Asked by: Tom Gordon (Liberal Democrat - Harrogate and Knaresborough)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he plans to bring forward (a) regulations and (b) a licensing regime for practitioners of cosmetic surgery.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
All doctors performing cosmetic surgery in the United Kingdom are required to be registered and licensed to practise by the General Medical Council. The Care Quality Commission regulates cosmetic treatments carried out by healthcare professionals in England that involve surgical procedures.
The Government is committed to taking action to address longstanding concerns about the safety of the cosmetics sector and is exploring options for further regulation in this area. We will set out the details of our approach in our response to the consultation on the licensing of non-surgical cosmetic procedures in England, which we will publish at the earliest opportunity.
Asked by: Tom Gordon (Liberal Democrat - Harrogate and Knaresborough)
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 increase public health surveillance following the detection of West Nile Virus genetic material in UK mosquitoes.
Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
In May 2025, the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) reported fragments of West Nile virus genetic material in a small sample of mosquitoes collected in Nottinghamshire during July 2023, as part of the RADAR surveillance programme. There is no evidence to suggest ongoing circulation of the virus in animals or mosquitoes, and there have been no locally acquired West Nile virus detections in humans in the United Kingdom. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has assessed the risk to the general public as very low.
The UKHSA partners with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and the APHA on the surveillance of mosquitoes, birds, horses, and humans for a range of emerging infectious diseases, including West Nile virus.
Human health surveillance relevant to the West Nile virus includes routine testing of travellers who have returned from overseas areas affected by West Nile virus with compatible clinical syndromes, including undiagnosed encephalitis.
The NHS Blood and Transplant service screens donors returning from affected areas based on their travel history, and partners with the UKHSA on a research study to understand the risk of climate-related emerging infections, including West Nile virus.
The UKHSA’s clinical testing protocols require that any undiagnosed human cases of encephalitis are referred to the UKHSA’s Rare and Imported Pathogens Laboratory. They will be routinely tested for West Nile virus, regardless of travel history.
Following the detection in mosquitoes, the UKHSA issued a briefing note to National Health Service clinicians nationally on the potential clinical presentation of vector borne diseases, including West Nile virus.
The UKHSA Imported Fever Service offers a clinical advisory and testing service to support doctors managing domestic cases of undiagnosed encephalitis. The British Infection Association’s testing guidelines for encephalitis are being updated to include consideration of the West Nile virus.
Asked by: Tom Gordon (Liberal Democrat - Harrogate and Knaresborough)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether the UK Health Security Agency plans to expand its clinical testing protocols for patients presenting with encephalitis of unknown cause, in the context of the recent detection of West Nile Virus genetic material.
Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
In May 2025, the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) reported fragments of West Nile virus genetic material in a small sample of mosquitoes collected in Nottinghamshire during July 2023, as part of the RADAR surveillance programme. There is no evidence to suggest ongoing circulation of the virus in animals or mosquitoes, and there have been no locally acquired West Nile virus detections in humans in the United Kingdom. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has assessed the risk to the general public as very low.
The UKHSA partners with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and the APHA on the surveillance of mosquitoes, birds, horses, and humans for a range of emerging infectious diseases, including West Nile virus.
Human health surveillance relevant to the West Nile virus includes routine testing of travellers who have returned from overseas areas affected by West Nile virus with compatible clinical syndromes, including undiagnosed encephalitis.
The NHS Blood and Transplant service screens donors returning from affected areas based on their travel history, and partners with the UKHSA on a research study to understand the risk of climate-related emerging infections, including West Nile virus.
The UKHSA’s clinical testing protocols require that any undiagnosed human cases of encephalitis are referred to the UKHSA’s Rare and Imported Pathogens Laboratory. They will be routinely tested for West Nile virus, regardless of travel history.
Following the detection in mosquitoes, the UKHSA issued a briefing note to National Health Service clinicians nationally on the potential clinical presentation of vector borne diseases, including West Nile virus.
The UKHSA Imported Fever Service offers a clinical advisory and testing service to support doctors managing domestic cases of undiagnosed encephalitis. The British Infection Association’s testing guidelines for encephalitis are being updated to include consideration of the West Nile virus.
Asked by: Tom Gordon (Liberal Democrat - Harrogate and Knaresborough)
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 (a) support and (b) inform healthcare professionals on the potential clinical presentation of West Nile Virus in the UK.
Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
In May 2025, the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) reported fragments of West Nile virus genetic material in a small sample of mosquitoes collected in Nottinghamshire during July 2023, as part of the RADAR surveillance programme. There is no evidence to suggest ongoing circulation of the virus in animals or mosquitoes, and there have been no locally acquired West Nile virus detections in humans in the United Kingdom. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has assessed the risk to the general public as very low.
The UKHSA partners with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and the APHA on the surveillance of mosquitoes, birds, horses, and humans for a range of emerging infectious diseases, including West Nile virus.
Human health surveillance relevant to the West Nile virus includes routine testing of travellers who have returned from overseas areas affected by West Nile virus with compatible clinical syndromes, including undiagnosed encephalitis.
The NHS Blood and Transplant service screens donors returning from affected areas based on their travel history, and partners with the UKHSA on a research study to understand the risk of climate-related emerging infections, including West Nile virus.
The UKHSA’s clinical testing protocols require that any undiagnosed human cases of encephalitis are referred to the UKHSA’s Rare and Imported Pathogens Laboratory. They will be routinely tested for West Nile virus, regardless of travel history.
Following the detection in mosquitoes, the UKHSA issued a briefing note to National Health Service clinicians nationally on the potential clinical presentation of vector borne diseases, including West Nile virus.
The UKHSA Imported Fever Service offers a clinical advisory and testing service to support doctors managing domestic cases of undiagnosed encephalitis. The British Infection Association’s testing guidelines for encephalitis are being updated to include consideration of the West Nile virus.
Asked by: Tom Gordon (Liberal Democrat - Harrogate and Knaresborough)
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 increase bowel cancer screening rates; and whether he plans to increase bowel cancer screening targets.
Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The National Health Service is in the final stages of changing the screening age for the Bowel Cancer Screening Programme, from those between 60 to 74 years old to those between 50 to 74 years old by 2025, which will increase the numbers being screened.
NHS England has updated the programme’s standard for uptake, increasing the acceptable and achievable thresholds, to acknowledge that uptake has increased by approximately 10% since introducing the Faecal Immunochemical Test.
A new standard will be introduced to monitor uptake for those aged 60 to 74 years old and those aged 50 to 59 years old. The revised standards will soon be published and available in the public domain. The current standards are available at the following link:
Asked by: Tom Gordon (Liberal Democrat - Harrogate and Knaresborough)
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 merits of a national screening programme for Type 1 Diabetes.
Answered by Andrew Gwynne
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 supports implementation.
A proposal for screening for neonatal diabetes mellitus was submitted to the UK NSC via its 2021 annual call process. An evidence-mapping exercise was conducted at that time which concluded that there was not sufficient evidence to recommend screening for this condition.
We are aware that the UK NSC received a submission via its 2024 annual call process to consider screening for autoimmune Type 1 Diabetes through blood testing. The UK NSC is currently reviewing all annual call proposals. More information on the annual call process is available at the following link:
Asked by: Tom Gordon (Liberal Democrat - Harrogate and Knaresborough)
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 the potential merits of implementing routine screening for Type 1 Diabetes to reduce the incidence of diabetic ketoacidosis at diagnosis.
Answered by Andrew Gwynne
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 supports implementation.
A proposal for screening for neonatal diabetes mellitus was submitted to the UK NSC via its 2021 annual call process. An evidence-mapping exercise was conducted at that time which concluded that there was not sufficient evidence to recommend screening for this condition.
We are aware that the UK NSC received a submission via its 2024 annual call process to consider screening for autoimmune Type 1 Diabetes through blood testing. The UK NSC is currently reviewing all annual call proposals. More information on the annual call process is available at the following link:
Asked by: Tom Gordon (Liberal Democrat - Harrogate and Knaresborough)
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 develop guidelines for (a) general practitioners and (b) diabetes care teams on managing type one diabetes and disordered eating.
Answered by Andrew Gwynne
The National Health Service recognises the impact that type 1 diabetes with disordered eating can have on people and their families, which is why it has been piloting services to support those with the condition, and integrating care to help people improve their confidence and ability to manage their diabetes alongside their mental wellbeing. These pilots have shown improved outcomes for patients and cost effectiveness, and the NHS has now expanded sites to every region of the country, so that even more people can benefit from them.
The Department, in partnership with NHS England and the Royal College of Psychiatrists, produced the Medical Emergencies in Eating Disorders guidance in May 2022, which has a full annexe on type 1 diabetes and eating disorders, and they are currently working to roll out the guidance to all systems.
NHS England is continuing to expand community-based eating disorder service capacity, including crisis care and intensive home treatment, to improve outcomes and recovery, reduce rates of relapse, prevent eating disorders continuing into adulthood and, if admission is required as a very last resort, reduce lengths of stay. NHS England has asked local health systems, through this year’s NHS operational planning guidance, to focus on improving performance against the waiting time standards for children’s eating disorders services of 95% of urgent cases seen within one week, and 95% of routine cases seen within four weeks.
Asked by: Tom Gordon (Liberal Democrat - Harrogate and Knaresborough)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he has made an assessment of the potential impact of the expiry of funding for T1DE pilot services on the health and well-being of patients in (a) Bournemouth and (b) London.
Answered by Andrew Gwynne
The National Health Service recognises the impact that type 1 diabetes with disordered eating can have on people and their families, which is why it has been piloting services to support those with the condition, and integrating care to help people improve their confidence and ability to manage their diabetes alongside their mental wellbeing. These pilots have shown improved outcomes for patients and cost effectiveness, and the NHS has now expanded sites to every region of the country, so that even more people can benefit from them.
The Department, in partnership with NHS England and the Royal College of Psychiatrists, produced the Medical Emergencies in Eating Disorders guidance in May 2022, which has a full annexe on type 1 diabetes and eating disorders, and they are currently working to roll out the guidance to all systems.
NHS England is continuing to expand community-based eating disorder service capacity, including crisis care and intensive home treatment, to improve outcomes and recovery, reduce rates of relapse, prevent eating disorders continuing into adulthood and, if admission is required as a very last resort, reduce lengths of stay. NHS England has asked local health systems, through this year’s NHS operational planning guidance, to focus on improving performance against the waiting time standards for children’s eating disorders services of 95% of urgent cases seen within one week, and 95% of routine cases seen within four weeks.
Asked by: Tom Gordon (Liberal Democrat - Harrogate and Knaresborough)
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 individuals with type one diabetes and disordered eating have access to integrated care for both their (a) physical and (b) mental health needs.
Answered by Andrew Gwynne
The National Health Service recognises the impact that type 1 diabetes with disordered eating can have on people and their families, which is why it has been piloting services to support those with the condition, and integrating care to help people improve their confidence and ability to manage their diabetes alongside their mental wellbeing. These pilots have shown improved outcomes for patients and cost effectiveness, and the NHS has now expanded sites to every region of the country, so that even more people can benefit from them.
The Department, in partnership with NHS England and the Royal College of Psychiatrists, produced the Medical Emergencies in Eating Disorders guidance in May 2022, which has a full annexe on type 1 diabetes and eating disorders, and they are currently working to roll out the guidance to all systems.
NHS England is continuing to expand community-based eating disorder service capacity, including crisis care and intensive home treatment, to improve outcomes and recovery, reduce rates of relapse, prevent eating disorders continuing into adulthood and, if admission is required as a very last resort, reduce lengths of stay. NHS England has asked local health systems, through this year’s NHS operational planning guidance, to focus on improving performance against the waiting time standards for children’s eating disorders services of 95% of urgent cases seen within one week, and 95% of routine cases seen within four weeks.