Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions she has had with Water UK regarding its warning that the UK does not have sufficient water resources to support planned datacentre expansion.

Answered by Emma Hardy - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

WaterUK regularly attends Defra's Water Delivery Taskforce, chaired by the Minister of State for Water and Flooding, Emma Hardy, which brings together Government, regulators and industry and is working to improve the evidence on data centre water use.

Current evidence suggests that existing data centres in England account for just 0.2% of non-household demand. Water companies may refuse a connection to a data centre where sufficient resources are not available. Water companies are responsible for planning and investing to meet future water needs, and Government expects them to continue improving water efficiency and reducing leakage.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many prosecutions there have been under section 1 of the Assaults on Emergency Workers (Offences) Act 2018 in each of the last five years, broken down by sentencing outcome.

Answered by Jake Richards - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Justice)

The Ministry of Justice publishes data on the number of prosecutions together with the sentencing outcome for a wide range of offences in the Outcome by Offences Tool, including Assaults on Emergency Workers. This can be downloaded from the Criminal Justice Statistics landing page here: Criminal Justice Statistics.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, how many datacentres are currently in the queue to connect to the National Grid, and what the average expected connection wait time is.

Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

Data collected in 2025 and published by the National Energy System Operator shows 72.8 GW of capacity allocated to data centres in the GB connection queue across transmission and distribution, with connection dates extending to the late 2030s. It is not currently possible to provide a count of individual projects.

Government recently consulted on measures to manage the current oversubscription of data centre connections and will publish its response in due course.

Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of requiring datacentre operators to report on the purpose and end use of their computing capacity as a condition of planning approval or grid connection.

Answered by Kanishka Narayan - Minister of State (Cabinet Office) (Jointly with the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Technology)

The UK needs domestic data centre capacity to support critical workloads that drive economic growth, deliver public services, and protect national security. That is why the Government has designated specific data centres as Critical National Infrastructure, recognising their importance to protecting essential workloads and national resilience. However, many data centres are co-location facilities that lease space to multiple tenants, or are cloud providers serving diverse customers. Developers often cannot confirm exact end uses when applying for relevant approvals, as these frequently change as tenants and workloads evolve.

Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, what guidance is available to employers on making reasonable adjustments for employees with fluctuating conditions such as endometriosis.

Answered by Kate Dearden - Minister of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade)

We are committed to helping working people balance their jobs with their personal lives, including those managing health conditions such as endometriosis. Endometriosis can be classified as a disability, in some cases, under the Equality Act 2010. Where an employee’s symptoms meet the definition, employers may be required to make reasonable adjustments. The Equality and Human Rights Commission has published advice for employers on making reasonable adjustments. Where symptoms are not considered a disability, flexible working can also help people with long-term health conditions thrive at work, allowing employees and employers to agree arrangements that support individual needs alongside work.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate she has made of the water demand of new and planned datacentres, and whether she has made an assessment of the potential risk of their designation as critical national infrastructure taking priority over household water use during drought conditions.

Answered by Emma Hardy - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

As the data centre sector grows, Defra is working across Government and with the Environment Agency to better understand this growth and reduce its impact.

Protecting public water supplies for households and businesses remains a priority during periods of acute water stress. Critical national infrastructure status does not create a general obligation on water companies to provide water for cooling. The Security and Emergency Measures Direction requires water companies, when preparing emergency plans, to identify and prioritise vulnerable customers, while also having regard to the needs of non-domestic users and any notified Critical National Infrastructure.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of endometriosis on school attendance and attainment among girls and young women.

Answered by Paul Waugh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)

The government recognises that endometriosis can affect a pupil’s health, wellbeing and ability to attend school and participate fully in education. Regular attendance is important for pupils’ attainment, wellbeing and wider development, and schools should work with pupils and families to understand and address health-related barriers to attendance.

Section 100 of the Children and Families Act 2014 places a duty on maintained schools, academies and pupil referral units to make arrangements for supporting pupils with medical conditions, which would include endometriosis. Schools must have regard to the department’s statutory guidance about support for pupils at school with medical conditions, which is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/supporting-pupils-at-school-with-medical-conditions--3.

This guidance makes clear that pupils with medical conditions should be properly supported so that they can play a full and active role in school life, remain healthy and achieve their academic potential.

The statutory guidance regarding collaboration between schools, academy trusts, governing bodies and local authorities is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/working-together-to-improve-school-attendance. This guidance promotes a 'support first' approach and expects schools to be particularly mindful of absent pupils because of physical or mental ill health. Schools should work in partnership with families to understand the individual barriers a pupil faces, put appropriate support in place and consider reasonable adjustments where relevant.

In March, the department consulted on revised guidance on supporting children and young people with medical conditions, and this will be published in due course.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what guidance her Department provides to schools on recognising and accommodating the impact of endometriosis and related conditions on pupils' education and attendance.

Answered by Paul Waugh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)

The government recognises that endometriosis can affect a pupil’s health, wellbeing and ability to attend school and participate fully in education. Regular attendance is important for pupils’ attainment, wellbeing and wider development, and schools should work with pupils and families to understand and address health-related barriers to attendance.

Section 100 of the Children and Families Act 2014 places a duty on maintained schools, academies and pupil referral units to make arrangements for supporting pupils with medical conditions, which would include endometriosis. Schools must have regard to the department’s statutory guidance about support for pupils at school with medical conditions, which is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/supporting-pupils-at-school-with-medical-conditions--3.

This guidance makes clear that pupils with medical conditions should be properly supported so that they can play a full and active role in school life, remain healthy and achieve their academic potential.

The statutory guidance regarding collaboration between schools, academy trusts, governing bodies and local authorities is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/working-together-to-improve-school-attendance. This guidance promotes a 'support first' approach and expects schools to be particularly mindful of absent pupils because of physical or mental ill health. Schools should work in partnership with families to understand the individual barriers a pupil faces, put appropriate support in place and consider reasonable adjustments where relevant.

In March, the department consulted on revised guidance on supporting children and young people with medical conditions, and this will be published in due course.

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.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment her Department has made of trends in the level of regional variation in access to nabiximols for MS-related spasticity since NICE guideline NG144 was published.

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.

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 integrated care boards commission nabiximols in line with NICE guideline NG144.

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.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many patients with multiple sclerosis were prescribed nabiximols on the NHS in England in each of the last three years by integrated care board.

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.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what guidance is issued to police forces on the priority given to reports of violence and aggression against NHS staff, including in emergency departments.

Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)

Police forces are operationally independent from Government and are responsible for decisions relating to their resourcing to respond to and investigate crime.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Undercover Policing Inquiry