Asked by: Alison Hume (Labour - Scarborough and Whitby)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department will be assessing the impact of new developments in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis and Long Covid research, such as the findings of the LOCOME project, on health policy towards those living with long term health conditions.
Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
On 6 November, the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) and the Medical Research Council (MRC) jointly hosted a showcase event for post-acute infection conditions research, which included a review of the DecodeME research project and the PrecisionLife study on myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME) and long COVID research. PrecisionLife is leading on the LOCOME, or LOng COvid and Myalgic Encephalomyelitis Diagnostics Stratification, project. The showcase event was attended by speakers from a range of disciplines, including researchers, people with lived experience, ME charities, NIHR and MRC representatives, as well as Government officials.
The Department is always very keen to reflect newly emerging research findings in its policy-making.
Asked by: Alison Hume (Labour - Scarborough and Whitby)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that public research investment into health conditions like Myalgic Encephalomyelitis keep pace with recent private sector advances, including the publication on 4 December 2025 by Precision Life of their identification of core genes and 7,555 associated genetic variants linked to the disease.
Answered by Zubir Ahmed - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Department funds research on health and social care through the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). The NIHR and the Medical Research Council (MRC), part of UK Research and Innovation, are committed to funding high-quality research to understand the causes, consequences, and treatment for post-acute infection conditions such as myalgic encephalomyelitis, also known as chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS), and long COVID.
On 6 November, the NIHR and the MRC hosted a showcase event for post-acute infection conditions. This brought together people with lived experience, researchers, clinicians, and funders to help stimulate further research in this field. This included representatives from Precision Life and the LOCOME study, as well as the DecodeME study, which is co-funded by the NIHR and the MRC. Emerging evidence from projects such as LOCOME and DecodeME will be reviewed to ensure future research reflects both scientific progress and patient needs.
The NIHR welcomes funding applications for research into any aspect of human health and care, including ME/CFS and long COVID. Research funding is available, and applications are subject to peer review and judged in open competition, with awards made on the basis of the importance of the topic to patients and health and care services, value for money and scientific quality.
Asked by: Alison Hume (Labour - Scarborough and Whitby)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department intends to incorporate recent developments on ME genetics and biological mechanisms, such as the findings of the LOCOME project, into NIHR research priorities.
Answered by Zubir Ahmed - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Department funds research on health and social care through the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). The NIHR and the Medical Research Council (MRC), part of UK Research and Innovation, are committed to funding high-quality research to understand the causes, consequences, and treatment for post-acute infection conditions such as myalgic encephalomyelitis, also known as chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS), and long COVID.
On 6 November, the NIHR and the MRC hosted a showcase event for post-acute infection conditions. This brought together people with lived experience, researchers, clinicians, and funders to help stimulate further research in this field. This included representatives from Precision Life and the LOCOME study, as well as the DecodeME study, which is co-funded by the NIHR and the MRC. Emerging evidence from projects such as LOCOME and DecodeME will be reviewed to ensure future research reflects both scientific progress and patient needs.
The NIHR welcomes funding applications for research into any aspect of human health and care, including ME/CFS and long COVID. Research funding is available, and applications are subject to peer review and judged in open competition, with awards made on the basis of the importance of the topic to patients and health and care services, value for money and scientific quality.
Asked by: Alison Hume (Labour - Scarborough and Whitby)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what progress he has made on opening the Scarborough Community Diagnostic Centre.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Scarborough Gateway Community Diagnostic Centre (CDC) has been delivering diagnostic activity since October 2023 from a temporary location at Bridlington Hospital. To date, the CDC has delivered 57,962 diagnostic tests, including magnetic resonance imaging, computed tomography, phlebotomy, and echocardiography.
The permanent site at Great Hill, Scarborough, is scheduled to begin delivering activity in February 2026. The CDC is expected to become fully operational in March 2026 and in April 2026 it will offer at least one service with 12 hours a day, seven days a week extended hours.
This supports the Government’s commitment in the Elective Reform Plan to open CDCs 12 hours per day, seven days a week so that patients can access vital diagnostic tests around their busy working lives. 103 CDCs are now open across these extended hours, an increase of 40 since July 2024.
The Elective Reform Plan commits to transform and expand diagnostic services and speed up waiting times for tests, a crucial part of reducing overall waiting times and returning to the referral to treatment 18-week standard.
Asked by: Alison Hume (Labour - Scarborough and Whitby)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to support NHS trusts to reduce the number of delayed discharges from hospital.
Answered by Zubir Ahmed - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Government is committed to tackling delayed discharges.
In January 2025, we published a new policy framework for the £9 billion Better Care Fund, giving the National Health Service and local authorities accountability for setting and achieving joint goals for reducing discharge delays, preventing avoidable emergency admissions and care home admissions. We also published the Urgent and Emergency Care Plan for 2025/26, making it a priority to tackle delays for patients waiting over 21 days after being medically fit for discharge.
Asked by: Alison Hume (Labour - Scarborough and Whitby)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many children from Gaza have been accepted into the UK for medical treatment since July 2025.
Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
I refer the hon. Member to the statement on Gov.uk published on 17 September, which is available the following link:
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/first-group-of-gazan-children-arrive-for-specialist-nhs-treatment
The safety, privacy and wellbeing of these severely ill and vulnerable patients and their families remains our absolute priority. To protect patient confidentiality, we will not be providing further operational details about their treatment or whereabouts.
Asked by: Alison Hume (Labour - Scarborough and Whitby)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to support (a) Danes Dyke surgery in Scarborough and (b) other GP practices with (a) population growth and (b) capacity constraints.
Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The National Health Service has a statutory duty to ensure there is sufficient general practice (GP) provision in each local area, taking into account of population growth and demographic changes.
At a national level, the Department of Health and Social Care continues to work closely with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government to ensure that all new and existing developments have an adequate level of healthcare infrastructure for the community.
The Humber and North Yorkshire Integrated Care Board (ICB) advise that in North Scarborough, a total of £339,766 of Section 106 funding has been secured from housing developments to support Scarborough Medical Group and Hackness Road Surgery. Of this funding, £138,298 is currently available, and formal plans for its use are still in development. The remaining funding will become available within the next two to four years.
A Project Initiation Document, to better understand a new build proposal and the associated financial implications, has been shared by the proposed landlord with Danes Dyke Surgery. The ICB expects to receive a copy in due course. In the meantime, the GP partners, as the legal owners of Dane’s Dyke Surgery’s current premises, have undertaken some remedial works to help extend the building’s usability in the short term. Responsibility for the ongoing maintenance of the existing premises lies with the GP partners, in accordance with their legal obligations.
Danes Dyke Surgery is responsible for maintaining an up-to-date business continuity plan and for minimising any disruption to patient care. The ICB will support the practice with their communication of this plan. The Humber and North Yorkshire ICB is continuing to work closely with all stakeholders and is doing everything within its remit to support progress and explore viable options for the future.
Asked by: Alison Hume (Labour - Scarborough and Whitby)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that NHS hospitals can access electronic versions of medical reference books.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
We are committed to enabling National Health Service hospitals to access high-quality electronic knowledge resources, including medical reference books, so that the right knowledge and evidence can be used to deliver the best care for patients, when they need it.
The Knowledge for Healthcare 2021-26 strategic framework for NHS funded knowledge and library services in England was launched in January 2021 by Health Education England, now part of NHS England.
Individual NHS trusts should ensure that their staff have access to the resources they need to undertake their jobs, including where necessary electronic reference books.
Asked by: Alison Hume (Labour - Scarborough and Whitby)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the National Institute for Health and Care Research Delivery Network’s new national funding model on reducing the variation in regional funding.
Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
In 2026/27, the National Institute for Health and Care Research’s Research Delivery Network will adopt a new national funding model. Historically, each Regional Research Delivery Network has a different model for how delivery organisations receive their funding, agreed through regional governance arrangements. This has led to geographic variation and inconsistency. The ambition for April 2026 is to remove variation in how regional funding is awarded. This will be achieved via a nationally agreed, consistent funding distribution model across England, where funding is allocated in a more transparent, fair, and predictable system that supports the Government’s aims and the needs of the whole health and care system, including underserved areas and settings.
Asked by: Alison Hume (Labour - Scarborough and Whitby)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps the National Institute for Health and Care Research is taking to reduce regional variations of their health research funding; and what steps they are taking to increase the trend in the level of funding in Yorkshire.
Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Department is committed to funding health and care research via the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) across England, to ensure that the research we support is inclusive and representative of the populations we serve.
NIHR infrastructure has national coverage across the whole of England. Our infrastructure schemes aim to build research capacity and capability across the country, including in Yorkshire.
The NIHR Research Delivery Network is the main vehicle by which the Department enables clinical research delivery. The Research Delivery Network will adopt a new national funding model for National Health Service support costs and research delivery from 2026/27. This will be a consistent, nationally agreed funding distribution model across all regions of England. The new model will reduce regional variations of health research delivery funding and enable a more transparent, fair, and predictable system of funding that supports the Government’s priorities and the needs of the whole health and care system, including underserved areas and settings.
11 NIHR-funded research infrastructure sites are based within Yorkshire, which is approximately 10%. These span the health and care research pathway, from invention to evaluation and implementation, and include: the NIHR Yorkshire and Humber Regional Research Delivery Network; the NIHR Biomedical Research Centres and NIHR Clinical Research Facilities in Leeds and Sheffield; the NIHR Applied Research Collaborative Bradford; the NIHR Sheffield Children’s Commercial Research Delivery Centre (CRDC) and the NIHR Bradford and West Yorkshire CRDC; and the NIHR Patient Safety Research Centre in Yorkshire and Bradford.
NIHR research funding opportunities are advertised through either commissioned calls to answer specific research questions, researcher-led workstreams, or themed calls and highlight notices, which provide funding opportunities in Government high-priority areas. Funding committees assess applications that apply to the funding calls and are briefed to consider the equitable distribution of funding.