Written questions by Martin.

If he will make an assessment of the potential (a) merits of including Tunbridge Wells in the High Cost Area Allowance and (b) impact of these proposals on staff (i) recruitment and (ii) retention for the NHS Trust.

It is part of the Pay Review Bodies’ remit to look at and, if necessary, make recommendations on the future geographic coverage of high-cost area supplements, and on the value of such supplements. As these provisions are reflected in staff terms and conditions of service, any recommended changes would need to be collectively agreed between employers and trade unions.Alternatively, National Health Service employers or staff organisations in a specified geographic area can propose an increase in the level of high-cost area supplement, or can request the introduction of a supplement where no supplement exists. There must be evidence to support its introduction, and this would be down to local determination.

Whether there are compensation schemes available for people made ill by defective hip replacements supplied by DePuy.

NHS Resolution (NHSR) manages clinical negligence and other claims against the National Health Service in England. NHSR has confirmed that there is no specific NHS compensation scheme for claims relating to defective hip replacements supplied by DePuy.While there is no specific compensation scheme for claims relating to defective hip replacements supplied by DePuy, NHSR’s website gives some general advice for claimants wishing to make a claim for clinical negligence, with further information available at the following link:https://resolution.nhs.uk/services/claims-management/advice-for-claimants/Anyone who is aware of complications or adverse events associated with hip replacement devices is encouraged to seek clinical advice from their responsible clinician and report the issue via the Yellow Card Scheme, which is available at the following link:https://yellowcard.mhra.gov.uk/

If he will make an assessment of the potential merits of expanding the criteria for removing varicose veins to include the level of pain experienced.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence’s guidance identifies several treatment options for those with symptoms or complications associated with varicose veins, including surgery to remove the veins.Pain that is more severe can often be associated with other conditions. A decision on which treatment is most appropriate will be led by a clinician on a case- by-case basis, based on the evidence, level of associated risk, as well as the pain and symptoms the patient presents with.

What grants are available for (a) district and (b) borough councils to support mental health initiatives.

There are no grants available specifically to support mental health initiatives at this time; however, local authorities may decide to fund such initiatives from their Public Health Grant allocations.

What recent progress he has made with NHS England on rolling out the Fracture Liaison Service.

Fracture Liaison Services (FLS) are a globally recognised care model, and can reduce the risk of refracture for people at risk of osteoporosis by up to 40%.The Government and NHS England support the clinical case for services which help to prevent fragility fractures, and support the patients who sustain them. The Government is committed to ending the postcode lottery for access to FLS.FLS are commissioned by integrated care boards, which make decisions according to local need. Officials are continuing to work closely with NHS England to consider how best to support systems to ensure better quality and access to these important preventative services.

What the uptake is of (a) Covid-19 and (b) flu vaccinations in Tunbridge Wells constituency .

The information is not held in the format requested. Monthly data includes the numbers of those vaccinated, but the data is not extrapolated and is based on the response rate of those organisations responding to the monthly survey. NHS England and local authority data is not held for the Tunbridge Wells constituency.National level COVID-19 and flu vaccine uptake percentages for eligible general practice (GP) patients are published weekly by the UK Health Security Agency for the 2024 to 2025 season. This includes a descriptive analysis comparing weekly uptake percentages to the same week in the previous season. The seasonal uptake reports for 2024 to 2025 are available at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/national-flu-and-covid-19-surveillance-reports-2024-to-2025-seasonFlu vaccine uptake data for GP patients, school-aged children, and frontline healthcare workers is published monthly. Healthcare worker data also includes COVID-19 vaccine uptake data. The data for the 2024 to 2025 season is available at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/vaccine-uptake#seasonal-flu-vaccine-uptake:-figuresRegional level COVID-19 data for the Autumn 2024 campaign is published by the Office of National Statistics in the National flu and COVID-19 surveillance reports for the 2024 to 2025 season, which are available at the following link:https://geoportal.statistics.gov.uk/datasets/dfae04aa7f624cdd89af6903c76c0056/explore

Whether he will make an assessment of the potential merits of extending the powers of Coroners to include the investigation of stillbirths.

The Department of Health and Social Care and the Ministry of Justice jointly consulted on proposals to provide coroners with new powers to investigate term stillbirths in 2019. In 2023, a factual summary of responses to the consultation was published. The Government will provide an update on next steps at the earliest opportunity.

What the average waiting time was for an autism diagnosis in Kent in (a) 2025 and (b) 2020; and what steps his Department is taking to reduce waiting times for receiving an autism diagnosis.

The information is not held centrally in the format requested, but may be held by individual providers or integrated care boards (ICBs). Some relevant information is available on autism assessment waiting times for the NHS Kent and Medway ICB.In the NHS Kent and Medway ICB, the Autism Waiting Time Statistics published by NHS England show that there were a total of 8,695 patients with an open suspected autism referral in September 2024, the latest available data, and a total of 3,015 patients with an open suspected autism referral in September 2020. The median waiting time of all patients in this ICB with an open suspected autism referral, where their first care contact was in the quarter, was 483 days in September 2024, and 139 days in September 2020.Data on children and young people in this dataset is expected to be an underestimate and caution should be used when interpreting these statistics since they are experimental rather than official statistics.It is the responsibility of ICBs to make available appropriate provision to meet the health and care needs of their local population, including autism assessments and diagnosis, in line with relevant National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidelines.

If he will make an assessment of the potential merits of issuing guidance to hospitals on using withheld numbers to contact patients about appointments.

National Health Services may sometimes choose to use withheld numbers when contacting patients, including to protect patient privacy and confidentiality, but we appreciate the frustration that patients can feel when they are unable to contact clinical staff, especially following a call from a withheld number, and recognise the importance of patients being able to establish channels of two-way communication.The Elective Reform Plan, launched as part of the Government’s Plan for Change, sets out the reform and productivity efforts needed to ensure patients are seen on time, but also to improve their experience of care, which includes enhancing and improving two-way communication between patients and NHS services, whether through digital options such as an enhanced NHS App or non-digital routes.

If he will make an assessment of the potential merits of ensuring that private ambulance service personnel on NHS contracts receive (a) recognition and (b) honours.

Under the honours system of the United Kingdom, anyone can receive an award, and anyone can nominate someone if they demonstrate the exceptional contribution the person has made.Recognition for those working in the private sector is primarily a matter for their employers.

If he will take steps to ensure that NHS patients who consent to have their data shared with UK medical institutions for research and development will not have their data shared overseas.

Research studies in which patients choose to share their data must adhere to strict legal and ethical standards, including compliance with the United Kingdom’s General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and the common law duty of confidentiality. As part of this, participants must be fully informed about how their data will be used, including with whom it might be shared, so they can make an informed decision about their participation.The National Health Service and major UK research institutions are increasingly adopting secure data environments for data access, with researchers accessing data through secure online portals rather than it being directly shared with them. Each NHS and research organisation has its own processes when sharing data that ensure that they comply with legal requirements. Consent materials would explain the circumstances where data may be made available outside of the UK.NHS England, for example, enters into formal data sharing agreements where it is sharing information with researchers, which specifies the geographical area within which data processing is permitted. Where data processing occurs outside the UK, additional conditions must be fulfilled to ensure researchers put in place adequate organisational and technical controls, and comply with their legal responsibilities in relation to overseas transfers that are required under UK GDPR.NHS England undertakes routine audits of data sharing agreements to ensure that high standards are consistently maintained.

What steps his Department is taking to ensure that people with long covid are adequately supported.

I know firsthand how complex and debilitating long COVID can be.Since 2020, specialist long COVID services have been made available in England, and NHS England is now completing a stocktake of these services.This will provide an accurate national picture,...

If he will make an assessment of the potential merits of establishing a British supplier of Creon.

The Department has been working with suppliers to address current supply issues with Creon, which is a brand of pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy (PERT) used by patients with conditions such as cystic fibrosis and certain cancers, including pancreatic...

What assessment he has made of the impact of supply chain issues surrounding the importing of Creon into the United Kingdom on patients with pancreatic diseases; and what steps he is taking to incr

The Department has been working with suppliers to address the current supply issues with Creon, which is a brand of pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy (PERT) used by patients with conditions such as cystic fibrosis and certain cancers, including pancre...

If he will make an assessment of the potential merits of establishing a Medicines Shortages Task Force.

While there are no plans to establish a Medicines Shortages Task Force, there is a team within the Department that deals specifically with medicine supply problems. They work closely with the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, the pharma...

Pursuant to the Answer of 25 November 2024 to Question 15983 on General Practitioners: Kent, how much it cost to set up Bromleag Care Practice in 2019.

The Bromley Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) commenced the procurement process for an Enhanced Medical Support in Care Homes provider in May 2018.Following the completion of that process, on 10 January 2019, the Bromley CCG primary care committee gave a...

Pursuant to the Answer of 27 November 2024 to Question 15347 on Pectus Excavatum: Surgery, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact on the (a) mental and (b) physical health of childre

In April 2023, the National Health Service published an urgent policy statement for the clinical treatment of pectus excavatum and the eligibility criteria for surgical intervention.Any physical or psychological assessment of children who fall below the e...

How many private GP surgeries there are in (a) England, (b) Kent and (c) Tunbridge Wells constituency.

Data on the number of private general practice (GP) surgeries is not held centrally. The majority of GPs operate under the GP Contract, to provide National Health Service GP services. Private GP surgeries must be registered with the Care Quality Commissio...

How many private GP surgeries were set up in (a) England, (b) Kent and (c) Tunbridge Wells constituency in the last 12 months.

Data on the number of private general practice (GP) surgeries is not held centrally. The majority of GPs operate under the GP Contract, to provide National Health Service GP services. Private GP surgeries must be registered with the Care Quality Commissio...

What information his Department holds on the amount of funding received by the most recently-established independent NHS GP surgery in Kent.

Data regarding the amount of funding received by the most recently established independent National Health Service general practice (GP) surgery in Kent, the Tunbridge Wells constituency, and England, is as follows:the last GP surgery set up in Kent was t...