Oral Answers to Questions

Jessica Toale Excerpts

Tuesday 20th October 2026 Commons Chamber

[Alison McGovern]

I refer the shadow Minister to the Fonagy review. It details the causes, which started before covid, of the rise in mental distress for young people. As I mentioned a moment ago, we are already asking ICBs to reduce the longest wait, and we have seen some successes with that, but we have way more to do to address this challenge. We will have more to say in the mental health strategy that will be published soon.

[Jessica Toale (Bournemouth West) (Lab)]

6. What steps her Department is taking to support women affected by diethylstilbesterol.

[The Minister for Public Health and Patient Safety (Dame Diana Johnson)]

I pay tribute to my hon. Friend for all her campaigning on diethylstilbesterol and to her constituent Jan Hall and her family. We recognise the serious intergenerational effects of exposure to DES, including increased cancer risks and reproductive complications, and we have asked NHS England and clinical networks to improve awareness of those issues and the people affected by them. We have commissioned an evidence review of the intergenerational effects of DES, which will inform our efforts to strengthen support in this area.

[Jessica Toale]

I thank the Minister for her answer and the constructive way in which the Department of Health and Social Care has engaged with me and campaigners from DES Justice UK, but I am still meeting women who are being denied breast cancer screening, colposcopies and other things that are essential for their care, despite the letter from the cancer alliance about DES exposure risk. How can we ensure that GPs and other health professionals are truly aware of the risks of DES, and that the women who need the support can get it when they need it?

[Dame Diana Johnson]

I recognise that some women exposed to DES still face difficulties accessing advice, monitoring and referral. Clinicians should consider individual medical histories, symptoms and risk factors. I had a look at the letter that was sent on 12 December explaining what more should be done by clinicians. I will again ask officials to look at whether we need to reissue that letter or whether we need to take any other action to ensure that the information about DES is spread as widely as possible among clinicians.