Asked by: Stuart Andrew (Conservative - Daventry)
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 whether NHS England’s projected PET-CT activity volumes for prostate cancer under the forthcoming commissioning arrangements align with current regional activity levels; and what assessment he has made of any variance between projected and existing provision.
Answered by Sharon Hodgson - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
NHS England is responsible for commissioning prostate‑specific membrane antigen (PSMA) radiotracers for positron emission tomography–computed tomography (PET‑CT) imaging for adults with high‑risk primary or recurrent prostate cancer. The commissioning policy, published in February 2025, sets out that PSMA PET‑CT should be available as a routinely commissioned imaging option within defined clinical criteria.
NHS England undertook an assessment of current service provision, clinical evidence, and projected demand. This included reviewing existing PET‑CT activity across regions to identify variation and to ensure that projected activity volumes for prostate cancer aligned with current patterns of use and expected regional need. NHS England also considered evidence on current provision and expert advice when determining its recommended commissioning position.
With respect to the modelling assumptions underpinning projected PSMA PET‑CT activity levels, NHS England’s assessment drew on a review of clinical evidence, expected diagnostic pathways, and forward‑looking estimates of the number of patients with high‑risk primary or recurrent prostate cancer who would meet the criteria for PSMA PET‑CT. The Clinical Panel and commissioning groups considered evidence on current provision, anticipated future utilisation, and the role of PSMA PET‑CT where conventional imaging leaves clinically important uncertainties. These assessments are reflected in the policy documentation and supporting evidence reviews published by NHS England.
The commissioning policy documents including the Clinical Panel report, Evidence Review, and associated materials, are publicly available on the NHS England website at the following link:
Asked by: Stuart Andrew (Conservative - Daventry)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he plans to publish the methodology used by NHS England to calculate projected PET-CT activity volumes, including any assumptions relating to future demand growth and pathway developments in prostate cancer.
Answered by Sharon Hodgson - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
NHS England is responsible for commissioning prostate‑specific membrane antigen (PSMA) radiotracers for positron emission tomography–computed tomography (PET‑CT) imaging for adults with high‑risk primary or recurrent prostate cancer. The commissioning policy, published in February 2025, sets out that PSMA PET‑CT should be available as a routinely commissioned imaging option within defined clinical criteria.
NHS England undertook an assessment of current service provision, clinical evidence, and projected demand. This included reviewing existing PET‑CT activity across regions to identify variation and to ensure that projected activity volumes for prostate cancer aligned with current patterns of use and expected regional need. NHS England also considered evidence on current provision and expert advice when determining its recommended commissioning position.
With respect to the modelling assumptions underpinning projected PSMA PET‑CT activity levels, NHS England’s assessment drew on a review of clinical evidence, expected diagnostic pathways, and forward‑looking estimates of the number of patients with high‑risk primary or recurrent prostate cancer who would meet the criteria for PSMA PET‑CT. The Clinical Panel and commissioning groups considered evidence on current provision, anticipated future utilisation, and the role of PSMA PET‑CT where conventional imaging leaves clinically important uncertainties. These assessments are reflected in the policy documentation and supporting evidence reviews published by NHS England.
The commissioning policy documents including the Clinical Panel report, Evidence Review, and associated materials, are publicly available on the NHS England website at the following link:
Asked by: Stuart Andrew (Conservative - Daventry)
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 whether the modelling assumptions underpinning projected PSMA PET-CT activity volumes within the forthcoming PET-CT commissioning arrangements are (a) forward-looking and (b) reflect clinical demand.
Answered by Sharon Hodgson - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
NHS England is responsible for commissioning prostate‑specific membrane antigen (PSMA) radiotracers for positron emission tomography–computed tomography (PET‑CT) imaging for adults with high‑risk primary or recurrent prostate cancer. The commissioning policy, published in February 2025, sets out that PSMA PET‑CT should be available as a routinely commissioned imaging option within defined clinical criteria.
NHS England undertook an assessment of current service provision, clinical evidence, and projected demand. This included reviewing existing PET‑CT activity across regions to identify variation and to ensure that projected activity volumes for prostate cancer aligned with current patterns of use and expected regional need. NHS England also considered evidence on current provision and expert advice when determining its recommended commissioning position.
With respect to the modelling assumptions underpinning projected PSMA PET‑CT activity levels, NHS England’s assessment drew on a review of clinical evidence, expected diagnostic pathways, and forward‑looking estimates of the number of patients with high‑risk primary or recurrent prostate cancer who would meet the criteria for PSMA PET‑CT. The Clinical Panel and commissioning groups considered evidence on current provision, anticipated future utilisation, and the role of PSMA PET‑CT where conventional imaging leaves clinically important uncertainties. These assessments are reflected in the policy documentation and supporting evidence reviews published by NHS England.
The commissioning policy documents including the Clinical Panel report, Evidence Review, and associated materials, are publicly available on the NHS England website at the following link:
Asked by: Stuart Andrew (Conservative - Daventry)
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 inpatient mental health services have sufficient staffing levels and the appropriate skill mix to provide safe and therapeutic care.
Answered by Zubir Ahmed - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
As part of our mission to build a National Health Service that is fit for the future and that is there when people need it, the Government is recruiting an additional 8,500 mental health workers by the end of this Parliament. Over 8,000 of these workers have been recruited since July 2024, which will help to ease pressure on busy mental health services. We will publish a 10 Year Workforce Plan later this year to ensure the NHS has the right people in the right places to care for patients when they need it.
Asked by: Stuart Andrew (Conservative - Daventry)
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, with NHS England and integrated care boards, to address systemic failings in inpatient mental health care.
Answered by Zubir Ahmed - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
Anyone receiving mental health treatment should be able to expect consistently safe, high‑quality care. Families, staff, and the public deserve answers when things go wrong in mental health settings and it is vitally important that, where care falls short, we learn from any mistakes made to improve care across the National Health Service and to protect patients in the future. To this end, the Department has announced a statutory inquiry into the Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust.
The Department and NHS England are committed to ensuring we put in place a modernised legislative framework through the Mental Health Act 2025 which upholds patient rights and voice and that provides stronger oversight, higher standards, and a system that better protects and supports some of the most vulnerable people in society, whilst keeping patients and the public safe. We are also prioritising eliminating inappropriate out of area placements. The Medium Term Planning Framework set a new national expectation to end all integrated care board-commissioned inappropriate out of area placements and the commissioning of locked rehabilitation services by March 2028.
Asked by: Stuart Andrew (Conservative - Daventry)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans his Department has for non-specific symptom pathways for earlier diagnosis of leukaemia and other blood cancers.
Answered by Sharon Hodgson - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
Early diagnosis is a key focus of the National Cancer Plan. It is a priority for the Government to support the National Health Service to diagnose cancer, including blood cancers, as early and quickly as possible, and to treat it faster, to improve outcomes.
To tackle the late diagnoses of blood cancers including leukaemia, the NHS is implementing non-specific symptom pathways for patients who present with symptoms such as weight loss and fatigue, which do not clearly align to a tumour type. Blood cancers, including leukaemia, are one of the most common cancer types diagnosed through these pathways.
The NHS will improve early diagnosis and quicker treatment of blood cancers, including leukaemia, by expanding diagnostic services with investments in magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography scanners. Furthermore, the 10-Year Health Plan’s commitment to putting digital health at the heart of the future health service and integrating that with a single patient record and neighbourhood health services, will mean that cancer patients will get the joined-up care they deserve.
Asked by: Stuart Andrew (Conservative - Daventry)
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 impact of the cost of shipping and air freight following the conflict in the Middle East on the supply of generic medicines to the UK; and what steps he is taking to mitigate that impact.
Answered by Zubir Ahmed - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
We continue to monitor the impact of the Middle East conflict on the medical supply chain, including on generic medicines. While we understand that transport costs have risen, there are currently no reported shortages of medicines due to the conflict.
If shortages do occur, we have a range of well-established processes and tools to 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: Stuart Andrew (Conservative - Daventry)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether the Life Sciences Sector Plan includes provision to protect and promote the resilience of the UK’s medicines supply chain.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
A thriving life sciences sector is key to supporting the United Kingdom’s resilience and securing our medicines supply chain. Through the Life Sciences Sector Plan, the Government is making the UK one of the best places in the world to develop and manufacture new and innovative medicines and build onshore manufacturing capabilities.
The sector plan commits to delivery of the Life Sciences Innovative Manufacturing Fund (LSIMF), which is providing up to £520 million in grants to companies to improve the UK’s manufacturing capability and resilience. So far, LSIMF grants have supported five companies, unlocking over £560 million of investment in life sciences manufacturing, and research and development, with further announcements expected in the coming weeks and months.
Asked by: Stuart Andrew (Conservative - Daventry)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will bring forward legislative proposals to restrict the sale of high sugar and high caffeine energy drinks to children aged 16 and under before the next King's Speech.
Answered by Sharon Hodgson - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Government has a commitment to ban the sale of energy drinks to children under 16 years old, which is subject to a consultation. We subsequently ran a 12-week consultation, which was open from 3 September 2025 to 26 November 2025.
We are carefully considering the responses to the consultation. We will set out further information on next steps in due course when we publish the Government’s response to the consultation.
Should legislation be proposed following the consultation outcome the final timing for introducing legislation would depend on ministerial decisions following the consultation, impact assessment requirements, and the necessary parliamentary scrutiny.
Asked by: Stuart Andrew (Conservative - Daventry)
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 regional variation in access to 24/7 interventional radiology services in England.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Elective Reform Plan, which was published in January 2025, committed to increasing surgical and diagnostic capacity for services such as interventional radiology. This is a step towards returning to the National Health Service constitutional standard that 92% of patients wait no longer than 18 weeks from referral to consultant-led treatment.
As a result of spending reviews in 2021 and 2025, diagnostic interventional radiology received capital funding for four interventional radiology suites.
The Government has also committed £2.3 billion across diagnostics for the next three financial years. Trusts and regions are currently going through a competitive bidding process for this diagnostic funding, which is expected to conclude in spring 2026.