Written questions by Holden.

How many close relative marriage neonatal nurses there are in the NHS.

The Department does not hold the data requested.

How much funding was provided by NHS England to the Culturally Sensitive Genetic Literacy project in the current financial year.

NHS England does not recognise the title ‘Culturally Sensitive Genetic Literacy project’, we believe this was used in a job advert by an NHS trust involved in the Genetic Risk Equity project.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of changes to the eligibility criteria for the Winter Fuel Payment on (a) primary care, (b) hospitals and (c) Pharmacy First.

We know that patients are struggling to access their general practice (GP), especially throughout the winter period when demand is higher. We committed to restoring the front door of the National Health Service by shifting the focus of the NHS out of hosp...

How many cases of (a) HIV and (b) AIDS have been diagnosed due to mandatory opt-out testing in hospitals.

The bloodborne viruses (BBVs) opt-out testing in emergency departments programme has identified 391 people with new HIV diagnoses between April 2022 and December 2023. In addition, 314 people were identified with HIV who had been previously diagnosed. Dat...

Whether he has statutory powers to prevent the (a) merger and (b) closure of GP services.

The Health and Care Act 2022 included new powers in the National Health Service Act 2006, giving my Rt. Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, increased oversight of, and the option for earlier involvement in reconfiguration of se...

What steps he is taking to ensure the adequate supply of needles for (a) diabetic and (b) other healthcare provision.

NHS Supply Chain sources, delivers, and supplies healthcare products for National Health Service trusts and healthcare organisations across England and Wales, and also has robust measures in place to ensure the continuity of supply of medical products, in...

Whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of making (a) rozanolixizumab, (b) zilucoplan and (c) efgartigimod available to NHS patients with myasthenia gravis (MG); and w

The Department has made no such assessment. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) makes evidence-based recommendations for the National Health Service on whether new medicines should be routinely funded by the NHS, based on an asses...

How many and what proportion of radiotherapy machines are beyond their recommended working life in each (a) integrated care board and (b) hospital.

The Department does not hold data on how many and what proportion of radiotherapy machines are beyond their recommended working life in each integrated care board and hospital. From April 2022, the responsibility for investing in new radiotherapy machines...

What steps he is taking to help improve waiting times for radiotherapy treatment.

The Department does not hold data on how many and what proportion of radiotherapy machines are beyond their recommended working life in each integrated care board and hospital. From April 2022, the responsibility for investing in new radiotherapy machines...

Whether pay rises for (a) doctors and (b) other NHS staff will be met from existing NHS budgets.

My Rt Hon. Friend, the Chancellor of the Exchequer’s statement on 29 July 2024 sets out the position across the Government, which includes departments making savings to pay towards the outcomes of the pay review bodies. The process for agreeing savings is...

If he will make an assessment of the potential merits of introducing mandatory labelling for genetically modified food.

Existing labelling rules for genetically modified organisms (GMO) stipulate that foods sold in the United Kingdom that contain GMO ingredients must be labelled. This labelling gives consumers the choice on whether to consume such foods containing, or consisting of, GMO ingredients, and the choice to avoid such foods, should they wish to do so. In the case of food sold loose, or where food has been cooked in GMO products, for instance cooking oil, this information must appear on a notice, menu, ticket, or label which can be easily read by customers.Information about any characteristic or property which renders a food consisting of or containing genetic modifications different from its conventional counterpart, such as its composition, nutritional value, the intended use of the food or feed, or any health implications for certain sections of the population, must also be included.

Pursuant to the Answer of 31 July 2024 to Question 1576 on Mental Health Services: Finance, what the total planned expenditure for mental health services was in (a) cash and (b) real terms in each year since 2015-16.

The following table shows the planned and real expenditure for National Health Service mental health services, including learning disabilities and dementia, each year since 2016/17, as the information for 2015/16 is not available:YearPlanned expenditure in cash termsPlanned expenditure in real terms2016/17£9,490,700,000£11,983,200,0002017/18£11,860,000,000£14,743,300,0002018/19£12,154,900,000£14,797,600,0002019/20£13,055,400,000£15,527,500,0002020/21£14,024,300,000£15,817,800,0002021/22£15,007,700,000£17,066,900,0002022/23£15,555,100,000£16,572,400,0002023/24£16,814,400,000£16,814,400,00Source: the NHS mental health dashboard, published by NHS England, and available at the following link: https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/nhs-mental-health-dashboard/.Note: the planned expenditure in real terms is at 2023/24 monetary value.

What the NHS budget was in (a) cash terms and (b) adjusted for inflation in the (i) 2009-10 and (ii) 2023-24 financial year.

NHS England, which is usually taken as the basis of the National Health Service budget, was established in 2013/14, and so equivalent figures for earlier years are not available. For comparisons before 2013/14, the Government usually uses the Department’s overall budget, of which the NHS budget forms the vast majority. The overall budget, including the NHS and other components, was £183.6 billion in 2023/24. In 2009/10 it was £100.2 billion which, adjusting for inflation using gross domestic product deflators published on 28 June 2024, would be the equivalent of £141.5 billion in 2023/24.

How many (a) nurses and (b) doctors were employed by the NHS in (i) May 2010 and (ii) the most recent month for which data is available.

The following table shows the number of full-time equivalent nurses, including health visitors, and doctors employed by National Health Service trusts and other core organisations in England, as of May 2010 and May 2024: May 2010May 2024Nurses280,950356,581Doctors94,742140,968Source: NHS Hospital and Community Health Services workforce statistics for England, published by NHS England on a monthly basis.The data includes staff employed by NHS trusts and other core NHS organisations. It excludes staff directly employed by general practitioner surgeries, local authorities, and other providers such as community interest companies and private providers. More detailed data can be found at the following link:https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/publications/statistical/nhs-workforce-statistics

How much funding the NHS allocated to mental health services in (a) cash terms and (b) adjusted for inflation in the (i) 2009-10 and (ii) 2023-24 financial year.

The information requested is not available for 2009/10, as National Health Service expenditure on mental health services was not separately identified prior to 2015/16. The total planned spend on mental health for 2023/24, including learning disabilities and dementia, was £16,814,000,000. The final figures for 2023/24 are not yet available, and will be published through the NHS mental health dashboard, which is available at the following link:https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/nhs-mental-health-dashboard/

What assessment he has made of the impact of banning (a) virginity testing and (b) hymenoplasty on women.

No specific assessment has been made. The legislation to ban virginity testing and hymenoplasty was introduced through the Health and Social Act 2022. In April 2024 the department published the virginity testing and hymenoplasty multi-agency guidance which provides advice to anyone who may come in to contact with women and girls affected by virginity testing and hymenoplasty. The guidance is available at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/virginity-testing-and-hymenoplasty-multi-agency-guidance/virginity-testing-and-hymenoplasty-multi-agency-guidance

What his timeline is for reviewing (a) the hospital building programme, (b) the new diagnostics centres programme, (c) primary care programmes and (d) other capital projects.

All capital spending activity is kept under regular review to ensure that it continues to meet the needs of patients and delivers value for money.This Government recognises that strategic, value for money investments in capital projects are critical to providing good quality care. In line with this Government’s plans to deliver a National Health Service fit for the future and as part of our internal Spending Review preparations, the Department is reviewing capital requirements, including through NHS England’s assessment of long-term NHS estate needs across a range of areas. Timescales associated with the Spending Review are yet to be confirmed.The Secretary of State has asked for an urgent report on the degree to which the New Hospital Programme is funded and a realistic timetable for delivery.