Department of Health and Social Care

The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Through the Best Start Family Hubs and Healthy Babies guidance, we have a set a series of expectations for local authorities to support them to design their local service offer. The enhanced perinatal mental health and parent-infant relationship support is intended to build on existing provision within the system. Local authorities are empowering the workforce to be able to confidently identify and address need. They are providing high-quality support in a range of ways, such as virtually, one-to-one, and through peer support, and working across the system to strengthen referral pathways.

Through the 10-Year Health Plan, we commitment to rolling out Healthy Babies to match expansion of Best Start Family Hubs. While we do not expect local authorities who are not receiving funding to provide equivalent support to those that are, through the guidance we have set ambitions that we encourage them to work towards, which will lay the foundations for roll out. This includes equipping staff to offer emotional and wellbeing support, promote early attachment and connect families to appropriate services.

The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

The solution is being designed following UK Government guidance for building and managing digital services, including but not limited to Government Digital Service standards, the National Cyber Security Centre Cyber Assessment Framework, and Departmental data protection policies. By following this approach, the Department is identifying, recording, escalating, and/or mitigating risks to ensure identifiable data is being stored, accessed, and managed in-line with standards outlined above.

The Government recognises the value of community-based and mobile diagnostic services in increasing access to preventative care and reducing inequalities in cardiovascular outcomes. That is why diagnostic services for patients with suspected and known cardiovascular disease (CVD) are supported across all community diagnostic centres (CDCs).

In 2025/26, over 600,000 physiological science and imaging tests for cardiovascular conditions were delivered through CDCs. To further enhance access for patients, the CDC Pathway Programme saw six cardiovascular pathways receive funding approval in 2025/26, with a further 11 approved for 2026/27.

Alongside this, the Cardiovascular Disease Modern Service Framework will be published in spring and will prioritise ambitious, evidence-led and clinically informed approaches to prevention, treatment and care. As part of its development, we are engaging widely to identify and consider the role of emerging innovations across the CVD pathway.

All privacy notices will be reviewed and updated, if required, to reflect any changes to the technical infrastructure that supports the collection and processing of abortion data.

In line with the Department’s required standard operating procedures (RSOPs) for the approval of independent sector abortion clinics, abortion providers should make women aware of how the contents of the statutory HSA4 form sent to the Chief Medical Officer will be used and shared by the Department. The RSOPs include a suggested privacy notice to share with anyone undergoing abortion care which provides a clear understanding of what data is shared with the Department, the legal basis for collecting their data, and how the Department will manage their data.

The Crime and Policing Act 2026 disapplies the criminal offences related to abortion from women acting in relation to their own pregnancies. However, it does not change the Abortion Act 1967, statutory reporting of abortions to the Chief Medical Officer, or the provision of lawful abortion services.

The Department welcomes the report from the MS Society and Neurological Alliance as a valuable contribution to the evidence base, and recognises the important issues it raises, including variation in access to care, diagnostic delays and pressures across neurological services.

The Government is already taking forward work to improve neurological services through national programmes like NHS England’s Getting it Right First Time Programme (GIRFT) NHS RightCare, updated service specifications and new guidance published by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), which together aim to reduce variation and deliver more coordinated, person‑centred care.

The Department has made no specific assessment of introducing a target to reduce avoidable admissions for neurological conditions by 30% by 2035. However, the Department recognises the importance of reducing avoidable hospital admissions and improving outcomes for people with neurological conditions. National Programmes like GIRFT and RightCare strengthen early diagnosis, improve community‑based support and develop integrated care pathways, with the aim of reducing avoidable deterioration and supporting patients closer to home.

The Government will continue to consider evidence and proposals to improve care for people with neurological conditions as part of wider health system reforms, including the 10-Year Health Plan.

As part of the 10-Year Health Plan, the Government is developing a programme of Modern Service Frameworks (MSFs) which will define an aspirational, long-term outcome goal for a major condition and then identify the best evidenced interventions and the support for delivery. The first wave was agreed as Cardiovascular Disease, Sepsis and Severe Mental Illness. The second wave has now been agreed as Frailty and Dementia, Children and Young People, and Palliative Care and End-of-Life Care.

The Government will consider other long-term conditions, including neurological conditions, for future waves of MSFs. The criteria for determining future MSFs will be based on where there is potential for rapid and significant improvements in the quality of care and productivity.

The Department welcomes the report from the MS Society and Neurological Alliance as a valuable contribution to the evidence base, and recognises the important issues it raises, including variation in access to care, diagnostic delays and pressures across neurological services.

The Government is already taking forward work to improve neurological services through national programmes like NHS England’s Getting it Right First Time Programme (GIRFT) NHS RightCare, updated service specifications and new guidance published by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), which together aim to reduce variation and deliver more coordinated, person‑centred care.

The Department has made no specific assessment of introducing a target to reduce avoidable admissions for neurological conditions by 30% by 2035. However, the Department recognises the importance of reducing avoidable hospital admissions and improving outcomes for people with neurological conditions. National Programmes like GIRFT and RightCare strengthen early diagnosis, improve community‑based support and develop integrated care pathways, with the aim of reducing avoidable deterioration and supporting patients closer to home.

The Government will continue to consider evidence and proposals to improve care for people with neurological conditions as part of wider health system reforms, including the 10-Year Health Plan.

As part of the 10-Year Health Plan, the Government is developing a programme of Modern Service Frameworks (MSFs) which will define an aspirational, long-term outcome goal for a major condition and then identify the best evidenced interventions and the support for delivery. The first wave was agreed as Cardiovascular Disease, Sepsis and Severe Mental Illness. The second wave has now been agreed as Frailty and Dementia, Children and Young People, and Palliative Care and End-of-Life Care.

The Government will consider other long-term conditions, including neurological conditions, for future waves of MSFs. The criteria for determining future MSFs will be based on where there is potential for rapid and significant improvements in the quality of care and productivity.

The Department welcomes the report from the MS Society and Neurological Alliance as a valuable contribution to the evidence base, and recognises the important issues it raises, including variation in access to care, diagnostic delays and pressures across neurological services.

The Government is already taking forward work to improve neurological services through national programmes like NHS England’s Getting it Right First Time Programme (GIRFT) NHS RightCare, updated service specifications and new guidance published by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), which together aim to reduce variation and deliver more coordinated, person‑centred care.

The Department has made no specific assessment of introducing a target to reduce avoidable admissions for neurological conditions by 30% by 2035. However, the Department recognises the importance of reducing avoidable hospital admissions and improving outcomes for people with neurological conditions. National Programmes like GIRFT and RightCare strengthen early diagnosis, improve community‑based support and develop integrated care pathways, with the aim of reducing avoidable deterioration and supporting patients closer to home.

The Government will continue to consider evidence and proposals to improve care for people with neurological conditions as part of wider health system reforms, including the 10-Year Health Plan.

As part of the 10-Year Health Plan, the Government is developing a programme of Modern Service Frameworks (MSFs) which will define an aspirational, long-term outcome goal for a major condition and then identify the best evidenced interventions and the support for delivery. The first wave was agreed as Cardiovascular Disease, Sepsis and Severe Mental Illness. The second wave has now been agreed as Frailty and Dementia, Children and Young People, and Palliative Care and End-of-Life Care.

The Government will consider other long-term conditions, including neurological conditions, for future waves of MSFs. The criteria for determining future MSFs will be based on where there is potential for rapid and significant improvements in the quality of care and productivity.

The Neighbourhood Health Framework focuses on improving access to diagnostic services by bringing them closer to home as part of the wider ambition to shift care from hospital to community settings. In this context, it commits NHS England to reviewing direct access to diagnostics for general practice and undertaking a review of diagnostic services to map existing community diagnostic centre capacity and planned expansion.

Rapid and point‑of‑care infection diagnostics can play an important role in supporting clinical decision-making, antimicrobial stewardship, and more appropriate antibiotic prescribing. The Government’s approach to improving access to these technologies is informed by the UK 2024–2029 National Action Plan on antimicrobial resistance, which identifies improved diagnostics and diagnostic stewardship as key priorities in reducing unnecessary antimicrobial use. The UK 2024–2029 National Action Plan on antimicrobial resistance is available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-5-year-action-plan-for-antimicrobial-resistance-2024-to-2029/confronting-antimicrobial-resistance-2024-to-2029

NHS England and local systems will continue to consider opportunities to improve access to appropriate diagnostic technologies, including rapid and point‑of‑care tests, as part of wider efforts to strengthen community diagnostic pathways. Decisions on the adoption and use of these technologies are guided by evidence on clinical effectiveness, cost-effectiveness, and operational feasibility.

On behalf of all the nations of the United Kingdom, NHS England published an invitation to tender for the UK subscription model for antimicrobials on 24 August 2024. The assessment of each product is being undertaken by a panel convened by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence against the award criteria. Once that process is complete, the results will be communicated to bidders along with an award offer where appropriate.

Following the award offer, it is normal practice for a 10-day standstill period before contracts commence. Further details on timings will be available once the assessment process is complete, however, suppliers involved in the process have already been advised that contract award is likely to be in November, with contracts commencing from quarter one of 2027.

Miscarriage can have a devastating impact on women and their families, and we are determined that they receive the support they need. As part of the Renewed Women’s Health Strategy, we have committed to closely reviewing the findings presented in the Tommy’s Graded Model of Care study, as part of our broader work on miscarriage care.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) and cardiovascular disease (CVD) are closely linked, with shared risk factors, as well as being risk factors for each other. As set out in the 10-Year Health Plan, we will publish a new cardiovascular disease Modern Service Framework (MSF). As part of its development, officials are also considering opportunities for prevention and earlier diagnosis of CKD and are engaging widely to identify the best evidenced interventions.

The Government will consider long-term conditions for future waves of MSFs. The criteria for determining other conditions for future MSFs, including kidney disease, will be based on where there is potential for rapid and significant improvements in quality of care and productivity. After the initial wave of MSFs is complete, the National Quality Board will determine the conditions to prioritise for new MSFs as part of its work programme.

NHS England is delivering a comprehensive programme to improve the diagnosis, treatment, and outcomes of people with kidney disease. Eight commissioned regional renal clinical networks are implementing the renal service transformation toolkit in collaboration with providers, with a clear focus on improving early diagnosis, slowing disease progression, and reducing the number of patients reaching advanced stages of kidney disease. This work is supported nationally by the Renal Clinical Reference Group.

The 10-Year Health Plan explicitly states that the National Health Service will be designed to tackle health inequalities in access and outcomes, and will be a service equipped to narrow health inequalities, and address inequalities for specific population groups, such as those in working class jobs.

The NHS has a crucial role to play in reducing health inequalities by tackling inequalities in access to, experiences of, and outcomes from healthcare delivery, including for people with migraine.

The three key shifts set out in the 10-Year Health Plan will be central to narrowing health inequalities, through: neighbourhood health models of care; ensuring digital inclusion is embedded in digital advances; and in the shift to prevention using population health approaches to tailor interventions for those experiencing inequalities. The plan also makes commitments on specific population groups and social risk assessments to anchor policy and prevention.

Responsibility for commissioning migraine services rests with integrated care boards (ICBs), which are best placed to plan and deliver services that meet the needs of their local populations. This includes access to primary care, specialist neurology services, and newer treatments where clinically indicated.

Advanced foundation trusts will be able to effectively use their freedoms to work with their patients, staff, and communities to improve the broader health of their population and tackle health inequalities, including for those with migraine.

In Slough, there is a local gynaecological pathway for systematic management of women with heavy menstrual bleeding and a community gynaecology advice and guidance service to which general practitioners can refer patients.

Guidance about how to manage adenomyosis is usually embedded in symptom-focused pathways, for example, heavy menstrual bleeding or dysmenorrhoea, rather than guidance specific to adenomyosis. The Thames Valley Integrated Care Board follows the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence’s (NICE) guidance. NICE addresses adenomyosis primarily within their guideline on Heavy Menstrual Bleeding, reference code NG88, and specific interventional procedures guidance. NG88 also identifies the long-term outcomes of pharmacological or uterine-sparing treatments for heavy menstrual bleeding associated with adenomyosis as a research priority evidence gap.

The Renewed Women’s Health Strategy, published in April, commits to the redesign of clinical pathways for heavy periods and pelvic pain to reduce repeat appointments, unnecessary referrals, and long waits. Women with adenomyosis will benefit from single points of access for gynaecology referrals and a shift away from hospital only care towards neighbourhood and community settings.

The Renewed Women’s Health strategy additionally announced a new programme to improve education for girls about their menstrual health, investing an additional £1 million from this year to support targeted work in schools and community settings to support girls’ knowledge about menstrual health and when to seek healthcare. This is an important factor in delays in diagnosis and treatment for adenomyosis.

We are also introducing an “online hospital”, NHS Online. From 2027, people across England on certain pathways, including those with menstrual problems that may be a sign of adenomyosis, will have the choice of getting the specialist care they need from their home. NHS Online will help to reduce patient waiting times, delivering the equivalent of up to 8.5 million appointments and assessments in its first three years.

National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines recommend that patients and/or the families of people with cystic fibrosis are provided with the relevant information and the opportunity for discussion with clinicians on topics that include their diagnosis, monitoring of their condition, management options, and existing or possible complications that could relate to comorbidities like liver disease. NICE guidelines are available at the following link:

https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng78

The Government is committed to improving outcomes for people with prostate cancer and reducing inequalities in access to diagnosis across England, including in Bromsgrove.

The National Cancer Plan for England, published in February 2026, sets out action to improve earlier diagnosis, speed up treatment, and ensure that patients can benefit from advances in cancer care, regardless of where they live. Patients across England will benefit from expanded diagnostic capacity, including community diagnostic centres, improved use of data to identify delays, and the rollout of innovative technologies and diagnostic pathways.

NHS England and integrated care boards are supported to identify and address unwarranted variation in access to diagnostics, so that patients can access high‑quality testing regardless of where they live.

The Plan is backed by significant funding committed by the Government at the Spending Review, including £200 million in 2026/27 for local Cancer Alliances. Cancer Alliances are expected to use this funding to deliver local early diagnosis plans, including activity to improve awareness and access to testing for cancers such as prostate cancer, based on local need. In Bromsgrove, as elsewhere in England, access to testing is delivered in line with national standards and local commissioning decisions made by integrated care boards, supported by Cancer Alliances.

The Government has accepted the UK National Screening Committee’s recommendation to introduce a targeted prostate cancer screening programme for men with a known BRCA2 gene variant and a family history of prostate, breast, ovarian, or pancreatic cancer. Screening using the prostate specific antigen test will be offered to all eligible men between the ages of 45 and 61 years old every two years starting from 2027.

On 2 June 2026, the Government announced up to £20 million of investment to improve prostate cancer research and treatment, including up to £18 million to expand the TRANSFORM trial so that all eligible Black men will be invited to take part in stage 2. The TRANSFORM trial, which is co-funded by Prostate Cancer UK and the National Institute of Health and Care Research, the Department’s research arm, is testing the best ways to detect prostate cancer earlier and save more lives, while avoiding unnecessary treatment and the associated harms.

The Government acknowledges the importance of ensuring healthcare professionals are adequately trained and educated on women’s health conditions, including endometriosis, and we have taken action to address this.

NHS England encourages adherence to guidance publications by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). However, professionals and practitioners are expected to exercise their judgement when taking NICE guidelines into account, alongside the individual needs, preferences, and values of their patients or the people using their service. It is not mandatory to apply the recommendations, and the guideline does not override the responsibility to make decisions appropriate to the circumstances of the individual, in consultation with them and their families and carers or guardian.

NHS England is currently developing a pelvic pain pathway for systems which will provide a framework for managing pelvic pain and endometriosis across the healthcare system. This will be aligned with NICE guidance and will enable women to get care either in primary care, neighbourhood services, or specialist secondary care services in line with their needs.

The Skills for Health Multi-professional Capabilities framework has a focus on developing basic, intermediate, and advanced skills so that all healthcare professionals are able to manage pain and, where the ceiling of skills are reached, have an easy referral pathway to achieving good outcomes.

NHS England is working with regions to encourage and support implementation of these pathways and a neighbourhood approach to care, which will help to support early recognition and diagnosis, reducing waiting times for women for conditions including endometriosis.

The women's health data dashboard is available on the NHS Futures website and is available to anyone working within the health and care sector who requires insight into women's health. The dashboard records need, access, outcomes, and experiences across a range of women’s health conditions, including diagnostics and prescribing.

The dashboard is intended to provide national and local insight into National Health Service performance in women's health and highlight potential unmet need, unwarranted variation, and health inequalities.

Integrated care boards (ICBs) are responsible for commissioning services that meet the healthcare needs of their local population and have the freedom to do so, and this includes women's health services. Outcomes in women’s health are shared with ICBs through the data dashboard so they can see how well they are meeting the needs of women in their population. Local systems will then be able to shape their services according to need and can monitor the impact over time.

More data and indicators will be added to the dashboard over the next 12 months.

The Renewed Women’s Health Strategy, published in April 2026, committed to redesigning clinical pathways, including for menopause.

These redesigned pathways will create roadmaps for health systems to use and adapt for local needs that will enable women to move more quickly through the system and reach the level of care they need with fewer appointments.

Integrated care boards will monitor and report on progress through improvement plans submitted to the NHS England Women’s Health National Programme Board.

The renewed Women’s Health Strategy also shifts women’s health care, including menopause, away from hospital-only care towards primary and community settings, such as neighbourhood women’s health services and women’s health hubs, making care easier to access and closer to home. Neighbourhood women’s health services will liaise with secondary care services to ensure that people who require specialist care have access to it, including those who are experiencing treatment-induced menopause.

Additionally, each region will have a specialist centre to support group-based clinics in women's health such as menopause services, improving access, peer support, and consistency, with early rollout focused on areas of highest need.

The Government recognises the ongoing need to ensure healthcare practitioners have sufficient knowledge of women’s health, including menopause, to provide the best possible care.

General practitioners (GPs) are responsible for ensuring their own clinical knowledge remains up-to-date and for identifying learning needs as part of their continuing professional development. This activity should include taking account of new research and developments in guidance, such as that produced by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, to ensure that they can continue to provide high quality care to all patients.

Menopause is included in the Royal College of General Practitioners’ curriculum for trainee GPs, including gynaecology, sexual health, and breast health. The curriculum also covers women’s healthcare needs across all diseases seen in primary care, ensuring future GPs treat women holistically.

The General Medical Council (GMC) introduced a new Medical Licensing Assessment for all medical graduates from the academic year 2024/25 with an updated version being introduced for September 2026. This includes topics relating to women’s health, such as menopause and perimenopause.

All United Kingdom registered doctors are subject to revalidation requirements, overseen by the GMC, with the process led by the Royal College of General Practitioners. Continuing professional development is essential for demonstrating fitness to practise safely.

NHS England is developing a Multi-professional Capabilities Framework with Skills for Health, to develop tiered trainings and competencies for health care professionals to ensure continued professional development across the workforce.

Miscarriage can have a devastating impact on women and their families, and we are determined that they receive the support they need.

My Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, has not made a formal assessment of the Miscarriage Patient Charter. However, we will consider the available evidence as part of our broader work on miscarriage care, including the Tommy’s report on the Graded Model of Miscarriage Care, and the implementation of the Graded Model in Scotland.

NHS England encourages adherence to guidance publications by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). However, healthcare professionals and practitioners are expected to take NICE guidelines into account alongside the individual needs, preferences, and values of their patients or the people using their service. It is not mandatory to apply the recommendations, and the guideline does not override the responsibility to make decisions appropriate to the circumstances of the individual, in consultation with them and their families and carers or guardian.

NHS England is currently developing a pelvic pain pathway for systems which will provide a framework for managing pelvic pain and endometriosis across the healthcare system. This will be aligned with NICE guidance and will enable women to get care either in primary care, neighbourhood services, or specialist secondary care services in line with their needs.

NHS England is working with regions to encourage and support implementation of these pathways and a neighbourhood approach to care, which will help to support early recognition and diagnosis, reducing waiting times for women.

The Crime and Policing Act 2026 disapplies the criminal offences related to abortion from women acting in relation to their own pregnancies. However, it does not change the Abortion Act 1967 or the provision of lawful abortion services. Therefore, there was not a need to review the procurement specification for the Abortion Notification Service.

The information on folic acid was shortened and simplified as part of the process of redesigning medicines information on the NHS website. The NHS website sets out that before taking folic acid, patients, which includes those with stents or receiving kidney dialysis, should tell their doctor if they have any medical conditions. It also advises patients to check the information provided in the leaflet that comes with their medicine or contact a health professional to ensure that the medicine is suitable for them.

Public Health Grant allocations have been confirmed for the next three years to enable local authorities to plan and make the best use of the funding available. The majority of funding which makes up the Public Health Grant will continue to be distributed as in previous years with an equal percentage uplift, ensuring that the most deprived local authorities continue to receive on average more than twice as much funding per person as the least deprived. During this period, we are also using bespoke methods, which consider deprivation and service need, to distribute the previously separate funding components for smoking and addiction services which have now been consolidated into the Public Health Grant.

The Government recognises that women suffering with gynaecological conditions, including polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome (PMOS), previously referred to as polycystic ovary syndrome, have been failed for far too long, and we acknowledge the impact it has on women’s lives, relationships, and participation in education and the workforce.

The Renewed Women’s Health Strategy for England, published in April 2026, represents a decisive shift towards addressing longstanding failings in women’s health outcomes, experiences, and access to care. The strategy announces a new programme to improve education for girls about their menstrual health, investing an additional £1 million from this year to support targeted work in schools and community settings to support girls’ knowledge about menstrual health and when to seek healthcare. This investment in improved information will help women and girls know when to seek healthcare, which is an important factor in the time to diagnosis and treatment in conditions like PMOS.

In 2025, the Department for Education published revised statutory guidance on Relationships and sex education and health education in schools, covering women's health topics including menstrual health, premenstrual syndrome, heavy periods, endometriosis, PMOS, and guidance for when to seek healthcare advice.

We are also introducing an “online hospital”, NHS Online. From 2027, people on certain pathways, including menstrual problems that may be a sign of PMOS, will have the choice of getting the specialist care they need from their home. NHS Online will help to reduce patient waiting times, delivering the equivalent of up to 8.5 million appointments and assessments in its first three years.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence is developing guidance on polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome and will publish a consultation of its draft guidelines in July.

The Government is committed to improving the early diagnosis of cancer for patients of all ages, including people aged under 50 years old.

The National Cancer Plan for England, published in February 2026, identifies earlier diagnosis as a key driver of improved cancer outcomes. The plan sets out action to expand diagnostic capacity, harness new technologies, including genomics and artificial intelligence, and redesign pathways to help cancers be detected and diagnosed earlier.

The Government is committed to reducing the number of cancers diagnosed through emergency presentation and improving access to faster and more convenient tests, checks, and scans. This includes expanding diagnostic capacity and improving the use of data to identify delays and variation across cancer pathways.

Full roll out of non-specific symptom pathways has been achieved across England. These pathways support earlier diagnosis for patients whose symptoms may indicate cancer but do not align with a specific tumour type, helping to identify cancers that can otherwise be diagnosed at a later stage.

The National Cancer Plan also commits to speeding up detection and diagnosis for children and young people with cancer, ensuring their needs are embedded in the design of neighbourhood health services, improving access to specialist support, and supporting the safe use of artificial intelligence-based decision tools.

In addition, the Children and Young People Cancer Taskforce is helping drive improvements across early detection and diagnosis, genomic testing and treatment, research and innovation, and patient experience, with its commitments reflected in the National Cancer Plan.

The Government is committed to reducing inequalities in health outcomes across the country, including in Harpenden and Berkhamsted, and to increasing the time people spend in good health.

We know everyday life poses greater health risks to the most disadvantaged in society, and that the current model of care works least well for those who already experience disadvantage and are far more likely to have complex needs. To help tackle this, we are reviewing the Carr-Hill formula so funding better reflects need.

We are acting on the wider causes of ill health through measures such as the Tobacco and Vapes Act, which will create the first smoke-free generation, and action to tackle childhood obesity, including restrictions on junk food advertising aimed at children on television and online.

We are also taking cross-Government action on the wider determinants of health, recognising that health outcomes are shaped by factors beyond healthcare alone. This includes measures such as Awaab’s Law, which will require landlords to address serious damp and mould hazards, and legislation for a new statutory health and health inequalities duty for strategic authorities.

Hertfordshire County Council delivers its statutory public health functions and wider health inequalities activity through a ring fenced Public Health Grant received annually from the Department. The Hertfordshire County Council Director of Public Health is responsible for the use of the grant in line with the grant conditions. For 2026/27 the value of the consolidated grant for Hertfordshire was £65 million.

Highly specialised services are typically delivered in a small number of centres across England with experience and expertise in the management of rare diseases where caseloads are small and there is benefit from national coordination.

As such it is more likely that some patients may need to travel further to access these services. Commissioners therefore work with service to review the geographic spread of patients so that action plans can be identified to address inequities. A range of strategies have been implemented, and continue to be developed, to remove barriers to access, including remote appointments, shared care models, outreach, education and training, and support with travel and accommodation. In line with their commitment under the Government’s Rare Disease Action Plan, NHS England has developed and published a health inequalities toolkit which has been shared with clinical teams to support a continued focus. This action plan can be found at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/england-rare-diseases-action-plan-2026/england-rare-diseases-action-plan-2026-main-report

The need to support patient access and reduce health inequalities also plays a key role in decision making as to where and how NHS England commission services.

Highly specialised services are typically delivered in a small number of centres across England with experience and expertise in the management of rare diseases where caseloads are small and there is benefit from national coordination.

As such it is more likely that some patients may need to travel further to access these services. Commissioners therefore work with service to review the geographic spread of patients so that action plans can be identified to address inequities. A range of strategies have been implemented, and continue to be developed, to remove barriers to access, including remote appointments, shared care models, outreach, education and training, and support with travel and accommodation. In line with their commitment under the Government’s Rare Disease Action Plan, NHS England has developed and published a health inequalities toolkit which has been shared with clinical teams to support a continued focus. This action plan can be found at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/england-rare-diseases-action-plan-2026/england-rare-diseases-action-plan-2026-main-report

The need to support patient access and reduce health inequalities also plays a key role in decision making as to where and how NHS England commission services.

We recognise that the provision of cancer services varies significantly across the country.

The NHS Cancer Programme commissions a series of cancer audits, including one on prostate cancer. The audits are a key way in which the Cancer Programme highlights and addresses variation, with priority recommendations adopted for action by Cancer Alliances.

On 9 January 2025, the National Cancer Audit Collaborating Centre published the latest prostate cancer audit report, and the next audit report is due for publication in October 2026. Cancer Alliances working with National Health Service trusts are identified as the target audience for audit recommendations, and responding to audit findings will be further facilitated by the implementation of Quality Improvement Collaboratives as outlined in the National Cancer Plan.

We are agreeing a new contract for the National Cancer Audit Collaboration centre starting in October 2027. As part of this, we plan to increase the specific focus on variation in access to the best treatment as opposed to early diagnosis and operational performance, both of which have considerable focus through other work of the cancer programme and in the National Cancer Plan.

The National Cancer Plan for England, published earlier this year, sets out how we will end this variation and ensure that everybody, no matter their postcode, has access to high-quality cancer care. Cancer Alliances up and down the country are already working with their local systems on this.

The recently announced investment of up to £2.8 million in focal therapies will strengthen existing provision in line with the expansion of the TRANSFORM trial for prostate cancer screening. Initial funding will support existing focal therapy sites to expand their focal therapy offer to ensure they can treat all suitable localised prostate cancers, irrespective of their location in the prostate.

All future expansion of focal therapy provision to new sites will include appropriate clinical and market engagement, and geographic inequalities will be taken into account.

The United Kingdom’s 2024 to 2029 antimicrobial resistance (AMR) national action plan (NAP), published in May 2024, recognises that AMR impacts people differently. People with cystic fibrosis are an increased risk of infection, including resistant infections, and therefore action to tackle the threat of AMR is even more important for this group. In particular, the use of accurate diagnostic testing to guide effective antibiotic use, a priority commitment in the NAP, is critical for people with cystic fibrosis.

The Department, through the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), has invested over £88 million in AMR programme funding over the last five years. This includes research to develop and evaluate diagnostics and point‑of‑care testing to improve infection detection and optimise antibiotic use. The NIHR also supports the development of health technologies, including diagnostics, through its wider research infrastructure.

The UK will continue to invest in tackling AMR where it is most impactful, helping to ensure that our actions to address AMR reduce the burden for the people who are more affected.

The National Disease Registration Service publishes regional breakdowns of cancer cases, including mesothelioma. Data by region and cancer type can be accessed at the following link:

https://nhsd-ndrs.shinyapps.io/incidence_and_mortality/

The Office for National Statistics publishes regional breakdowns of cancer deaths, including mesothelioma. Data by geography and cancer type can be accessed at the following link:

https://www.nomisweb.co.uk/datasets/mortsa

The Health and Safety Executive publish statistics on Mesothelioma deaths and cases and causes. The latest published statistics for Great Britain are for 2025, and are available at the following link:

https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/health-professional/cancer-statistics/statistics-by-cancer-type/mesothelioma/incidence

The National Disease Registration Service publishes regional breakdowns of cancer cases, including mesothelioma. Data by region and cancer type can be accessed at the following link:

https://nhsd-ndrs.shinyapps.io/incidence_and_mortality/

The Office for National Statistics publishes regional breakdowns of cancer deaths, including mesothelioma. Data by geography and cancer type can be accessed at the following link:

https://www.nomisweb.co.uk/datasets/mortsa

The Health and Safety Executive publish statistics on Mesothelioma deaths and cases and causes. The latest published statistics for Great Britain are for 2025, and are available at the following link:

https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/health-professional/cancer-statistics/statistics-by-cancer-type/mesothelioma/incidence

The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.