Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of whether standard operating practices and procedures for the treatment of patients in ambulances for those waiting to be admitted to hospital (1) go beyond paramedics' scope of clinical practice, and (2) are limited to pre-hospital emergency interventions, in particular in Birmingham.

Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

No specific assessment has been made. Paramedics are highly trained and competent professionals who routinely and autonomously carry out procedures where required.

While patients wait for hospital intervention, paramedics work alongside acute trusts to provide robust protection measures, alongside Rapid Release protocols implemented in most ambulance services and acute trusts, allowing ambulances to clear and be available for the next call. Where protocols have not been implemented, there is a plan in place for rapid implementation.

Whether paramedics are able to undertake or supervise treatment procedures whilst patients wait for admission to hospital depends on a number of factors, including local policies and clinical governance frameworks.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether ambulance paramedics are regulated to undertake or supervise procedures, including routine catheterisation and infusion, while waiting with patients for hospital admission.

Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

Ambulance paramedics are regulated by the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC), but the HCPC does not set a national list of procedures such as catheterisation or infusion. Paramedics are highly trained and competent professionals who may routinely and autonomously carry out procedures such as cannulation in the field.

However, while waiting for hospital admission, whether paramedics are able to undertake or supervise these procedures depends on a number of factors, such as local policies and clinical governance frameworks.

The Government expects all system partners to work together to provide robust protection measures, including handover protocols, to ensure patients are cared for in the right place, at the right time.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of Healthwatch on patient involvement in the NHS.

Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

Healthwatch has played an important role in supporting patient involvement in the National Health Service, and in our 10-Year Health Plan we recognise the valuable work they have done to gather patient feedback and influence the debate around local service delivery.

Healthwatch was one of six organisations covered by Dr Penny Dash’s review of patient safety across the health and care landscape. The review found that there are too many organisations doing this type of work, which can create confusion for patients and risks limiting impact given their distance from service providers and commissioners.

In response, we have committed in our 10-Year Health Plan to bring Healthwatch England’s strategic functions ‘in house’ within a reformed Department, giving patients a stronger national voice through the creation of a new National Director of Patient Experience. At the same time, the statutory functions of Local Healthwatch will be brought together with the involvement and engagement responsibilities of integrated care boards, ensuring that patient insight is more directly connected to local decision-making and service improvement.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of whether all NHS Trusts will fully adopt the federated data platform from April 2026.

Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

It was not expected that all trusts would adopt the platform by April 2026, and the NHS Federated Data (NHS FDP) programme is on track to support adoption of the NHS FDP to 85% of all National Health Service trusts by March 2026.

NHS England published its regular benefits and uptake data on 12 February 2026, which shows that at the end of January 2026 there were 110 NHS trusts live or in delivery of the Federated Data Platform. 167 trusts have signed up to the NHS FDP, or 81% of the 205 providers of secondary and tertiary care in the NHS.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government what percentage of NHS trusts have adopted the federated data platform.

Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

It was not expected that all trusts would adopt the platform by April 2026, and the NHS Federated Data (NHS FDP) programme is on track to support adoption of the NHS FDP to 85% of all National Health Service trusts by March 2026.

NHS England published its regular benefits and uptake data on 12 February 2026, which shows that at the end of January 2026 there were 110 NHS trusts live or in delivery of the Federated Data Platform. 167 trusts have signed up to the NHS FDP, or 81% of the 205 providers of secondary and tertiary care in the NHS.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether the Care Quality Commission has instructed or advised Healthwatch England to refrain from public comment about its abolition.

Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has not instructed or advised Healthwatch England to refrain from public comment about its abolition or the transfer of its functions.

The CQC is operationally independent and continues to work with Healthwatch England in line with its statutory duties.

The Department continues to engage with both the CQC and Healthwatch England, as its strategic functions move to a new patient experience directorate within the Department following Dr Penny Dash’s Review of patient safety across the health and care landscape.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the independence of Healthwatch England from the Care Quality Commission; and what discussions the Care Quality Commission has had with Healthwatch England about its abolition.

Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Government and the Care Quality Commission (CQC) both recognise the independent statutory role of Healthwatch England (HWE) in championing the views of those who use health and care services. Although the Health and Social Care Act 2012 established HWE as a statutory committee of the CQC, HWE sets its own priorities, has its own brand identity, and speaks with an independent voice. This arrangement is set out in the CQC’s formal framework agreement with the Department.

Following the Government’s commitment in the 10-Year Health Plan to incorporate the functions of HWE into a new Patient Experience Directorate within the Department, the CQC has been working closely with HWE on all aspects of a closure programme. This work includes engaging with relevant trade unions and regular meetings to plan for the abolishment of HWE in its current format.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of how the Care Quality Commission has enabled Healthwatch England to set the direction of its own work.

Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Government and the Care Quality Commission (CQC) both recognise the independent statutory role of Healthwatch England (HWE) in championing the views of those who use health and care services. Although the Health and Social Care Act 2012 established HWE as a statutory committee of the CQC, HWE sets its own priorities, has its own brand identity, and speaks with an independent voice. This arrangement is set out in the CQC’s formal framework agreement with the Department.

Following the Government’s commitment in the 10-Year Health Plan to incorporate the functions of HWE into a new Patient Experience Directorate within the Department, the CQC has been working closely with HWE on all aspects of a closure programme. This work includes engaging with relevant trade unions and regular meetings to plan for the abolishment of HWE in its current format.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the causes of variations in reported prevalence of placenta accreta spectrum; and whether this reflects under-detection and under-recording of the condition in England.

Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

We have not made an assessment of the causes of variations in the reported prevalence of placenta accreta spectrum (PAS). NHS England does not currently collect national data on PAS prevalence or outcomes.

Through the national audit into maternal mortality, Mothers and Babies: Reducing Risk through Audits and Confidential Enquiries across the UK will report on PAS-associated deaths later this year. The National Institute for Health and Care Research and the Government funded PRiSMM programme will be reporting on PAS by region within the national maternal morbidity surveillance system.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to introduce a nationally accredited and mandatory placenta accreta spectrum training programme for sonographers, obstetricians and relevant maternity staff.

Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Department and NHS England expect midwives, sonographers, and obstetricians to follow national guidance described by the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists for the diagnosis and management of placenta accreta spectrum (PAS). There are no plans to introduce mandatory training for all sonographers and obstetricians in how to diagnose PAS.

In the instance of women delivering with PAS, surgeons and anaesthetists in all obstetric hospitals are trained to deal with complex operative findings as well as the management of post-partum haemorrhage. This will be strengthened further through the implementation of the recently published Maternal Care Bundle, which includes an element focussed on optimal management of obstetric haemorrhage.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to ensure that clinicians receive placenta accreta spectrum diagnostic training.

Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Department and NHS England expect midwives, sonographers, and obstetricians to follow national guidance described by the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists for the diagnosis and management of placenta accreta spectrum (PAS). There are no plans to introduce mandatory training for all sonographers and obstetricians in how to diagnose PAS.

In the instance of women delivering with PAS, surgeons and anaesthetists in all obstetric hospitals are trained to deal with complex operative findings as well as the management of post-partum haemorrhage. This will be strengthened further through the implementation of the recently published Maternal Care Bundle, which includes an element focussed on optimal management of obstetric haemorrhage.