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 update the NHS website to include up-to-date information on menstrual health conditions using (a) plain and (b) accessible English.

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

The Department worked with NHS England to introduce a new women’s health area on the National Health Service’s website in 2023. This brings together over 100 health topics including periods, gynaecological conditions, fertility, pregnancy, heart health, and cancers, and is designed to be a first port of call for women seeking health information. Further information is available at the following link:

https://www.nhs.uk/womens-health/

As part of this work, a number of pages were updated, including pages on heavy periods and endometriosis, and a new page on adenomyosis was created. One of the key goals of the NHS website is to provide users with clear and accurate health information. There are no current plans to further update the NHS website on menstrual conditions, subject to the standard review of all editorial content at least every three years.

The NHS has also used its YouTube channel to provide up-to-date information on endometriosis and heavy menstrual bleeding, with further information on both topics available, respectively, at the following two links:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ABi1ncHorBY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Pgm30RYVIs&list=PLnhASgDToTkvLigKt1XBE-iwZVJxd7Lto

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 improve (a) diagnosis, (b) treatment and (c) ongoing care for (i) endometriosis, (ii) polycystic ovary syndrome and (iii) other menstrual health conditions in (A) Redditch and (B) England; and what steps he is taking to align these efforts with the Women's Health Strategy for England.

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

The Government is committed to prioritising women’s health and improving the diagnosis, treatment, and ongoing care for gynaecological conditions. We are considering how to take forward the Women’s Health Strategy for England.

National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines support healthcare professionals to diagnose and treat conditions. The NICE has published Women’s and reproductive health guidelines, which are available at the following link:

https://www.nice.org.uk/hub/indevelopment/gid-hub10001

In April 2024, the NICE published updated recommendations on the treatment of endometriosis when fertility is a priority. The NICE is also updating the guidance on the diagnosis of endometriosis, and is planning the development of a guideline on the assessment and management of polycystic ovary syndrome. The NICE has also published a guideline on heavy menstrual bleeding assessment and management. Women's health is also embedded into the Royal College of General Practitioners curriculum for trainee general practitioners (GPs).

Women’s health hubs also play a key role in improving care for gynaecological conditions. The Department has invested £25 million over 2023/24 and 2024/25 to support the establishment of at least one pilot women’s health hub in every integrated care system. NHS England has asked the integrated care boards (ICBs) to report regularly on their progress implementing the funding. The Herefordshire and Worcestershire ICB has reported to NHS England that it is using the funding to set up two pilot hubs, one within Herefordshire and one within Worcestershire. To date, the pathway redesign as part of the women’s health hubs has been priority for Herefordshire and Worcestershire, with initial focus on menopause. Following implementation of a menopause pilot, focus will be on the remaining core services, specifically menstrual health.

Healthcare services in Herefordshire and Worcestershire offer advice, care, and treatment for menstrual conditions, including endometriosis and polycystic ovary syndrome. The integrated care system is focused on women’s health and hosts a monthly Gynaecology Forum which incorporates clinical and operational discussion on all elements of women’s health. The Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust qualifies as a Specialist Endometriosis Centre, with clinics and operations offered in Kidderminster, Redditch, and Worcester. GP referral pathways, specialist endometriosis and pain clinics, and multi-disciplinary meetings provide diagnosis and treatment of all stages of endometriosis. The Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust also employs a dedicated Endometriosis Specialist Nurse and hosts an Endometriosis Support Group for patients.

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 help improve the (a) information and (b) resources on menstrual health conditions provided to primary healthcare professionals to help (i) diagnosis and (ii) referrals to specialist treatment.

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

A range of information and resources are available to help primary care professionals to diagnose and treat menstrual health conditions, and where needed refer to secondary care.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has published Women’s and reproductive health guidelines, which cover a range of menstrual health conditions including heavy menstrual bleeding, endometriosis, and menopause. The NICE has also published several clinical knowledge summaries focused on menstrual health conditions. The guidelines and clinical knowledge summaries are available, respectively, at the following two links:

https://www.nice.org.uk/hub/indevelopment/gid-hub10001

https://cks.nice.org.uk/specialities/womens-health/

The Royal College of General Practitioners has developed a Women’s Health Library, drawing together educational resources and guidelines on women’s health so primary healthcare professionals have the most up-to-date information for their patients.

NHS England has developed a shared decision tool to help women and general practitioners (GPs) make decisions about the best treatments for heavy menstrual bleeding, which is available at the following link:

https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/decision-support-tool-making-a-decision-about-managing-heavy-periods/

NHS England is developing a set of responses to common questions asked by GPs to help manage menstrual health and other common women’s health conditions, which will soon be available.

The Department has invested £25 million over 2023/24 and 2024/25 to support the establishment of at least one pilot women’s health hub in every integrated care system. These provide more specialist care for women in the community, and many of them also act as a point of training and support for their local GP community.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to ensure that students can continue to study applied general qualifications from September 2025.

Answered by Janet Daby - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)

The government is committed to ensuring that all young people can access a range of high quality vocational and technical qualifications which supports them to develop the skills they need to thrive at work and throughout life, including applied general qualifications. This is at the heart of the government’s missions to break down the barriers to opportunity and to boost economic growth.

The government is currently conducting a review of level 3 qualifications focusing on those set to lose funding from 31 July 2025, which includes applied general qualifications. The outcomes of the review will be reported by the end of the year.

Additionally, the independent Curriculum and Assessment Review, will ensure meaningful, rigorous and high-value pathways for all at ages 16 to 19, with access to qualifications and training that will provide the skills they need to seize opportunity.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he plans to introduce a National Brain Tumour Strategy.

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

Ministers regularly meet with a wide range of cancer partners, including brain cancer charities and patient groups. Ministers also regularly meet with teams from the National Health Service, including clinical specialists where this is appropriate. These meetings are valuable opportunities to discuss raising awareness, screening, treatments, innovation, and the care experiences of people living with cancer.

The Department, NHS England, and the National Institute for Health Care and Research (NIHR) are taking several steps to help improve outcomes for brain tumour patients. NHS England is committed to ensuring that all cancer patients are offered Holistic Needs Assessment and Personalised Care and Support Planning, ensuring care is focused on what matters most to each person. As well as this, all patients, including those with secondary cancers, will have access to the right expertise and support, including a Clinical Nurse Specialist or other support worker.

Further to this, in September 2024, the NIHR announced new research funding opportunities for brain cancer research, spanning both adult and paediatric populations. This includes a national NIHR Brain Tumour Research Consortium, to ensure the most promising research opportunities are made available to adult and child patients, and a new funding call to generate high quality evidence in brain tumour care, support, and rehabilitation. We will get the NHS diagnosing cancer, including brain tumours, on time, diagnosing it earlier, and treating it faster, so more patients survive this horrible set of diseases, and we will improve patients’ experience across the system.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many integrated care boards had strategies in place to meet the needs of local populations affected by dementia (a) as of 28 October 2024, (b) in 2023 and (c) in 2022.

Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

NHS England is committed to improving diagnosis rates and recovering them to the national ambition for two thirds of people with dementia to have a formal diagnosis. This commitment is included in the operational planning guidance for 2024/25, giving clear direction for integrated care boards (ICBs) to prioritise dementia.

Local authorities are required to provide or arrange services that meet the social care needs of the local population, including carers, under the Care Act 2014. It is the responsibility of ICBs to work with the third sector in their geographical area to offer services that meet the needs of their population. NHS England would expect ICBs to take account of the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence’s guidelines when commissioning services for their local population.

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 number of specialist dementia nurses working in Acute Trusts.

Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

NHS England does not hold this information centrally. The provision of dementia health care services is the responsibility of local integrated care boards (ICBs). NHS England would expect ICBs to commission services based on local population needs, taking account of the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence’s guidelines.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many Primary Care Networks have used the Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme to fund enhanced practice nurse roles to deliver specialist dementia nursing support in primary care.

Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

NHS England does not hold this information centrally. The provision of dementia health care services is the responsibility of local integrated care boards (ICBs). NHS England would expect ICBs to commission services based on local population needs, taking account of the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence’s guidelines.

The Additional Role Reimbursement Scheme aims to grow and diversify the general practice workforce. The scheme provides funding for additional roles in primary care networks, to help create bespoke multi-disciplinary teams.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking with the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care to improve the (a) safeguarding and (b) wellbeing of children with allergies in schools.

Answered by Catherine McKinnell - Minister of State (Education)

Section 100 of the Children and Families Act 2014 places a duty on maintained schools, academies and pupil referral units to make arrangements for supporting pupils with medical conditions. This includes allergies.

The accompanying statutory guidance, 'Supporting pupils at school with medical conditions', makes clear to schools what is expected of them in taking reasonable steps to fulfil their legal obligations and to meet the individual needs of pupils with medical conditions. Schools should ensure they are aware of any pupils with medical conditions and have policies and processes in place to ensure these can be well managed. This guidance can be accessed here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/supporting-pupils-at-school-with-medical-conditions--3.

'Supporting pupils at school with medical conditions' includes guidance on individual healthcare plans and specifies that they should ensure that the school assesses and manages risks to the child’s education, health and social wellbeing, and minimises disruption.

The department included a reminder to schools of these duties in its regular schools’ email bulletin in both March and September 2024. In the same communication we also alerted schools to the newly created Schools Allergy Code. The Code was developed by The Allergy Team, Independent Schools’ Bursars Association and the Benedict Blythe Foundation, who are all trusted voices on the matter of allergies. The department has now also added a link to the Code to its online allergy guidance, which can be accessed here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/school-food-standards-resources-for-schools/allergy-guidance-for-schools.

The Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC) have produced guidance on the use of adrenaline auto-injectors in schools here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/using-emergency-adrenaline-auto-injectors-in-schools. DHSC have also produced guidance on emergency inhalers in schools, including the purchase of spares, which can be accessed here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/emergency-asthma-inhalers-for-use-in-schools.

Support for endometriosis care