Written questions by Evans.

If he will take steps to reduce overprescribing.

The National Health Service and its partner organisations are responding to the challenge of overprescribing, as set out in the Government’s review of overprescribing, Good for you, good for us, good for everybody, in September 2021. There are currently no plans to undertake a further review. Progress has been made to implement the recommendations of that review, for example:- implementing the national medicines optimisation opportunities for integrated care boards (ICBs), or recommendations three and 13;- addressing problematic polypharmacy, when there is potential harm associated with taking multiple medicines, or recommendations eight and nine;- delivering structured medication reviews, or recommendation eight; and- publication of a repeat prescribing toolkit and oversupply dashboard to support general practices to identify oversupply and improve repeat prescribing processes, or recommendation seven. Offering treatments that are not medicines is also key to addressing overprescribing. Many other initiatives delivered across the NHS contribute towards this. These include delivery of personalised care and shared decision-making, NHS Talking Therapies for anxiety and depression, and social prescribing. We are continuing to address issues with the prescribing of medicines in line with the NHS’ 2025/26 priorities and operational planning guidance. It is not possible to quantify the overall cost of overprescribing.

What steps he has taken to implement the recommendations of his Department's report entitled Good for you, good for us, good for everybody, published on 22 September 2021.

The National Health Service and its partner organisations are responding to the challenge of overprescribing, as set out in the Government’s review of overprescribing, Good for you, good for us, good for everybody, in September 2021. There are currently no plans to undertake a further review. Progress has been made to implement the recommendations of that review, for example:- implementing the national medicines optimisation opportunities for integrated care boards (ICBs), or recommendations three and 13;- addressing problematic polypharmacy, when there is potential harm associated with taking multiple medicines, or recommendations eight and nine;- delivering structured medication reviews, or recommendation eight; and- publication of a repeat prescribing toolkit and oversupply dashboard to support general practices to identify oversupply and improve repeat prescribing processes, or recommendation seven. Offering treatments that are not medicines is also key to addressing overprescribing. Many other initiatives delivered across the NHS contribute towards this. These include delivery of personalised care and shared decision-making, NHS Talking Therapies for anxiety and depression, and social prescribing. We are continuing to address issues with the prescribing of medicines in line with the NHS’ 2025/26 priorities and operational planning guidance. It is not possible to quantify the overall cost of overprescribing.

If he will make an estimate of the cost to the public purse of overprescribing.

The National Health Service and its partner organisations are responding to the challenge of overprescribing, as set out in the Government’s review of overprescribing, Good for you, good for us, good for everybody, in September 2021. There are currently no plans to undertake a further review. Progress has been made to implement the recommendations of that review, for example:- implementing the national medicines optimisation opportunities for integrated care boards (ICBs), or recommendations three and 13;- addressing problematic polypharmacy, when there is potential harm associated with taking multiple medicines, or recommendations eight and nine;- delivering structured medication reviews, or recommendation eight; and- publication of a repeat prescribing toolkit and oversupply dashboard to support general practices to identify oversupply and improve repeat prescribing processes, or recommendation seven. Offering treatments that are not medicines is also key to addressing overprescribing. Many other initiatives delivered across the NHS contribute towards this. These include delivery of personalised care and shared decision-making, NHS Talking Therapies for anxiety and depression, and social prescribing. We are continuing to address issues with the prescribing of medicines in line with the NHS’ 2025/26 priorities and operational planning guidance. It is not possible to quantify the overall cost of overprescribing.

With reference to FOI 02629, if he will undertake a review into the work of (a) Capita and (b) NHS Business Service Authority.

Capita operates the Primary Care Support England (PCSE) service under contract to NHS England. NHS England tracks PCSE’s performance on a monthly basis against contractual performance targets. NHS England works with PCSE, the NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA), and general practice (GP) representative bodies to rectify historical gaps in GP records. The Department, NHS England, and the NHSBSA are working together to facilitate GP updates to records at the earliest opportunity.The NHSBSA underwent an independent review in 2023 as part of the Cabinet Office-led Public Body Review programme and was assessed as ‘a high performing arm's length body’. The review is available at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/nhs-business-services-authority-review-report/independent-review-of-the-nhs-business-services-authority-final-report-and-recommendations#:~:text=NHSBSA%20meets%20the%20Cabinet%20Office,brought%20into%20the%20departmentAs a Special Health Authority and arm’s-length body of the Department, the NHSBSA’s performance is also reviewed regularly by departmental policy teams who sponsor individual services, and a quarterly accountability meeting is held to assess the NHSBSA’s performance across all its services.

With reference to FOI 02629, if he will undertake a review into the difference in figures between GPs and General Dental Practitioners.

General practitioners (GPs) use Primary Care Support England to report earnings via a Type 1 GPs certificate, and are dependent on their tax return. Dentists use a system called Compass to report their earnings through the NHS Business Services Authority. Dentists’ pensionable earnings are not dependent on their tax return, and they also complete an annual reconciliation report via the Compass system.Since GPs and dentists report earnings in very different ways, a comparative review is not possible.

If he will take steps to increase the number of GPs with up-to-date pension records.

NHS England is working with NHS Pensions and Primary Care Support England (PCSE) to support general practitioners (GPs) to reduce the number of missing records. For the 2025/26 financial year, PCSE is maintaining a dedicated team to support GPs to resolve missing years. The Department and NHS England are also working with NHS Pensions and the British Medical Association to use their networks to encourage GPs to submit missing certificates.PCSE is reliant on GPs submitting the required forms to enable PCSE to update their pension record. NHS England will continue to work with PCSE to ensure they are undertaking their obligations upon receipt of the forms, and to support joint working with stakeholders to ensure pension record gaps are promptly resolved.PCSE is also working with those GPs who need to provide certificates to resolve missing years in their pension records, as GP’s pension records must be updated in sequential order, and if one year of data is missing all future years will also show as missing from the GPs annual pension statement issued by NHS Pensions. Any received information remains on the PCSE system until the missing year is received, at which point all information is then recorded on Pensions Online, which updates the NHS Pension record.PCSE has contacted GPs with missing certificates detailing the action they need to take to bring their pension record up to date. Webinars with supporting communications have been regularly organised by PCSE to ensure GPs are supported in how to access and resolve missing information and how to submit certificates at the end of each financial year.The NHS Pensions has also recently written directly to NHS Pension Scheme members affected by the public sector pensions remedy, McCloud, to highlight the need to ensure that PCSE records are up to date.

If he will undertake a review of overprescribing.

The National Health Service and its partner organisations are responding to the challenge of overprescribing, as set out in the Government’s review of overprescribing, Good for you, good for us, good for everybody, in September 2021. There are currently no plans to undertake a further review. Progress has been made to implement the recommendations of that review, for example:- implementing the national medicines optimisation opportunities for integrated care boards (ICBs), or recommendations three and 13;- addressing problematic polypharmacy, when there is potential harm associated with taking multiple medicines, or recommendations eight and nine;- delivering structured medication reviews, or recommendation eight; and- publication of a repeat prescribing toolkit and oversupply dashboard to support general practices to identify oversupply and improve repeat prescribing processes, or recommendation seven. Offering treatments that are not medicines is also key to addressing overprescribing. Many other initiatives delivered across the NHS contribute towards this. These include delivery of personalised care and shared decision-making, NHS Talking Therapies for anxiety and depression, and social prescribing. We are continuing to address issues with the prescribing of medicines in line with the NHS’ 2025/26 priorities and operational planning guidance. It is not possible to quantify the overall cost of overprescribing.

What steps he plans to take to support integrated care boards through the closure of NHS England.

The Prime Minister announced that NHS England will be brought back into the Department. Integrated care boards (ICBs) are to act primarily as strategic commissioners of health and care services. Detailed guidance has been provided to ICBs, National Health Service trusts, and NHS foundation trusts on 1 April 2025, where ICBs were tasked with developing plans by the end of May setting out how they will manage their resources to deliver across their priorities. 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/

Whether his Department plans to produce an impact assessment of the planned 50% reduction in integrated care board 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 structure 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, where ICBs were 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 the ICBs to support the development of these plans, ensuring that their implementation reduces duplication and supports patient care. Further details are 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. The Department has not conducted an impact assessment of NHS decision to reduce ICB running costs.

How many new mental health staff have been recruited to the NHS since 1 July 2024.

Mental Health workforce data is published quarterly by NHS England as part of their NHS Workforce statistics, and is available at the following link:https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/publications/statistical/nhs-workforce-statistics#past-publications

What assessment he has made of the potential implications for his Department’s policies of the Care Quality Commission’s Community mental health survey 2024, published on 3 April 2025.

We welcome the Care Quality Commission’s survey. The evidence from this survey will feed into our plans to improve community mental health services through the 10 year plan. Too many people with mental health issues are not getting the care they need, and we know that waits for mental health services are too long. As part of our mission to build a National Health Service that is fit for the future and that is there when people need it, the Government will recruit 8,500 mental health workers to help ease pressure on busy mental health services.

What his planned timetable is for recruiting new mental health workers in (a) child and (b) adult mental health services.

Too many people are not receiving the mental health care they need and waits for mental health services are too long.As part of our mission to build a National Health Service that is fit for the future and that is there when people need it, the Government will recruit 8,500 mental health workers to help ease pressure on busy mental health services.We are working with NHS England to consider options to deliver this commitment alongside the refresh of the Long Term Workforce Plan.

How many funding awards under consideration focus on the (a) diagnosis, (b) care and (c) treatment of endometriosis.

The Department commissions research through the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). The NIHR supports research with a focus on endometriosis through a range of funding streams. For example, the Health Technology Assessment Programme is currently considering applications submitted to a call for research into pain management programmes for endometriosis. Details of successful funding awards will be published on the NIHR website later this year.In addition, the NIHR is currently funding two doctoral fellowships with relevance to endometriosis, thus supporting the pipeline of researchers with expertise in women’s health issues.The NIHR continues to welcome funding applications for research into any area of women’s health, including endometriosis.

What active funding streams are focused on research into endometriosis.

The Department commissions research through the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). The NIHR supports research with a focus on endometriosis through a range of funding streams. For example, the Health Technology Assessment Programme is currently considering applications submitted to a call for research into pain management programmes for endometriosis. Details of successful funding awards will be published on the NIHR website later this year.In addition, the NIHR is currently funding two doctoral fellowships with relevance to endometriosis, thus supporting the pipeline of researchers with expertise in women’s health issues.The NIHR continues to welcome funding applications for research into any area of women’s health, including endometriosis.

What discussions he has had with (a) NHS England and (b) the National Institute for Health and Care Research on the role of women's hubs in supporting the (i) diagnosis, (ii) care and (iii) treatment of endometriosis.

The Government is committed to improving the diagnosis, treatment and ongoing care for gynaecological conditions including endometriosis.Women’s health hubs bring together healthcare professionals and existing services to provide integrated women’s health services in the community, centred on meeting women’s needs across the life course. Women’s health hubs have a key role in shifting care out of hospitals and reducing gynaecology waiting lists. The assessment and treatment of menstrual problems is a core service for women’s health hubs. This includes care for heavy, painful or irregular menstrual bleeding, and for conditions such as endometriosis and polycystic ovary syndrome. The Government is committed to encouraging integrated care boards (ICBs) to further expand the coverage of women’s health hubs and to support ICBs to use the learning from the existing women’s health hubs to improve local delivery of services to women.The Department commissions research through the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). There are two active research projects which are exploring the role of women’s health hubs in England. The first project is led by the NIHR Policy Research Unit in Reproductive Health and focuses on identifying the mechanisms for commissioning women’s health services in England, how approaches vary and what works, including women’s health hubs commissioning. The second project is led by the NIHR Policy Innovation and Evaluation Policy Research Unit and is an examination of women’s experience and access to health services for reproductive health care.

With reference to his oral evidence to the Health and Social Care Committee on 8 April 2025, what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of the redundancy package for staff being made redundant from NHS England (a) in total and (b) per integrated care board.

The detailed plans for realising efficiency gains from this process are being formulated by a joint Department and NHS England programme team, which will include the mechanisms and timings for any exit processes. Any costs will be offset by the savings delivered by having a more efficient and less bureaucratic centre. Further detail on the costs and benefits will be provided as this work develops.

With reference to his oral evidence to the Health and Social Care Committee on 8 April 2025, what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of the closure of NHS England (a) in total and (b) per integrated care board.

The detailed plans for realising efficiency gains from this process are being formulated by a joint Department and NHS England programme team, which will include the mechanisms and timings for any exit processes. Any costs will be offset by the savings delivered by having a more efficient and less bureaucratic centre. Further detail on the costs and benefits will be provided as this work develops.

What assessment his Department has made of the effectiveness of integrated care boards in securing money for primary care expansion from Section 106 agreements.

The Department for Health and Social Care is working closely with the Ministry of Housing, Communities, and Local Government to extend our collective interactions in the planning process, from local plan making to negotiating developer contributions through updates to national guidance. This is alongside determining how developer contributions from new housing developments can be better used towards local health services and infrastructure.Integrated care boards have been building their capacity and capability, and in some areas working with expertise in NHS Property Services (NHSPS) to support health systems to navigate the planning system, to secure and use monies and other mitigations from developers as part of Section 106 (S106) agreements. The health ask will be considered alongside other priorities that local authorities are responsible for delivering in their area.National data on the collection and spending of S106 data is limited, with no comprehensive findings published by the Ministry of Housing, Communities, and Local Government since 2020, which makes assessing the trends difficult. The Department for Health and Social Care, NHS England, and NHSPS continue to work together to look at how we negotiate for S106 contributions and ensure that any secured contributions are spent in a timely manner.Integrated care systems’ estates infrastructure strategies have also been developed to create a long-term plan for future estate requirements and investment for each local area and its needs. These strategies take the existing and future general practice and primary care estate needs into account when considering how best to deliver local services when interacting with local planning authorities on all aspects of the planning process.

What assessment his Department has made of trends in the amount of money used for primary care expansion from Section 106 agreements.

The Department for Health and Social Care is working closely with the Ministry of Housing, Communities, and Local Government to extend our collective interactions in the planning process, from local plan making to negotiating developer contributions through updates to national guidance. This is alongside determining how developer contributions from new housing developments can be better used towards local health services and infrastructure.Integrated care boards have been building their capacity and capability, and in some areas working with expertise in NHS Property Services (NHSPS) to support health systems to navigate the planning system, to secure and use monies and other mitigations from developers as part of Section 106 (S106) agreements. The health ask will be considered alongside other priorities that local authorities are responsible for delivering in their area.National data on the collection and spending of S106 data is limited, with no comprehensive findings published by the Ministry of Housing, Communities, and Local Government since 2020, which makes assessing the trends difficult. The Department for Health and Social Care, NHS England, and NHSPS continue to work together to look at how we negotiate for S106 contributions and ensure that any secured contributions are spent in a timely manner.Integrated care systems’ estates infrastructure strategies have also been developed to create a long-term plan for future estate requirements and investment for each local area and its needs. These strategies take the existing and future general practice and primary care estate needs into account when considering how best to deliver local services when interacting with local planning authorities on all aspects of the planning process.

Whether he has had discussions with the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government on the amount of money used for primary care expansion from Section 106 agreements.

The Department for Health and Social Care is working closely with the Ministry of Housing, Communities, and Local Government to extend our collective interactions in the planning process, from local plan making to negotiating developer contributions through updates to national guidance. This is alongside determining how developer contributions from new housing developments can be better used towards local health services and infrastructure.Integrated care boards have been building their capacity and capability, and in some areas working with expertise in NHS Property Services (NHSPS) to support health systems to navigate the planning system, to secure and use monies and other mitigations from developers as part of Section 106 (S106) agreements. The health ask will be considered alongside other priorities that local authorities are responsible for delivering in their area.National data on the collection and spending of S106 data is limited, with no comprehensive findings published by the Ministry of Housing, Communities, and Local Government since 2020, which makes assessing the trends difficult. The Department for Health and Social Care, NHS England, and NHSPS continue to work together to look at how we negotiate for S106 contributions and ensure that any secured contributions are spent in a timely manner.Integrated care systems’ estates infrastructure strategies have also been developed to create a long-term plan for future estate requirements and investment for each local area and its needs. These strategies take the existing and future general practice and primary care estate needs into account when considering how best to deliver local services when interacting with local planning authorities on all aspects of the planning process.