Written questions by Akehurst.

What assessment he has made of the long-term health impacts associated with exposure to Diethylstilbestrol (DES).

Awaiting answer.

What steps his Department is taking to improve awareness of DES-related risks (a) among general practitioners and (b) within medical education.

Awaiting answer.

What steps his Department is taking to support individuals affected by Diethylstilbestrol.

Awaiting answer.

What steps his Department plans to take to increase the uptake of continuous glucose monitoring technology for people with type 2 diabetes in North Durham.

Awaiting answer.

What steps his Department is taking to support the use of medical technologies that help people living with diabetes in North Durham constituency to (a) better understand the impact of (i) diet and (ii) lifestyle on their glucose levels, (b) improve diabetes management and (c) reduce the incidence of related comorbidities.

Awaiting answer.

What assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of access to continuous glucose monitoring technology for patients with type 2 diabetes in North Durham constituency; and what comparative assessment his Department has made of this and the national rate.

Awaiting answer.

With reference Answer of 9 February 2026 to Question HL14107, whether his Department has plans to assess the health needs of male veterans and service personnel in particular.

Awaiting answer.

How many people are currently on the waiting list for gender dysphoria clinics in i) the North East of England and ii) nationally.

The number of adult patients who are registered with a general practice in the North East and Yorkshire region and who are on a waiting list for an adult gender dysphoria clinic is 5,966 at the date of 31 January 2026.The total number of adult patients on a waiting list for an adult gender dysphoria clinic is 44,579 at the date of 31 January 2026.

What assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of the provision of gender dysphoria clinics in the North East of England.

NHS England is committed to supporting people who need these specialist gender services and commissions three adult gender dysphoria clinics in Newcastle, Sheffield, and Leeds. While they are regionally commissioned to meet the demand of the local population, these services are accessed by patients from across the country and this has an impact on waiting times.In some areas, general practices (GPs) are also supporting stabilised patients by prescribing their treatment locally with specialist support, ensuring the care and treatment needs of these individuals are met locally when appropriate.NHS England has now completed its review of adult gender services, which looked at how to overcome the challenges that some individuals continue to face in accessing services in a timely manner. The review includes 20 recommendations and NHS England, in full partnership with regions and the Department, will now lead the next stage of the system-wide response.A National Portfolio Board is being established to build and develop a full implementation plan, which will address each of the recommendations in turn and be aligned with the ambitions of the Government’s 10-Year Health Plan for England, which is available at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/10-year-health-plan-for-englandImmediate priorities include working with professional bodies to establish a new professional role of GP with an Extended Role in Gender Medicine, to provide support to those who have completed their care within the adult gender service clinics and to provide leadership and knowledge sharing with primary care in every neighbourhood.

What assessment he has made of the potential role of community-based social palliative care services for children in the context of his policy on shifting care from hospital to community settings.

Children’s hospices often provide holistic care, wrap-around services and additional support to children and their families that extend beyond core healthcare provision. This, for example, includes complementary therapies, respite care, and short breaks. The £80 million of revenue funding should help give children’s hospices the stability they need to plan ahead and will help them to continue to offer social palliative care services, such as respite care and short breaks, for children with life-limiting and life-threatening conditions, as well as their families.We see children’s hospices and children’s social palliative care services as playing an important role in neighbourhood health and the shift to community. Achieving our vision for a Neighbourhood Health Service will rely critically on strong partnership working between health and social care, also working closely with wider local government services and the voluntary, community, and social enterprise sector to better understand and meet the needs of individuals and local populations in a holistic way.We expect neighbourhood teams and services to be designed in a way that reflects the specific needs of local populations. Our aim is to have a Neighbourhood Health Centre in each community that brings together National Health Service, local authority, and voluntary sector services in one building to help create a holistic offer that meets the needs of local populations.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of the £80 million funding announced for children’s hospices in October 2025 on the (a) availability and (b) sustainability of community-based social palliative care services for children with life-threatening or terminal illnesses.

Children’s hospices often provide holistic care, wrap-around services and additional support to children and their families that extend beyond core healthcare provision. This, for example, includes complementary therapies, respite care, and short breaks. The £80 million of revenue funding should help give children’s hospices the stability they need to plan ahead and will help them to continue to offer social palliative care services, such as respite care and short breaks, for children with life-limiting and life-threatening conditions, as well as their families.We see children’s hospices and children’s social palliative care services as playing an important role in neighbourhood health and the shift to community. Achieving our vision for a Neighbourhood Health Service will rely critically on strong partnership working between health and social care, also working closely with wider local government services and the voluntary, community, and social enterprise sector to better understand and meet the needs of individuals and local populations in a holistic way.We expect neighbourhood teams and services to be designed in a way that reflects the specific needs of local populations. Our aim is to have a Neighbourhood Health Centre in each community that brings together National Health Service, local authority, and voluntary sector services in one building to help create a holistic offer that meets the needs of local populations.

If he will make an assessment of the potential impact of reducing Level 7 apprenticeship funding on the delivery of the (a) NHS Long Term Workforce Plan and (b) Fit for the Future 10 Year Health Plan.

While funding arrangements for level 7 apprenticeships are changing, NHS England and the Department are funding ongoing provision of level 7 apprenticeships in five professions to support the delivery of our 10-Year Health Plan and the upcoming 10 Year Workforce Plan and ensure the National Health Service has the right people, in the right places, with the right skills to care for patients, when they need it.

What plans his Department has to ensure that Integrated Care Boards provide clear diagnostic and treatment pathways for children and adults with Tourette syndrome.

There are no current plans to produce a Neurodevelopmental Strategy. On 23 January 2026, we published our response to the House of Lords Autism Act 2009 Inquiry Committee’s report, Time to deliver: The Autism Act 2009 and the new autism strategy. We welcomed the committee’s report, and are carefully considering its recommendations, as well as our approach to developing a new national autism strategy, and we will set out a position in due course.Integrated care boards (ICBs) are responsible for assessing local population need and for commissioning appropriate diagnostic and treatment pathways for neurological conditions, including Tourette syndrome. While the Department has not undertaken a national assessment of provision across ICBs, we recognise the concerns raised about variation in diagnosis and support. To help address this, NHS England’s Getting it Right First Time programme is working with ICBs to develop clear, consistent diagnostic and treatment pathways.NHS England’s Learning Hub hosts an e-learning module, Understanding Tourette’s Syndrome, which was produced by Tourette’s Action. It aims to improve understanding of the condition, its co-occurring features, and the impact it has on individuals, as well as to dispel misconceptions that surround it and other tic disorders.The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence has produced guidance on suspected neurological conditions, which includes recommendations on treatment for tics and involuntary movements in adults and children. The guidance can be found via the following link:https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng127/

Whether he plans to (a) include Tourette syndrome in neurodevelopmental strategy work and (b) mandate Integrated Care Boards to establish diagnostic and treatment pathways similar to those for autism and epilepsy.

There are no current plans to produce a Neurodevelopmental Strategy. On 23 January 2026, we published our response to the House of Lords Autism Act 2009 Inquiry Committee’s report, Time to deliver: The Autism Act 2009 and the new autism strategy. We welcomed the committee’s report, and are carefully considering its recommendations, as well as our approach to developing a new national autism strategy, and we will set out a position in due course.Integrated care boards (ICBs) are responsible for assessing local population need and for commissioning appropriate diagnostic and treatment pathways for neurological conditions, including Tourette syndrome. While the Department has not undertaken a national assessment of provision across ICBs, we recognise the concerns raised about variation in diagnosis and support. To help address this, NHS England’s Getting it Right First Time programme is working with ICBs to develop clear, consistent diagnostic and treatment pathways.NHS England’s Learning Hub hosts an e-learning module, Understanding Tourette’s Syndrome, which was produced by Tourette’s Action. It aims to improve understanding of the condition, its co-occurring features, and the impact it has on individuals, as well as to dispel misconceptions that surround it and other tic disorders.The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence has produced guidance on suspected neurological conditions, which includes recommendations on treatment for tics and involuntary movements in adults and children. The guidance can be found via the following link:https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng127/

Whether his Department is taking steps to help improve Tourette syndrome services in every region.

Integrated care boards (ICBs) are responsible for assessing local population need and for commissioning appropriate diagnostic and treatment pathways for neurological conditions, including Tourette syndrome. While the Department has not undertaken a national assessment of provision across ICBs, we recognise the concerns raised about variation in diagnosis and support. To help address this, NHS England’s Getting it Right First Time (GIRFT) programme is working with ICBs to develop clear, consistent diagnostic and treatment pathways.NHS England’s Learning Hub hosts an e-learning module, Understanding Tourette’s Syndrome, which was produced by Tourette’s Action. It aims to improve understanding of the condition, its co-occurring features, and the impact it has on individuals, and dispel misconceptions that surround it and other tic disorders.The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence has produced guidance on suspected neurological conditions, which includes recommendations on treatment for tics and involuntary movements in adults and children. The guidance can be found via the following link:https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng127/

What steps his Department is taking to improve (a) diagnostic and (b) treatment pathways for Tourette syndrome in areas of England that do not have a dedicated service.

Integrated care boards (ICBs) are responsible for assessing local population need and for commissioning appropriate diagnostic and treatment pathways for neurological conditions, including Tourette syndrome. While the Department has not undertaken a national assessment of provision across ICBs, we recognise the concerns raised about variation in diagnosis and support. To help address this, NHS England’s Getting it Right First Time (GIRFT) programme is working with ICBs to develop clear, consistent diagnostic and treatment pathways.NHS England’s Learning Hub hosts an e-learning module, Understanding Tourette’s Syndrome, which was produced by Tourette’s Action. It aims to improve understanding of the condition, its co-occurring features, and the impact it has on individuals, and dispel misconceptions that surround it and other tic disorders.The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence has produced guidance on suspected neurological conditions, which includes recommendations on treatment for tics and involuntary movements in adults and children. The guidance can be found via the following link:https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng127/

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of the absence of a regular, comprehensive national workforce census on neurology workforce planning; and if he will commit to establishing such a census.

No such assessment has been made. NHS England already publishes well-established official statistics on the medical neurology workforce, therefore there are no plans to introduce a census. The 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 National Health Service has the right people in the right places, with the right skills to care for patients, when they need it.

What assessment he has made of the potential merits of increased funding and planning for the neurology workforce; and what steps his Department is taking to increase neurology specialty training posts and consultant numbers.

The 10-Year Health Plan, published on 3 July 2025, set out that over the next three years we will create 1,000 new specialty training posts with a focus on specialties where there is greatest need. The Government will set out its next steps on this in due course.The 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 National Health Service has the right people in the right places, with the right skills to care for patients, when they need it.

What assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of the Association of British Neurologists’ Workforce Report 2025, which shows that the UK has approximately 1–2 consultant neurologists per 100,000 population compared with a European average of around 6 per 100,000.

The 10-Year Health Plan, published on 3 July 2025, set out that over the next three years we will create 1,000 new specialty training posts with a focus on specialties where there is greatest need. The Government will set out its next steps on this in due course.The 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 National Health Service has the right people in the right places, with the right skills to care for patients, when they need it.

What steps is his Department taking to increase neurology specialty training posts and consultant neurologist numbers.

The 10-Year Health Plan, published on 3 July 2025, set out that over the next three years we will create 1,000 new specialty training posts with a focus on specialties where there is greatest need. The Government will set out its next steps on this in due course.The 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 National Health Service has the right people in the right places, with the right skills to care for patients, when they need it.