Written questions by Hamilton.

What steps his Department is taking to help tackle barriers to (a) teenagers and (b) young adults accessing clinical trials; and if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of this on UK life sciences.

To maximise our potential to be a world leader and develop a more competitive, efficient and accessible clinical research system, the Department is committed to implementing recommendations from the Lord O'Shaughnessy independent review of commercial clinical trials in full.The Department is committed to ensuring clinical trials are people-centred and more accessible, including for teenagers and young adults. For example, the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), funded by the Department, provides an online service called 'Be Part of Research' which promotes participation in health and care research by allowing users to search for relevant studies and register their interest. Young adults aged 18 or over, can consent to be matched to and contacted about relevant studies.The Department through the NIHR also funds research infrastructure provides research expertise, specialist facilities, a research delivery workforce and support services, necessary for the delivery of research nationally, including studies involving teenagers and young adults.There is currently no assessment planned on the impact of barriers to teenagers and young adults accessing clinical trials on life sciences in the United Kingdom.

What plans his Department has to ensure that teenagers and young adults with cancer have consistent access to specialist psychological support; and how such plans will be implemented as part of the NHS Long-Term Plan.

We will get the National Health Service diagnosing cancer earlier, and treating it faster, so that more patients survive. This includes teenagers and young adults. We are committed to improving outcomes for all children and young people with cancer, and are considering the next steps to take forward work in this area through the relaunch of Children and Young People Cancer Taskforce in 2025.To raise awareness of cancer symptoms in teenagers and young adults, NHS England and other NHS organisations, both nationally and locally, publish information on the signs and symptoms of many different types of cancer, including those that are most common in children. Further information on cancer signs and symptoms is available on the NHS.UK website.To support early diagnosis, the Department is taking steps to improve waiting times for cancer diagnosis across all cancer patient groups in England. This includes offering an additional 40,000 appointments each week so that patients can be seen as quickly as possible. To support the use of rapid diagnostic centres, non-specific symptom (NSS) pathways have been rolled out across England for patients who present with vague symptoms which could indicate multiple different types of cancer, for example unexplained weight-loss and fatigue. NHS England’s guidance on NSS services does not set a national age range for NSS pathways, and pathways aimed at children or young adults can be developed if considered locally appropriate.The Department is also dedicated to ensuring teenagers and young adults with cancer have access to psychological support to help them through their diagnosis and treatment. In accordance with NHS England’s service specifications, all providers of young people's cancer services must ensure that every patient has access to specialist care and must reduce the physical, emotional, and psychological morbidity arising from treatment. Each Principal Treatment Centre, where care is managed, will also have a multi-disciplinary team which meets at least weekly, and includes a specific focus on the psychosocial needs of patients. Further information on NHS England’s service specification is available at the following link:https://www.england.nhs.uk/commissioning/spec-services/npc-crg/group-b/b05/On 21 October 2024, the Department launched a national engagement exercise to inform the 10-Year Health Plan. Following publication of the 10-Year Health Plan, there will be a national cancer plan. We are now in discussions about what form it should take, including how we will account for children and young people, and will provide updates in due course.

What steps his Department is taking to ensure that the unique (a) medical, (b) psychological and (c) social needs of (i) teenagers and (ii) young adults with cancer are included within the NHS Long-Term Plan.

We will get the National Health Service diagnosing cancer earlier, and treating it faster, so that more patients survive. This includes teenagers and young adults. We are committed to improving outcomes for all children and young people with cancer, and are considering the next steps to take forward work in this area through the relaunch of Children and Young People Cancer Taskforce in 2025.To raise awareness of cancer symptoms in teenagers and young adults, NHS England and other NHS organisations, both nationally and locally, publish information on the signs and symptoms of many different types of cancer, including those that are most common in children. Further information on cancer signs and symptoms is available on the NHS.UK website.To support early diagnosis, the Department is taking steps to improve waiting times for cancer diagnosis across all cancer patient groups in England. This includes offering an additional 40,000 appointments each week so that patients can be seen as quickly as possible. To support the use of rapid diagnostic centres, non-specific symptom (NSS) pathways have been rolled out across England for patients who present with vague symptoms which could indicate multiple different types of cancer, for example unexplained weight-loss and fatigue. NHS England’s guidance on NSS services does not set a national age range for NSS pathways, and pathways aimed at children or young adults can be developed if considered locally appropriate.The Department is also dedicated to ensuring teenagers and young adults with cancer have access to psychological support to help them through their diagnosis and treatment. In accordance with NHS England’s service specifications, all providers of young people's cancer services must ensure that every patient has access to specialist care and must reduce the physical, emotional, and psychological morbidity arising from treatment. Each Principal Treatment Centre, where care is managed, will also have a multi-disciplinary team which meets at least weekly, and includes a specific focus on the psychosocial needs of patients. Further information on NHS England’s service specification is available at the following link:https://www.england.nhs.uk/commissioning/spec-services/npc-crg/group-b/b05/On 21 October 2024, the Department launched a national engagement exercise to inform the 10-Year Health Plan. Following publication of the 10-Year Health Plan, there will be a national cancer plan. We are now in discussions about what form it should take, including how we will account for children and young people, and will provide updates in due course.

What steps his Department is taking to (a) increase the use of rapid diagnostic centres and (b) otherwise help improve early diagnosis rates for (i) teenagers and (ii) young adults with cancer.

We will get the National Health Service diagnosing cancer earlier, and treating it faster, so that more patients survive. This includes teenagers and young adults. We are committed to improving outcomes for all children and young people with cancer, and are considering the next steps to take forward work in this area through the relaunch of Children and Young People Cancer Taskforce in 2025.To raise awareness of cancer symptoms in teenagers and young adults, NHS England and other NHS organisations, both nationally and locally, publish information on the signs and symptoms of many different types of cancer, including those that are most common in children. Further information on cancer signs and symptoms is available on the NHS.UK website.To support early diagnosis, the Department is taking steps to improve waiting times for cancer diagnosis across all cancer patient groups in England. This includes offering an additional 40,000 appointments each week so that patients can be seen as quickly as possible. To support the use of rapid diagnostic centres, non-specific symptom (NSS) pathways have been rolled out across England for patients who present with vague symptoms which could indicate multiple different types of cancer, for example unexplained weight-loss and fatigue. NHS England’s guidance on NSS services does not set a national age range for NSS pathways, and pathways aimed at children or young adults can be developed if considered locally appropriate.The Department is also dedicated to ensuring teenagers and young adults with cancer have access to psychological support to help them through their diagnosis and treatment. In accordance with NHS England’s service specifications, all providers of young people's cancer services must ensure that every patient has access to specialist care and must reduce the physical, emotional, and psychological morbidity arising from treatment. Each Principal Treatment Centre, where care is managed, will also have a multi-disciplinary team which meets at least weekly, and includes a specific focus on the psychosocial needs of patients. Further information on NHS England’s service specification is available at the following link:https://www.england.nhs.uk/commissioning/spec-services/npc-crg/group-b/b05/On 21 October 2024, the Department launched a national engagement exercise to inform the 10-Year Health Plan. Following publication of the 10-Year Health Plan, there will be a national cancer plan. We are now in discussions about what form it should take, including how we will account for children and young people, and will provide updates in due course.

What steps his Department is taking to raise public awareness of cancer symptoms in teenagers and young adults to improve early detection rates.

We will get the National Health Service diagnosing cancer earlier, and treating it faster, so that more patients survive. This includes teenagers and young adults. We are committed to improving outcomes for all children and young people with cancer, and are considering the next steps to take forward work in this area through the relaunch of Children and Young People Cancer Taskforce in 2025.To raise awareness of cancer symptoms in teenagers and young adults, NHS England and other NHS organisations, both nationally and locally, publish information on the signs and symptoms of many different types of cancer, including those that are most common in children. Further information on cancer signs and symptoms is available on the NHS.UK website.To support early diagnosis, the Department is taking steps to improve waiting times for cancer diagnosis across all cancer patient groups in England. This includes offering an additional 40,000 appointments each week so that patients can be seen as quickly as possible. To support the use of rapid diagnostic centres, non-specific symptom (NSS) pathways have been rolled out across England for patients who present with vague symptoms which could indicate multiple different types of cancer, for example unexplained weight-loss and fatigue. NHS England’s guidance on NSS services does not set a national age range for NSS pathways, and pathways aimed at children or young adults can be developed if considered locally appropriate.The Department is also dedicated to ensuring teenagers and young adults with cancer have access to psychological support to help them through their diagnosis and treatment. In accordance with NHS England’s service specifications, all providers of young people's cancer services must ensure that every patient has access to specialist care and must reduce the physical, emotional, and psychological morbidity arising from treatment. Each Principal Treatment Centre, where care is managed, will also have a multi-disciplinary team which meets at least weekly, and includes a specific focus on the psychosocial needs of patients. Further information on NHS England’s service specification is available at the following link:https://www.england.nhs.uk/commissioning/spec-services/npc-crg/group-b/b05/On 21 October 2024, the Department launched a national engagement exercise to inform the 10-Year Health Plan. Following publication of the 10-Year Health Plan, there will be a national cancer plan. We are now in discussions about what form it should take, including how we will account for children and young people, and will provide updates in due course.

Whether he plans to provide additional interim healthcare services to people affected by the relocation of the North Birmingham Urgent Treatment Centre to Good Hope Hospital.

The reconfiguration of services is a matter for the local National Health Service. All service changes should be based on clear evidence that they will deliver better outcomes for patients. The NHS Birmingham and Solihull Integrated Care Board (ICB) condu...

Whether his Department plans to take steps to help mitigate the impact of increased travel requirements for patients following the relocation of the North Birmingham Urgent Treatment Centre to Good

The reconfiguration of services is a matter for the local National Health Service. All service changes should be based on clear evidence that they will deliver better outcomes for patients. The NHS Birmingham and Solihull Integrated Care Board (ICB) condu...

Whether his Department plans to to help establish alternative urgent care facilities in Birmingham Erdington constituency, in the context of the emergency relocation of the North Birmingham Urgent

The reconfiguration of services is a matter for the local National Health Service. All service changes should be based on clear evidence that they will deliver better outcomes for patients. The NHS Birmingham and Solihull Integrated Care Board (ICB) condu...

Whether the relocation of the North Birmingham Urgent Treatment Centre to Sutton Coldfield is intended to be permanent; and what steps his Department plans to take to ensure equitable healthcare ac

The reconfiguration of services is a matter for the local National Health Service. All service changes should be based on clear evidence that they will deliver better outcomes for patients. The NHS Birmingham and Solihull Integrated Care Board (ICB) condu...

Whether any consultation took place between the Birmingham and Solihull Integrated Care System and (a) local stakeholders, (b) elected officials, (c) the police and (d) community organisations prio

The reconfiguration of services is a matter for the local National Health Service. All service changes should be based on clear evidence that they will deliver better outcomes for patients. The NHS Birmingham and Solihull Integrated Care Board (ICB) condu...

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of the emergency relocation of the North Birmingham Urgent Treatment Centre to Good Hope Hospital on patient access to urgent treatment services

The reconfiguration of services is a matter for the local National Health Service. All service changes should be based on clear evidence that they will deliver better outcomes for patients. The NHS Birmingham and Solihull Integrated Care Board (ICB) condu...

What steps his Department is taking to support (a) Birmingham Erdington constituency and (b) other areas covered by the Birmingham and Solihull Integrated Care Board to address the barriers to resp

In addition to the development of community diagnostic provision, on Monday 4 November the Birmingham Solihull Integrated Care Board (ICB) launched a system-wide campaign to encourage people to ‘breathe easy’ by getting their vaccines. Focusing primarily ...

What steps his Department is taking to tackle rates of respiratory-related hospital admissions in Birmingham.

System partners are working collaboratively to improve pathways between health care professionals, and to remove barriers in referrals to community-based services and hospital acute setting clinics. This will support admission avoidance, and ensure that p...

What steps he is taking to ensure spirometry testing is (a) funded and (b) available in areas covered by the Birmingham and Solihull Integrated Care Board.

Spirometry testing is provided at the Washwood Heath Community Diagnostic Centre (CDC), along with other respiratory diagnostic tests such as fractional exhaled nitric oxide and lung function tests. The same tests will also be available at the North Solih...

What steps his Department is taking to increase the capacity of secondary care to support primary care with essential respiratory diagnostics.

Following a significant drop in the volume of spirometry during the pandemic, NHS England has already worked with a range of partners, including Asthma and Lung UK, the British Thoracic Society, the Association of Respiratory Technology and Physiology, an...

What steps he plans to take to ensure that Community Diagnostic Centres are accessible to everyone in (a) Birmingham Erdington constiituency and (b) England.

The Community Diagnostic Centre (CDC) programme now delivers activity on 168 sites across the country, and data published in August 2024 showed CDCs have delivered over 10.4 million diagnostic tests since July 2021.The National Health Service has endeavou...

Whether his Department plans to (a) include spirometry and FeNO testing in the GP contract and (b) to provide dedicated funding through a Directed Enhanced Service.

Currently there are no plans to include spirometry and FeNO testing in the GP contract. In many areas, spirometry and FeNO testing services are delivered through Local Enhanced Services (LESs), which are funded separately to global sum payments.Integrated...

What steps his Department is taking to (a) tackle workforce shortages in respiratory care and (b) ensure (i) GPs and (ii) their teams have access to (A) training and (B) accreditation for (1) spiro

We have launched a 10-Year Health Plan to reform the National Health Service and make it fit for the future. Ensuring we have the right people, in the right places, with the right skills, including for respiratory care, will be central to this vision.The ...

What steps he is taking to help increase trade and business support to Moroccan-British entrepreneurs in local communities; and whether he has plans to help promote UK-Morocco small business exchange p

Total trade in goods and services (exports plus imports) between the UK and Morocco was £4 billion in the 12 months to June 2024, an increase of 11% or £378 million in current prices, from the previous 12 months. UK businesses can access DBT’s business su...

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps the Government is taking to help promote (a) cultural exchange and (b) community engagement initiatives between the UK and Moroccan diaspora communities.

The FCDO convenes events open to both British nationals residing in Morocco and Moroccan nationals. These include regular business networking events in Casablanca, events celebrating current, former, and future Chevening Scholars, and annual initiatives s...