Asked by: Lee Anderson (Reform UK - Ashfield)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of recent trends in diagnosis times for women with endometriosis.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Government acknowledges the challenges faced by women with endometriosis and the impact it has on their lives, their relationships, and their participation in education and the workforce. We are committed to improving the diagnosis, treatment, and ongoing care for endometriosis. It is unacceptable that women can wait so long for an endometriosis diagnosis and we are taking action to address this.
As announced in September 2025, we will establish an online hospital, via NHS Online, which will give people across the country, on certain pathways, the choice of getting the specialist care they need from their home. It will connect patients with clinicians across the country through secure, online appointments accessed through the NHS App.
Menstrual problems which may be a sign of endometriosis will be among the first nine conditions available for referral to NHS Online from 2027. We’ve chosen some of the conditions with the longest waits and where online consultation works best. 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, four times more than an average trust, while enhancing patient choice and control over their care. This will allow women with menstrual problems which may be a sign of endometriosis across the country to reach a diagnosis sooner.
The General Medical Council has introduced the Medical Licensing Assessment from the academic year 2024/25. The content map for this assessment includes several topics relating to women’s health including menstrual problems, endometriosis, menopause, and urinary incontinence. This will encourage a better understanding of common women’s health problems among all doctors as they start their careers in the United Kingdom.
In November 2024, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) updated their guideline on endometriosis to make firmer recommendations for healthcare professionals on referral and investigations for women with a suspected diagnosis, which will help the estimated one in 10 women with endometriosis to receive a diagnosis faster. NICE is working with the National Health Service to ensure adoption of this best practice endometriosis care.
Asked by: Lee Anderson (Reform UK - Ashfield)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to reduce diagnosis times for women with endometriosis.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Government acknowledges the challenges faced by women with endometriosis and the impact it has on their lives, their relationships, and their participation in education and the workforce. We are committed to improving the diagnosis, treatment, and ongoing care for endometriosis. It is unacceptable that women can wait so long for an endometriosis diagnosis and we are taking action to address this.
As announced in September 2025, we will establish an online hospital, via NHS Online, which will give people across the country, on certain pathways, the choice of getting the specialist care they need from their home. It will connect patients with clinicians across the country through secure, online appointments accessed through the NHS App.
Menstrual problems which may be a sign of endometriosis will be among the first nine conditions available for referral to NHS Online from 2027. We’ve chosen some of the conditions with the longest waits and where online consultation works best. 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, four times more than an average trust, while enhancing patient choice and control over their care. This will allow women with menstrual problems which may be a sign of endometriosis across the country to reach a diagnosis sooner.
The General Medical Council has introduced the Medical Licensing Assessment from the academic year 2024/25. The content map for this assessment includes several topics relating to women’s health including menstrual problems, endometriosis, menopause, and urinary incontinence. This will encourage a better understanding of common women’s health problems among all doctors as they start their careers in the United Kingdom.
In November 2024, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) updated their guideline on endometriosis to make firmer recommendations for healthcare professionals on referral and investigations for women with a suspected diagnosis, which will help the estimated one in 10 women with endometriosis to receive a diagnosis faster. NICE is working with the National Health Service to ensure adoption of this best practice endometriosis care.
Asked by: Caroline Johnson (Conservative - Sleaford and North Hykeham)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether the current Chair of the adult clinical reference group for adult gender dysphoria services refused to comply with requests for data for the date linkage study which was recommended by the Cass review.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
It is well documented that a number of adult gender clinics were unwilling to collaborate with data sharing requests made of them previously, in respect of the data linkage study, and that this meant that the data linkage study was unable to proceed at the time. Further engagement with a range of stakeholders has since led to small but important proposed improvements in study design. These have been subject to positive feedback from representatives of commissioned adult gender clinics and should support collaboration on data sharing once the necessary research approvals are in place to enable the study to begin. Given the importance of this study as part of the wider national gender research programme, the Department will continue to closely monitor progress in partnership with NHS England and consider whether any further support is required to enable study delivery.
Asked by: Lee Anderson (Reform UK - Ashfield)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to ensure that people experiencing hair loss can access suitable mental health support.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
We recognise that hair loss can have a significant emotional impact, and people affected should be able to access appropriate mental health support, if and when they need it.
The Government is increasing access to mental health services across the spectrum of need. This includes expanding NHS Talking Therapies, which provide effective treatment for common mental health conditions such as anxiety and depression, and growing Mental Health Support Teams in schools and colleges to ensure children and young people can receive early support. This is supported by the recruitment of almost 8,000 additional mental health staff, against our target of 8,500 by the end of this Parliament.
Asked by: Claire Coutinho (Conservative - East Surrey)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether (a) his Department and (b) the arms length bodies sponsored by his Department are compliant with the Supreme Court ruling in the case of For Women Scotland Ltd v The Scottish Ministers [2025].
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Department regularly reviews its policies and guidance to ensure they remain legally compliant and consistent with evolving case law. This includes reviewing its Gender Identity and Intersex policy package following the Supreme Court ruling in For Women Scotland Ltd v The Scottish Ministers [2025]. The Department also engages with its arms-length bodies to ensure their internal policies align with statutory obligations and relevant judicial rulings.
Asked by: Andrew Griffith (Conservative - Arundel and South Downs)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what (a) meetings and (b) correspondence he has had with Donna Ockenden on the leadership of the independent review into maternity services at University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Department has received correspondence from Sussex families regarding the appointment of Donna Ockenden and will respond shortly. The Department is currently considering options in terms of case numbers and chair appointment.
Ministerial meetings with external stakeholders are published on the GOV.UK website on a quarterly basis in arrears.
Asked by: John Hayes (Conservative - South Holland and The Deepings)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many staff in his Department are reliant on a visa for employment.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
47 individuals in the Department are reliant on a visa for employment.
Asked by: Freddie van Mierlo (Liberal Democrat - Henley and Thame)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to identify and tackle systemic causes of avoidable harm in maternity and neonatal services.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
While the vast majority of births in England are safe, we know that systemic causes of avoidable harm exist in maternity and neonatal services, and this is not acceptable.
This is why my Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, asked Baroness Amos to lead an independent investigation in National Health Service maternity and neonatal care to help us understand the systemic issues behind why so many women, babies, and families experience unacceptable care. The investigation will publish its final report and recommendations in June 2026.
The Government is also setting up a National Maternity and Neonatal Taskforce, chaired by my Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care. The taskforce will address the recommendations of the investigation by developing a new national action plan to drive improvements across maternity and neonatal care. The taskforce will also hold the system to account for improving outcomes and experiences for women and babies.
We are not waiting to take action. We have already recruited over 800 more midwives, we’re investing over £140 million to address critical safety risks on the maternity estate, and we are rolling out guidance to tackle the leading causes of maternal death. We are also rolling out programmes to tackle discrimination and racism and avoidable brain injuries.
Asked by: Jeremy Hunt (Conservative - Godalming and Ash)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how the functions of local Healthwatch will be delivered by ICBs and local authorities.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The abolition of local Healthwatch (LHW) and the transfer of its functions will require primary legislation. The timing of this is subject to the will of Parliament and will happen when parliamentary time allows.
We are proposing to place responsibility for the health function of LHW with integrated care boards. Local authorities will be responsible for the social care LHW functions.
Asked by: Caroline Johnson (Conservative - Sleaford and North Hykeham)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the written statement on 26 February 2026 titled Data Linkage Study, what is his expected timeframe for research and ethics approval.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
Important final steps are currently being taken to enable the data linkage study to begin, including the laying of an updated statutory instrument, or Order, to provide appropriate legal protections for those individuals and organisations who will be sharing or processing data for the specific purpose of the study, that are potentially subject to the specific protections of the Gender Recognition Act 2004. In parallel, refreshed research approvals are currently being sought from the Health Research Authority (HRA). The HRA provides independent scrutiny and approval of research studies, with the outcome of the data linkage study’s application expected in the next few weeks. Both the new order and HRA study approvals will need to be in place before the study, including data sharing, can begin.