Asked by: Yasmin Qureshi (Labour - Bolton South and Walkden)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of the affordability of long-term pain management and hormonal treatment for people with endometriosis, including prescription charge exemptions.
Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
Further to the answers provided on 3 July in response to Questions 12453 and 12458, integrated care boards (ICBs) are responsible for commissioning services that meet the needs of their populations and for enabling implementation of NICE guidance, including NICE guideline NG73 on endometriosis. NHS England supports implementation through its oversight of ICB planning and performance, informed by available access, waiting-time, quality and outcomes data, while recognising that local pathways should be designed around population need.
In response to Question 27420, NHS England does not hold this information.
The Renewed Women’s Health Strategy commits to speeding up diagnosis and access to treatment for conditions including endometriosis. In line with NICE guidance, services should have arrangements for prompt diagnosis and referral, with particular consideration given to referral to paediatric and adolescent gynaecology services for those aged 17 years old and under.
NHS England is developing a system-wide pelvic pain pathway, aligned with NICE guidance, to provide a consistent framework for managing pelvic pain and endometriosis across primary care, neighbourhood services, and specialist secondary care. This will support earlier recognition and diagnosis, clearer referral routes, and care at the most appropriate level according to clinical need, including for adolescents with suspected endometriosis.
NHS England is working with regions and systems to support adoption of these pathways and a neighbourhood approach to care. As this work develops, it will provide a clearer basis for ICBs to demonstrate delivery against NICE-aligned pathway expectations, identify unwarranted variation, and address gaps in access, timeliness, and outcomes through established assurance arrangements.
In relation to Question 27422, no assessment has been made.
A women’s health data dashboard is intended to be made publicly available within the next year providing neighbourhood-level comparable data about service performance, access, and women’s outcomes and experiences. Key lines of enquiry enabled by the dashboard will include understanding healthcare demand, access, and identifying outcome progress and variation.
Asked by: Yasmin Qureshi (Labour - Bolton South and Walkden)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether she plans to introduce a national mechanism for tracking progress in endometriosis diagnosis and care as part of the Women's Health Strategy.
Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
Further to the answers provided on 3 July in response to Questions 12453 and 12458, integrated care boards (ICBs) are responsible for commissioning services that meet the needs of their populations and for enabling implementation of NICE guidance, including NICE guideline NG73 on endometriosis. NHS England supports implementation through its oversight of ICB planning and performance, informed by available access, waiting-time, quality and outcomes data, while recognising that local pathways should be designed around population need.
In response to Question 27420, NHS England does not hold this information.
The Renewed Women’s Health Strategy commits to speeding up diagnosis and access to treatment for conditions including endometriosis. In line with NICE guidance, services should have arrangements for prompt diagnosis and referral, with particular consideration given to referral to paediatric and adolescent gynaecology services for those aged 17 years old and under.
NHS England is developing a system-wide pelvic pain pathway, aligned with NICE guidance, to provide a consistent framework for managing pelvic pain and endometriosis across primary care, neighbourhood services, and specialist secondary care. This will support earlier recognition and diagnosis, clearer referral routes, and care at the most appropriate level according to clinical need, including for adolescents with suspected endometriosis.
NHS England is working with regions and systems to support adoption of these pathways and a neighbourhood approach to care. As this work develops, it will provide a clearer basis for ICBs to demonstrate delivery against NICE-aligned pathway expectations, identify unwarranted variation, and address gaps in access, timeliness, and outcomes through established assurance arrangements.
In relation to Question 27422, no assessment has been made.
A women’s health data dashboard is intended to be made publicly available within the next year providing neighbourhood-level comparable data about service performance, access, and women’s outcomes and experiences. Key lines of enquiry enabled by the dashboard will include understanding healthcare demand, access, and identifying outcome progress and variation.
Asked by: Yasmin Qureshi (Labour - Bolton South and Walkden)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps she is taking to ensure earlier specialist assessment and referral for adolescents with suspected endometriosis.
Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
Further to the answers provided on 3 July in response to Questions 12453 and 12458, integrated care boards (ICBs) are responsible for commissioning services that meet the needs of their populations and for enabling implementation of NICE guidance, including NICE guideline NG73 on endometriosis. NHS England supports implementation through its oversight of ICB planning and performance, informed by available access, waiting-time, quality and outcomes data, while recognising that local pathways should be designed around population need.
In response to Question 27420, NHS England does not hold this information.
The Renewed Women’s Health Strategy commits to speeding up diagnosis and access to treatment for conditions including endometriosis. In line with NICE guidance, services should have arrangements for prompt diagnosis and referral, with particular consideration given to referral to paediatric and adolescent gynaecology services for those aged 17 years old and under.
NHS England is developing a system-wide pelvic pain pathway, aligned with NICE guidance, to provide a consistent framework for managing pelvic pain and endometriosis across primary care, neighbourhood services, and specialist secondary care. This will support earlier recognition and diagnosis, clearer referral routes, and care at the most appropriate level according to clinical need, including for adolescents with suspected endometriosis.
NHS England is working with regions and systems to support adoption of these pathways and a neighbourhood approach to care. As this work develops, it will provide a clearer basis for ICBs to demonstrate delivery against NICE-aligned pathway expectations, identify unwarranted variation, and address gaps in access, timeliness, and outcomes through established assurance arrangements.
In relation to Question 27422, no assessment has been made.
A women’s health data dashboard is intended to be made publicly available within the next year providing neighbourhood-level comparable data about service performance, access, and women’s outcomes and experiences. Key lines of enquiry enabled by the dashboard will include understanding healthcare demand, access, and identifying outcome progress and variation.
Asked by: Yasmin Qureshi (Labour - Bolton South and Walkden)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps she is taking to monitor and report on the implementation of NICE guideline NG73 (endometriosis) by integrated care boards, and what plans she has to strengthen accountability for its implementation.
Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
Further to the answers provided on 3 July in response to Questions 12453 and 12458, integrated care boards (ICBs) are responsible for commissioning services that meet the needs of their populations and for enabling implementation of NICE guidance, including NICE guideline NG73 on endometriosis. NHS England supports implementation through its oversight of ICB planning and performance, informed by available access, waiting-time, quality and outcomes data, while recognising that local pathways should be designed around population need.
In response to Question 27420, NHS England does not hold this information.
The Renewed Women’s Health Strategy commits to speeding up diagnosis and access to treatment for conditions including endometriosis. In line with NICE guidance, services should have arrangements for prompt diagnosis and referral, with particular consideration given to referral to paediatric and adolescent gynaecology services for those aged 17 years old and under.
NHS England is developing a system-wide pelvic pain pathway, aligned with NICE guidance, to provide a consistent framework for managing pelvic pain and endometriosis across primary care, neighbourhood services, and specialist secondary care. This will support earlier recognition and diagnosis, clearer referral routes, and care at the most appropriate level according to clinical need, including for adolescents with suspected endometriosis.
NHS England is working with regions and systems to support adoption of these pathways and a neighbourhood approach to care. As this work develops, it will provide a clearer basis for ICBs to demonstrate delivery against NICE-aligned pathway expectations, identify unwarranted variation, and address gaps in access, timeliness, and outcomes through established assurance arrangements.
In relation to Question 27422, no assessment has been made.
A women’s health data dashboard is intended to be made publicly available within the next year providing neighbourhood-level comparable data about service performance, access, and women’s outcomes and experiences. Key lines of enquiry enabled by the dashboard will include understanding healthcare demand, access, and identifying outcome progress and variation.
Asked by: Yasmin Qureshi (Labour - Bolton South and Walkden)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the average time is between symptom onset and confirmed diagnosis of endometriosis in England, broken down by age group and ethnicity, in each of the last five years.
Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
Further to the answers provided on 3 July in response to Questions 12453 and 12458, integrated care boards (ICBs) are responsible for commissioning services that meet the needs of their populations and for enabling implementation of NICE guidance, including NICE guideline NG73 on endometriosis. NHS England supports implementation through its oversight of ICB planning and performance, informed by available access, waiting-time, quality and outcomes data, while recognising that local pathways should be designed around population need.
In response to Question 27420, NHS England does not hold this information.
The Renewed Women’s Health Strategy commits to speeding up diagnosis and access to treatment for conditions including endometriosis. In line with NICE guidance, services should have arrangements for prompt diagnosis and referral, with particular consideration given to referral to paediatric and adolescent gynaecology services for those aged 17 years old and under.
NHS England is developing a system-wide pelvic pain pathway, aligned with NICE guidance, to provide a consistent framework for managing pelvic pain and endometriosis across primary care, neighbourhood services, and specialist secondary care. This will support earlier recognition and diagnosis, clearer referral routes, and care at the most appropriate level according to clinical need, including for adolescents with suspected endometriosis.
NHS England is working with regions and systems to support adoption of these pathways and a neighbourhood approach to care. As this work develops, it will provide a clearer basis for ICBs to demonstrate delivery against NICE-aligned pathway expectations, identify unwarranted variation, and address gaps in access, timeliness, and outcomes through established assurance arrangements.
In relation to Question 27422, no assessment has been made.
A women’s health data dashboard is intended to be made publicly available within the next year providing neighbourhood-level comparable data about service performance, access, and women’s outcomes and experiences. Key lines of enquiry enabled by the dashboard will include understanding healthcare demand, access, and identifying outcome progress and variation.
Asked by: Yasmin Qureshi (Labour - Bolton South and Walkden)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what guidance her Department provides to NHS trusts on support for staff who report incidents of violence or aggression, including access to occupational health, counselling and time off.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
No specific assessment has been made regarding the Royal College of Emergency Medicine’s survey. Data on violence in emergency departments is not centrally held, although the NHS Staff Survey results, with questions on violence, are published at the following link:
https://www.nhsstaffsurveys.com/results/national-results/
However, we are clear that any actions of violence, abuse, or harassment towards National Health Service staff, including in accident and emergency units, will not be tolerated. Everyone working in the NHS has a fundamental right to be safe at work, and it is deeply concerning that so many emergency department staff continue to experience this unacceptable behaviour.
That is why, on 6 July 2026, as part of the 10-Year Health Plan, the Government introduced new NHS staff standards, which set out the targeted action that every NHS employer across the country must take to prevent and reduce violence and abuse against their staff and help ensure they can do their jobs safely, including putting in place appropriate security, training, and support services.
That also followed the announcement on 9 April 2025 that the Government had accepted the Social Partnership Forum’s recommendations on tackling violence and aggression towards NHS staff, which included improving data and reporting of incidents and ensuring strengthened risk assessment, training, and support for victims.
Asked by: Yasmin Qureshi (Labour - Bolton South and Walkden)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what data her Department holds on the number of recorded incidents of violence and aggression against NHS staff in emergency departments in England in each of the last five years.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
No specific assessment has been made regarding the Royal College of Emergency Medicine’s survey. Data on violence in emergency departments is not centrally held, although the NHS Staff Survey results, with questions on violence, are published at the following link:
https://www.nhsstaffsurveys.com/results/national-results/
However, we are clear that any actions of violence, abuse, or harassment towards National Health Service staff, including in accident and emergency units, will not be tolerated. Everyone working in the NHS has a fundamental right to be safe at work, and it is deeply concerning that so many emergency department staff continue to experience this unacceptable behaviour.
That is why, on 6 July 2026, as part of the 10-Year Health Plan, the Government introduced new NHS staff standards, which set out the targeted action that every NHS employer across the country must take to prevent and reduce violence and abuse against their staff and help ensure they can do their jobs safely, including putting in place appropriate security, training, and support services.
That also followed the announcement on 9 April 2025 that the Government had accepted the Social Partnership Forum’s recommendations on tackling violence and aggression towards NHS staff, which included improving data and reporting of incidents and ensuring strengthened risk assessment, training, and support for victims.
Asked by: Yasmin Qureshi (Labour - Bolton South and Walkden)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment she has made of the potential implications for her Department's policies of the Royal College of Emergency Medicine's survey findings that 96% of emergency department staff have experienced violence or aggression from patients or members of the public.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
No specific assessment has been made regarding the Royal College of Emergency Medicine’s survey. Data on violence in emergency departments is not centrally held, although the NHS Staff Survey results, with questions on violence, are published at the following link:
https://www.nhsstaffsurveys.com/results/national-results/
However, we are clear that any actions of violence, abuse, or harassment towards National Health Service staff, including in accident and emergency units, will not be tolerated. Everyone working in the NHS has a fundamental right to be safe at work, and it is deeply concerning that so many emergency department staff continue to experience this unacceptable behaviour.
That is why, on 6 July 2026, as part of the 10-Year Health Plan, the Government introduced new NHS staff standards, which set out the targeted action that every NHS employer across the country must take to prevent and reduce violence and abuse against their staff and help ensure they can do their jobs safely, including putting in place appropriate security, training, and support services.
That also followed the announcement on 9 April 2025 that the Government had accepted the Social Partnership Forum’s recommendations on tackling violence and aggression towards NHS staff, which included improving data and reporting of incidents and ensuring strengthened risk assessment, training, and support for victims.
Asked by: Yasmin Qureshi (Labour - Bolton South and Walkden)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps her Department is taking to reduce levels of violence and aggression against staff working in emergency departments.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
No specific assessment has been made regarding the Royal College of Emergency Medicine’s survey. Data on violence in emergency departments is not centrally held, although the NHS Staff Survey results, with questions on violence, are published at the following link:
https://www.nhsstaffsurveys.com/results/national-results/
However, we are clear that any actions of violence, abuse, or harassment towards National Health Service staff, including in accident and emergency units, will not be tolerated. Everyone working in the NHS has a fundamental right to be safe at work, and it is deeply concerning that so many emergency department staff continue to experience this unacceptable behaviour.
That is why, on 6 July 2026, as part of the 10-Year Health Plan, the Government introduced new NHS staff standards, which set out the targeted action that every NHS employer across the country must take to prevent and reduce violence and abuse against their staff and help ensure they can do their jobs safely, including putting in place appropriate security, training, and support services.
That also followed the announcement on 9 April 2025 that the Government had accepted the Social Partnership Forum’s recommendations on tackling violence and aggression towards NHS staff, which included improving data and reporting of incidents and ensuring strengthened risk assessment, training, and support for victims.
Asked by: Yasmin Qureshi (Labour - Bolton South and Walkden)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether she has asked NICE to review the position of nabiximols in the treatment pathway for MS-related spasticity, including its use earlier in the pathway.
Answered by James Frith - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
Nabiximols is the United States Adopted Name for the medication marketed as Sativex (dronabinol/cannabidiol) and licensed by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency for symptom improvement in adult patients with moderate to severe spasticity due to multiple sclerosis.
The attached table shows the number of identifiable patients who were prescribed Sativex in the community in England by integrated care board in each financial year from 2023 to 2026 and from April 2026 to June 2026. The NHS Business Services Authority does not hold information on patient condition or reasons for why Sativex has been prescribed.
The Department has made no assessment of the levels of variation in access to Sativex for multiple-sclerosis related spasticity. National Health Service commissioners are expected to take National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines fully into account in ensuring that services meet the needs of their local populations. NICE keeps its guidelines under review and would consider the need to update its recommendations on Sativex in light of any new evidence.