Asked by: Oliver Ryan (Labour (Co-op) - Burnley)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the age-related eligibility criteria for NHS screening and vaccination programmes, if he will make an assessment of (a) the evidential basis and decision-making process by which the upper and lower age limits for each programme are determined; and (b) the impact of those age thresholds on patient outcomes, including early diagnosis, morbidity, mortality, and health inequalities.
Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
For screening programmes, the Government is guided by the independent scientific advice of the UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC). It is only where the offer to screen provides more good than harm that a screening programme is recommended.
The UK NSC considers all of the latest scientific evidence when reviewing the case for screening for different conditions. As the policy is based on the benefits and harms to whole populations, the screening decisions are based on the effect on the whole population, rather than individual circumstances. Where there is a lack of evidence, the committee cannot be confident that screening would benefit the population as a whole. In these circumstances, the proportionate approach is to screen within the range that has evidence to support the policy.
The National Health Service bowel screening programme in England was recently extended from 60 – 74 years old to 50 – 74 years old. This aligns with the evidence of where the screening programme can do the most good with the least harm caused. Harm can include increased anxiety, misdiagnosis, over diagnosis (where unnecessary and invasive follow up tests are offered), or unnecessary treatment.
The UK NSC is awaiting the results of the AgeX trial which is looking at extending the upper and lower age thresholds for breast screening. The Committee is also working with researchers in Australia who are considering whether vaccination would have an impact on the lower age of cervical screening.
The UK NSC keeps these age brackets under review. The Committee recognises that screening programmes are not static and that, over time, they may need to change to be more effective.
The Government’s policy on groups eligible for vaccination programmes is based on the recommendation of the independent expert advisory committee, the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI). When advising on programme eligibility, including any upper and lower age limit for vaccination programmes, the JCVI evaluates clinical data from a wide range of sources including disease epidemiology, age specific estimates of disease burden including deaths and hospitalisations, as well as age-specific vaccine efficacy and cost-effectiveness analyses.
Patient outcomes, including early diagnosis, morbidity, mortality, and health inequalities are influenced by multiple health factors. It would therefore not be possible to make an accurate assessment of how age threshold for screening and immunisation alone impacted those outcomes.
Asked by: Oliver Ryan (Labour (Co-op) - Burnley)
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 (a) awareness, (b) diagnosis and (c) clinical understanding of Bertolotti Syndrome within the NHS; and whether he plans to update NHS training materials or clinical guidelines to include reference to the (i) Jenkins LSTV classification system and (ii) other up-to-date approaches to the diagnosis and treatment of this condition.
Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
We are committed to giving people with long-term conditions, such as Bertolotti syndrome, the support that they need, including referral to specialist services as appropriate.
While there are no current plans to update National Health Service training materials or clinical guidelines to include reference to the Jenkins LSTV classification system, we would expect all spinal surgeons in England to be aware of Bertolotti syndrome and possible treatment options. Decision making about the risks and benefits of a treatment option is a matter of clinical judgement and shared decision-making with the patient.
Healthcare professionals are responsible for ensuring that their own clinical knowledge remains up-to-date, and for identifying learning needs as part of their continuing professional development.
Our recently published 10 Year Health Plan presents a significant opportunity to revolutionise care for people with conditions like Bertolotti syndrome by shifting from hospital-centric care to community-based and preventative approaches to manage or reduce symptoms, alongside digital advancements. The plan focuses on earlier intervention, improved access to care, and better integration of services to address the challenges faced by individuals with long-term conditions like Bertolotti syndrome.
Asked by: Oliver Ryan (Labour (Co-op) - Burnley)
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 (a) address the funding disparity and (b) provide additional financial support for Pendleside Hospice in Burnley.
Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
Most hospices are charitable, independent organisations which receive some statutory funding for providing National Health Services. The amount of funding each charitable hospice receives varies both within and between integrated care board (ICB) areas. This will vary depending on demand in that ICB area, but will also be dependent on the totality and type of palliative and end of life care provision from both NHS and non-NHS services, including charitable hospices, within each ICB area.
We are supporting the hospice sector with a £100 million capital funding boost for eligible adult and children’s hospices in England to ensure they have the best physical environment for care. Pendleside Hospice in Burnley received £95,256 from the first £25 million tranche of this funding in 2024/25. It will receive £285,768 from the second £75 million tranche of funding in 2025/26.
The Government and the NHS will closely monitor the shift towards the strategic commissioning of palliative and end of life care services to ensure that the future state of services reduces variation in access and quality, although some variation may be appropriate to reflect both innovation and the needs of local populations.
Asked by: Oliver Ryan (Labour (Co-op) - Burnley)
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 expand the Supervised Toothbrushing Scheme beyond early years settings to include older school-aged children; and whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of supporting school nurses and public health teams to provide (a) toothbrushes and (b) fluoride toothpaste during individual health assessments in areas with high levels of dental health inequality.
Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
There are no plans to change the focus of the national supervised toothbrushing programme from three to five-year-old children living in the 20% most deprived areas of England. However, there is flexibility for local authorities to consider additional provision if the needs of this population have been met. This might include older or younger children, children with special educational needs and disabilities, or other vulnerable groups. This should be based on local oral health needs assessments and decision making.
School nurses and public health teams, working with other professionals, have an essential role in promoting children’s oral health with population and individual level interventions. This can include the provision of toothbrushes and fluoride toothpaste packs based on local decision making.
Asked by: Oliver Ryan (Labour (Co-op) - Burnley)
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 promote the importance of regular eye tests and vision screening for children; and what further steps he plans to take to increase the uptake of eye tests among children.
Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
Free National Health Service sight tests are widely available for children under 16 years old, and under 19 years old in full time education. The NHS.UK website sets out the importance of regular sight tests whilst also providing information about who is entitled to free NHS sight tests. The Department also looks for opportunities to promote the importance of NHS sight tests, such as through National Eye Health Week.
All babies should receive a routine eye screening within 72 hours of birth as part of the newborn physical examination, and again at around six weeks of age. The UK National Screening Committee also recommends vision screening in school for children aged four to five years old to look for reduced vision in one or both eyes. Providers of this service will send information to parents, carers, or guardians, setting out why vision screening is important to encourage uptake.
Asked by: Oliver Ryan (Labour (Co-op) - Burnley)
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 merits of extending eligibility requirements for the NHS Health Check to adults aged between 25 to 39.
Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The NHS Health Check, a core component of England’s cardiovascular disease (CVD) prevention programme, assesses the risk factors for CVD in people aged 40 to 74 years old, provides advice on how to reduce the risk of developing CVD, and refers people to behaviour support programmes, clinical assessment, and treatment where appropriate.
Data shows that the older a person is, the more likely it is they will attend their NHS Health Check, with the highest uptake in the 70 to 74 year old age group.
We are undertaking a review of the evidence for expanding eligibility to people under 40 years of age. This work will inform the ongoing policy for the NHS Health Check programme.
Asked by: Oliver Ryan (Labour (Co-op) - Burnley)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of ambulance response times.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
We have been clear our assessment is that ambulance response times have been wholly inadequate in recent years. Patients with serious conditions such as suspected strokes waited over 34 minutes on average last month for an ambulance to arrive – nearly twice as long as the 18-minute standard. This Government is committed to returning the NHS to the Constitution’s standards.