Asked by: Earl Howe (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they are holding with NHS England and the UK National Screening Committee on coordinating evidence review, funding decisions and procurement so that, if approved, digital breast tomosynthesis can be implemented at pace and scale across the NHS breast screening programme.
Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Government recognises the benefits that emerging innovative technologies such as digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT) may bring to the NHS Breast Screening Programme. At present, DBT is an optional tool in the assessment of screen detected soft tissue breast abnormalities following mammography. Digital mammography, which offers high quality images, currently remains the primary screening tool for the programme as recommended by the UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC).
In 2025, the UK NSC, who advise the Government on all screening matters, set up a working group of breast cancer screening experts to help it consider new and emerging evidence and developments that could further improve the United Kingdom breast screening programmes. This includes exploring modalities such as DBT in addition to other tests and technologies, to detect breast cancer in women with dense breast tissue.
If, following this work, the UK NSC makes a recommendation regarding DBT, my Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, would be asked to make a decision on whether to accept the recommendation, alongside wider policy and operational advice.
Asked by: Earl Howe (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the cost effectiveness of digital breast tomosynthesis in the NHS breast screening programme, including the impact of improved cancer detection and reduced recall rates on treatment costs and patient outcomes.
Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Government recognises the benefits that emerging innovative technologies such as digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT) may bring to the NHS Breast Screening Programme. At present, DBT is an optional tool in the assessment of screen detected soft tissue breast abnormalities following mammography. Digital mammography, which offers high quality images, currently remains the primary screening tool for the programme as recommended by the UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC).
In 2025, the UK NSC, who advise the Government on all screening matters, set up a working group of breast cancer screening experts to help it consider new and emerging evidence and developments that could further improve the United Kingdom breast screening programmes. This includes exploring modalities such as DBT in addition to other tests and technologies, to detect breast cancer in women with dense breast tissue.
If, following this work, the UK NSC makes a recommendation regarding DBT, my Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, would be asked to make a decision on whether to accept the recommendation, alongside wider policy and operational advice.
Asked by: Earl Howe (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they will set clear timelines in the NHS breast screening programme for implementing innovative technologies, including digital breast tomosynthesis.
Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Government recognises the benefits that emerging innovative technologies such as digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT) may bring to the NHS Breast Screening Programme. At present, DBT is an optional tool in the assessment of screen detected soft tissue breast abnormalities following mammography. Digital mammography, which offers high quality images, currently remains the primary screening tool for the programme as recommended by the UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC).
In 2025, the UK NSC, who advise the Government on all screening matters, set up a working group of breast cancer screening experts to help it consider new and emerging evidence and developments that could further improve the United Kingdom breast screening programmes. This includes exploring modalities such as DBT in addition to other tests and technologies, to detect breast cancer in women with dense breast tissue.
If, following this work, the UK NSC makes a recommendation regarding DBT, my Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, would be asked to make a decision on whether to accept the recommendation, alongside wider policy and operational advice.
Asked by: Earl Howe (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the remarks by Baroness Merron on 24 November 2025 (HL Deb col 1107), when they intend to launch the consultation on emergency police powers of detention.
Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
On 24 November, the Department announced its commitment to consult on the powers available to different professionals in different situations and settings, in particular, but not limited to, the operation of the emergency powers in sections 135 and 136. The consultation will seek views on powers and joint working approaches to ensure that health and social care professionals and police have the appropriate powers to act in order to prevent people harming themselves and others when in a mental health crisis.
The Department also set out plans to work closely with a range of stakeholders to shape the scope of that consultation. Officials at the Department of Health and Social Care have started engagement with Home Office officials and stakeholders from the police, health, and social care to consider the options to consult on that support better outcomes for patients and services, and we will set out further detail on the timing of the consultation in due course.
Asked by: Earl Howe (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Merron on 19 March (HL15393), how many doctors have been subject to (1) suspension, and (2) erasure, for dishonestly claiming to be neurodivergent or have learning disabilities in 2025–26 up to and including the latest period for which figures are available.
Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Department does not hold this data centrally.
The General Medical Council (GMC) is the regulator of all medical doctors, physician assistants (PAs), and physician assistants in anaesthesia (PAAs), still legally known as anaesthesia associates and physician associates, practising in the United Kingdom. It sets and enforces the standards all doctors, Pas, and PAAs must adhere to. The GMC is independent of the Government, is directly accountable to Parliament, and is responsible for operational matters concerning the discharge of its statutory duties.
The GMC owns data on its fitness to practise processes and publishes annual fitness to practise statistics reports on its website.
Asked by: Earl Howe (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Merron on 19 March (HL15393), how many doctors have been subject to (1) suspension, and (2) erasure, for dishonestly claiming to be neurodivergent or have learning disabilities in 2024–25.
Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Department does not hold this data centrally.
The General Medical Council (GMC) is the regulator of all medical doctors, physician assistants (PAs), and physician assistants in anaesthesia (PAAs), still legally known as anaesthesia associates and physician associates, practising in the United Kingdom. It sets and enforces the standards all doctors, Pas, and PAAs must adhere to. The GMC is independent of the Government, is directly accountable to Parliament, and is responsible for operational matters concerning the discharge of its statutory duties.
The GMC owns data on its fitness to practise processes and publishes annual fitness to practise statistics reports on its website.
Asked by: Earl Howe (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps are being taken to ensure NHS pathways and commissioning decisions for heart valve disease align with the most up-to-date clinical guidelines.
Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
In 2025, NHS England’s Getting It Right First Time programme published new and revised cardiology pathways to support evidence-based, including National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidance, efficient, and consistent care across primary and secondary settings, including for aortic stenosis for patients with severe symptomatic heart valve disease.
NHS England has established an Expert Advisory Group on Heart Valve Disease with the aim of ensuring excellence in care whilst exploring ways to improve heart valve disease management nationwide.
Asked by: Earl Howe (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the letter from Baroness Merron to Lord Kamall on 19 February (DEP2026-0132), which regions are at capacity for delivering properly supervised medical speciality training posts.
Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
Training capacity varies by specialty, geography and programme size. It is dynamic and is assessed on a case-by-case basis by NHS England when allocating places. It is therefore not possible to provide a stable assessment of capacity within any regions.
When creating new places, NHS England will work with providers and local health systems to ensure that they continue to be of an appropriately high quality, so that doctors have the education and training they need to provide high quality patient care.
Regions will only be allocated new places if they have sufficient training capacity and can meet training quality standards.
Asked by: Earl Howe (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the powers of NHS Trusts and the General Medical Council to conduct disciplinary procedures in the case of a resident doctor who has been found to have dishonestly claimed to be neurodivergent or have learning disabilities.
Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
National Health Service organisations, as independent employers, have their own internal grievance and disciplinary procedures which should comply with employment law and relevant Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service codes and guidance. Any allegations of dishonesty would be considered to be a conduct issue and investigated in accordance with the employer’s disciplinary policy and procedures.
Maintaining High Professional Standards provides a national framework for the handling of concerns about doctors and dentists in the NHS. NHS trusts may also report any concerns about doctors to the General Medical Council (GMC).
The GMC is independent of Government, is directly accountable to Parliament, and is responsible for operational matters concerning the discharge of its statutory duties. The Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service (MPTS) is a statutory committee of the GMC. The United Kingdom’s model of healthcare professional regulation is founded on the principle of regulators operating independently from the Government.
In cases relating to dishonesty, the GMC’s Guidance for MPTS tribunals notes that, whilst a range of behaviour can be seen, the nature of the departure from the standards expected may mean that a concern or allegation relating to dishonesty falls at the high end of the spectrum of seriousness. Sanctions for dishonesty range from suspension to erasure, depending on the seriousness of the case.
Asked by: Earl Howe (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether NHS Trusts and the General Medical Council have sufficient powers to conduct disciplinary procedures in the case of a resident doctor who has been found to have dishonestly claimed to be neurodivergent or have learning disabilities.
Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
National Health Service organisations, as independent employers, have their own internal grievance and disciplinary procedures which should comply with employment law and relevant Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service codes and guidance. Any allegations of dishonesty would be considered to be a conduct issue and investigated in accordance with the employer’s disciplinary policy and procedures.
Maintaining High Professional Standards provides a national framework for the handling of concerns about doctors and dentists in the NHS. NHS trusts may also report any concerns about doctors to the General Medical Council (GMC).
The GMC is independent of Government, is directly accountable to Parliament, and is responsible for operational matters concerning the discharge of its statutory duties. The Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service (MPTS) is a statutory committee of the GMC. The United Kingdom’s model of healthcare professional regulation is founded on the principle of regulators operating independently from the Government.
In cases relating to dishonesty, the GMC’s Guidance for MPTS tribunals notes that, whilst a range of behaviour can be seen, the nature of the departure from the standards expected may mean that a concern or allegation relating to dishonesty falls at the high end of the spectrum of seriousness. Sanctions for dishonesty range from suspension to erasure, depending on the seriousness of the case.