Asked by: Max Wilkinson (Liberal Democrat - Cheltenham)
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 amount of time spent by pharmacists trying to source medications during shortages.
Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Secretary of State for Wales
No assessment of the amount of time spent by pharmacists trying to source medications during shortages has been made. However, this issue has been considered when we consulted on proposals to enable pharmacist flexibilities when dispensing medicines. More information is available at the following link:
Pharmacists were invited to submit evidence to inform the accompanying impact assessment as to the number of times and time taken to source medicines for patients. We will issue a formal consultation response in the coming months.
The Department has an online reporting tool, known as the Discontinuations and Shortages (DaSH) portal, launched in October 2020, which suppliers can use to notify the Department.
We issue National Health Service communications on supply issues when they arise, to provide management advice and information on the issue to healthcare professionals including pharmacists, so they can advise and support their patients. The Department has produced guidance leaflets for patients, community pharmacies, and general practitioners to support them during medicines shortages. These are also available on the Specialist Pharmacy Services website at the following link:
https://www.sps.nhs.uk/articles/medicines-shortages-leaflets-and-posters/
Asked by: Max Wilkinson (Liberal Democrat - Cheltenham)
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 reduce the time spent by pharmacists trying to source medications during shortages.
Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Secretary of State for Wales
No assessment of the amount of time spent by pharmacists trying to source medications during shortages has been made. However, this issue has been considered when we consulted on proposals to enable pharmacist flexibilities when dispensing medicines. More information is available at the following link:
Pharmacists were invited to submit evidence to inform the accompanying impact assessment as to the number of times and time taken to source medicines for patients. We will issue a formal consultation response in the coming months.
The Department has an online reporting tool, known as the Discontinuations and Shortages (DaSH) portal, launched in October 2020, which suppliers can use to notify the Department.
We issue National Health Service communications on supply issues when they arise, to provide management advice and information on the issue to healthcare professionals including pharmacists, so they can advise and support their patients. The Department has produced guidance leaflets for patients, community pharmacies, and general practitioners to support them during medicines shortages. These are also available on the Specialist Pharmacy Services website at the following link:
https://www.sps.nhs.uk/articles/medicines-shortages-leaflets-and-posters/
Asked by: Max Wilkinson (Liberal Democrat - Cheltenham)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what discussions his Department has had with NHS Employers on pay adjustments to support visa holders in meeting indefinite leave to remain salary thresholds.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Department does not centrally hold data on the number of National Health Service staff whose salaries fall below the salary requirements for indefinite leave to remain, how many are within £500 of those requirements, or how many employees on Skilled Worker visas will not meet the relevant salary requirements at the point they become eligible for indefinite leave to remain.
For Health and Care Worker visa holders, eligibility for indefinite leave to remain is subject to meeting the salary requirements set out in the Immigration Rules. These include occupation‑specific salary “going rates”, many of which are aligned to national Agenda for Change pay scales for NHS roles. Individual eligibility for indefinite leave to remain will depend on specific circumstance. More information on the salary requirements is provided on the GOV.UK website.
The Department engages regularly with NHS Employers and other partners on a range of workforce matters, including international recruitment and retention.
The Home Office consultation on Earned Settlement closed in February 2026 and responses are currently being analysed. This will inform development of the final Earned Settlement model, including consideration of any potential exemptions or transitional measures for those already on a pathway to settlement. Following this, the necessary impact assessments, including those relating to health and care workers, will be undertaken. The Government will set out further details in due course.
Asked by: Max Wilkinson (Liberal Democrat - Cheltenham)
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 staff being unable to secure indefinite leave to remain due to salary thresholds on the workforce in the NHS.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Department does not centrally hold data on the number of National Health Service staff whose salaries fall below the salary requirements for indefinite leave to remain, how many are within £500 of those requirements, or how many employees on Skilled Worker visas will not meet the relevant salary requirements at the point they become eligible for indefinite leave to remain.
For Health and Care Worker visa holders, eligibility for indefinite leave to remain is subject to meeting the salary requirements set out in the Immigration Rules. These include occupation‑specific salary “going rates”, many of which are aligned to national Agenda for Change pay scales for NHS roles. Individual eligibility for indefinite leave to remain will depend on specific circumstance. More information on the salary requirements is provided on the GOV.UK website.
The Department engages regularly with NHS Employers and other partners on a range of workforce matters, including international recruitment and retention.
The Home Office consultation on Earned Settlement closed in February 2026 and responses are currently being analysed. This will inform development of the final Earned Settlement model, including consideration of any potential exemptions or transitional measures for those already on a pathway to settlement. Following this, the necessary impact assessments, including those relating to health and care workers, will be undertaken. The Government will set out further details in due course.
Asked by: Max Wilkinson (Liberal Democrat - Cheltenham)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many NHS employees with Skilled Worker visas will not meet the salary threshold for indefinite leave to remain at their current pay levels at the point of eligibility.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Department does not centrally hold data on the number of National Health Service staff whose salaries fall below the salary requirements for indefinite leave to remain, how many are within £500 of those requirements, or how many employees on Skilled Worker visas will not meet the relevant salary requirements at the point they become eligible for indefinite leave to remain.
For Health and Care Worker visa holders, eligibility for indefinite leave to remain is subject to meeting the salary requirements set out in the Immigration Rules. These include occupation‑specific salary “going rates”, many of which are aligned to national Agenda for Change pay scales for NHS roles. Individual eligibility for indefinite leave to remain will depend on specific circumstance. More information on the salary requirements is provided on the GOV.UK website.
The Department engages regularly with NHS Employers and other partners on a range of workforce matters, including international recruitment and retention.
The Home Office consultation on Earned Settlement closed in February 2026 and responses are currently being analysed. This will inform development of the final Earned Settlement model, including consideration of any potential exemptions or transitional measures for those already on a pathway to settlement. Following this, the necessary impact assessments, including those relating to health and care workers, will be undertaken. The Government will set out further details in due course.
Asked by: Max Wilkinson (Liberal Democrat - Cheltenham)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many NHS workers have salaries within £500 of the salary threshold required for indefinite leave to remain.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Department does not centrally hold data on the number of National Health Service staff whose salaries fall below the salary requirements for indefinite leave to remain, how many are within £500 of those requirements, or how many employees on Skilled Worker visas will not meet the relevant salary requirements at the point they become eligible for indefinite leave to remain.
For Health and Care Worker visa holders, eligibility for indefinite leave to remain is subject to meeting the salary requirements set out in the Immigration Rules. These include occupation‑specific salary “going rates”, many of which are aligned to national Agenda for Change pay scales for NHS roles. Individual eligibility for indefinite leave to remain will depend on specific circumstance. More information on the salary requirements is provided on the GOV.UK website.
The Department engages regularly with NHS Employers and other partners on a range of workforce matters, including international recruitment and retention.
The Home Office consultation on Earned Settlement closed in February 2026 and responses are currently being analysed. This will inform development of the final Earned Settlement model, including consideration of any potential exemptions or transitional measures for those already on a pathway to settlement. Following this, the necessary impact assessments, including those relating to health and care workers, will be undertaken. The Government will set out further details in due course.
Asked by: Max Wilkinson (Liberal Democrat - Cheltenham)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate his Department has made of the number of NHS staff whose current salaries fall below the threshold required for indefinite leave to remain.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Department does not centrally hold data on the number of National Health Service staff whose salaries fall below the salary requirements for indefinite leave to remain, how many are within £500 of those requirements, or how many employees on Skilled Worker visas will not meet the relevant salary requirements at the point they become eligible for indefinite leave to remain.
For Health and Care Worker visa holders, eligibility for indefinite leave to remain is subject to meeting the salary requirements set out in the Immigration Rules. These include occupation‑specific salary “going rates”, many of which are aligned to national Agenda for Change pay scales for NHS roles. Individual eligibility for indefinite leave to remain will depend on specific circumstance. More information on the salary requirements is provided on the GOV.UK website.
The Department engages regularly with NHS Employers and other partners on a range of workforce matters, including international recruitment and retention.
The Home Office consultation on Earned Settlement closed in February 2026 and responses are currently being analysed. This will inform development of the final Earned Settlement model, including consideration of any potential exemptions or transitional measures for those already on a pathway to settlement. Following this, the necessary impact assessments, including those relating to health and care workers, will be undertaken. The Government will set out further details in due course.
Asked by: Max Wilkinson (Liberal Democrat - Cheltenham)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps is the Government taking to ensure that pharmacies are sustainably funded for the increasing costs and staff time involved in sourcing medicines during supply shortages.
Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Secretary of State for Wales
The Government has recently increased funding for the community pharmacy sector by £340 million in 2026/27, a 10% cash uplift that supports pharmacies across England and patients' access to medicines. This builds on the 19% uplift to the community pharmacy budget across 2024/25 and 2025/26. The Government recognises the financial and operational pressures facing community pharmacy, including those associated with medicines supply issues, and remains committed to working with the sector to support a sustainable pharmacy network.
Access to community pharmacy remains strong, with over 80% of the population living within one mile of a pharmacy, alongside more than 400 distance-selling pharmacies which provide medicines directly to patients' homes. Local authorities' Health and Wellbeing Boards regularly assess pharmaceutical need through Pharmaceutical Needs Assessments, which inform integrated care board commissioning decisions and help ensure patients continue to have access to pharmaceutical services where they are needed.
Medicines supply issues are primarily driven by global manufacturing, commercial, and distribution factors. While we cannot always prevent supply issues from occurring, we have a range of established tools to manage them and mitigate risks to patients. These include close and regular engagement with suppliers, use of alternative strengths or forms of a medicine to allow patients to remain on the same product, expediting regulatory procedures, sourcing unlicensed imports from abroad, adding products to the restricted exports and hoarding list, use of Serious Shortage Protocols, and issuing National Health Service communications to provide management advice and information on the issue to healthcare professionals including pharmacists, so they can advise and support their patients.
Asked by: Max Wilkinson (Liberal Democrat - Cheltenham)
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 closures of community pharmacies on the level of medication supplies.
Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Secretary of State for Wales
The Government has recently increased funding for the community pharmacy sector by £340 million in 2026/27, a 10% cash uplift that supports pharmacies across England and patients' access to medicines. This builds on the 19% uplift to the community pharmacy budget across 2024/25 and 2025/26. The Government recognises the financial and operational pressures facing community pharmacy, including those associated with medicines supply issues, and remains committed to working with the sector to support a sustainable pharmacy network.
Access to community pharmacy remains strong, with over 80% of the population living within one mile of a pharmacy, alongside more than 400 distance-selling pharmacies which provide medicines directly to patients' homes. Local authorities' Health and Wellbeing Boards regularly assess pharmaceutical need through Pharmaceutical Needs Assessments, which inform integrated care board commissioning decisions and help ensure patients continue to have access to pharmaceutical services where they are needed.
Medicines supply issues are primarily driven by global manufacturing, commercial, and distribution factors. While we cannot always prevent supply issues from occurring, we have a range of established tools to manage them and mitigate risks to patients. These include close and regular engagement with suppliers, use of alternative strengths or forms of a medicine to allow patients to remain on the same product, expediting regulatory procedures, sourcing unlicensed imports from abroad, adding products to the restricted exports and hoarding list, use of Serious Shortage Protocols, and issuing National Health Service communications to provide management advice and information on the issue to healthcare professionals including pharmacists, so they can advise and support their patients.
Asked by: Max Wilkinson (Liberal Democrat - Cheltenham)
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 prevent the closure of community pharmacies facing sustained financial pressures and medication supply issues.
Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Secretary of State for Wales
The Government has recently increased funding for the community pharmacy sector by £340 million in 2026/27, a 10% cash uplift that supports pharmacies across England and patients' access to medicines. This builds on the 19% uplift to the community pharmacy budget across 2024/25 and 2025/26. The Government recognises the financial and operational pressures facing community pharmacy, including those associated with medicines supply issues, and remains committed to working with the sector to support a sustainable pharmacy network.
Access to community pharmacy remains strong, with over 80% of the population living within one mile of a pharmacy, alongside more than 400 distance-selling pharmacies which provide medicines directly to patients' homes. Local authorities' Health and Wellbeing Boards regularly assess pharmaceutical need through Pharmaceutical Needs Assessments, which inform integrated care board commissioning decisions and help ensure patients continue to have access to pharmaceutical services where they are needed.
Medicines supply issues are primarily driven by global manufacturing, commercial, and distribution factors. While we cannot always prevent supply issues from occurring, we have a range of established tools to manage them and mitigate risks to patients. These include close and regular engagement with suppliers, use of alternative strengths or forms of a medicine to allow patients to remain on the same product, expediting regulatory procedures, sourcing unlicensed imports from abroad, adding products to the restricted exports and hoarding list, use of Serious Shortage Protocols, and issuing National Health Service communications to provide management advice and information on the issue to healthcare professionals including pharmacists, so they can advise and support their patients.