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 he has made of the potential cost to (a) GP practices (b) integrated care boards and (c) NHS trusts of participating in the National Neighbourhood Health Implementation Programme.
Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
Participation in the programme is voluntary, and sites are sponsored locally by their integrated care board and local authority chief executive officers to help accelerate progress in delivering neighbourhood health. Sites have received nationally funded support, including coaching, analytical and evaluation input, and access to national convening and communities of practice. The costs of delivering neighbourhood health will vary between places, and as sites have only been participating for a short period, a clearer picture of local delivery costs will emerge over time with further analytical support.
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 potential clinical impact of (a) current waiting times and (b) levels of coordination in spinal cord injury care.
Answered by Sharon Hodgson - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
People with spinal cord injuries in North Shropshire receive specialist care through the Midland Centre for Spinal Injuries (MCSI) at the Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital, one of 11 nationally designated spinal injury centres providing lifelong multidisciplinary support in the United Kingdom. MCSI provides multidisciplinary rehabilitation and lifelong follow up care for spinal cord injury patients.
Nationally, spinal cord injury services form part of prescribed specialised services, with NHS England maintaining national service standards, specifications, and clinical policies. From 2025, elements of specialised commissioning were delegated to integrated care boards to support more integrated pathways, while overall accountability remains with NHS England.
In March 2025, NHS England published the Spinal Services Clinical Network Specification, which establishes expectations for spinal clinical networks to standardise pathways and reduce variation, with the aim of improving access to care for patients.
The Getting It Right First Time (GIRFT) Programme for spinal services is also driving service improvements and better care for patients with spinal cord injuries. GIRFT has worked with National Health Service trusts to showcase examples of best practice which other services can then learn from, thereby aiming to reduce regional variation in the quality of care patients with spinal cord injuries receive.
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 level of support available to people with spinal cord injury in a) North Shropshire and b) England.
Answered by Sharon Hodgson - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
People with spinal cord injuries in North Shropshire receive specialist care through the Midland Centre for Spinal Injuries (MCSI) at the Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital, one of 11 nationally designated spinal injury centres providing lifelong multidisciplinary support in the United Kingdom. MCSI provides multidisciplinary rehabilitation and lifelong follow up care for spinal cord injury patients.
Nationally, spinal cord injury services form part of prescribed specialised services, with NHS England maintaining national service standards, specifications, and clinical policies. From 2025, elements of specialised commissioning were delegated to integrated care boards to support more integrated pathways, while overall accountability remains with NHS England.
In March 2025, NHS England published the Spinal Services Clinical Network Specification, which establishes expectations for spinal clinical networks to standardise pathways and reduce variation, with the aim of improving access to care for patients.
The Getting It Right First Time (GIRFT) Programme for spinal services is also driving service improvements and better care for patients with spinal cord injuries. GIRFT has worked with National Health Service trusts to showcase examples of best practice which other services can then learn from, thereby aiming to reduce regional variation in the quality of care patients with spinal cord injuries receive.
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 has taken to address regional disparities in accessing spinal cord injury services.
Answered by Sharon Hodgson - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
People with spinal cord injuries in North Shropshire receive specialist care through the Midland Centre for Spinal Injuries (MCSI) at the Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital, one of 11 nationally designated spinal injury centres providing lifelong multidisciplinary support in the United Kingdom. MCSI provides multidisciplinary rehabilitation and lifelong follow up care for spinal cord injury patients.
Nationally, spinal cord injury services form part of prescribed specialised services, with NHS England maintaining national service standards, specifications, and clinical policies. From 2025, elements of specialised commissioning were delegated to integrated care boards to support more integrated pathways, while overall accountability remains with NHS England.
In March 2025, NHS England published the Spinal Services Clinical Network Specification, which establishes expectations for spinal clinical networks to standardise pathways and reduce variation, with the aim of improving access to care for patients.
The Getting It Right First Time (GIRFT) Programme for spinal services is also driving service improvements and better care for patients with spinal cord injuries. GIRFT has worked with National Health Service trusts to showcase examples of best practice which other services can then learn from, thereby aiming to reduce regional variation in the quality of care patients with spinal cord injuries receive.
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 his Department has made of the potential impact of corridor care on NHS workforce numbers.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
Whilst no assessment has been made, the health and wellbeing of all National Health Service staff is a top priority. NHS organisations have a responsibility to create supportive working environments for staff, ensuring they have the conditions they need to thrive, including access to high quality health and wellbeing support. We recognise that periods of high demand can leave NHS staff feeling overworked and unsupported. 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 new staff standards focused on improving retention, flexible working and staff health and wellbeing.
Corridor care refers to care delivered in non-designated clinical areas and is not an acceptable standard of care. We are committed to eliminating corridor care before the end of this Parliament.
On 3 March 2026, NHS England wrote to NHS organisations, including trusts and integrated care boards, setting out a clear definition of corridor care and the additional actions required to eliminate it. This introduction of a clear national definition will enable trusts to collect and report consistent and validated data on corridor care, supporting transparency and system improvement. Subject to data quality, this information will be published monthly on the NHS England website from May 2026.
Where corridor care cannot be avoided, updated national guidance has been issued to ensure patient safety, dignity and privacy are protected and to reduce impacts on patients and staff.
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 the NHS England voluntary redundancy scheme on its ability to deliver its functions.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The NHS England voluntary redundancy scheme was launched in December 2025, with staff able to submit applications. Following closure of the window for applications, there has been a considered and risk-based approvals process to determine whether applications can be approved or not, and if approved, at what point it is appropriate for the individual to exit the organisation and the post to become redundant.
Considerations included the impact on business-critical activities and functions, the impact on staff remaining in the organisation, and the likelihood that similar skills would be needed in the future. Local panels were held at the directorate and regional level to consider applications, and there was a national moderation and approval process for the entirety of the scheme. In many cases, exit dates were agreed into 2026/27 to ensure that redesign and mitigations could be put in place ahead of departure.
As part of planning for 2026/27, NHS England is undertaking a planning process to ensure that the resources at its disposal are focussed on our key priorities and statutory duties, taking into account staff exits ahead of the financial year, and at quarterly intervals during the year. This process is taking place at an organisational level, as well as within each directorate and region.
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, when he plans to respond to Questions 113248, 113249 and 113250, tabled on 12 February 2026.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 23 March 2026 to Question 113248.
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 his Department will publish data on the numbers of patients receiving corridor care in NHS hospitals before the end of the financial year.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
On 3 March 2026, NHS England wrote to National Health Service organisations, including trusts and integrated care boards (ICBs), setting out a clear definition of corridor care and the additional actions required to eliminate it. On 4 March 2026, this definition was also published on the NHS England website.
We are committed to eliminating corridor care. As set out in the urgent and emergency care plan, data on the prevalence of corridor care will be published for the first time. The introduction of a clear national definition will enable trusts to collect and report consistent and validated data on corridor care, supporting transparency and system improvement. Subject to data quality, this information will be published monthly on the NHS England website from May 2026.
Where corridor care cannot be avoided, we have published updated guidance to support trusts to deliver it safely, ensuring dignity and privacy is maintained to reduce impacts on patients and staff.
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 his Department and NHS hospital trusts are collecting data on the numbers of patients receiving corridor care in NHS hospitals.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
On 3 March 2026, NHS England wrote to National Health Service organisations, including trusts and integrated care boards (ICBs), setting out a clear definition of corridor care and the additional actions required to eliminate it. On 4 March 2026, this definition was also published on the NHS England website.
We are committed to eliminating corridor care. As set out in the urgent and emergency care plan, data on the prevalence of corridor care will be published for the first time. The introduction of a clear national definition will enable trusts to collect and report consistent and validated data on corridor care, supporting transparency and system improvement. Subject to data quality, this information will be published monthly on the NHS England website from May 2026.
Where corridor care cannot be avoided, we have published updated guidance to support trusts to deliver it safely, ensuring dignity and privacy is maintained to reduce impacts on patients and staff.
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 shared a definition of corridor care to (a) NHS trusts and (b) ICBs.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
On 3 March 2026, NHS England wrote to National Health Service organisations, including trusts and integrated care boards (ICBs), setting out a clear definition of corridor care and the additional actions required to eliminate it. On 4 March 2026, this definition was also published on the NHS England website.
We are committed to eliminating corridor care. As set out in the urgent and emergency care plan, data on the prevalence of corridor care will be published for the first time. The introduction of a clear national definition will enable trusts to collect and report consistent and validated data on corridor care, supporting transparency and system improvement. Subject to data quality, this information will be published monthly on the NHS England website from May 2026.
Where corridor care cannot be avoided, we have published updated guidance to support trusts to deliver it safely, ensuring dignity and privacy is maintained to reduce impacts on patients and staff.