Asked by: Ian Roome (Liberal Democrat - North Devon)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate her Department has made of the number of NHS maternity units at risk of suspension or closure due to insufficient staffing levels.
Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
National Health Service commissioning bodies are responsible for the delivery, implementation and funding decisions for local services. This ensures that decisions are made locally and tailored to local population needs.
However, as the Hon Member knows from the unacceptable situation in his own constituency, it is too often the case that short-term, unexpected fluctuations in staffing can affect the safety and viability of local maternity services, which would not necessarily be foreseen or planned for in advance. That is why the Secretary of State said in departmental oral questions on 20 October that we need proper recruitment and workforce plans in place for maternity services, especially in more rural and remote areas, and this will be a focus of the work she is leading through the Maternity and Neonatal Taskforce.
Asked by: Ian Roome (Liberal Democrat - North Devon)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what proportion of the total funding available through the Network Contract Directed Enhanced Service (PCN DES) has been allocated to each funding component for the 2026/27 financial year, including (a) core PCN funding, (b) the Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme, (c) the Innovation Investment Fund and (d) any other funding streams.
Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
In 2026/27, the total value of the Network Contract Directed Enhanced Service (DES) was £2,606 million. The proportion of total funding available through the DES is as follows:
In 2026/27, approximately 0.2%, or £5 million, of Network Contract DES is linked to the requirement relating to cancer referral activity and cancer screening uptake. The Network Contract DES specifications are available on page 119, at the following link:
Asked by: Ian Roome (Liberal Democrat - North Devon)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what proportion and monetary value of funding available through the Network Contract Directed Enhanced Service (PCN DES) in 2026/27 is linked to requirements relating to (a) cancer referral activity and (b) cancer screening uptake.
Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
In 2026/27, the total value of the Network Contract Directed Enhanced Service (DES) was £2,606 million. The proportion of total funding available through the DES is as follows:
In 2026/27, approximately 0.2%, or £5 million, of Network Contract DES is linked to the requirement relating to cancer referral activity and cancer screening uptake. The Network Contract DES specifications are available on page 119, at the following link:
Asked by: Ian Roome (Liberal Democrat - North Devon)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what guidance is issued to NHS Trusts to help ensure the independent, objective and impartial oversight of formal reviews into service incidents.
Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
NHS England's Patient Safety Incident Response Framework (PSIRF) requires National Health Service trusts to have robust governance and oversight arrangements for incident reviews, supported by national guidance on oversight roles and responsibilities, to help ensure reviews are objective, proportionate, focused on learning, and conducted to consistent national standards. The full set of guidance that underpins PSIRF is available at the following link:
Asked by: Ian Roome (Liberal Democrat - North Devon)
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 help tackle the shortage of gynaecologists and obstetricians in the NHS.
Answered by Jo White - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
We have a record number of midwives working in the National Health Service this year, with over 600 more than a year ago. We are also investing £10.6 million in an additional 1,000 temporary roles to help newly qualified midwives join the NHS. The Government has invested over £16 million in additional funding for obstetricians in England since 2023/24. As of June 2026, there were 100 more obstetrics and gynaecology consultants than a year earlier. The 10 Year Workforce Plan will set out how the NHS will have the right people, in the right places and with the right skills to care for patients when they need it.
We will publish a single national action plan by the end of the year to drive systemic and sustained improvement across maternity and neonatal care. Ensuring that services have the right workforce to deliver safe care for all women and babies is central to this work.
Asked by: Ian Roome (Liberal Democrat - North Devon)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether she has made an assessment of the vote of no confidence in the Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust board by the Consultant Body at North Devon District Hospital; and what discussions she has had with the Trust and NHS Devon Integrated Care Board regarding the sustainability of local services across northern Devon.
Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.
Asked by: Ian Roome (Liberal Democrat - North Devon)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what analysis she has undertaken of the reasons why trained obstetricians and gynaecologists leave NHS employment before retirement age; and what proportion of those leaving in each of the last five years cited (a) workload, (b) burnout, (c) working hours, (d) geographical location, (e) pay and (f) retirement and flexible retirement.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
I refer the Hon. Member to the answer provided on 14 September in response to Question 26765.
Asked by: Ian Roome (Liberal Democrat - North Devon)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what proportion of doctors completing higher specialty training in obstetrics and gynaecology in each of the last five years remain employed by the NHS five years after completing training.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
I refer the Hon. Member to the answer provided on 14 September in response to Question 26765.
Asked by: Ian Roome (Liberal Democrat - North Devon)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what additional national incentives are available to NHS trusts to recruit and retain consultant obstetricians and gynaecologists in remote rural and coastal areas; and what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of those incentives.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
I refer the Hon. Member to the answer provided on 14 September in response to Question 26765.
Asked by: Ian Roome (Liberal Democrat - North Devon)
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 implications for her Department's policies of the recommendations and workforce requirements identified by the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists’ Workforce Planning Tool for Obstetrics and Anaesthesia; and whether she plans to implement that tool nationally.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
I refer the Hon. Member to the answer provided on 14 September in response to Question 26765.