Asked by: Gareth Davies (Conservative - Grantham and Bourne)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of abolishing local Healthwatch organisations on the transparency of patient feedback in the Grantham and Bourne constituency.
Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Government greatly values the work of local Healthwatch organisations, in Lincolnshire and elsewhere.
The reforms in the Health Bill will strengthen the patient voice in health and social care by bringing it closer to those who make decisions, ensuring patients' views are more effectively reflected in decision-making and have a greater impact on services.
An Impact Assessment, which includes the abolition of local Healthwatch, was published alongside the Health Bill, and is available at the following link:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/health-bill-patient-safety-measures-impact-assessments
An Equality Impact Assessment on the abolition of Healthwatch was also published at the following link:
No assessment has been made of the impact on individual areas.
Asked by: Gareth Davies (Conservative - Grantham and Bourne)
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 the potential impact of abolishing local Healthwatch organisations on the confidence of individuals to raise concerns relating to health and social care services.
Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Government greatly values the work of local Healthwatch organisations, in Lincolnshire and elsewhere.
The reforms in the Health Bill will strengthen the patient voice in health and social care by bringing it closer to those who make decisions, ensuring patients' views are more effectively reflected in decision-making and have a greater impact on services.
An Impact Assessment, which includes the abolition of local Healthwatch, was published alongside the Health Bill, and is available at the following link:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/health-bill-patient-safety-measures-impact-assessments
An Equality Impact Assessment on the abolition of Healthwatch was also published at the following link:
No assessment has been made of the impact on individual areas.
Asked by: Gareth Davies (Conservative - Grantham and Bourne)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of abolishing Healthwatch Lincolnshire on care.
Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Government greatly values the work of local Healthwatch organisations, in Lincolnshire and elsewhere.
The reforms in the Health Bill will strengthen the patient voice in health and social care by bringing it closer to those who make decisions, ensuring patients' views are more effectively reflected in decision-making and have a greater impact on services.
An Impact Assessment, which includes the abolition of local Healthwatch, was published alongside the Health Bill, and is available at the following link:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/health-bill-patient-safety-measures-impact-assessments
An Equality Impact Assessment on the abolition of Healthwatch was also published at the following link:
No assessment has been made of the impact on individual areas.
Asked by: Gareth Davies (Conservative - Grantham and Bourne)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment her Department has made of the performance of Healthwatch Lincolnshire.
Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Government greatly values the work of local Healthwatch organisations, in Lincolnshire and elsewhere.
The reforms in the Health Bill will strengthen the patient voice in health and social care by bringing it closer to those who make decisions, ensuring patients' views are more effectively reflected in decision-making and have a greater impact on services.
An Impact Assessment, which includes the abolition of local Healthwatch, was published alongside the Health Bill, and is available at the following link:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/health-bill-patient-safety-measures-impact-assessments
An Equality Impact Assessment on the abolition of Healthwatch was also published at the following link:
No assessment has been made of the impact on individual areas.
Asked by: Gareth Davies (Conservative - Grantham and Bourne)
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 the role of independence in the work of local Healthwatch organisations.
Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Government greatly values the work of local Healthwatch organisations, in Lincolnshire and elsewhere.
The reforms in the Health Bill will strengthen the patient voice in health and social care by bringing it closer to those who make decisions, ensuring patients' views are more effectively reflected in decision-making and have a greater impact on services.
An Impact Assessment, which includes the abolition of local Healthwatch, was published alongside the Health Bill, and is available at the following link:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/health-bill-patient-safety-measures-impact-assessments
An Equality Impact Assessment on the abolition of Healthwatch was also published at the following link:
No assessment has been made of the impact on individual areas.
Asked by: Gareth Davies (Conservative - Grantham and Bourne)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when his Department plans to publish data on corridor care in hospitals.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
NHS England published data on corridor care for the first time on Thursday 11 June.
NHS England has worked closely with clinical partners, including the Royal College of Emergency Medicine, to establish a consistent national definition and approach to monitoring corridor care. A national definition and daily reporting arrangements were introduced in March 2026, with the aim of improving visibility of pressures and supporting targeted action to reduce instances of corridor care.
The Government is clear that corridor care is not acceptable and should not be considered as standard practice.
Asked by: Gareth Davies (Conservative - Grantham and Bourne)
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 Community Diagnostic Centres are adequately staffed without removing hospital employees from areas such as acute patient care.
Answered by Sharon Hodgson
In April 2026, the Government announced our plan to open four new community diagnostic centres (CDCs) during 2026/27. We also announced a further 32 centres, which will be expanded and improved with new scanning equipment, outpatient clinic space and additional testing facilities. The 36 centres, backed by a £237 million Government investment, will significantly boost National Health Service diagnostic capacity and deliver more care in local communities.
All CDCs have been funded to purchase and install the equipment that is specific to each CDC’s individual requirements, including magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography scanners. Business cases for equipment are approved nationally, and each case is reviewed to ensure that it meets the expected standards to deliver clinical pathways and meet the needs of the local population. Local equipment procurement is coordinated through the NHS Supply Chain to ensure value for money.
Staffing models are determined locally by each host organisation for the CDC. Many trusts operate on a rotational model between the acute site and the CDC to ensure that acute care remains adequately staffed whilst supporting the opportunity for staff to train in a controlled elective environment. To further support staff recruitment and retention, NHS England funds practice educator posts across the clinical services delivered in CDCs. These posts support the preceptorship of newly qualified staff and provide undergraduate and postgraduate clinical support to clinical trainees.
Funding is currently available to install digital infrastructure to ensure that patient information, images, and reports flow seamlessly from CDCs to the rest of the healthcare system. NHS England is rolling out a National Imaging Registry, which will allow clinicians across England, including in CDCs, to access current and historic patient scans and reports, reducing the need to repeat scans if the patient presents in a different location.
Asked by: Gareth Davies (Conservative - Grantham and Bourne)
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 Community Diagnostic Centres to integrate digital infrastructure and data sharing into their operation.
Answered by Sharon Hodgson
In April 2026, the Government announced our plan to open four new community diagnostic centres (CDCs) during 2026/27. We also announced a further 32 centres, which will be expanded and improved with new scanning equipment, outpatient clinic space and additional testing facilities. The 36 centres, backed by a £237 million Government investment, will significantly boost National Health Service diagnostic capacity and deliver more care in local communities.
All CDCs have been funded to purchase and install the equipment that is specific to each CDC’s individual requirements, including magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography scanners. Business cases for equipment are approved nationally, and each case is reviewed to ensure that it meets the expected standards to deliver clinical pathways and meet the needs of the local population. Local equipment procurement is coordinated through the NHS Supply Chain to ensure value for money.
Staffing models are determined locally by each host organisation for the CDC. Many trusts operate on a rotational model between the acute site and the CDC to ensure that acute care remains adequately staffed whilst supporting the opportunity for staff to train in a controlled elective environment. To further support staff recruitment and retention, NHS England funds practice educator posts across the clinical services delivered in CDCs. These posts support the preceptorship of newly qualified staff and provide undergraduate and postgraduate clinical support to clinical trainees.
Funding is currently available to install digital infrastructure to ensure that patient information, images, and reports flow seamlessly from CDCs to the rest of the healthcare system. NHS England is rolling out a National Imaging Registry, which will allow clinicians across England, including in CDCs, to access current and historic patient scans and reports, reducing the need to repeat scans if the patient presents in a different location.
Asked by: Gareth Davies (Conservative - Grantham and Bourne)
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 secure procurement pathways to ensure that Community Diagnostics Centres are equipped with up to date equipment, such as CT and MRI scanners.
Answered by Sharon Hodgson
In April 2026, the Government announced our plan to open four new community diagnostic centres (CDCs) during 2026/27. We also announced a further 32 centres, which will be expanded and improved with new scanning equipment, outpatient clinic space and additional testing facilities. The 36 centres, backed by a £237 million Government investment, will significantly boost National Health Service diagnostic capacity and deliver more care in local communities.
All CDCs have been funded to purchase and install the equipment that is specific to each CDC’s individual requirements, including magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography scanners. Business cases for equipment are approved nationally, and each case is reviewed to ensure that it meets the expected standards to deliver clinical pathways and meet the needs of the local population. Local equipment procurement is coordinated through the NHS Supply Chain to ensure value for money.
Staffing models are determined locally by each host organisation for the CDC. Many trusts operate on a rotational model between the acute site and the CDC to ensure that acute care remains adequately staffed whilst supporting the opportunity for staff to train in a controlled elective environment. To further support staff recruitment and retention, NHS England funds practice educator posts across the clinical services delivered in CDCs. These posts support the preceptorship of newly qualified staff and provide undergraduate and postgraduate clinical support to clinical trainees.
Funding is currently available to install digital infrastructure to ensure that patient information, images, and reports flow seamlessly from CDCs to the rest of the healthcare system. NHS England is rolling out a National Imaging Registry, which will allow clinicians across England, including in CDCs, to access current and historic patient scans and reports, reducing the need to repeat scans if the patient presents in a different location.
Asked by: Gareth Davies (Conservative - Grantham and Bourne)
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 Community Diagnostics Centres receive funding and resources to keep equipment and facilities up to date.
Answered by Sharon Hodgson
In April 2026, the Government announced our plan to open four new community diagnostic centres (CDCs) during 2026/27. We also announced a further 32 centres, which will be expanded and improved with new scanning equipment, outpatient clinic space and additional testing facilities. The 36 centres, backed by a £237 million Government investment, will significantly boost National Health Service diagnostic capacity and deliver more care in local communities.
All CDCs have been funded to purchase and install the equipment that is specific to each CDC’s individual requirements, including magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography scanners. Business cases for equipment are approved nationally, and each case is reviewed to ensure that it meets the expected standards to deliver clinical pathways and meet the needs of the local population. Local equipment procurement is coordinated through the NHS Supply Chain to ensure value for money.
Staffing models are determined locally by each host organisation for the CDC. Many trusts operate on a rotational model between the acute site and the CDC to ensure that acute care remains adequately staffed whilst supporting the opportunity for staff to train in a controlled elective environment. To further support staff recruitment and retention, NHS England funds practice educator posts across the clinical services delivered in CDCs. These posts support the preceptorship of newly qualified staff and provide undergraduate and postgraduate clinical support to clinical trainees.
Funding is currently available to install digital infrastructure to ensure that patient information, images, and reports flow seamlessly from CDCs to the rest of the healthcare system. NHS England is rolling out a National Imaging Registry, which will allow clinicians across England, including in CDCs, to access current and historic patient scans and reports, reducing the need to repeat scans if the patient presents in a different location.