Written questions by Vickers.

What steps he is taking to help prevent industrial action in the NHS.

My Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care and officials from the Department, on his behalf, regularly meet with representatives of the health trade unions to understand the views and concerns of the National Health Service’s workforces in England which they represent. He has been clear that he wants to continue to work constructively with all trade unions to improve the working conditions of all NHS staff and avoid unnecessary industrial action.My Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care has accepted all headline pay recommendations from the independent pay review bodies for 2025/26 so that all NHS staff in England received a fair and sustainable pay rise, has committed to funding improvements to the Agenda for Change pay structure for staff such as porters, nurses, and paramedics, and is working with NHS England to implement a 10 point plan to improve resident doctors’ working lives.My Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care made a written offer on 5 November to the British Medical Association Resident Doctors Committee (BMA RDC) which included measures to tackle bottlenecks in training, put money back in resident doctors' pockets and ensure that there is consistent implementation of existing contractual entitlements. Unfortunately, the BMA RDC rejected this just hours after being set out in a letter to them, instead choosing to proceed with the damaging strike action taken between 14-19 November.

What recent steps he has taken to increase NHS capacity in winter 2025-26.

We have done more than ever to prepare for this winter, including stress testing winter plans, making sure community teams have the vaccines they need, and identifying patients most vulnerable in winter.The Urgent and Emergency Care (UEC) Plan for 2025/26, published on 6 June 2025, focuses on those improvements that will see the biggest impact on UEC performance this winter and on making UEC better every day, backed by a total of nearly £450 million of funding. The plan commits to increasing the number of patients receiving urgent care in the community by expanding services such as urgent community response, neighbourhood multidisciplinary teams and increasing the use of virtual wards, also known as hospital at home. This will support winter resilience by expanding and optimising services such as urgent community response and increasing the use of virtual wards in each integrated care system, as well as planning with the ambulance services and 111 how to use this capacity most effectively.

What discussions he has had with NHS leaders on NHS workforce deployment from areas with staff surpluses to those with acute staffing deficits.

The Government is committed to publishing a 10 Year Workforce Plan to create a workforce that is ready to deliver the transformed service set out in the 10-Year Health Plan. The plan will ensure that 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 his Department has made of the potential merits of funding a new hospital to replace the University Hospital of North Tees.

Repairing and rebuilding our healthcare estate is a vital part of our ambition to create a National Health Service that is fit for the future through our 10-Year Health Plan.We recognise that delivering high quality NHS healthcare services requires safe, sustainable, and effective infrastructure. That is why we prioritised investment in healthcare at the recent Spending Review, which delivered the largest ever health capital budget.However, the New Hospital Programme (NHP) is the current mechanism for the delivery of hospitals and there are currently no plans to invite further schemes to join the NHP. The focus of the NHP is on delivery aligned to our Plan for Implementation. As such, the Department has made no assessment of the potential merits of funding a new hospital to replace the University Hospital of North Tees.

What assessment he has made of the adequacy of the information available on the NHS website for patients with Ehlers Danlos syndromes.

The National Health Service website offers comprehensive information to the public on Ehlers-Danlos syndromes (EDS), covering the symptoms, types, diagnosis, treatment, and how it is inherited. This includes detailed descriptions for the most common type, hypermobile EDS, as well as more serious but rarer types like vascular EDS. It also links to external sources of advice, like Ehlers-Danlos Support UK and the Hypermobility Syndromes Association, to provide a wider range of detailed, expert information.

Whether his Department plans to include North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust in future phases of the New Hospital Programme.

The focus of the New Hospital Programme (NHP) is on the delivery of schemes in line with the Plan for Implementation. This was deposited into the House Library and is available at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/new-hospital-programme-review-outcomeThere are currently no plans to invite further schemes to join the NHP.

What discussions he has had with (a) NHS England and (b) Tees Valley Combined Authority on options for (i) funding and (ii) delivering a new hospital to serve Teesside.

We recognise that delivering high quality National Health Service services requires safe, sustainable, and effective infrastructure. That is why we prioritised investment in healthcare at the recent Spending Review 2025 – delivering the largest ever health capital budget.The New Hospital Programme (NHP) is the current mechanism for the delivery of hospitals and there are currently no plans to invite further schemes to join the NHP. The focus of the NHP is on delivery aligned to our Plan for Implementation. As such, there have been no discussions with NHS England and Tees Valley Combined Authority on options for funding and delivering a new hospital for Teesside.It is possible that local NHS organisations could develop new health infrastructure using existing funding, short of a new hospital, if it aligns with their local priorities.

What estimate his Department has made of the cost of (a) maintaining facilities at the University Hospital of North Tees and (b) constructing a replacement hospital.

NHS England’s annual Estates Returns Information Collection (ERIC) is our main source of information on the costs of maintaining acute hospital sites, including the University Hospital of North Tees.The latest published data (2024/25) on costs, including estates and property maintenance and hard and soft facilities management, is available at the following link:https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/publications/statistical/estates-returns-information-collection/summary-page-and-dataset-for-eric-2024-25The New Hospital Programme (NHP) is the current mechanism for the delivery of hospitals and there are currently no plans to invite further schemes to join the NHP. The focus of the NHP is on delivery aligned to our Plan for Implementation. As such, there are no current estimates of the cost of constructing a replacement hospital.

What recent discussions his Department has had with NHS England on improving (a) referral pathways and (b) specialist service provision for people with postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome.

We recognise the negative impact that postural tachycardia syndrome (PoTS) has on patients, and the cost to health and care services and the wider economy through, for example, loss of work and an increased benefits bill.Improving health outcomes for everyone living with a long-term condition, including PoTS, is a key part of the Government's mission to build a National Health Service fit for the future.We are investing in additional capacity to deliver appointments to help bring waiting lists and times down. The Elective Reform Plan, published in January 2025, sets out the specific productivity and reform efforts needed to return to the constitutional standard, that 92% of patients to wait no longer than 18 weeks from referral to treatment by March 2029.Additionally, the shifts outlined in our 10-Year Health Plan will free up hospital-based consultants’ time by shifting care from hospitals to communities, utilising digital technology to reduce administrative burdens, and promoting prevention to reduce the onset and severity of conditions that lead to hospital admissions. This includes expanding community-based services, employing artificial intelligence for productivity, developing integrated neighbourhood health teams, and investing in digital tools and data. These shifts will allow specialists to focus on more complex cases of PoTS, enabling earlier identification and management, and improved patient outcomes.By shifting care into the community through Neighbourhood Health Services, promoting integrated, multidisciplinary models of care, and through the expansion of personalised care plans, as outlined in the 10-Year Health Plan, we will ensure that people with conditions like PoTS receive more timely and accessible support closer to home.

What recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of (a) access to specialist (i) diagnosis and (ii) treatment and (b) other NHS services for people with postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome.

We recognise the negative impact that postural tachycardia syndrome (PoTS) has on patients, and the cost to health and care services and the wider economy through, for example, loss of work and an increased benefits bill.Improving health outcomes for everyone living with a long-term condition, including PoTS, is a key part of the Government's mission to build a National Health Service fit for the future.We are investing in additional capacity to deliver appointments to help bring waiting lists and times down. The Elective Reform Plan, published in January 2025, sets out the specific productivity and reform efforts needed to return to the constitutional standard, that 92% of patients to wait no longer than 18 weeks from referral to treatment by March 2029.Additionally, the shifts outlined in our 10-Year Health Plan will free up hospital-based consultants’ time by shifting care from hospitals to communities, utilising digital technology to reduce administrative burdens, and promoting prevention to reduce the onset and severity of conditions that lead to hospital admissions. This includes expanding community-based services, employing artificial intelligence for productivity, developing integrated neighbourhood health teams, and investing in digital tools and data. These shifts will allow specialists to focus on more complex cases of PoTS, enabling earlier identification and management, and improved patient outcomes.By shifting care into the community through Neighbourhood Health Services, promoting integrated, multidisciplinary models of care, and through the expansion of personalised care plans, as outlined in the 10-Year Health Plan, we will ensure that people with conditions like PoTS receive more timely and accessible support closer to home.

What steps he is taking to reduce average diagnosis times for people with postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome.

We recognise the negative impact that postural tachycardia syndrome (PoTS) has on patients, and the cost to health and care services and the wider economy through, for example, loss of work and an increased benefits bill.Improving health outcomes for everyone living with a long-term condition, including PoTS, is a key part of the Government's mission to build a National Health Service fit for the future.We are investing in additional capacity to deliver appointments to help bring waiting lists and times down. The Elective Reform Plan, published in January 2025, sets out the specific productivity and reform efforts needed to return to the constitutional standard, that 92% of patients to wait no longer than 18 weeks from referral to treatment by March 2029.Additionally, the shifts outlined in our 10-Year Health Plan will free up hospital-based consultants’ time by shifting care from hospitals to communities, utilising digital technology to reduce administrative burdens, and promoting prevention to reduce the onset and severity of conditions that lead to hospital admissions. This includes expanding community-based services, employing artificial intelligence for productivity, developing integrated neighbourhood health teams, and investing in digital tools and data. These shifts will allow specialists to focus on more complex cases of PoTS, enabling earlier identification and management, and improved patient outcomes.By shifting care into the community through Neighbourhood Health Services, promoting integrated, multidisciplinary models of care, and through the expansion of personalised care plans, as outlined in the 10-Year Health Plan, we will ensure that people with conditions like PoTS receive more timely and accessible support closer to home.

Whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of the (a) time taken to diagnose and (b) management of postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome on (i) the economy and (ii) workforce participation.

We recognise the negative impact that postural tachycardia syndrome (PoTS) has on patients, and the cost to health and care services and the wider economy through, for example, loss of work and an increased benefits bill.Improving health outcomes for everyone living with a long-term condition, including PoTS, is a key part of the Government's mission to build a National Health Service fit for the future.We are investing in additional capacity to deliver appointments to help bring waiting lists and times down. The Elective Reform Plan, published in January 2025, sets out the specific productivity and reform efforts needed to return to the constitutional standard, that 92% of patients to wait no longer than 18 weeks from referral to treatment by March 2029.Additionally, the shifts outlined in our 10-Year Health Plan will free up hospital-based consultants’ time by shifting care from hospitals to communities, utilising digital technology to reduce administrative burdens, and promoting prevention to reduce the onset and severity of conditions that lead to hospital admissions. This includes expanding community-based services, employing artificial intelligence for productivity, developing integrated neighbourhood health teams, and investing in digital tools and data. These shifts will allow specialists to focus on more complex cases of PoTS, enabling earlier identification and management, and improved patient outcomes.By shifting care into the community through Neighbourhood Health Services, promoting integrated, multidisciplinary models of care, and through the expansion of personalised care plans, as outlined in the 10-Year Health Plan, we will ensure that people with conditions like PoTS receive more timely and accessible support closer to home.

What steps his Department is taking to ensure that healthcare professionals receive appropriate training on (a) identifying and (b) managing postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome effectively.

The Department does not hold data on the number of people diagnosed with postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (PoTS) in England in 2020 and 2025. There are no relevant codes in the Hospital Episode Statistics database that identify PoTS.PoTS UK, however, estimates that 0.2% of the United Kingdom population has PoTS, which would equate to approximately 130,000 people.In our recently published 10-Year Health Plan, we announced that we will introduce a new Single Patient Record across the National Health Service. The Single Patient Record will bring together a patient’s medical records all into one place. It will mean that no matter where a patient is accessing care, in the community or in a hospital, the care provider will have a comprehensive understanding of their medical history, including for many patients with PoTS.To improve awareness of PoTS amongst healthcare professionals, and specifically general practitioners (GPs), the Royal College of General Practitioners provides training on PoTS as part of its Syncope toolkit, which is available at the following link:https://elearning.rcgp.org.uk/course/view.php?id=500The Syncope toolkit includes an e-learning module, a podcast, and a webinar, and provides GPs with information about the diagnosis and management of PoTS. The webinar gives GPs the opportunity to hear the lived experience perspective of a patient representative from PoTS UK.The National Institute for Care Excellence has also published a clinical knowledge summary on the clinical management of blackouts and syncope, that provides advice for clinicians in the United Kingdom on best practice in the assessment and diagnosis of PoTS. This was last updated in November 2023, and is available at the following link:https://cks.nice.org.uk/topics/blackouts-syncope/diagnosis/assessment/It is the responsibility of local integrated care boards to work with clinicians, service users, and patient groups to develop services and care pathways that are convenient and meet the needs of patients with PoTS.

What data his Department holds on the number of people diagnosed with postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome in England in (a) 2020 and (b) 2025.

The Department does not hold data on the number of people diagnosed with postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (PoTS) in England in 2020 and 2025. There are no relevant codes in the Hospital Episode Statistics database that identify PoTS.PoTS UK, however, estimates that 0.2% of the United Kingdom population has PoTS, which would equate to approximately 130,000 people.In our recently published 10-Year Health Plan, we announced that we will introduce a new Single Patient Record across the National Health Service. The Single Patient Record will bring together a patient’s medical records all into one place. It will mean that no matter where a patient is accessing care, in the community or in a hospital, the care provider will have a comprehensive understanding of their medical history, including for many patients with PoTS.To improve awareness of PoTS amongst healthcare professionals, and specifically general practitioners (GPs), the Royal College of General Practitioners provides training on PoTS as part of its Syncope toolkit, which is available at the following link:https://elearning.rcgp.org.uk/course/view.php?id=500The Syncope toolkit includes an e-learning module, a podcast, and a webinar, and provides GPs with information about the diagnosis and management of PoTS. The webinar gives GPs the opportunity to hear the lived experience perspective of a patient representative from PoTS UK.The National Institute for Care Excellence has also published a clinical knowledge summary on the clinical management of blackouts and syncope, that provides advice for clinicians in the United Kingdom on best practice in the assessment and diagnosis of PoTS. This was last updated in November 2023, and is available at the following link:https://cks.nice.org.uk/topics/blackouts-syncope/diagnosis/assessment/It is the responsibility of local integrated care boards to work with clinicians, service users, and patient groups to develop services and care pathways that are convenient and meet the needs of patients with PoTS.

What criteria his Department has used to identify which areas are in greatest need of increased numbers of NHS dental professionals; and how many of those areas are in the (a) Borough of Stockton-on-Tees, (b) Tees Valley Mayoral Authority Area and (c) North East.

The responsibility for commissioning primary care dentistry to meet the needs of the local population is delegated to the integrated care boards (ICBs) across England. Dental practices in specific areas, determined locally as experiencing significant dental pressures due to workforce challenges impacting patient access, were invited by their ICBs to express interest in participating in the scheme and were notified of the outcome of their application via their ICB.ICBs have started to recruit posts through the Golden Hello scheme. This recruitment incentive will see dentists receiving payments of £20,000 to work in those areas that need them most for three years.As of 22 September 2025, in England there were 97 dentists in post with a further eight dentists who have been recruited but are yet to start in post under this scheme. A further 224 posts are currently being advertised.NHS England has published findings from its dental workforce survey, including national and regional vacancy rates. The most recent publication reports the position as of the end of December 2024. This is available at the following link:https://www.england.nhs.uk/statistics/statistical-work-areas/dental-workforce/

What proportion of NHS dentist posts are unfilled in the (a) Borough of Stockton-on-Tees and (b) North East.

The latest available National Health Service workforce statistics reflect the situation as of December 2024. According to this data, there were 623 Full Time Equivalent NHS dentists within the NHS North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board area. The NHS vacancy rate was 19%.

How many full time equivalent NHS dentists were working in (a) the Borough of Stockton-on-Tees and (b) the North East on 10 October 2025.

The latest available National Health Service workforce statistics reflect the situation as of December 2024. According to this data, there were 623 Full Time Equivalent NHS dentists within the NHS North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board area. The NHS vacancy rate was 19%.

What estimate his Department has made of the number of patients in (a) Stockton West constituency and (b) the Borough of Stockton-on-Tees who are unable to access NHS dentistry services.

Dental Statistics - England 2024-25, published by NHS Business Services Authority on 28 August 2025, is available at the following link:https://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/statistical-collections/dental-england/dental-statistics-england-202425The data for North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board (ICB), which includes Stockton West and Stockton-on-Tees, shows that 44% of adults were seen by a National Health Service dentist in the previous 24 months up to June 2025, compared to 40% in England; and that 60% of children were seen by an NHS dentist in the previous 12 months up to June 2025, compared to 58% in England.Additionally, GP Patient Survey results data for the dentistry specific questions, published 24 July 2025, is available at the following link:https://www.england.nhs.uk/statistics/gp-patient-survey-dental-statistics-january-to-march-2025-england/This data shows that 24% of respondents who had tried to make an NHS dentist appointment in the last two years in North East and North Cumbria ICB did not get an appointment, compared to 21% for the whole of England.

Whether NHS England plans to commission dedicated multidisciplinary clinics for patients with Ehlers Danlos Syndrome.

NHS England commissions a national diagnostic service for complex and rare types of Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS) via two specialist centres. This service supports patients with a suspected or confirmed diagnoses of rare types like classical, vascular, or kyphoscoliotic EDS, and aims to provide accurate diagnoses, minimise unnecessary tests, and provide management plans for local care providers to implement.A primary goal of the Complex EDS Service, which is commissioned by NHS England, is to educate referring doctors about the diagnosis, investigation, and management of patients with complex and atypical forms of EDS. While the service focuses on rare types and accepts referrals from secondary and tertiary care, its development of guidelines and educational initiatives also benefits general practitioners (GPs), who are on the front line of patient care. Additionally, other resources like the EDS GP Toolkit, developed by the Royal College of General Practitioners and Ehlers-Danlos Support UK, is specifically designed to provide information and guidance to GPs.For the more common types of EDS, diagnosis and management are handled locally and are commissioned by integrated care boards (ICBs), which have a statutory responsibility to commission services which meet the needs of their local populations, including for those with EDS. It is the responsibility of ICBs, working with clinicians, service users, and patient groups, to develop services and care pathways that meet patients’ needs.Neighbourhood Health Centres, as outlined in the 10-Year Health Plan, will improve care for people with EDS by providing integrated, multidisciplinary community-based care and support. This approach will offer a more coordinated and holistic support system for people with complex conditions like EDS.

What steps his Department is taking to ensure that (a) general practitioners and (b) hospital doctors receive training on (i) Ehlers Danlos Syndrome and (ii) other rare conditions.

NHS England commissions a national diagnostic service for complex and rare types of Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS) via two specialist centres. This service supports patients with a suspected or confirmed diagnoses of rare types like classical, vascular, or kyphoscoliotic EDS, and aims to provide accurate diagnoses, minimise unnecessary tests, and provide management plans for local care providers to implement.A primary goal of the Complex EDS Service, which is commissioned by NHS England, is to educate referring doctors about the diagnosis, investigation, and management of patients with complex and atypical forms of EDS. While the service focuses on rare types and accepts referrals from secondary and tertiary care, its development of guidelines and educational initiatives also benefits general practitioners (GPs), who are on the front line of patient care. Additionally, other resources like the EDS GP Toolkit, developed by the Royal College of General Practitioners and Ehlers-Danlos Support UK, is specifically designed to provide information and guidance to GPs.For the more common types of EDS, diagnosis and management are handled locally and are commissioned by integrated care boards (ICBs), which have a statutory responsibility to commission services which meet the needs of their local populations, including for those with EDS. It is the responsibility of ICBs, working with clinicians, service users, and patient groups, to develop services and care pathways that meet patients’ needs.Neighbourhood Health Centres, as outlined in the 10-Year Health Plan, will improve care for people with EDS by providing integrated, multidisciplinary community-based care and support. This approach will offer a more coordinated and holistic support system for people with complex conditions like EDS.