Written questions by Morello.

What steps his Department is taking to provide health services for disabled people in isolated areas.

Under the NHS Act 2006, my Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care must promote a comprehensive health service in England.Integrated care systems (ICSs) are responsible for the planning and delivery of health and care services in their local area, including meeting the needs of disabled people in rural communities. Local priorities are set out in the integrated care strategy, which must be informed by local assessments of need. The Department published updated statutory guidance on integrated care strategies in February 2024.The importance of supporting rural communities has been recognised by the Chief Medical Officer in his reports, which also recognised the role played by ICSs in understanding local needs and arranging services to meet these needs.

What plans he has to improve access to health services for veterans living in rural areas.

NHS England commissions Op COURAGE, the integrated mental health and wellbeing service for veterans. Veterans can self-refer to Op COURAGE. The service has been designed to support veterans from all areas, including rural areas, and is delivered from a range of locations, including National Health Service trusts, general practices, Poppy Shops, veteran hubs, and drop-in centres. Elements of the service may also be provided online if this is clinically appropriate.Integrated care boards are responsible for providing health and care services to meet the needs of their local populations, taking into account local considerations such as access to services in rural areas. The Government recognises that too many people are not receiving the mental health care they need, and that waits for mental health services are too long. The Government is determined to change that and ensure mental health has the same focus as physical health, to help people in rural areas to access high quality mental health support when they need it.

What steps his Department is taking to support veterans’ mental health in rural constituencies.

NHS England commissions Op COURAGE, the integrated mental health and wellbeing service for veterans. Veterans can self-refer to Op COURAGE. The service has been designed to support veterans from all areas, including rural areas, and is delivered from a range of locations, including National Health Service trusts, general practices, Poppy Shops, veteran hubs, and drop-in centres. Elements of the service may also be provided online if this is clinically appropriate.Integrated care boards are responsible for providing health and care services to meet the needs of their local populations, taking into account local considerations such as access to services in rural areas. The Government recognises that too many people are not receiving the mental health care they need, and that waits for mental health services are too long. The Government is determined to change that and ensure mental health has the same focus as physical health, to help people in rural areas to access high quality mental health support when they need it.

What steps his Department is taking to improve support for people living with secondary breast cancer in rural areas.

Reducing unwarranted variation in cancer treatment is a strategic priority for NHS England’s Cancer Programme. The programme was commissioned by the Royal College of Surgeons and aims to deliver 10 cancer clinical audits, including two audits on primary and metastatic breast cancer.To help improve outcomes and treatments for patients in all areas, NHS England funded an audit into primary and metastatic breast cancer. Using routine data collected on patients diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in a National Health Service setting as part of their care and treatment, the audit brings together information to look at what is being done well, where it’s being done well, and what needs to be done better. On 12 September 2024 the National Cancer Audit Collaborating Centre published their State of the Nation Report on primary and metastatic breast cancer.The Department supports statutory integrated care systems (ICSs) in delivering NHS services across England. ICSs are partnerships of organisations which come together to plan and deliver joined up health and care services, to improve the lives of the people who live and work in their area. This includes considering adequate healthcare provision for populations in towns and rural areas, and working collaboratively to plan for population change.The organisations within an ICS include the NHS, local government, social care providers, charities, and other organisations working together to provide more joined up care for people, and to improve the outcomes for their populations.

If he will make an assessment of the potential merits of increasing the number of primary care facilities for the diagnosis of stages of breast cancer.

The two most common routes through which breast cancer is diagnosed is following an urgent referral from a general practitioner, on the basis of signs and symptoms, or via breast screening, which happens in fixed or mobile breast screening units.In March 2024, NHS England published guidance for local systems on implementing a timed breast cancer diagnostic pathway, setting out how diagnosis within 28-days can be achieved for the suspected breast cancer pathway.Urgent referral pathways for people with breast symptoms who cannot be managed in primary care are also in place across England. While not on a suspected cancer pathway, these referrals should still be able to expect an outcome within 28 days of initial referral.Since March 2024, NHS England has also been implementing breast pain pathways across England, with more than 60% of secondary care providers having established a live service. Breast pain on its own is not a sign of breast cancer. Introducing the breast pain pathways helps to ensure that patients who are at low risk of cancer receive rapid reassurance, and also helps to ensure that the urgent pathways are available for those who need them. Breast pain pathways are mainly managed within primary care or community diagnostic centres.

How many dental practices are offering NHS services in West Dorset constituency.

As of August 2024, the most recent data available, there are 14 dental practices offering National Health Service dentistry services in the West Dorset constituency. This information, from NHS Digital, is available at the following link:https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/dentists-dental-practices/