Asked by: Layla Moran (Liberal Democrat - Oxford West and Abingdon)
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 help raise awareness among young people of the risks of sudden cardiac death in (a) grassroots sports clubs and (b) higher education settings.
Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
To reduce the risks of sudden cardiac death, NHS England has a published a national service specification for Inherited Cardiac Conditions that covers patients who often present as young adults with previously undiagnosed cardiac disease or as families requiring follow up due to a death from this cause. This describes the service model and guidance that should be followed to support the diagnosis and treatment of patients or family members. It also includes the requirement for specialised Inherited Cardiac Conditions services to investigate suspected cases.
Asked by: Layla Moran (Liberal Democrat - Oxford West and Abingdon)
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 introduce screening for asymptomatic heart conditions in young people in sports settings.
Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
I refer the Hon. Member to the answer I gave on 27 October 2025 to Question 78454.
Asked by: Layla Moran (Liberal Democrat - Oxford West and Abingdon)
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 help raise awareness among young people of the risks of sudden cardiac death in (a) grass roots sports clubs and (b) higher education settings.
Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
To reduce the risks of sudden cardiac death, NHS England has published a national service specification for inherited cardiac conditions that covers patients who often present as young adults with previously undiagnosed cardiac disease or families requiring follow-up due to a death from this cause. This describes the service model and guidance that should be followed to support diagnosis and treatment of patients or family members. It also includes the requirement for specialised inherited cardiac conditions services to investigate suspected cases.
Asked by: Layla Moran (Liberal Democrat - Oxford West and Abingdon)
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 gather additional data on the (a) effectiveness and (b) safety of the Respiratory Syncytial Virus vaccination in people that are over 80.
Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) undertakes monitoring and evaluation of immunisation programmes, including the effectiveness of vaccines. The Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) monitors vaccine safety. The UKHSA and the MHRA are in regular contact with manufacturers over new and emerging data from their products.
Evidence of effectiveness and safety in relevant age groups in the United States of America, which implemented older adult vaccination a season ahead of the United Kingdom, was used to inform the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation’s (JCVIs) considerations on extending the UK programme to adults aged 80 years old and older. The JCVI’s meeting minutes and statement of 16 July 2025 advising an extension to the UK respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) programme are available at the following link:
https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/joint-committee-on-vaccination-and-immunisation
The JCVI keeps the RSV programme under regular review. Evidence on the safety and effectiveness of RSV vaccines in all age groups in all countries where data has been made available is used to inform JCVI advice.
Asked by: Layla Moran (Liberal Democrat - Oxford West and Abingdon)
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 introduce screening for asymptomatic heart conditions in young people in sports settings.
Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
In the United Kingdom, national screening programmes are introduced based on the recommendations of the UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC), an independent scientific advisory committee which advises ministers and the National Health Service in all four countries on all aspects of population and targeted screening and which supports implementation.
The UK NSC last reviewed screening for sudden cardiac death (SCD) in people under the age of 39 years old in 2019 and concluded that population screening should not be offered. Further information is available at the following link:
https://view-health-screening-recommendations.service.gov.uk/sudden-cardiac-death/
The UK NSC is currently examining the evidence for SCD screening and will open a public consultation to seek comments from members of the public and stakeholders on this in due course.
Asked by: Layla Moran (Liberal Democrat - Oxford West and Abingdon)
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 improve (a) early diagnosis and (b) treatment of genetic haemochromatosis.
Answered by Zubir Ahmed - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
Genomic testing in the National Health Service in England is provided through the NHS Genomic Medicine Service (GMS) and directed by the National Genomic Test Directory which sets out the eligibility criteria for patients to access testing as well as the genomic targets to be tested.
Genomic testing for haemochromatosis is available through the NHS GMS for people who show unexplained iron overload suggestive of hereditary haemochromatosis. Testing is available for all eligible patients across England and any healthcare professional who suspects their patient may have haemochromatosis can refer their patient for testing via their local NHS Clinical Genomic Service.
Treatment for genetic haemochromatosis is commissioned by local integrated care boards, including venesection, also known as phlebotomy, to remove some blood to reduce blood iron levels. In a small number of cases where regular phlebotomies are not possible, a chelation therapy may be used.
Asked by: Layla Moran (Liberal Democrat - Oxford West and Abingdon)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when he expects the NICE guidelines for Dysmenorrhoea, Adenomyosis, and Chronic Pelvic Pain conditions to be published.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has no current plans to develop standalone guidelines on dysmenorrhoea, adenomyosis, and chronic pelvic pain.
There are existing NICE guidelines on heavy menstrual bleeding, chronic pain, and endometriosis. There is also a Clinical Knowledge Summary on dysmenorrhoea that summarises the current evidence base and provides practical advice for primary care professionals.
Topics for new or updated guidance are considered through the NICE prioritisation process. Decisions as to whether NICE will create new, or update existing, guidance are overseen by an integrated, cross-organisational prioritisation board, chaired by NICE’s chief medical officer.
Asked by: Layla Moran (Liberal Democrat - Oxford West and Abingdon)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he plans to take to improve the educational provision for health professionals in the (a) diagnosis, (b) prevention and (b) management of chronic pelvic pain in the field of imaging.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Government is committed to improving the management of long-term conditions, as reflected in our Elective Reform Plan, published in January 2025, and in our 10-Year Health Plan. Part of this will be reforming patient pathways to ensure patients with chronic conditions receive joined-up, rounded care to meet their health needs. NHS England is working with professional clinical bodies on a programme of work to reform pathways, reflecting the required shift of care from hospital to community.
Ensuring patients receive their care from skilled healthcare professionals in the right setting is an important part of pathway reform, including for chronic conditions. We will ensure that the number of medical specialty training places, including for radiology and clinical oncology, meets the demands of the National Health Service in the future. Over the next three years, we will create 1,000 new specialty training posts with a focus on specialties where there is the greatest need. The Government is committed to training the staff we need to provide patients with quality and timely care, including health professions. The 10 Year Workforce Plan will outline strategies for improving the training of staff and will work closely with partners in education to do so, to ensure that allied health professional remains an attractive career choice.
Asked by: Layla Moran (Liberal Democrat - Oxford West and Abingdon)
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 merits of the establishment of a multidisciplinary pathway for the diagnosis and management of chronic pelvic pain.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Government is committed to improving the management of long-term conditions, as reflected in our Elective Reform Plan, published in January 2025, and in our 10-Year Health Plan. Part of this will be reforming patient pathways to ensure patients with chronic conditions receive joined-up, rounded care to meet their health needs. NHS England is working with professional clinical bodies on a programme of work to reform pathways, reflecting the required shift of care from hospital to community.
Ensuring patients receive their care from skilled healthcare professionals in the right setting is an important part of pathway reform, including for chronic conditions. We will ensure that the number of medical specialty training places, including for radiology and clinical oncology, meets the demands of the National Health Service in the future. Over the next three years, we will create 1,000 new specialty training posts with a focus on specialties where there is the greatest need. The Government is committed to training the staff we need to provide patients with quality and timely care, including health professions. The 10 Year Workforce Plan will outline strategies for improving the training of staff and will work closely with partners in education to do so, to ensure that allied health professional remains an attractive career choice.
Asked by: Layla Moran (Liberal Democrat - Oxford West and Abingdon)
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 that Integrated Care Systems provide a range of weight management services.
Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
Local authorities and Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) are responsible for providing local weight management services, taking into account their population needs and relevant guidance. Weight management services range from behavioural programmes to specialist services for those living with obesity and associated co-morbidities.
Local authorities are able to fund behavioural weight management services from their Public Health Grant. Additionally, NHS England commissions the NHS Digital Weight Management Programme nationally, which can be accessed via referral from general practice or community pharmacy.
ICBs are responsible for commissioning NHS specialist weight management services. Until recently the newest obesity medicines have only been available via the NHS through specialist weight management services. One of these medicines, tirzepatide (brand name Mounjaro®), is now available in primary care, with access currently being prioritised to those with the greatest clinical need. ICBs are developing new care pathways to ensure that patients can access these medicines via general practice.