Asked by: Tom Morrison (Liberal Democrat - Cheadle)
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 the continuation of a community eating disorders service in Stockport following the planned closure of the existing service at Oakwood House on 31 March 2025.
Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
Greater Manchester Integrated Care Board (ICB) will continue to commission adult community eating disorders for the residents of Stockport and is working to agree arrangements with an alternative National Health Service provider given the planned closure of Oakwood House. The plan is for the replacement service to offer National Institute for Health and Care Excellence-compliant evidence-based services for eating disorders, in addition to a physical health pathway and medical monitoring, which is currently not delivered by Oakwood Psychology Services.
The ICB has put in place plans to manage the transition between services, including exit planning meetings with Oakwood who are continuing treatments and interventions with current patients on the caseload to handover a service with no waiting list. The ICB will be maintaining a log of all services’ users, with non- patient identifiable information, who will need to be transferred to the new provider and have the right information governance processes in place. Oakwood will continue to offer advice and support to key referrers and stakeholders about any of their patients.
Asked by: Tom Morrison (Liberal Democrat - Cheadle)
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 improve women’s access to healthcare services.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Government will prioritise women’s health as we reform the National Health Service, ensuring that all women can access the care that they need. We are committed to the Women’s Health Strategy and are continuing work to deliver it. For example, support for pregnancy loss through a full rollout of Baby Loss Certificates, menopause support in the workplace, and boosting women’s participation in research and clinical trials.
We have also taken urgent action to tackle gynaecology waiting lists through the Elective Reform Plan. In gynaecology, the plan supports innovative models offering patients care closer to home, and piloting gynaecology pathways in Community Diagnostic Centres for patients with post-menopausal bleeding. Women’s health hubs also have a key role in shifting care out of hospitals and reducing gynaecology waiting lists. As of December 2024, 39 out of 42 integrated care boards (ICBs) reported to NHS England that they had at least one operational women’s health hub. We continue to engage with and encourage ICBs to use the learning from the women’s health hubs pilots to improve local delivery of services to women. Our longer-term priorities for implementing the Women’s Health Strategy will be aligned with the 10-Year Health Plan and our missions.
Asked by: Tom Morrison (Liberal Democrat - Cheadle)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, for what purpose his Department has provided funding from the critical infrastructure risk fund to Stepping Hill Hospital.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
Repairing and rebuilding our hospital estate is a vital part of our ambition to create a National Health Service that is fit for the future.
In this context, Stockport Foundation NHS Trust has been provided with £11.5 million in 2024/25 to facilitate the restoration of outpatient capacity at Stepping Hill Hospital. In December 2024, construction work began on the new outpatient building, which will deliver much needed improvements to capacity as well as patient and staff safety.
Asked by: Tom Morrison (Liberal Democrat - Cheadle)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether the review into the hospital building programme will include hospitals not placed on the original list but still in urgent need of (a) investment and (b) repair.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
We are reviewing the New Hospital Programme (NHP) in order to put it on a sustainable footing, including a realistic timetable for delivery, and clarity on the funding required.
The scope of the review is limited to those schemes already within the NHP. However, we recognise the importance of strategic, value for money investments in capital projects, such as new healthcare facilities, significant upgrades, and other targeted capital investments. The Department is currently reviewing capital requirements in line with the Government’s Missions. Any further support for National Health Service trusts seeking new hospital infrastructure will be considered as part of the forthcoming Spending Review.