Asked by: Andrew George (Liberal Democrat - St Ives)
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 help ensure that workforce planning maintains the full complement of (a) staffing and (b) skills needed to deliver the highly specialised sarcoma services commissioned by NHS England commissions across all fifteen Specialist Sarcoma Centres in England.
Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Government is committed to publishing a 10 Year Workforce Plan to create a workforce ready to deliver the transformed service set out in the 10-Year Health Plan, including for the delivery of cancer services. The plan will ensure the National Health Service has the right people in the right places, with the right skills to care for patients, when they need it, including for patients with sarcoma. We are working through how the plan will articulate the changes for different professional groups.
Cancer Alliances are a valuable part of how we transform and improve cancer services across the country. The way that alliances work with primary care, trusts, and integrated care boards (ICBs) across their geography, as well as charity and other partners, gives them a unique perspective on the workforce. ICBs and trusts have primary responsibility for the workforce, but alliances can bring together expertise from across these different ICBs and trusts to deliver new training where there are specific skill gaps, championing the introduction of new roles, or transforming the way people or pathways work to improve productivity.
Asked by: Andrew George (Liberal Democrat - St Ives)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department plans to maintain an NHS England commissioned specialist sarcoma service for people in Cornwall under the Peninsula Soft Tissue Sarcoma Service at the Royal Cornwall Treliske Hospital in Truro.
Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Peninsula Soft Tissue Sarcoma Service continues to provide cancer care to patients suspected of having or having been diagnosed with sarcoma at sites across Devon and Cornwall, including in the Royal Cornwall Hospital in Truro (RCHT). However, RCHT has notified NHS England that it is unable to continue to provide the commissioned service in its entirety due to consultant workforce issues that it has been unable to resolve.
NHS England recognises the concerns of sarcoma patients locally, and discussions are ongoing to agree a sustainable future service model. Further information will be shared in due course.
Asked by: Andrew George (Liberal Democrat - St Ives)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps NHS England plans to take to maintain access to the Peninsula Soft Tissue Sarcoma Service in Cornwall.
Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Peninsula Soft Tissue Sarcoma Service continues to provide cancer care to patients suspected of having or having been diagnosed with sarcoma at sites across Devon and Cornwall, including in the Royal Cornwall Hospital in Truro (RCHT). However, RCHT has notified NHS England that it is unable to continue to provide the commissioned service in its entirety due to consultant workforce issues that it has been unable to resolve.
NHS England recognises the concerns of sarcoma patients locally, and discussions are ongoing to agree a sustainable future service model. Further information will be shared in due course.
Asked by: Andrew George (Liberal Democrat - St Ives)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department has carried out an (a) impact, (b) equality, (c) risk and (d) other assessment of the proposed abolition of local Healthwatch organisations.
Answered by Zubir Ahmed - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The abolition of local Healthwatch arrangements requires primary legislation which would be included in a Bill before Parliament. Timing of this is subject to the will of Parliament and will happen when parliamentary time allows.
A full impact assessment would be produced in line with HM Treasury's Green Book standards and published on the Government website when legislation is introduced in Parliament. No assessments have been made at this time, although the expertise of Dr Penny Dash and her critical review of patient safety will continue to guide the Government’s policy in this regard.
Asked by: Andrew George (Liberal Democrat - St Ives)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what guidance her Department has issued on (a) PPE, (b) testing and (c) post-exposure prophylaxis for workers exposed to animals infected with avian influenza; and whether she plans to provide financial support for workers required to self-isolate following exposure.
Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The latest guidance for those exposed to birds or other animals with influenza A(H5) was published by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) on 28 August 2025. It includes consideration of personal protective equipment (PPE), testing, and post-exposure prophylaxis, and is available at the following link:
The UKHSA’s guidance refers to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) guidance document about avoiding the risk of infection when working with poultry that is suspected of having H5 or H7 notifiable avian influenza. This recommends that PPE should be worn at all times when working in a potentially infected environment but does not require self-isolation if an individual is exposed to animals infected with influenza A(H5). The HSE guidance is available at the following link:
https://www.hse.gov.uk/biosafety/assets/docs/aisuspected.pdf
Information on benefits and financial support if someone is temporarily unable to work because they’re ill or self-isolating is available at the following link:
https://www.gov.uk/browse/benefits/unable-to-work
Asked by: Andrew George (Liberal Democrat - St Ives)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment she has made of NHS and UKHSA laboratory surge capacity for testing suspected human infections with avian influenza in 2025–26.
Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
While specific surge-throughput figures for 2025/26 are not published, the Department, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), and NHS England continue to work together to ensure sufficient laboratory capacity, clear escalation routes, and rapid confirmatory testing for suspected human infections.
Where avian influenza is clinically suspected, testing is delivered through National Health Service medical microbiology services across England’s pathology networks, with confirmatory testing undertaken within the UKHSA’s laboratory system.
The UKHSA is the Government’s standing capability for developing and delivering diagnostic testing for emerging infectious diseases. Molecular polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is the primary method for detecting avian influenza A in human samples. Building on the capability scaled during the COVID-19 response, much of the PCR infrastructure, such as analyser platforms and containment spaces, and some of the workforce resilience has been retained across NHS laboratories, with further efforts under way to enhance resilience specifically within the UKHSA’s laboratory network, some of which are shared facilities with the NHS.
The UKHSA is currently developing additional capacity at Porton Down and other UKHSA laboratories. This aims to surge capacity to 25,000 PCR tests per day within a six-week timeframe. The UKHSA also has 47,600 multiplex lateral flow device tests available, which test for influenza A, influenza B, and COVID-19, with a further stock of 49,950 undergoing quality control.
Asked by: Andrew George (Liberal Democrat - St Ives)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps her Department is taking to ensure timely public health messaging on avian influenza in coastal tourist areas during periods of increased seabird mortality.
Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs have a range of communication messages ready for use for avian influenza.
For coastal tourist areas, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has created guidance relating to wild birds. Guidance relating to reporting dead wild birds is available at the following link:
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/report-dead-wild-birds
In addition, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs’ guidance on the removal and disposal of dead wild birds is available at the following link:
The UKHSA has also published broader public health guidance on the general risk, not specific to wild birds, which is available at the following link:
Land managers and local authorities are also able to use a range of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs’ communication messages, including posters, to spread these messages, with further information available at the following link:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/avian-influenza-bird-flu-posters-for-land-managers
Asked by: Andrew George (Liberal Democrat - St Ives)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate he has made of the (a) annual capacity of the Overseas Registration Examination system and (b) number of fully trained overseas dentists already in the UK who are on the waiting list for this examination.
Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Overseas Registration exam (ORE) is operated by the General Dental Council (GDC), which is independent of the Government. The Department does not hold data on exactly how many candidates are waiting to sit the GDC’s ORE, or their residency status.
We understand from the GDC that, in April 2025, there were approximately 5,000 candidates on the combined waiting lists for both Part 1 and Part 2 of the ORE exam.
In April 2025, there was one sitting of the ORE Part 1, with 600 places available, and three sittings of the ORE Part 2 between January and April 2025, with 144 places on each. Between August 2025 and April 2026, there will be three sittings of ORE Part 1, with 600 places available on each sitting, and four sittings of ORE Part 2, with 144 places available on each sitting. In total, this provides 2,400 places for ORE Part 1, and 1,008 places for ORE Part 2 between April 2025 and April 2026.
The GDC’s procurement of new ORE provider contracts is ongoing, and the GDC expects to be able to announce the new providers this autumn. Officials will continue to discuss the new arrangements with the GDC, with a focus on understanding how they will further increase the availability of the ORE exam.
Whilst the GDC holds contact details for candidates on the waiting list for the ORE, they do not hold data on residency. It is the role of the GDC to approve eligibility criteria for the ORE. There are no restrictions on accessing the exam based on the residency status of the candidate.
Asked by: Andrew George (Liberal Democrat - St Ives)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the guidance entitled NHS Financial Support for Health Students (Fourth Edition): NHS Learning Support Fund, published on 29 June 2020, how many regional incentive payments were made to eligible students in areas where there is a workforce shortage in each of the last four years; and whether these payments are still available.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The regional incentive payments that were referenced in the NHS Learning Support Fund (LSF) fourth edition rules published on 29 June 2020 were not introduced, and therefore no payments have been made. The LSF scheme rules are reviewed annually ahead of each academic year.
To reform the National Health Service and make it fit for the future, we have launched a 10-Year Health Plan as part of the Government’s five long-term missions.
The Government will publish a refreshed workforce plan to deliver the transformed health service we will build over the next decade and treat patients on time again. We will ensure the NHS has the right people, in the right places, with the right skills to deliver the care patients need when they need it.
Asked by: Andrew George (Liberal Democrat - St Ives)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of establishing mandatory safe registered nurse staffing levels in all forms of hospital settings.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
Ensuring adequate staffing levels is the responsibility of National Health Service Trusts and commissioners, supported by national guidelines. The Government will prioritise patient safety to ensure that the NHS treats people with the high quality and safe care that they deserve.
We are committed to training the staff we need to get patients seen on time. The Government will make sure the NHS has the staff it needs to be there for everyone when they need it.