Every parliamentary written question tabled by Daisy Cooper this session, with the full answer and department. See how every department answers, or back to the MP page.
Showing 61–80 of 150 · Department of Health and Social Care
With reference to the letter of 9 June 2026 from the Minister of State for Health to the Hon Member of St Albans (ref PO-1608258), when the remediable service statement will be issued.
The production of remediable services statements is a challenging and complex work programme that the NHS Business Service Authority is working hard to deliver.I will respond directly to the Hon. Member in a letter to update on the personal delivery status for her constituent.
Pursuant to the Answer of 19 May 2025 to Question 51941 on Paraneoplastic Encephalomyelitis: Diagnosis, how many laboratories in England provide testing for KLHL11 antibodies.
The Department does not collect data on KLHL11 antibody testing in England.
Pursuant to the Answer of 18 February 2025 to Question 29926 on Health Professions: Regulation, what recent progress he has made on setting a timetable for announcing his priorities in relation to the applicability of the five year rule by professional regulators on fitness to practise in cases which involve allegations of historic sexual abuse.
The Government has set out its intention to reform the legislative frameworks of all healthcare professional regulators, starting with the General Medical Council (GMC).As part of this work, any legislative restrictions on regulators from being able to consider fitness to practise concerns that are more than five years old will be removed from legislation. Regulators such as the GMC will have the discretion to determine whether a concern should be investigated based on the specific details of a fitness to practise case, which may include reflections on the length of time that has elapsed since the concern was raised or occurred.The Government is aiming to consult on a draft legislative framework for the GMC by the end of this year, and lay the legislation during this Parliament.
What steps he is taking to ensure that Continuing Health Care services remain uninterrupted for patients when the services are being transitioned from Integrated Care Boards.
The Department is responsible for NHS Continuing Healthcare (CHC) policy and legislation. We have provided statutory guidance, setting out clear processes for CHC, which all integrated care boards (ICBs) must follow. CHC is funded by ICBs, and it is for individual ICBs to make assessments and decisions in a consistent manner, in line with their statutory duties and guidance. This guidance has not changed and ICBs are expected to maintain CHC delivery in line with their statutory duties. While the Model ICB Blueprint highlighted CHC as one of the functions that are subject to “review for transfer” to “test and explore options to streamline and transfer some activities out of ICBs”, a decision has not been made on this function being transferred out of ICBs. If the function were transferred out, it would require legislative change. The sender and receiver organisations would be responsible for safe transfer, enabling continuity of services and managing risk during any transition.
Whether he has made an assessment of the adequacy of response times to enquiries from hon. Members from Integrated Care Boards.
No assessment has been made. We encourage Members of Parliament to raise correspondence timelines directly with their respective integrated care boards.
Pursuant to the Answer of 19 May 2025 to Question 51941 on Paraneoplastic Encephalomyelitis: Diagnosis, how many laboratories provide blood testing for Paraneoplastic Encephalomyelitis.
There are a number of laboratories in England which provide blood testing for paraneoplastic encephalomyelitis, although the Department has not made a specific formal estimate of how many there are. Several National Health Service laboratories across the United Kingdom also offer diagnostic testing for paraneoplastic antibodies. In England, these laboratories include the University College London Queen Square Institute of Neurology, and the Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.The NHS in England does not routinely send blood samples to the United States for analysis when testing for paraneoplastic encephalomyelitis. There are specialised laboratories within the UK which the NHS in England uses to conduct these tests.
Pursuant to the Answer of 19 May to Question 51941 on Paraneoplastic Encephalomyelitis: Diagnosis, whether the NHS routinely sends blood samples to the US for analysis when testing for Paraneoplastic Encephalomyelitis.
There are a number of laboratories in England which provide blood testing for paraneoplastic encephalomyelitis, although the Department has not made a specific formal estimate of how many there are. Several National Health Service laboratories across the United Kingdom also offer diagnostic testing for paraneoplastic antibodies. In England, these laboratories include the University College London Queen Square Institute of Neurology, and the Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.The NHS in England does not routinely send blood samples to the United States for analysis when testing for paraneoplastic encephalomyelitis. There are specialised laboratories within the UK which the NHS in England uses to conduct these tests.
Pursuant to the Answer of 12 May to Question 50557 on Prescriptions: ICT, whether he plans to ensure all Electronic Prescription Service Pharmacies use the Real Time Exemption Checking Service.
There are no current plans to mandate use of the Real Time Exemption Checking service in all pharmacies using the Electronic Prescription Service.
Which NHS facilities exist to carry out diagnostic testing of patients for Paraneoplastic Encephalitis.
Paraneoplastic encephalitis (PNE), also known as paraneoplastic limbic encephalitis, is diagnosed through a combination of clinical evaluation, blood and spinal fluid tests, and imaging studies. Currently, the main types of diagnostic testing for PNE are computed tomography scans, magnetic resonance imaging scans, lumbar punctures, electroencephalograms, and blood and urine tests. These tests are available through both acute and non-acute settings such as hospitals and community diagnostic centres.We know that whilst hard working National Health Service staff are delivering a large number of diagnostic tests for patients, the percentage of patients receiving a diagnostic test within the constitutional standard of six weeks, with no more than 1% of patients waiting, is still not being achieved. Our Elective Reform Plan, published in January 2025, builds on the investments already made with an ambitious vision for the future of diagnostic testing. This will include more straight-to-test pathways, increasing and expanding community diagnostic centres, and better use of technology.
How many and what proportion of community pharmacies are registered to use the Real Time Exemption Checking Service in England.
The Real Time Exemption Checking Service in England (RTEC) helps pharmacy teams confirm whether a patient holds a valid exemption from National Health Service prescription charges quickly. The Department supports the use of the RTEC and recognises the benefits this assurance provides in assuring patients and pharmacy teams that exemptions are being claimed correctly.As of 8 May 2025, the total number of active Electronic Prescription Service Pharmacies using the RTEC is 10,254, which equates to 90.94% of all such pharmacies.The NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA), who manages the RTEC system, promotes its use through their website, webinars, and communications to contractors, including via their Hints and Tips bulletin, which is available to pharmacy contractors, dispensing doctors, prescribing-only general practitioners, and appliance contractors. The NHSBSA also promotes uptake by engaging with integrated care boards, pharmacy groups, and individual pharmacies.
Whether he plans to encourage pharmacies to register for the Real Time Exemption Checking Service.
The Real Time Exemption Checking Service in England (RTEC) helps pharmacy teams confirm whether a patient holds a valid exemption from National Health Service prescription charges quickly. The Department supports the use of the RTEC and recognises the benefits this assurance provides in assuring patients and pharmacy teams that exemptions are being claimed correctly.As of 8 May 2025, the total number of active Electronic Prescription Service Pharmacies using the RTEC is 10,254, which equates to 90.94% of all such pharmacies.The NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA), who manages the RTEC system, promotes its use through their website, webinars, and communications to contractors, including via their Hints and Tips bulletin, which is available to pharmacy contractors, dispensing doctors, prescribing-only general practitioners, and appliance contractors. The NHSBSA also promotes uptake by engaging with integrated care boards, pharmacy groups, and individual pharmacies.
Whether he has made an assessment of the potential impact of the abolition of NHS England on the planned national pandemic exercise in Autumn 2025.
In Autumn 2025, the Department and the UK Health Security Agency will conduct a national exercise to test our ability to respond to a pandemic, involving all regions and nations of the United Kingdom, and thousands of participants. Planning for the exercise is underway and consideration is being given to its design and the participation of NHS England officials.
What assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of the abolition of NHS on the capacity of ICBs to cut their running costs.
NHS England has asked the integrated care boards (ICBs) to act primarily as strategic commissioners of health and care services, and to reduce the duplication of responsibilities within their structures, to achieve a 50% cost reduction in their running cost allowance. NHS England provided additional guidance to ICBs, National Health Service trusts, and NHS foundation trusts on 1 April 2025. In this guidance, ICBs are tasked with developing plans by the end of May setting out how they will manage their resources to deliver across their priorities. NHS England will be working closely with ICBs to support the development of these plans, ensuring that their implementation reduces duplication and supports patient care. Further information is available at the following link:https://www.england.nhs.uk/long-read/working-together-in-2025-26-to-lay-the-foundations-for-reform/In his letter to ICBs, Sir Jim Mackey committed to greater transparency and moving back to a fair shares allocation policy over time.As we progress with returning functions to the Department, a comprehensive assessment of any impacts and risks associated with the change will be conducted. We will ensure our decisions are guided by evidence and focused on improving patient care.
What assessment he has made of the implications of abolishing NHS England on the delivery of public health programmes described in the NHS Public Health Functions Agreements.
Ministers and senior Department officials will work with the new executive team at the top of NHS England, led by Sir Jim Mackey, to lead the formation of a new joint centre. As we work to bring the two organisations together, we will ensure that we continue to evaluate impacts of all kinds, including the delivery of public health functions currently delegated to NHS England. The abolition of NHS England will strip out the unnecessary bureaucracy and cut the duplication that comes from having two organisations doing the same job. We will empower staff to focus on delivering for the public and patients.
What recent progress his Department has made on implementing the NHS England Neuroscience Transformation Programme.
Integrated care boards (ICBs) are responsible for commissioning most services for people with long term conditions, including neurological services. NHS England’s Neuroscience Transformation Programme is continuing to support ICBs to deliver the right service, at the right time for all neurology patients, including providing care closer to home.A toolkit is being developed to support ICBs to understand and implement this new model. In addition to setting out an integrated model of care, the toolkit will include components on the following areas: delivering acute neurology services; improving health equity in neurology; improving community neurology services; improving access to specialist therapies for multiple sclerosis; streamlining headache services; and living well with a neurological condition.The programme has developed an online, interactive adult neurology dashboard to support integrated care systems to understand their local neurology landscape and benchmark against other ICBs in England. It sets out key metrics and visualisations for neurology services locally.The programme is working with several pathfinder systems across the country to implement this guidance on the ground, which will provide examples of good practice and a model for how to develop neurology transformation projects that can be shared nationally.The programme has supported the development of a national community of practice for neurology transformation, which includes a monthly webinar programme and resources on the Future NHS platform. The Programme also supported a national Neurology Transformation Meeting, co-produced by NHS England, the Neurology Academy and the Neurological Alliance, which took place in January 2025.The National Programme of Care for Trauma has revised the Neurosciences Specialised Neurology (Adults) Service Specification, which will set out clear deliverables for specialised centres; provide a clearer model of care incorporating up-to-date guidance and best practice; and set out new quality outcomes focusing on improving patient outcomes and experience.
Whether he has had recent discussions with (a) professional bodies and (b) the voluntary, community and social enterprise sectors on the existing and future skills and capacity requirements of the neuroscience workforce in England.
The Department has regular discussions with stakeholders, including professional bodies and the voluntary, community, and social enterprise sectors, on ensuring that the necessary skills and capacity are held across the health and care workforce.
What progress his Department has made on plans for the UK Neuro Forum.
The new United Kingdom-wide Neuro Forum will facilitate formal, biannual meetings across the Department, NHS England, and the devolved administrations, health services, and Neurological Alliances of all four nations of the UK.The forum met for the first time on 10 March, bringing together key stakeholders to share learning across the system, discuss important neurology service transformation and workforce challenges, as well as best practice examples and potential solutions that will add both to the existing programmes of work and to wider health plans. The forum will be an advisory rather than a decision-making body.The next meeting due to take place in early autumn 2025.
Pursuant to the Answer of 4 April 2025 to Question 42316 on NHS: Buildings, if he will take steps to publish further data on the (a) occupancy and (b) utilisation rates of all clinical rooms in the NHS estate in addition to the Estates Returns Information Collection data showing which organisation space is allocated to.
No decision has been made to publish further data on the occupancy and utilisation rates of all clinical rooms in the National Health Service estate in addition to the Estates Returns Information Collection data showing which organisation space is allocated to.There are no plans to make an assessment of the potential merits of adopting intelligent booking systems to maximise the utilisation of the NHS property estate. NHS trusts and integrated care boards decide locally how best to manage their estate; we expect them to do this using technology in the efficient management of the estate.
Pursuant to the Answer of 4 April to Question 42318 on NHS: Buildings, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of adopting intelligent booking systems to maximise the utilisation of the NHS property estate.
No decision has been made to publish further data on the occupancy and utilisation rates of all clinical rooms in the National Health Service estate in addition to the Estates Returns Information Collection data showing which organisation space is allocated to.There are no plans to make an assessment of the potential merits of adopting intelligent booking systems to maximise the utilisation of the NHS property estate. NHS trusts and integrated care boards decide locally how best to manage their estate; we expect them to do this using technology in the efficient management of the estate.
What assessment he has made of the adequacy of the neuroscience workforce.
Whilst no specific assessment has been made of the adequacy of the National Health Service’s neuroscience workforce, there are a number of initiatives supporting service improvement and better care for patients with neurological conditions in England, including the Getting It Right First Time Programme for Neurology, the RightCare Progressive Neurological Conditions Toolkit, and the Neurology Transformation Programme.This summer, we will publish a refreshed Long Term Workforce Plan to deliver the transformed health service we will build over the next decade, and treat patients on time again.A central and core part of the 10-Year Health Plan will be our workforce and how we ensure we train and provide the staff, technology, and infrastructure the NHS needs to care for patients across our communities.