Department of Health and Social Care

We support ministers in leading the nation’s health and social care to help people live more independent, healthier lives for longer.



Secretary of State

 Portrait

Wes Streeting
Secretary of State for Health and Social Care

Shadow Ministers / Spokeperson
Liberal Democrat
Helen Morgan (LD - North Shropshire)
Liberal Democrat Spokesperson (Health and Social Care)
Danny Chambers (LD - Winchester)
Liberal Democrat Spokesperson (Mental Health)
Lord Scriven (LD - Life peer)
Liberal Democrat Lords Spokesperson (Health)

Scottish National Party
Seamus Logan (SNP - Aberdeenshire North and Moray East)
Shadow SNP Spokesperson (Health and Social Care)

Green Party
Adrian Ramsay (Green - Waveney Valley)
Green Spokesperson (Health)

Conservative
Stuart Andrew (Con - Daventry)
Shadow Secretary of State for Health and Social Care
Junior Shadow Ministers / Deputy Spokesperson
Conservative
Lord Kamall (Con - Life peer)
Shadow Minister (Health and Social Care)
Caroline Johnson (Con - Sleaford and North Hykeham)
Shadow Minister (Health and Social Care)
Junior Shadow Ministers / Deputy Spokesperson
Conservative
Luke Evans (Con - Hinckley and Bosworth)
Shadow Parliamentary Under Secretary (Health and Social Care)
Ministers of State
Stephen Kinnock (Lab - Aberafan Maesteg)
Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
Karin Smyth (Lab - Bristol South)
Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
Parliamentary Under-Secretaries of State
Baroness Merron (Lab - Life peer)
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
Zubir Ahmed (Lab - Glasgow South West)
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
Sharon Hodgson (Lab - Washington and Gateshead South)
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
There are no upcoming events identified
Debates
Tuesday 28th April 2026
Health and Social Care
Written Corrections
Select Committee Docs
Wednesday 29th April 2026
12:00
FSA Main Estimate Memo 2026/27
Estimate Memoranda
Select Committee Inquiry
Friday 12th December 2025
Delivering the Neighbourhood Health Service: Estates

The Committee is holding an inquiry into what is needed from the NHS estate to deliver the Government’s vision of …

Written Answers
Wednesday 29th April 2026
World Health Organization: Finance
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential implications …
Secondary Legislation
Tuesday 21st April 2026
Nutrition (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) (Amendment) Regulations 2026
These Regulations permit the use of the mineral substance, magnesium L-threonate monohydrate, as a source of magnesium in the manufacture …
Bills
Tuesday 13th January 2026
Medical Training (Prioritisation) Act 2026
A Bill to Make provision about the prioritisation of graduates from medical schools in the United Kingdom and certain other …
Dept. Publications
Thursday 30th April 2026
16:30

Department of Health and Social Care Commons Appearances

Oral Answers to Questions is a regularly scheduled appearance where the Secretary of State and junior minister will answer at the Dispatch Box questions from backbench MPs

Other Commons Chamber appearances can be:
  • Urgent Questions where the Speaker has selected a question to which a Minister must reply that day
  • Adjornment Debates a 30 minute debate attended by a Minister that concludes the day in Parliament.
  • Oral Statements informing the Commons of a significant development, where backbench MP's can then question the Minister making the statement.

Westminster Hall debates are performed in response to backbench MPs or e-petitions asking for a Minister to address a detailed issue

Written Statements are made when a current event is not sufficiently significant to require an Oral Statement, but the House is required to be informed.

Most Recent Commons Appearances by Category
Apr. 14
Oral Questions
Dec. 17
Urgent Questions
Apr. 21
Written Statements
Apr. 22
Westminster Hall
Apr. 22
Adjournment Debate
View All Department of Health and Social Care Commons Contibutions

Bills currently before Parliament

Department of Health and Social Care does not have Bills currently before Parliament


Acts of Parliament created in the 2024 Parliament


A Bill to make provision about the supply of tobacco, vapes and other products, including provision prohibiting the sale of tobacco to people born on or after 1 January 2009 and provision about the licensing of retail sales and the registration of retailers; to enable product and information requirements to be imposed in connection with tobacco, vapes and other products; to control the advertising and promotion of tobacco, vapes and other products; and to make provision about smoke-free places, vape-free places and heated tobacco-free places.

This Bill received Royal Assent on 29th April 2026 and was enacted into law.


A Bill to Make provision about the prioritisation of graduates from medical schools in the United Kingdom and certain other persons for places on medical training programmes.

This Bill received Royal Assent on 5th March 2026 and was enacted into law.


A Bill to make provision to amend the Mental Health Act 1983 in relation to mentally disordered persons; and for connected purposes.

This Bill received Royal Assent on 18th December 2025 and was enacted into law.

Department of Health and Social Care - Secondary Legislation

These Regulations set the purity criteria for the mineral substance magnesium L-threonate monohydrate, as a source of magnesium, as set out in the Schedule to these Regulations (regulation 2).
These Regulations permit the use of the mineral substance, magnesium L-threonate monohydrate, as a source of magnesium in the manufacture of food supplements. They achieve this by amending Schedule 2 to the Nutrition (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/651) to include a new entry for this mineral substance (regulation 2).
View All Department of Health and Social Care Secondary Legislation

Petitions

e-Petitions are administered by Parliament and allow members of the public to express support for a particular issue.

If an e-petition reaches 10,000 signatures the Government will issue a written response.

If an e-petition reaches 100,000 signatures the petition becomes eligible for a Parliamentary debate (usually Monday 4.30pm in Westminster Hall).

Trending Petitions
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108,481 Signatures
(107,968 in the last 7 days)
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2,531 Signatures
(1,724 in the last 7 days)
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4,273 Signatures
(1,462 in the last 7 days)
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3,758 Signatures
(1,365 in the last 7 days)
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2,522 Signatures
(1,348 in the last 7 days)
Petitions with most signatures
Petition Debates Contributed
154,523
c. 789 added daily
154,796
(Estimated)
25 May 2026
closes in 3 weeks, 2 days

Change the law to remove the power of the Secretary of State to cancel any further forthcoming local government, metropolitan borough, London borough or any other elections, for example, but not limited to, those due in May 2026.

A 2024 parliamentary birth trauma inquiry recommended a Maternity Commissioner be appointed alongside a National Maternity Strategy to ensure mums and their babies were safe and looked after with professionalism and compassion.

Fund mandatory offer of testing for Type 1 Diabetes in babies, toddlers, and young children as a routine part of medical assessments at the point of care.

View All Department of Health and Social Care Petitions

Departmental Select Committee

Health and Social Care Committee

Commons Select Committees are a formally established cross-party group of backbench MPs tasked with holding a Government department to account.

At any time there will be number of ongoing investigations into the work of the Department, or issues which fall within the oversight of the Department. Witnesses can be summoned from within the Government and outside to assist in these inquiries.

Select Committee findings are reported to the Commons, printed, and published on the Parliament website. The government then usually has 60 days to reply to the committee's recommendations.


11 Members of the Health and Social Care Committee
Layla Moran Portrait
Layla Moran (Liberal Democrat - Oxford West and Abingdon)
Health and Social Care Committee Member since 9th September 2024
Gregory Stafford Portrait
Gregory Stafford (Conservative - Farnham and Bordon)
Health and Social Care Committee Member since 21st October 2024
Joe Robertson Portrait
Joe Robertson (Conservative - Isle of Wight East)
Health and Social Care Committee Member since 21st October 2024
Paulette Hamilton Portrait
Paulette Hamilton (Labour - Birmingham Erdington)
Health and Social Care Committee Member since 21st October 2024
Josh Fenton-Glynn Portrait
Josh Fenton-Glynn (Labour - Calder Valley)
Health and Social Care Committee Member since 21st October 2024
Jen Craft Portrait
Jen Craft (Labour - Thurrock)
Health and Social Care Committee Member since 21st October 2024
Beccy Cooper Portrait
Beccy Cooper (Labour - Worthing West)
Health and Social Care Committee Member since 21st October 2024
Ben Coleman Portrait
Ben Coleman (Labour - Chelsea and Fulham)
Health and Social Care Committee Member since 21st October 2024
Danny Beales Portrait
Danny Beales (Labour - Uxbridge and South Ruislip)
Health and Social Care Committee Member since 21st October 2024
Andrew George Portrait
Andrew George (Liberal Democrat - St Ives)
Health and Social Care Committee Member since 28th October 2024
Alex McIntyre Portrait
Alex McIntyre (Labour - Gloucester)
Health and Social Care Committee Member since 17th March 2025
Health and Social Care Committee: Previous Inquiries
Department's White Paper on health and social care Pre-appointment hearing for the role of Chair of NICE Supporting those with dementia and their carers Social care: funding and workforce General Practice Data for Planning and Research Omicron variant update Long term funding of adult social care inquiry Delivering Core NHS and Care Services during the Pandemic and Beyond Maternity services inquiry Planning for winter pressure in A&E departments inquiry NHS England current issues evidence session Suicide prevention inquiry Professional Standards Authority one off evidence session Department of Health and NHS finances Brexit and health and social care inquiry Impact of the Spending Review on health and social care Impact of membership of the EU on health policy in the UK Long-term Sustainability of the NHS - Report of the House of Lords Committee inquiry Pre-Appointment hearing for Chair of National Health Service Improvement Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services inquiry Work of the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care Integrated care: organisations, partnerships and systems inquiry Brexit – medicines, medical devices and substances of human origin inquiry Work of NHS England and NHS Improvement inquiry Nursing workforce inquiry Children and young people's mental health - role of education inquiry Care Quality Commission accountability inquiry Childhood obesity: follow-up Sustainability and Transformation Plans inquiry Care Quality Commission's State of Care Report 2018-19 inquiry National Audit Office's Report on Investigation into pre-school vaccination inquiry Childhood obesity follow-up 2019 inquiry NHS Capital inquiry Dentistry Services inquiry Government’s review of NHS overseas visitor charging inquiry Harding Review of health and social care workforce inquiry Kark Report inquiry Drugs policy inquiry Drugs policy: medicinal cannabis inquiry Suicide prevention: follow-up inquiry Availability of Orkambi on the NHS inquiry Budget and NHS long-term plan inquiry Impact of the Brexit withdrawal agreement on health and social care inquiry Impact of a no deal Brexit on health and social care inquiry Patient safety and gross negligence manslaughter in healthcare inquiry Care Quality Commission inquiry First 1000 days of life inquiry Sexual health inquiry NHS funding inquiry Pre-Appointment hearing for Chair of NHS England NMC and Furness General Hospital inquiry NHS Long-term Plan: legislative proposals inquiry Childhood obesity inquiry Antimicrobial resistance inquiry Prison healthcare inquiry Alcohol minimum unit pricing inquiry Memorandum of understanding on data-sharing inquiry Implementation of the Health and Social Care Act 2012 Management of long-term conditions Pre-appointment hearing for Chair of the Food Standards Agency (FSA) Emergency services and emergency care Post-legislative scrutiny of the Mental Health Act 2007 Nursing Pre-appointment hearing for Chair of the Care Quality Commission National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) Public Expenditure Social Care Government's Alcohol Strategy Responsibilities of the Secretary of State for Health Commissioning Revalidation of Doctors Complaints and Litigation Follow-up inquiry into Commissioning Public Health Annual accountability hearing with the General Medical Council Annual accountability hearing with the Nursing and Midwifery Council Annual accountability hearing with the Care Quality Commission Annual accountability hearing with Monitor Report of the NHS Future Forum Public Expenditure 2 Pre-appointment hearing for Chair of the NHS Commissioning Board Education, training and workforce planning Professional responsibility of Healthcare practitioners PIP breast implants and regulation of cosmetic interventions Accountability hearing with Monitor (2012) Public expenditure on health and care services Pre-appointment hearing for Chair of NICE Report of the Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust Public Inquiry Care Quality Commission 2013 accountability hearing with the Nursing and Midwifery Council Pre-appointment hearing for the Chair of Monitor 2013 accountability hearing with the Care Quality Commission End of Life Care The impact of physical activity and diet on health 2015 accountability hearing with the General Medical Council 2015 accountability hearing with the Nursing and Midwifery Council One-off session on the Ebola virus 2014 accountability hearing with Monitor 2014 accountability hearing with the Care Quality Commission Public expenditure on health and social care 2015 accountability hearing with the General Dental Council Accident and emergency services Children's oral health Current issues in NHS England inquiry Primary care inquiry Work of the Secretary of State for Health inquiry Childhood obesity inquiry Public health post-2013 inquiry Pre-appointment hearing for Chair of the Care Quality Commission Establishment and work of NHS Improvement inquiry Children's and adolescent mental health and CAMHS Integrated Care Pioneers Complaints and raising concerns Handling of NHS patient data Urgent and Emergency Care Public expenditure on health and social care inquiry 2013 accountability hearing with Monitor Public Health England Health and Care Professions Council 2013 accountability hearing with the General Medical Council Work of NICE Work of NHS England Safety of maternity services in England Workforce burnout and resilience in the NHS and social care Work of the Department Digital transformation in the NHS Integrated Care Systems: autonomy and accountability IMDDS Review follow up one-off session Assisted dying/assisted suicide NHS dentistry Ambulance delays and strikes The situation in accident and emergency departments Prevention in health and social care Future cancer Pharmacy Men's health Management of the Coronavirus Outbreak Preparations for Coronavirus NHS leadership, performance and patient safety Adult Social Care Reform: The Cost of Inaction The 10 Year Health Plan Community Mental Health Services The First 1000 Days: a renewed focus Healthy Ageing: physical activity in an ageing society Food and Weight Management Coronavirus: recent developments Delivering the Neighbourhood Health Service: Estates Availability of Orkambi on the NHS Childhood obesity follow-up 2019 Dentistry Services Drugs policy Drugs policy: medicinal cannabis First 1000 days of life Budget and NHS long-term plan Care Quality Commission's State of Care Report 2018-19 Harding Review of health and social care workforce National Audit Office's Report on Investigation into pre-school vaccination NHS Capital NHS Long-term Plan: legislative proposals Government’s review of NHS overseas visitor charging Sexual health Calls for cases of GP visa issues Long term funding of adult social care Memorandum of understanding on data-sharing Work of NHS England and NHS Improvement Work of the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care

50 most recent Written Questions

(View all written questions)
Written Questions can be tabled by MPs and Lords to request specific information information on the work, policy and activities of a Government Department

25th Mar 2026
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Merron on 12 March (HL13897), what are the health disparities of Gypsy, Traveller and Roma ethnic groups in the areas in that Answer, in particular (1) maternal mortality outcomes, (2) mental health provision, (3) cancer outcomes, and (4) cardiovascular disease; and what action they are taking to reduce those disparities.

It is a priority for the Government to increase the amount of time people spend in good health and prevent premature deaths. Our 10-Year Health Plan for England sets out a reimagined service designed to tackle inequalities in both access and outcomes, including our ambitious commitment to halve the healthy life expectancy gap between the richest and poorest regions.

NHS England has launched a Maternity and Neonatal Equalities dashboard that brings together key information to address health inequalities in maternity and neonatal care services from a range of data sources, with breakdowns by ethnicity and deprivation to make health inequalities visible, measurable, and actionable in maternity and neonatal services.

NHS England is implementing a new anti-discrimination programme, which aims to ensure all service users and their families will receive care free from discrimination and racism, and all staff will experience a work environment free from discrimination and racism. All trusts are expected to have completed the programme by 2027.

We have legislated to modernise the Mental Health Act to strengthen choice, autonomy and rights, and ensure people are treated with dignity and respect. The Government is also committed to delivering the cross-sector Suicide Prevention Strategy for England (2023 to 2028), including its ambition to improve evidence and better understand national trends and suicide rates in particular groups, including people who are Gypsy, Roma or Travellers.

The Government and NHS England have announced a three-year Neighbourhood Early Diagnosis Fund as part of £200 million investment for Cancer Alliances to tackle inequalities in screening and early diagnosis in deprived and underserved areas. Core20PLUS5 also includes early cancer diagnosis as a priority area for accelerated improvement.

The Department recognises inequalities exist across the cardiovascular disease (CVD) pathway. The Department and NHS England are working together to develop a CVD Modern Service Framework which will support, evidence-led consistent, high quality and equitable care.

Baroness Merron
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
15th Apr 2026
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the effectiveness of talking-therapy-based interventions for young people previously charged with violent offences involving (a) weapons and (b) bladed articles known to (i) mental health and (ii) youth justice services as presenting a risk of serious violence.

The Department recognises the importance of ensuring that effective, evidence-based support is available for young people with mental health needs who present a risk of serious violence.

The Department has not made a separate or specific assessment of the effectiveness of talking therapies for the highly specific cohort described. However, there is strong evidence that talking-therapy-based interventions, including cognitive behavioural therapy, are effective in improving mental health outcomes for children and young people. In the first 12 months of the Government, nearly 40,000 more children and young people received mental health support compared to the previous 12 months. We are also rolling out Mental Health Support Teams in schools and colleges in England to reach full national coverage by 2029.

Where someone has a mental disorder and there is a risk of harm to themselves or others, the triaging of their need will result in prioritised access to assessment and treatment. If a person with a mental disorder is seen as a significant risk of violence to others, this would increase the priority given. NHS England has shared new draft guidance with systems, the Mental Health Personalised Care Framework, which sets out how services must effectively assess, plan, and manage people's care in collaboration with all relevant teams, including how they assess safety and risks of harm.

Zubir Ahmed
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
25th Mar 2026
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of mental health crisis and inpatient provision in Northamptonshire following changes to services at St Andrew’s Hospital.

St Andrew’s site in Northampton provides care for a complex mix of patients on both an inpatient and outpatient basis. The decision by NHS England relates to inpatients at St Andrew’s Northampton site only. It is important to note that Care Quality Commission enforcement against St Andrew’s meant that no new patients have been admitted to the inpatient unit at Northampton for some time.

Of the inpatients at St Andrew’s Northampton site, the majority are adult secure commissioned patients. Many of these patients are subject to Ministry of Justice restrictions. The decision will mean limitation upon the number of available adult secure beds in Northamptonshire, however alternative placements are being sought for patients in the region as well as in surrounding areas. The majority of other patients in St Andrew’s, Northamptonshire are patients placed by integrated care boards (ICB) into other core mental health services provided by St Andrew’s.

NHS England is working with all placing commissioners, including Northamptonshire ICB, the East Midlands provider collaboratives and local providers, asking them to identify and transfer patients to alternative placements (within the community, other health or detained settings) in line with clinical need and informed by patient and family wishes. This approach is being informed by available capacity, impact across services and enabling the identification of specific additional requirements. This is a live situation; therefore, the assessment and response are evolving. An Ethics Framework has been used to guide decision making recognising that there are a range of risks which need to be carefully balanced. Recognising the wider health and economic context for the county, Northamptonshire ICB have also convened a local system response forum to ensure that local partners are informed and engaged.

Zubir Ahmed
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
21st Apr 2026
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment has been made of regional disparities in treatment outcomes for patients diagnosed with Stroke.

It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Sharon Hodgson
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
14th Apr 2026
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of delays in implementing fracture liaison services in England on gender inequality in access to preventative healthcare.

More than one in three women, compared to one in five men, will experience a fracture due to osteoporosis in their lifetime.

Our 10-Year Health Plan committed to rolling out Fracture Liaison Services across every part of the country by 2030. Integrated care boards remain well-placed to make decisions according to local need. The Renewed Women’s Health Strategy sets an expectation that integrated care boards prioritise community-based models when commissioning new fracture prevention services. Where available, evidence on the potential impacts on gender inequality will be taken into consideration in future policy development.

More broadly, the Renewed Women’s Health Strategy sets out a bold, long‑term plan to transform how the health and care system listens to, supports, and delivers for women and girls. It puts women’s voices and choices at the centre of care, drives faster improvements in services and outcomes that matter most to women, and tackles long‑standing health inequalities across the life course. The strategy aligns with the 10-Year Health Plan to shift care into the community, harness digital innovation, and strengthen prevention so women can live healthier, more fulfilled lives.

Baroness Merron
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
25th Feb 2026
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate his Department has made of the number of patient pathways removed from referral-to-treatment waiting lists following data validation exercises since 2020.

It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Karin Smyth
Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
25th Feb 2026
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many patient pathways from the net reduction in the referral-to-treatment waiting list reported since 1 September 2025 were removed as a result of (a) completion of treatment and (b) data validation exercises.

It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Karin Smyth
Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
10th Apr 2026
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, (a) what criteria a hospital must meet to be designated as an accredited specialist centre for placenta accreta spectrum disorder and (b) what assessment process is used to verify compliance with those criteria.

It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Karin Smyth
Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
10th Apr 2026
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will publish the referral network map for specialist centres for placenta accreta spectrum disorder.

It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Karin Smyth
Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
10th Apr 2026
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department holds guidance on histopathological examination of retained placenta to identify undiagnosed placenta accreta spectrum disorder.

It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Karin Smyth
Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
10th Apr 2026
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the gap between diagnosed and actual incidence of placenta accreta spectrum disorder.

It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Karin Smyth
Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
25th Mar 2026
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that patients affected by changes to services at St Andrew’s Hospital in Northampton are transferred safely to appropriate alternative mental health provision.

The failings exposed at St Andrew’s Hospital in Northampton site are completely unacceptable. The accounts of poor care, patient harm, and sustained risks to vulnerable people are deeply distressing, and the safety and wellbeing of patients remains our foremost priority throughout this process.

NHS England has required commissioners to begin identifying alternative inpatient placements for patients at St Andrew’s Hospital in Northampton following ongoing concerns about patient safety. Transfers are being managed carefully and in phases, based on individual clinical assessments, and patients will only move when a suitable alternative placement has been identified that can safely meet their needs. Enhanced clinical oversight has been put in place at the site, and NHS England is working closely with placing commissioners and provider networks to ensure transfers prioritise patient safety, continuity of care and compliance with the Mental Health Act where applicable.

We recognise that many patients at St Andrew’s will have limited capacity to advocate for themselves. Their voices, and those of their families and representatives, must be central to this process. Enhanced advocacy provision is already in place, and patient communications including accessible and Easy Read formats are being developed to support understanding and reduce anxiety.

After discussing with the NHS, a patient’s placing commissioner will talk with them to explain the options being considered for the best place for them to go next. They will listen to each patient’s preferences and feed these back to the NHS so they can be taken into account when making plans. Advanced advocacy support for patients is also in place. However, the final decision will also depend on the care needs of each patient and what services are available.

Where a patient is receiving care in an adult secure service, decisions will also need to consider risk and any requirements from the Ministry of Justice that may apply. These factors help the team decide the most appropriate place for ongoing care.

Zubir Ahmed
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
25th Mar 2026
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that families and carers of patients affected by changes to services at St Andrew’s Hospital in Northampton are involved in decisions about alternative care arrangements.

The failings exposed at St Andrew’s Hospital in Northampton site are completely unacceptable. The accounts of poor care, patient harm, and sustained risks to vulnerable people are deeply distressing, and the safety and wellbeing of patients remains our foremost priority throughout this process.

NHS England has required commissioners to begin identifying alternative inpatient placements for patients at St Andrew’s Hospital in Northampton following ongoing concerns about patient safety. Transfers are being managed carefully and in phases, based on individual clinical assessments, and patients will only move when a suitable alternative placement has been identified that can safely meet their needs. Enhanced clinical oversight has been put in place at the site, and NHS England is working closely with placing commissioners and provider networks to ensure transfers prioritise patient safety, continuity of care and compliance with the Mental Health Act where applicable.

We recognise that many patients at St Andrew’s will have limited capacity to advocate for themselves. Their voices, and those of their families and representatives, must be central to this process. Enhanced advocacy provision is already in place, and patient communications including accessible and Easy Read formats are being developed to support understanding and reduce anxiety.

After discussing with the NHS, a patient’s placing commissioner will talk with them to explain the options being considered for the best place for them to go next. They will listen to each patient’s preferences and feed these back to the NHS so they can be taken into account when making plans. Advanced advocacy support for patients is also in place. However, the final decision will also depend on the care needs of each patient and what services are available.

Where a patient is receiving care in an adult secure service, decisions will also need to consider risk and any requirements from the Ministry of Justice that may apply. These factors help the team decide the most appropriate place for ongoing care.

Zubir Ahmed
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
13th Mar 2026
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when he plans to respond to Questions 113872, 113873, 113874 and 113875 of 13 February 2026.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 29 April 2026 to Question 113872.

Zubir Ahmed
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
15th Apr 2026
To ask His Majesty's Government whether (1) NHS England, or (2) the Department of Health and Social Care, were contacted by the South Yorkshire Integrated Care Board regarding the redundancy of its previous Chief Executive prior to the redundancy payment being issued in October 2025; if so, on what date that contact occurred; and for what purpose that contact was made.

It has not proved possible to respond to this question in the time available before Prorogation. Ministers will correspond directly with the Member.

15th Apr 2026
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Merron on 30 March (HL15724), whether the post of the previous chief executive of the South Yorkshire Integrated Care Board was identified for the redundancy pool as a direct result of a legal merger or abolition of that ICB as part of the reduction of ICBs from 42 to 26; and if no such merger or abolition was formally proposed for South Yorkshire ICB, on what basis that post was identified for redundancy under that framework.

It has not proved possible to respond to this question in the time available before Prorogation. Ministers will correspond directly with the Member.

Baroness Merron
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
21st Apr 2026
To ask His Majesty's Government what data they use to inform drowning prevention.

It has not proved possible to respond to this question in the time available before Prorogation. Ministers will correspond directly with the Member.

Baroness Merron
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
10th Apr 2026
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the causes of the reported 19 per cent increase in postpartum haemorrhage rates among mothers in England.

It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Karin Smyth
Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
20th Apr 2026
To ask His Majesty's Government, in regard to page 218 of the Paterson Inquiry report, published on 4 February 2020, what assessment they have made of the compliance of the NHS and the independent healthcare sector with the recommendation that consultants write to patients in plain language to outline their condition and treatment and copy that letter to the patient's GP.

It has not proved possible to respond to this question in the time available before Prorogation. Ministers will correspond directly with the Member.

Baroness Merron
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
20th Apr 2026
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, How much central funding does NHS England currently provide to fund the EMIS Web dispensing module

It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Stephen Kinnock
Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
9th Jan 2026
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what payments NHS South Yorkshire Integrated Care Board made to its former Chief Executive in connection with his departure in October 2025; and what the amounts were for (a) redundancy and (b) pay in lieu of notice.

It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Karin Smyth
Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
20th Apr 2026
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, What consultation did his Department undertake before NHS England's decision to cease central funding for the EMIS Web dispensing module from 1 April 2026

It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Stephen Kinnock
Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
16th Apr 2026
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what discussions he has had with Hampshire and Isle of Wight Integrated Care Board on the potential impact of pausing ADHD and autism assessments on children in Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2.

It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Zubir Ahmed
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
20th Feb 2026
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he has made an estimate of the number of NHS Trusts with policies on staff toilets and changing facilities that are incompatible with the Supreme Court ruling in the case of For Women Scotland Ltd v The Scottish Ministers [2025].

It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Karin Smyth
Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
10th Apr 2026
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment has been made of the availability of mental health support to parents affected by baby loss in Slough.

It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Karin Smyth
Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
20th Apr 2026
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, For how long he expects NHS England to continue central funding for the EMIS Web dispensing module

It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Stephen Kinnock
Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
20th Apr 2026
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, What recent discussions he has had with (a) the Dispensing Doctors Association (b) the British Medical Association, and (c) NHS England on NHS England ceasing to centrally fund the EMIS Web dispensing module from 1 April 2026.

It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Stephen Kinnock
Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
20th Apr 2026
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Whether he has held recent discussions with NHS England on the future of their centralised funding for the EMIS Web dispensing module

It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Stephen Kinnock
Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
10th Apr 2026
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many NHS England staff have accepted voluntary redundancy since 13 March 2025; and what the total financial cost of those voluntary redundancies was to the public purse.

It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Karin Smyth
Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
10th Apr 2026
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he has had discussions with the Secretary of State for Justice on protecting maternity safety campaigners from Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation (SLAPPs).

It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Karin Smyth
Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
13th Apr 2026
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Merron on 30 March (HL15723), whether the interim leadership cover for the South Yorkshire Integrated Care Board carries out the same statutory duties as the redundant Chief Executive role; and if so, what assessment they have made of the compliance of this redundancy with the HM Treasury guidance on Public Sector Exit Payments and value for money protocols.

It has not proved possible to respond to this question in the time available before Prorogation. Ministers will correspond directly with the Member.

Baroness Merron
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
28th Apr 2026
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the role of AI in supporting personalised healthcare and extending patient life expectancy; and what plans they have to develop a strategy for safe and effective integration of AI technologies in the NHS.

It has not proved possible to respond to this question in the time available before Prorogation. Ministers will correspond directly with the Member.

Baroness Merron
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
28th Apr 2026
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they plan to establish a statutory inquiry into maternity services.

It has not proved possible to respond to this question in the time available before Prorogation. Ministers will correspond directly with the Member.

Baroness Merron
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
13th Apr 2026
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many civil servants are employed in his Department’s sponsor team for the NHS Business Services Authority by grade.

It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Karin Smyth
Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
23rd Apr 2026
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department and the UK Health Security Agency are taking to improve the timeliness and completeness of reporting of suspected cases of meningococcal disease and bacterial meningitis from hospitals.

It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Sharon Hodgson
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
13th Apr 2026
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what timetable his Department has set for submitting proposals to the Cabinet Office on arm’s length body reform and accountability.

It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Karin Smyth
Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
19th Mar 2026
To ask His Majesty's Government whether UK Biobank had made them aware of the exposure online of confidential health records from the UK Biobank project, as reported in The Guardian on 14 March, before the General Practice Extraction Service Data for Consented Research Directions 2026 were signed on 10 February.

It has not proved possible to respond to this question in the time available before Prorogation. Ministers will correspond directly with the Member.

Baroness Merron
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
19th Mar 2026
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the exposure online of confidential health records from the UK Biobank project, as reported in The Guardian on 14 March.

It has not proved possible to respond to this question in the time available before Prorogation. Ministers will correspond directly with the Member.

Baroness Merron
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
19th Mar 2026
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the risk of UK Biobank participants being identified from information exposed online, whether through (1) the inclusion of their names and addresses or (2) through cross-referencing and the use of AI tools.

It has not proved possible to respond to this question in the time available before Prorogation. Ministers will correspond directly with the Member.

Baroness Merron
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
19th Mar 2026
To ask His Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of how many times confidential health records from the UK Biobank project have been exposed online.

It has not proved possible to respond to this question in the time available before Prorogation. Ministers will correspond directly with the Member.

Baroness Merron
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
19th Mar 2026
To ask His Majesty's Government how many times confidential health records from the UK Biobank project have been removed from the internet (1) where UK Biobank requested that the researcher do so, and (2) where UK Biobank did so itself.

It has not proved possible to respond to this question in the time available before Prorogation. Ministers will correspond directly with the Member.

Baroness Merron
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
23rd Apr 2026
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if the Government will introduce a statutory duty in England to calculate and take reasonable steps to maintain safe nurse staffing on adult acute wards, with ward-level public reporting and mandatory escalation when recognised staffing risk indicators are breached.

It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Karin Smyth
Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
26th Mar 2026
To ask His Majesty's Government how many patients have been transferred from the Northampton site of St Andrew's Healthcare since NHS England formally initiated the programme of patient removal from that site.

It has not proved possible to respond to this question in the time available before Prorogation. Ministers will correspond directly with the Member.

Baroness Merron
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
15th Apr 2026
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 23 March 2026 to Question 120986 on General Practitioners: Contracts, if he will publish the evidence that shows that patients had improved care as a result of changes to Advice and Guidance.

It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Karin Smyth
Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
26th Mar 2026
To ask His Majesty's Government how many patients at the Northampton site of St Andrew's healthcare were in out-of-area placements, defined as outside of their home trust, prior to NHS England's intervention; and how many patients relocated from that site have since been placed in out-of-area placements.

It has not proved possible to respond to this question in the time available before Prorogation. Ministers will correspond directly with the Member.

Baroness Merron
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
13th Apr 2026
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the Learning Maternity System programme developed by Mykos.

It has not proved possible to respond to this question in the time available before Prorogation. Ministers will correspond directly with the Member.

Baroness Merron
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
15th Apr 2026
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 23 March 2026 to Question 120986 on General Practitioners: Contracts, what evidence his Department holds which shows that patients had improved care as a result of changes to Advice and Guidance.

It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Karin Smyth
Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
15th Apr 2026
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to secure supplies of medicines, medical devices and medical consumables in the case of war or pandemic; and whether those steps include building and maintaining strategic reserves of those supplies.

It has not proved possible to respond to this question in the time available before Prorogation. Ministers will correspond directly with the Member.

Baroness Merron
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
15th Apr 2026
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate his Department has made of the number of British nationals who obtained medical degrees overseas and subsequently applied for roles within the NHS in each of the last five years.

It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Karin Smyth
Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)