Asked by: Jessica Toale (Labour - Bournemouth West)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether diethylstilbestrol (DES) exposure is referenced in NHS training curricula for (a) obstetrics, (b) gynaecology and (c) general practice.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The standard of training for doctors is the responsibility of the General Medical Council (GMC), who set the outcome standards expected at undergraduate level and approve courses and medical schools to write and teach the curricula content that enables their students to meet the GMC’s outcome standards.
The curricula for postgraduate training are set by the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges for foundation training, and by the relevant individual royal colleges and faculties for specialty training. The GMC approves curricula and assessment systems for each training programme.
Whilst not all curricula may necessarily highlight a specific condition, they all nevertheless emphasise the skills and approaches a doctor must develop in order to ensure accurate and timely diagnoses and treatment plans for their patients, including for diethylstilbestrol exposure.
Asked by: Jessica Toale (Labour - Bournemouth West)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department has commissioned research since 2000 into the health outcomes of people exposed to diethylstilbestrol in utero.
Answered by Zubir Ahmed - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Department invests over £1.6 billion each year on research through its research delivery arm, the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR).
While no research has been commissioned into the health outcomes of people exposed to diethylstilbestrol in utero via the NIHR since 2000, the NIHR would welcome high quality funding applications in this area. Further information on the scope of our research funding calls is available on the NIHR website.
Asked by: Jessica Toale (Labour - Bournemouth West)
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 the (a) UK Health Security Agency and (b) National Institute for Health and Care Research on studies into diethylstilbestrol-related health risks.
Answered by Zubir Ahmed - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
Diethylstilbestrol is a synthetic non-steroidal estrogen medication, which does not fall within the UK Health Security Agency’s remit.
Decisions on topics for new or updated guidance from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) are considered through an established NICE prioritisation process with decisions overseen by a prioritisation board, chaired by NICE’s Chief Medical Officer.
Asked by: Jessica Toale (Labour - Bournemouth West)
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 NHS screening programmes for the detection of gynaecological cancers linked to diethylstilbestrol exposure.
Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The NHS Cervical Screening Programme is the only gynaecological screening programme offered by the National Health Service. On its own, it cannot provide comprehensive care to women exposed to diethylstilbestrol (DES) in utero. This is why the NHS Cervical Screening Programme’s guidance advises that local arrangements should be made for the follow up of individuals who have been exposed to DES and who have the stigmata of DES exposure. This is usually via annual colposcopy. The management of abnormal cytology falls outside of the NHS Cervical Screening Programme.
Asked by: Jessica Toale (Labour - Bournemouth West)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether women (a) known and (b) suspected to have exposure to diethylstilbestrol in utero are eligible for enhanced cancer screening.
Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
Yes, women who believe they have been exposed to diethylstilbestrol (DES) in utero are eligible for enhanced cancer screening. The NHS Cervical Screening Programme guidance reminds providers that these women are eligible for routine cervical screening and states that local arrangements should be made for the follow up of women who have been exposed to DES and who have the stigmata of DES exposure. This is usually via annual colposcopy.
Asked by: Jessica Toale (Labour - Bournemouth West)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department has considered the potential merits of a screening protocol for people exposed to diethylstilbestrol.
Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC), which advises the Government on all aspects of screening, has never been asked to consider the evidence for a screening programme for people exposed to diethylstilbestrol in utero.
Any individual or organisation can submit a topic to the UK NSC to consider a new screening programme via the UK NSC’s open call. As part of the open call process the committee will discuss whether this falls within its remit or whether it's more aligned with clinical care.
Further information about the open call is available at the following link:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-nsc-annual-call-submitting-a-screening-proposal
Asked by: Jessica Toale (Labour - Bournemouth West)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department plans to fund epidemiological research into the potential impact of diethylstilbestrol exposure on third generation people.
Answered by Zubir Ahmed - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Department invests over £1.6 billion each year on research through its research delivery arm, the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR).
While no research has been commissioned into the health outcomes of people exposed to diethylstilbestrol in utero via the NIHR since 2000, the NIHR would welcome high quality funding applications in this area. Further information on the scope of our research funding calls is available on the NIHR website.
Asked by: Jessica Toale (Labour - Bournemouth West)
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 parents with disabled children are provided with appropriate medical equipment to support their child.
Answered by Zubir Ahmed - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
Integrated care boards (ICBs) are responsible for commissioning services to meet the health needs of their local population, and responsibility for providing disabled children’s equipment would typically fall to the National Health Service and local authorities.
We expect ICBs to follow guidance from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). In 2022 NICE published guidance on Disabled children and young people up to 25 with severe complex needs, which is available at the following link:
The Children and Families Act 2014 requires that education, health, and social care services must work together to meet the needs of children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). In May 2023, NHS England issued statutory guidance setting out the requirement for ICBs to have an executive lead for SEND, who will lead on supporting the chief executive and the board to ensure the ICB performs its functions effectively in the interests of children and young people with SEND.
Local authorities are responsible for providing social care services for disabled children which can include specialist equipment. The guidance on supporting disabled children and their carers is available at the following link:
Asked by: Jessica Toale (Labour - Bournemouth West)
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 adequacy of NHS provision of medical equipment for families with disabled children.
Answered by Zubir Ahmed - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
Integrated care boards (ICBs) are responsible for commissioning services to meet the health needs of their local population, and responsibility for providing disabled children’s equipment would typically fall to the National Health Service and local authorities.
We expect ICBs to follow guidance from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). In 2022 NICE published guidance on Disabled children and young people up to 25 with severe complex needs, which is available at the following link:
The Children and Families Act 2014 requires that education, health, and social care services must work together to meet the needs of children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). In May 2023, NHS England issued statutory guidance setting out the requirement for ICBs to have an executive lead for SEND, who will lead on supporting the chief executive and the board to ensure the ICB performs its functions effectively in the interests of children and young people with SEND.
Local authorities are responsible for providing social care services for disabled children which can include specialist equipment. The guidance on supporting disabled children and their carers is available at the following link:
Asked by: Jessica Toale (Labour - Bournemouth West)
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 improve public awareness of (a) HPV vaccination, (b) regular cervical screening and (c) other cervical cancer prevention measures.
Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
On 19 June 2025, NHS England launched its first ever cervical cancer elimination creative campaign and communications toolkit for Cervical Screening Awareness Week, which took place between 19 and 24 June 2025. The campaign included digital resources that create a strong sense of shared responsibility and aim to increase awareness of the elimination goal, educate the public about human papillomavirus (HPV), and build confidence in the HPV vaccine and cervical screening.
In March 2025, NHS England published its Cervical cancer elimination plan by 2040 – plan for England, setting out how the National Health Service will improve equitable uptake and coverage across HPV vaccination and cervical screening to meet the goal to eliminate cervical cancer by 2040. Further information on the Cervical cancer elimination plan by 2040 – plan for England is available at the following link:
https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/cervical-cancer-elimination-by-2040-plan-for-england/
NHS England will build on what is already working well to drive vaccination and screening uptake and coverage, focussing on five cross-cutting themes:
- increasing access;
- raising awareness;
- reducing inequalities;
- improving digital capabilities; and
- strengthening workforce capacity.
Ensuring that people are aware of, and understand the benefits of, HPV vaccination and cervical screening is crucial for informed decision making. Creating effective, nuanced, and culturally sensitive health communications relies on collaborative work with third sector partners and local communities.
NHS England will raise awareness of cervical cancer prevention offers through strategic, long-term and evidence-based communications.