Asked by: Natalie Fleet (Labour - Bolsover)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the average waiting time for patients awaiting assessment by a Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service doctor has been for each of the last five years for which data is available in a) Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, b) Chesterfield Royal Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and c) England.
Answered by Zubir Ahmed - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The following table shows the median waiting time in days between a referral start date and the end of the year for referrals for children and young people aged under 18 years old supported through National Health Service funded mental health, who are still waiting for a first contact as of the end of the year, for the Chesterfield Royal Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, the Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, and for England overall:
| 2020/21 | 2021/22 | 2022/23 | 2023/24 | 2024/25 |
Chesterfield Royal Hospital NHS Foundation Trust | 66 | - | 273 | 323 | 134 |
Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust | 122 | 137 | 166 | 165 | 214 |
England | 133 | 134 | 161 | 223 | 305 |
In addition, the following table shows the median waiting times in days between referral and first contact, for referrals with a first contact in the year, for the last five years for which data is available in the Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, the Chesterfield Royal Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, and in England overall:
| 2020/21 | 2021/22 | 2022/23 | 2023/24 | 2024/25 |
Chesterfield Royal Hospital NHS Foundation Trust | 40 | 41 | - | 330 | 79 |
Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust | 26 | 59 | 43 | 34 | 28 |
England | 7 | 12 | 14 | 15 | 15 |
Source: Mental Health Services Data Set (MHSDS).
The methodology is based upon that used in the Mental Health Services Monthly Statistics but has been amended to use the first contact in the financial year rather than the quarter, for those still waiting at the end of the year. Published Mental Health Services Monthly Statistics can be found at the following link:
A first contact can be defined as either direct contact, for instance contacts where the patient was present and seen by a health professional, or indirect activity, contacts where the patient wasn't present, but their care was discussed by health professionals. This is in line with existing methodologies for children and young people accessing mental health services.
The submission of the staff details table in MHSDS is not mandatory for providers and thus the usage of this table to identify a doctor would likely result in an undercount. Therefore, first contact in this methodology may or may not be with a doctor, but would typically be with an individual considered to be a health professional.
Figures have been rounded to the nearest whole number for waiting time measures.
NHS England has provided data up to March 2025, as data past this point is still subject to change under the multiple submission window model.
The Chesterfield Royal Hospital NHS Foundation Trust did not submit any open referrals for March 2022 and therefore referrals from this provider cannot be classed as 'still waiting' and are not included in the figures for 2021/22. In addition, the Chesterfield Royal Hospital NHS Foundation Trust did not submit any care contacts with an Age at Care Contact between zero and 17 years old for the whole of 2022/23 and therefore are not included in the figures for 2022/23.
Asked by: Natalie Fleet (Labour - Bolsover)
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 relevant stakeholders on making the display of food safety ratings for food businesses compulsory.
Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Food Hygiene Rating Scheme (FHRS) is operated by the Food Standards Agency (FSA) in partnership with local authorities across England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. Businesses in Wales and Northern Ireland are legally required to display their rating stickers at their premises, while those in England are encouraged to do so.
Introducing a statutory scheme with mandatory display of ratings in England would require primary legislation as well as the securing of a suitable legislative vehicle and parliamentary time. The FSA is considering options to bring forward reforms to food regulation and this will include consideration of a mandatory FHRS in England. Ministers will consider the options in due course.
In the meantime, the FSA continues to work with local authority partners and stakeholders to maintain and improve the impacts of the FHRS which is a highly successful public health initiative.
Asked by: Natalie Fleet (Labour - Bolsover)
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 joined up working between local authority social services and the NHS in dementia cases where a patient and their carer live in different local authority areas.
Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
Carer support where a carer lives in a different local authority or National Health Service integrated care board area is not specifically detailed in the dementia guidance documents. However, all core dementia guidance, including The Dementia 100, The Dementia Care Pathway, and The Dementia RightCare scenario, signal the expectation to provide person-centred, integrated pathways across health and social care. This principle is intended to support carers irrespective of location.
We will deliver the first ever Modern Service Framework for Frailty and Dementia to deliver rapid and significant improvements in quality of care and productivity. This will be informed by phase one of the independent commission into adult social care, expected in 2026.
Those with dementia will also benefit from more joined-up care through co-created care plans, as by 2027, 95% of those with complex needs will have an agreed care plan.
The My Carer tool will give family, friends, and carers, including those looking after someone with dementia, access to the NHS App. This will ensure decisions are agreed and taken by those who best know the patient, who may not be able to make those decisions independently, whilst making it easier for unpaid carers to manage their care and access professionals whenever they need them.
Asked by: Natalie Fleet (Labour - Bolsover)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, on what terms dementia care specialists have been employed by the NHS in Derbyshire in each of the last five years.
Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
This information is not held centrally.
Care for those living with dementia is provided by multidisciplinary teams, with many elements of this care being in place for many years. This includes, but is not limited to, general practitioners, nurses, speech and language therapists, physiotherapists, and social workers.
Provision of dementia health care services is the responsibility of local integrated care boards (ICBs). NHS England would expect ICBs to commission services based on local population needs, taking account of the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidelines.
Asked by: Natalie Fleet (Labour - Bolsover)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how his Department is ensuring that NHS weight management services comply with NICE guidance on the use of (a) established community-based programmes and (b) combined behavioural and pharmacological support for obesity.
Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence’s (NICE) guidance on overweight and obesity management sets out the core components and standards for community-based weight management programmes, including multi-component behavioural interventions. Commissioning organisations, including local integrated care boards (ICBs), local authorities, and NHS England, and providers are expected to take the guidance into account when designing and delivering services. Support for compliance includes:
- detailed advice within the NICE guidance itself on the structure and content of effective community-based interventions;
- implementation support toolkits and practical guides from NICE; and
- funding through NHS England allocations for ICBs and the Public Health Grant for local authorities.
NICE guidance recommends that pharmacological treatments for obesity should only be offered alongside behavioural interventions, to provide ‘wraparound care’. ICBs have a legal duty to make NICE-recommended medicines available and are expected to ensure that patients prescribed these medicines also receive appropriate behavioural and lifestyle support. There is further support for ICBs in addition to that listed above, including:
- NHS England’s interim commissioning guidance and a centrally funded wraparound care service, Healthier You: Behavioural Support for Obesity Prescribing, with procurement underway for a longer-term offer; and
- additional funding to support the delivery of services within primary care and the cost of obesity medicines in line with the interim commissioning background.
Asked by: Natalie Fleet (Labour - Bolsover)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how may dentists offering NHS treatment to adults there are per 1,000 people in (a) Bolsover constituency, (b) Derbyshire and (c) England.
Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
In 2023/24, there were 49 dentists per 100,000 people in the NHS Derby and Derbyshire Integrated Care Board (ICB) area. This is compared to an average across ICBs of 50 dentists per 100,000 people in England. It should be noted that the published figure for England is 42 dentists per 100,000 people. This differs from the ICB average as dentists can perform National Health Service dentistry in multiple ICBs, leading to some being double counted at a sub national level. We have provided the average across ICBs which is better for direct comparisons at an ICB level.
The responsibility for commissioning primary care services, including NHS dentistry, to meet the needs of the local population has been delegated to ICBs across England. For the Bolsover constituency, this is the Derby and Derbyshire ICB.
Asked by: Natalie Fleet (Labour - Bolsover)
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 improve access to NHS dentistry in Bolsover constituency.
Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The responsibility for commissioning primary care services, including National Health Service dentistry, to meet the needs of the local population has been delegated to the integrated care boards (ICBs) across England. For the Bolsover constituency, this is the Derby and Derbyshire ICB.
We will deliver 700,000 extra urgent dental appointments per year, and ICBs have been making extra appointments available from 1 April 2025. The Derby and Derbyshire ICB is expected to deliver 16,298 additional urgent dental appointments as part of the scheme.
ICBs are recruiting posts through the Golden Hello scheme. This recruitment incentive will see dentists receiving payments of £20,000 to work in those areas that need them most for three years.
The Government’s ambition is to deliver fundamental contract reform before the end of this Parliament.
Asked by: Natalie Fleet (Labour - Bolsover)
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 dental care provision in Bolsover constituency.
Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The responsibility for commissioning primary care services, including National Health Service dentistry, to meet the needs of the local population has been delegated to the integrated care boards (ICBs) across England. For the Bolsover constituency, this is the Derby and Derbyshire ICB.
We will deliver 700,000 extra urgent dental appointments per year, and ICBs have been making extra appointments available from 1 April 2025. The Derby and Derbyshire ICB is expected to deliver 16,298 additional urgent dental appointments as part of the scheme.
ICBs are recruiting posts through the Golden Hello scheme. This recruitment incentive will see dentists receiving payments of £20,000 to work in those areas that need them most for three years.
The Government’s ambition is to deliver fundamental contract reform before the end of this Parliament.
Asked by: Natalie Fleet (Labour - Bolsover)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many additional urgent dental appointments have been made available in Bolsover constituency in 2025.
Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The responsibility for commissioning primary care services, including National Health Service dentistry, to meet the needs of the local population has been delegated to the integrated care boards (ICBs) across England. For the Bolsover constituency, this is the Derby and Derbyshire ICB.
We will deliver 700,000 extra urgent dental appointments per year, and ICBs have been making extra appointments available from 1 April 2025. The Derby and Derbyshire ICB is expected to deliver 16,298 additional urgent dental appointments as part of the scheme.
ICBs are recruiting posts through the Golden Hello scheme. This recruitment incentive will see dentists receiving payments of £20,000 to work in those areas that need them most for three years.
The Government’s ambition is to deliver fundamental contract reform before the end of this Parliament.
Asked by: Natalie Fleet (Labour - Bolsover)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many children have been hospitalised needing treatment for dental decay in (a) Bolsover constituency, (b) Derbyshire and (c) England in each of the last five years.
Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID) publishes annual official statistics on tooth extractions in zero- to 19-year-olds that take place in a National Health Service hospital setting in England. The following table shows the number of finished consultant episodes (FCEs) for tooth extraction with dental caries, also known as tooth decay, as the primary diagnosis code between the 2019/20 and 2023/24 financial years, for children aged zero to 19 years old in England, in the Derbyshire upper tier local authority, and in the Bolsover lower tier local authority:
Financial year | England | Derbyshire | Bolsover |
2023/24 | 30,587 | 105 | 15 |
2022/23 | 31,165 | 110 | 10 |
2021/22 | 26,741 | 135 | 15 |
2020/21 | 14,645 | 100 | 15 |
2019/20 | 35,190 | 175 | 15 |
Source: the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities’ annual statistics on tooth extractions zero to 19 year olds that take place in an NHS hospital setting in England, available at the following link:
https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/hospital-based-tooth-extractions-in-0-to-19-year-olds
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