Asked by: Josh Fenton-Glynn (Labour - Calder Valley)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of barriers to reporting sexual misconduct by doctors, including for patients and NHS staff.
Answered by Zubir Ahmed - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
We acknowledge that the confidence to report sexual misconduct in the National Health Service remains a systemic challenge that is influenced by a range of factors.
For example, NHS staff often do not wish to subject themselves to a formal employment process or are concerned about reprisals from other members of staff or believe they may not be taken seriously by their manager and organisation.
All trusts and integrated care boards (ICBs) have signed up to the NHS Sexual Safety Charter, which is available at the following link:
https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/sexual-safety-in-healthcare-organisational-charter/
The principles underpinning the charter contribute to improving workplace sexual safety culture, which should empower more staff to speak up.
In 2024, NHS England produced a national policy framework for sexual misconduct. The framework recommends routes through which reports can be made including Freedom to Speak Up Guardians, line managers, human resources, or via an anonymous reporting form. Every trust and ICB now has a policy in place or is in the process of adopting one, and 76% have implemented anonymous reporting for staff.
The Patient Advice and Liaison service and complaints system provide routes for patients and the public to report incidents of sexual misconduct.
In December 2025, NHS England wrote to NHS trusts and ICBs setting out further actions to take to ensure the sexual safety of both patients and staff. Further information is available at the following link:
https://www.england.nhs.uk/long-read/an-update-on-actions-to-prevent-sexual-misconduct-in-the-nhs/
Asked by: Rachel Gilmour (Liberal Democrat - Tiverton and Minehead)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make an assessment of the adequacy of the level of funding allocated for research into chronic pain disorders.
Answered by Zubir Ahmed - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Department funds research through the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) including research into chronic pain disorders. Between 2020/21 and 2024/25, the NIHR invested £39.4 million in direct research funding in this area. Further information on that research can be seen at the following link:
https://nihr.opendatasoft.com/pages/homepage/
The NIHR provides an online service called Be Part of Research, which promotes participation in health and social care research by allowing users to search for relevant studies and register their interest. At the current time, there are 41 studies actively recruiting for participants on many aspects of chronic pain. Further information is available at the following link:
https://bepartofresearch.nihr.ac.uk/results/search-results?query=chronic%20pain&location=
The NIHR’s infrastructure also provides support for the country’s leading experts to develop and deliver high-quality translational, clinical, and applied research that is funded by the NIHR’s research programmes, other public funders of research, charities, and the life sciences industry, including many aspects of chronic pain. Further information is available at the following link:
Asked by: Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether the National Cancer Board will be accountable for the children and young people’s chapter of the National Cancer Plan for England; and, if so, how it will ensure sufficient representation from the children and young people sector.
Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The National Cancer Plan for England, published on the 4 February 2026, sets out several commitments and ambitions, to be delivered within the next 10 years. The role of the reformed National Cancer Board will be to support and monitor the delivery of the commitments and ambitions and provide regular updates to ministers.
The board will be co-chaired by the Director General for Planned Care in the Department, as well as an independent representative. It is important to choose the most suitable appointment process for selecting an independent representative to co-chair the board. Officials from NHS England and the Department are carefully following the required public appointments procedures for the selection of the independent representative.
The reformed National Cancer Board will be established once a co-chair is appointed, which will include a children and young people cancer lead that will support the delivery of the children and young people commitments in the National Cancer Plan.
Asked by: Baroness Walmsley (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government what lessons they have learnt from the review and updating of previous age-restricted sales legislation; and how those lessons will inform the approach to keeping any future energy drinks age-of-sale legislation under review as new products enter the market and consumption patterns evolve.
Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Government continues to learn from the implementation of previous age-restricted sales legislation. We recognise the importance of clear guidance, proportionate enforcement arrangements, and ensuring legislation is responsive to evidence, development in products, sales channels, and consumer behaviour.
Any future age of sale measures for energy drinks will be designed with these considerations in mind. We are reviewing consultation responses and will set out next steps in due course. The consultation specifically asked for views on our proposals for how the age restrictions will be enforced and its impact on local government.
Decisions on resourcing and enforcement will be taken alongside wider policy design and parliamentary scrutiny.
Asked by: Baroness Walmsley (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government what lessons they have learned from previous age-restricted sales legislation, to ensure local authorities are adequately resourced to support the monitoring and enforcement of any future energy drinks age-of-sale legislation.
Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Government continues to learn from the implementation of previous age-restricted sales legislation. We recognise the importance of clear guidance, proportionate enforcement arrangements, and ensuring legislation is responsive to evidence, development in products, sales channels, and consumer behaviour.
Any future age of sale measures for energy drinks will be designed with these considerations in mind. We are reviewing consultation responses and will set out next steps in due course. The consultation specifically asked for views on our proposals for how the age restrictions will be enforced and its impact on local government.
Decisions on resourcing and enforcement will be taken alongside wider policy design and parliamentary scrutiny.
Asked by: Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to enable the adoption of innovative diagnostic technologies for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease within the NHS; and what engagement they have had with clinical bodies to support large-scale implementation of targeted case-finding pathways that promote earlier diagnosis and help prevent disease progression.
Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The National Health Service is working to expand access to innovative diagnostic technologies for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Research into new diagnostic tests for COPD, such as computed cardiopulmonography and N-Tidal Diagnose, is underway.
Discussions on whether new diagnostic pathways could be developed will be dependent on the research findings.
NHS England continues to work closely with Respiratory Clinical Networks and bodies such as the British Thoracic Society to support improvements to services.
Asked by: Lord Kamall (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they plan to commission a clinically-led review of diagnostic standards for Alzheimer's disease to ensure earlier and more accurate diagnosis.
Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
While there are currently no plans for a clinician-led review, Baroness Louise Casey of Blackstock was asked by the Prime Minister to chair an independent commission into adult social care. The commission is underway and phase one will report this year.
We will deliver the first ever Modern Service framework for Frailty and Dementia to deliver rapid and significant improvements in quality of care and productivity. This will be informed by phase one of the independent commission into adult social care.
The Modern Service framework for Frailty and Dementia will seek to reduce unwarranted variation and narrow inequality for those living with dementia, including those living with Alzheimer’s disease. It will set national standards for dementia care and redirect National Health Service priorities to provide the best possible care and support.
In developing the Modern Service framework for Frailty and Dementia, we are engaging with a wide group of partners, including clinicians, to understand what should be included to ensure the best outcomes for people living with dementia.
Asked by: Lord Kamall (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the suitability of current diagnostic standards for Alzheimer's disease in promoting early and accurate diagnosis.
Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
We know that a timely diagnosis is vital to ensuring that a person with dementia can access the advice, information, care, and support that can help them to live well and remain independent for as long as possible.
We will deliver the first ever Modern Service Framework for Frailty and Dementia to deliver rapid and significant improvements in quality of care and productivity. This will be informed by phase one of the independent commission into adult social care. The commission is underway and phase one will report this year. The Modern Service Framework for Frailty and Dementia will seek to reduce unwarranted variation and narrow inequality for those living with dementia and will set national standards for dementia care and redirect National Health Service priorities to provide the best possible care and support. Central to this modern service framework will be improved access to a timely and accurate diagnosis. We are considering all options to help reduce variation, including reviewing standards, metrics, and targets.
Asked by: Lord Markham (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Merron on 16 February (HL14539), whether they will establish a statutory duty for water companies to follow the recommendations of the advisory group to the Independent Water Commission and work with the Secretary of State and relevant public health authorities on the implementation, operation, and maintenance of community water fluoridation schemes.
Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The White Paper A New Vision for Water published in January 2026 sets out the Government’s plans to implement the recommendations of the Independent Water Commission. This includes an integrated water regulator to deliver fair and effective regulation that protects and improves public health. A drinking water quality advisory group, including scientific and public health experts, will be given responsibility for making regular recommendations for updating drinking water regulations to ensure value for money whilst helping protect and improve public health.
Asked by: Lord Taylor of Warwick (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the use of AI tools by NHS hospitals to support clinical documentation, including real-time note-taking systems; and what safeguards are in place to ensure that those tools maintain accuracy, patient safety and data protection.
Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
National Health Service hospitals are increasingly using artificial intelligence (AI) tools, such as real-time note-taking systems, to support clinical documentation. Among these, Ambient Voice Technologies (AVT) hold transformative potential to improve both patient care and operational efficiency. These tools have been shown to cut down on the amount of time clinicians spend on paperwork by half, giving them more time to spend on other important tasks, like interacting with their patients.
NHS England is dedicated to enabling the safe deployment and adoption of such technologies, providing clear guidance on approval, implementation, information governance, security, privacy, and controls. National standards and additional guidance will explain how AVT solutions should be selected, deployed, and scaled to ensure they are safe, effective, and eligible for NHS adoption including accuracy.
Strict safeguards are in place across the NHS to guarantee patient safety, and data protection. All NHS organisations must comply with Medical Devices Regulations (SI 2002 No 618, as amended) (UK MDR 2002) and digital clinical safety standards. Providers handling patient data must comply with UK General Data Protection Regulation and the Data Protection Act 2018. Each health organisation is required to appoint a Caldicott Guardian, whose role is to advise on the protection and proper use of health and care data, including where AI is involved.