Asked by: Helen Morgan (Liberal Democrat - North Shropshire)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of the requirement to dispose of unused specialist invalid food products as medical waste on level of food waste.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
Through the implementation of the NHS Clinical Waste Strategy and the National Standards for Healthcare Food and Drink, NHS England is actively working to reduce both clinical and food waste across the system.
The Clinical Waste Strategy promotes appropriate waste segregation and treatment to minimise unnecessary incineration and environmental harm. Meanwhile, the food standards encourage healthcare providers to reduce food waste through improved planning, monitoring, and sustainable practices. It is widely accepted that any medication that is provided via clinical provision should be disposed of as offensive waste. Any unused food products that are still in their packaging can be disposed of through the agreed food waste system.
NHS England continues to monitor the implementation of these strategies and welcomes further evidence or insights that could inform future assessments or policy development in this area.
Asked by: Helen Morgan (Liberal Democrat - North Shropshire)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what discussions he has had with NHS England on the steps it is taking to ensure women undergoing outpatient hysteroscopy procedures in (a) North Shropshire and (b) England do not experience pain during those procedures.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
It is unacceptable that some women have such poor experiences of hysteroscopies.
The National Health Service website page on hysteroscopy was updated in January 2024. This provides information on preparing for and recovering from a hysteroscopy, including pain relief options. The importance of pain relief is reiterated in guidance from both the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, and the College of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare.
In Shropshire, Telford, and Wrekin all patients receive comprehensive information about the procedure before their appointment, including advice on pain management. Patients can access both local anaesthetic and general anaesthetic for the procedure.
Patients can additionally access local and general anaesthetic and there is a patient advocate always present during the procedure to provide continuous support and aid in pain management.
The Government is committed to prioritising women’s health as we build an NHS fit for the future. Through our 10-Year Health Plan and the renewal of the Women’s Health Strategy we are delivering our commitment that never again will women’s health be neglected.
Asked by: Helen Morgan (Liberal Democrat - North Shropshire)
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 adequacy of the NHS Getting it right first time guidance for hysteroscopies.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Getting It Right First Time (GIRFT) programme’s role is to provide guidance to National Health Service trusts to help improve the delivery of services and, in doing so, it follows the professional standards and recommendations of the professional bodies.
GIRFT has worked closely with the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and the British Society for Gynaecological Endoscopy to support hospital trusts in improving women’s choices and appropriate settings for gynaecological procedures, such as hysteroscopy and endometrial ablation, acknowledging the shift to more day case and outpatient procedures.
Since the report was published, GIRFT has responded to feedback from patients, adding an addendum to the 2021 report and amending one recommendation to reiterate the imperative that all women undergoing day case and outpatient procedures are given clear and accurate information to enable them to make informed decisions about their preferred treatment setting and pain control. Ultimately, the decision on care setting for this procedure must be made with the patient, after due consideration of all relevant information.
Asked by: Helen Morgan (Liberal Democrat - North Shropshire)
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 timely delivery of NHS letters to patients.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Government is putting patients first, making sure they are seen as quickly as possible and have the best possible experience. This should include all patients receiving timely communication and information about their health and care.
The Elective Reform Plan, published in January 2025 as part of the Government’s Plan for Change, sets out the reform we will deliver to reduce waiting times and improve experience of care. We know that communications can sometimes fall short of the standards that we would expect, and this has a significant impact on patients. This is why we are working with patients, carers, and their representatives to improve the things that matter most to them and will be introducing a set of minimum standards that patients on the waiting list should expect to experience.
The Government’s focus on shifting from ‘analogue to digital’ will streamline information and communication processes, including by improving the NHS App. This will make it easier and quicker for patients to access information about their appointments, to cancel and reschedule appointments, and to receive correspondence on National Health Service test results. 87% of acute trusts in England now allow patients to view appointment information via the NHS App if they wish, reducing reliance on physical letters. Expanded use of the NHS App has prevented over 1.5 million missed hospital appointments since July 2024. It also saves staff time to focus on providing high quality, non-digital communication for those who want and need it.
Asked by: Helen Morgan (Liberal Democrat - North Shropshire)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate his Department has made of the potential impact of anticipated increases in medicine prices on levels of NHS staffing, equipment and activity.
Answered by Zubir Ahmed - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
No such assessments have been published. We will always prioritise the needs of National Health Service patients, and we are protecting the NHS with record investment and reform to deliver better health care.
Investing in the newest medicines so that patients can get access to life saving treatments is a critical part of a modern health care system and one that many charities and patient groups frequently call for.
Life sciences are a cornerstone of our modern industrial strategy, driving growth through world-class research, advanced manufacturing, and innovation.
Asked by: Helen Morgan (Liberal Democrat - North Shropshire)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of increasing NHS spending on pharmaceutical products on the economy.
Answered by Zubir Ahmed - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
No such assessments have been published. We will always prioritise the needs of National Health Service patients, and we are protecting the NHS with record investment and reform to deliver better health care.
Investing in the newest medicines so that patients can get access to life saving treatments is a critical part of a modern health care system and one that many charities and patient groups frequently call for.
Life sciences are a cornerstone of our modern industrial strategy, driving growth through world-class research, advanced manufacturing, and innovation.
Asked by: Helen Morgan (Liberal Democrat - North Shropshire)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether the funding settlement for Start for Life services will reflect (a) the widened age range from 0-2 to 0-5 and the (b) increases in the number of local authorities covered by the programme; whether the updated programme guidance will explicitly promote good practice on (i) parent-infant relationships and (ii) infant mental health; and whether it will ring-fence funding to help (A) sustain and (B) develop those services.
Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The 10-Year Health Plan sets out a long-term vision to improve the nation’s health by expanding Start for Life services and integrating zero- to five-year-olds health and children’s services into communities, with a strong focus on the critical 1,001 days.
Building on the £126 million investment in Family Hubs and Start for Life services in 2025/26, a further £500 million will support the national rollout of Best Start Family Hubs to every local authority in England from April 2026.
The Government remains committed to ensuring that local authorities are supported to deliver high-quality Start for Life services. National support includes the promotion of good practice in areas such as parent-infant relationships and infant mental health. Updated programme guidance for all local authorities will be designed to support delivery against the programme’s core objectives, drawing on this learning.
Asked by: Helen Morgan (Liberal Democrat - North Shropshire)
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 the public in (a) recognising and (b) rejecting health misinformation.
Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Department takes the challenge of health misinformation seriously and recognises its potential impact on public health outcomes. We focus on delivering consistent, clinically assured messaging that builds public trust and confidence, positioning the Department and the National Health Service as reliable sources of health information and advice.
Asked by: Helen Morgan (Liberal Democrat - North Shropshire)
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 making methoxyflurane available to all hysteroscopy patients.
Answered by Zubir Ahmed - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
Decisions about what medicines to prescribe are best made by the doctor or healthcare professional responsible for that part of the patient’s care. Prescribers are supported in their decisions by national guidance, for example guidance by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), as well as the local commissioning decisions of their respective integrated care boards (ICBs).
NICE is the independent body responsible for translating evidence into authoritative, evidence-based guidance for the health and care system on best practice, in order to drive improved outcomes for patients. NICE has made recommendations on hysteroscopy in its guideline on heavy menstrual bleeding: assessment and management, reference code NG88, but does not make recommendations on whether pain relief, such as methoxyflurane, should be administered during hysteroscopy. NICE currently has no plans to update the guideline but it will be reviewed if there is new evidence that is likely to change the recommendations.
Asked by: Helen Morgan (Liberal Democrat - North Shropshire)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will work with (a) autistic people, (b) their families and (c) experts to ensure that public health messaging on autism is (i) accurate, (ii) accessible and (iii) trustworthy.
Answered by Zubir Ahmed - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Department recognises the importance of providing the public with accurate health information and preventing misinformation. We are also committed to working with people with lived experience of autism to ensure that policies are designed to meet the needs of autistic people and makes their lives better.
The Department regularly rebuts factual inaccuracies when they appear in traditional media and undertakes extensive planning, engagement, and strategic work to ensure accurate public health information is available on social media channels to mitigate misinformation. In addition, the Department strives to ensure that the information it publishes is accurate, clear, and accessible to a variety of audiences, including using easy read versions.