Written questions by Morello.

What assessment she has made of the barriers to mental health support for farmers in isolated communities.

We know that too many people are not receiving the mental health care they need, and we recognise that those living and working in isolated communities, including farmers, may face particular challenges in accessing the mental health services that they need.Specifically in relation to farmers and agricultural communities, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs is supporting access to farmer mental health support services by funding the Farmer Welfare Grant. This aids organisations in delivering projects which will support mental health and build resilience in local farming communities. One recipient, the Farming Community Network, is using the funding to expand their FarmWell platform. This online resource provides business and personal resilience advice on topics including mental health, isolation, depression, and suicide.The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs is also developing options in consultation with communities, farming support organisations, and experts across the Government, as to how it can further support the Department for Health and Social Care’s investment in mental health interventions for those in agricultural communities.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of the abolition of NHS England on preparedness for a future pandemic.

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. As we work to bring the two organisations together, we will ensure that we continue to evaluate impacts of all kinds.Ensuring the United Kingdom is prepared for a future pandemic is a top priority for the Government, embedding lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic, and aiming to have flexible, adaptable and scalable capabilities that can respond to any infectious disease or threat.The Government will continue to ensure pandemic preparedness throughout the transition and beyond, while also using the opportunities presented by the two organisations coming together.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of the abolition of NHS England on the level of risk in medical care.

As we work to return many of NHS England’s current functions to the Department, we will ensure that we continue to evaluate impacts of all kinds.Patient safety will remain paramount over this transformation period. We will put plans in place to ensure continuity of care and that there are no risks to patient safety.

What steps his Department is taking to monitor health outcomes linked to water pollution in West Dorset.

The UK Health Security Agency’s (UKHSA) South West Health Protection Regional team provides specialist advice and guidance on a range of public health threats to system partners across the South West region, which includes rivers and coastal waters of the West Dorset Constituency.The UKHSA’s South West Health Protection Regional team monitors outbreaks, clusters, and statistical exceedances of gastro-intestinal illness. This includes risk and needs assessments and includes routine surveillance to detect and manage exceedances of gastro-intestinal and other illnesses across the South West.

What steps he is taking with Cabinet colleagues to ensure access to NHS dentistry in new housing estates.

The Department of Health and Social Care continues to work closely with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government to ensure all new and existing housing developments have an adequate level of healthcare infrastructure. This is alongside guidance on how developer contributions from new housing developments can be better negotiated and used towards delivering local health services and infrastructure.The responsibility for commissioning primary care services, including National Health Service dentistry, to meet the needs of the local population has been delegated to the integrated care boards (ICBs) across England.ICBs are responsible for having local processes in place to involve patient groups, and for undertaking oral health needs assessments, to identify areas of need. For the West Dorset constituency, this is the NHS Dorset ICB.

What recent assessment he has made of the affordability of weekly care home fees.

Fee rates are set by providers of adult social care, the majority of which are in the independent sector. The Department does not have powers to set or recommend the level of fees that care homes charge. However, all businesses are required to comply with the Consumer Rights Act 2015 by ensuring that they use fair and clear terms in their standard agreements with customers.We have launched an independent commission into adult social care as part of our critical first steps towards delivering a National Care Service. The commission will deliver recommendations for the transformation of adult social care including how to best create a fair and affordable adult social care system.

What steps his Department is taking to help reduce the cost of care home placements.

Fee rates are set by providers of adult social care, the majority of which are in the independent sector. The Department does not have powers to set or recommend the level of fees that care homes charge. However, all businesses are required to comply with the Consumer Rights Act 2015 by ensuring that they use fair and clear terms in their standard agreements with customers.We have launched an independent commission into adult social care as part of our critical first steps towards delivering a National Care Service. The commission will deliver recommendations for the transformation of adult social care including how to best create a fair and affordable adult social care system.

Whether Integrated Care Board mergers are planned for Dorset.

NHS England has asked integrated care boards (ICBs) to act primarily as strategic commissioners of health services and reduce duplication of responsibilities within their structure. NHS England provided additional guidance to ICBs, National Health Service trusts and NHS foundation trusts on 1 April 2025 where ICBs were tasked to develop plans setting out how they will manage their resources to deliver across their priorities. The guidance is available at the following link:https://www.england.nhs.uk/long-read/working-together-in-2025-26-to-lay-the-foundations-for-reform/Dorset ICB is discussing proposals to form a wider ICB “cluster” with neighbouring colleagues at NHS Somerset and NHS Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire. This is very much a proposal, which will need to be worked through in more detail over the coming months.

What plans his Department has to support the (a) training and (b) recruitment of optometrists in underserved areas.

NHS England provides an annual grant for supervisors of optometry trainees. This payment is an essential element of ensuring that adequate training provision is available for new optometrists.Integrated care boards are responsible for commissioning primary and secondary eye care services and receive an annual allocation of funding to secure services to meet the needs of their local population. Any decisions about the recruitment of optometrists are a matter for individual employers, to ensure they have the right number of staff in place, with the right skill mix, to deliver safe and effective care.We will publish a refreshed workforce plan to deliver the transformed health service we will build over the next decade and treat patients on time again.

What steps his Department is taking to ensure equitable access to eye care services for low-income populations.

Integrated care boards are responsible for commissioning primary and secondary eye care services to meet local needs, and have a duty under the Health and Care Act 2022 to reduce inequalities.Free National Health Service sight tests and NHS optical vouchers, to help with the cost of glasses, are available for individuals on income-related benefits. Help may also be available through the NHS low-income scheme.

What assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of the availability of NHS-funded optometry services in West Dorset constituency.

Integrated care boards are responsible for commissioning primary and secondary eye care services in their areas to meet patient needs.

What steps he is taking with Cabinet colleagues to increase the use of new technology in the delivery of optometry services.

Integrated care boards commission services in the National Health Service from high street optical practices, which are private businesses. Contractors will be expected to demonstrate they have the necessary equipment to be able to provide any contracted eye care services.In delivering sight testing services, an ophthalmic practitioner is required to undertake any clinically necessary tests to determine if a patient has any signs of injury, disease or abnormality and to refer for any necessary further investigations. We do not stipulate the equipment or technology that should be used to make that determination.As part of the 10-Year Health Plan’s shift from analogue to digital, we are reviewing how the NHS should focus its resources to ensure it maximises the impact of data and technology. This includes how we can make life easier and more productive for those who work in the NHS, and how we can use data more effectively to plan, manage and deliver services.

What steps his Department is taking to reduce waiting times for NHS eye examinations.

Free National Health Service sight tests are widely available across the country, from any optical practice with a contract to provide NHS sight testing services. We are not aware of patients facing undue delays in accessing these services.

Whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of including dentists on the Shortage Occupation List for immigration purposes.

The Immigration White Paper, published on 12 May 2025, announced new measures on a wide range of issues, including reforms to work visas, further details of which will be set out in due course.

What assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of travel distances on access to eye care services for residents in West Dorset constituency.

Integrated care boards are responsible for commissioning primary and secondary eye care services in their areas to meet patient needs.

What plans his Department has to improve access to paediatric eye care services in West Dorset constituency.

Integrated care boards are responsible for commissioning primary and secondary eye care services in their areas to meet patient needs.

What steps her Department is taking to streamline visa processes for overseas-qualified dentists seeking to work in the UK.

The Immigration White Paper, published on 12 May 2025, announced new measures on a wide range of issues, including reforms to work visas, further details of which will be set out in due course.

What steps his Department is taking to ensure sustainable funding for hospices.

We are supporting the hospice sector with a £100 million capital funding boost for adult and children’s hospices in England to ensure they have the best physical environment for care. The funding will help hospices to provide the best end of life care to patients and their families in a supportive and dignified physical environment. Funding will help support hospices and deliver much needed improvements, including refurbishments, overhauling IT systems, and improving facilities for patients and visitors.In February, I met with key palliative and end of life care and hospice stakeholders, in a roundtable format, with a focus on long-term sector sustainability within the context of our 10-Year Health Plan.We recognise that there are geographical inequalities in access to palliative and end of life care and hospice services, especially for those living in rural or socio-economically deprived areas. We are looking at how best to reduce these. It is our intention to work with sector stakeholders to ensure that everyone has access to the care they need, in the right place, at the right time, at the end of life.Integrated care boards (ICBs) are responsible for the commissioning of palliative and end of life care services, to meet the needs of their local populations. To support ICBs in this duty NHS England has published statutory guidance, which outlines areas for consideration when commissioning, which makes reference to improving equity of access and reducing inequalities in outcomes and experiences. This includes the completion of an Equalities and Health Inequalities Impact Assessment and action plan.

What assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of retroactively awarding the Humanitarian Medal to qualifying people who served before 19 June 2023.

The Humanitarian Medal was introduced in July 2023 to recognise those in public service and members of organisations that contribute on behalf of HM Government, which respond in support of human welfare during or in the aftermath of a crisis.The Medal is not retrospective, and only incidents that occur from July 2023 are eligible as this is the date that His Majesty signed the Royal Warrant and the medal came into being under the previous government. However, operations which were live at that time but which commenced before the introduction of the Humanitarian Medal, may be eligible for the Humanitarian Medal with the clasp for that operation.There are no plans to review the criteria to allow for retrospection.

Whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of funding levels for hospices on the availability of hospice services in rural areas.

We are supporting the hospice sector with a £100 million capital funding boost for adult and children’s hospices in England to ensure they have the best physical environment for care. The funding will help hospices to provide the best end of life care to patients and their families in a supportive and dignified physical environment. Funding will help support hospices and deliver much needed improvements, including refurbishments, overhauling IT systems, and improving facilities for patients and visitors.In February, I met with key palliative and end of life care and hospice stakeholders, in a roundtable format, with a focus on long-term sector sustainability within the context of our 10-Year Health Plan.We recognise that there are geographical inequalities in access to palliative and end of life care and hospice services, especially for those living in rural or socio-economically deprived areas. We are looking at how best to reduce these. It is our intention to work with sector stakeholders to ensure that everyone has access to the care they need, in the right place, at the right time, at the end of life.Integrated care boards (ICBs) are responsible for the commissioning of palliative and end of life care services, to meet the needs of their local populations. To support ICBs in this duty NHS England has published statutory guidance, which outlines areas for consideration when commissioning, which makes reference to improving equity of access and reducing inequalities in outcomes and experiences. This includes the completion of an Equalities and Health Inequalities Impact Assessment and action plan.