most. To rebuild dentistry in the long term, we will reform the dental contract with the sector, with a shift to focus on prevention and the retention of NHS dentists.The responsibility for commissioning primary care services, including NHS dentistry, to meet the needs of the local population has been delegated to the integrated care boards across England.NHS dentists can offer private treatments in addition to NHS services. Dentists must make clear which treatments can be provided on the NHS and which can only be provided on a private basis, and the costs associated for each. The Government does not control the cost of private dental or orthodontic treatment and patients cannot claim back the expense from the NHS.Free NHS dental care is available for patients who qualify for certain exemptions. Support is also available through the NHS Low Income Scheme for those patients who are not eligible for exemption or full remission of dental patient charges. Further information is available at the following link:https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/dentists/who-is-entitled-to-free-nhs-dental-treatment-in-england/

What assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of online appointment booking systems on the ability of people without regular access to the internet to book GP appointments.

We understand that not all patients can or want to use online services. To ensure that such patients are not excluded, 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 general practice. Practice receptions should be open so that patients without access to a telephone or online services are in no way disadvantaged.The 2025/26 GP Contract includes a new requirement for practices to enable online appointment requests throughout the duration of core opening hours, which will ease pressure on phone lines for people who prefer to telephone.

What recent steps his Department has taken to help support (a) people with dementia and (b) their carers.

NHS England has recently refreshed the RightCare Dementia Scenario. This sets out best practice for supporting people with dementia. NHS England has also funded an evidence-based improvement project to fund two trusts in each region, 14 sites in total, to...

If he will make an assessment of the potential risk to vulnerable people of the accidental ingestion of hearing aid batteries.

In terms of the Department’s policy on rechargeable hearing aids on the National Health Service, audiology services are locally commissioned and as such the responsibility for meeting the needs of non-hearing adults lies with local NHS commissioners. In J...

What his Department's policy is on the provision of rechargable hearing aids on the NHS.

In terms of the Department’s policy on rechargeable hearing aids on the National Health Service, audiology services are locally commissioned and as such the responsibility for meeting the needs of non-hearing adults lies with local NHS commissioners. In J...

What the yearly cost to the NHS is of the provision of replacement hearing aid batteries.

In terms of the Department’s policy on rechargeable hearing aids on the National Health Service, audiology services are locally commissioned and as such the responsibility for meeting the needs of non-hearing adults lies with local NHS commissioners. In J...

What steps his Department is taking to support the work of Air Ambulance charities.

The Department and the National Health Service continue to support the work of air ambulance charities, including through the NHS ambulance trusts’ provision of key clinical staff and medical equipment, which supports the operation of air ambulances.

If he will provide capital funding to Air Ambulance charities.

The Department and the National Health Service continue to support the work of air ambulance charities, including through the NHS ambulance trusts’ provision of key clinical staff and medical equipment, which supports the operation of air ambulances.