Asked by: Clive Lewis (Labour - Norwich South)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department was informed that staff of Palantir Technologies UK Limited and external consultants had been granted administrative roles providing unrestricted access to identifiable patient data within the National Data Integration Tenant of the NHS Federated Data Platform prior to pseudonymisation prior to 11 May 2026; and if he will release any documents or communications relating to the disclosure of this access arrangement to Ministers or Parliament.
Answered by Preet Kaur Gill
The NHS Federated Data Platform (NHS FDP) safely connects information from different systems across the National Health Service into a single, secure environment. This allows staff to co-ordinate care better to improve outcomes for patients.
The NHS FDP is delivering for the NHS, helping people get the care they need quicker and more efficiently. Since March 2024, more than 100,000 additional patients have been supported to undergo procedures in theatres partly by increasing theatre utilisation. Nearly 94,000 people have been supported on their cancer journey, with 7% seeing a reduction in the time it took to diagnose their cancer. There has been a 14% decrease in delays discharging patients staying in hospital for more than seven days, freeing up beds for those who need them most. NHS England publishes quarterly information on benefits realised from the FDP, which is available at the following link:
To date, 24 integrated care board clusters and 168 NHS trusts have signed up to the NHS FDP, including Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust.
The Department was not informed of routine access arrangements operating in the National Data Integration Tenant of the NHS Federated Data Platform before May 2026. NHS England is reviewing information governance documents and will publish updates in due course.
Asked by: Clive Lewis (Labour - Norwich South)
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 healthcare provision for prisoners with neuromuscular and other progressive conditions at HMP Wormwood Scrubs; and what steps he is taking to ensure that such prisoners receive specialist care.
Answered by Preet Kaur Gill
Whilst no specific assessment has been made, individuals with neuromuscular or progressive conditions are assessed on a case-by-case basis as there is significant variation with regard to how they may present and this is somewhat of an umbrella term.
Typically, they would be seen first by a nurse in reception and then examined by a doctor and on the basis of this initial meeting further healthcare staff may become involved. They will usually be referred to the multi-disciplinary team (MDT) meeting where multiple healthcare professionals can converge and come up with the best and safest plan for the patient. This typically involves: a nurse doing a full assessment on how they are coping in their cell and whether extra support is needed with such tasks as washing, dressing, or grooming; the physiotherapist assessing their muscle strength and mobility; the dietician if any dietary input is needed; and the doctor if any referrals need to be made to the local hospital for secondary care input, for example, neurology, or if any medications are required.
High-risk patients who require extra support are usually either in a cell compliant with the Disability Discrimination Act or the inpatient unit where there is around-the-clock nursing support. These patients are typically reviewed regularly by healthcare regularly and any signs of deterioration they may be re-discussed in the MDT meeting to decide on any further course of action or escalation.
Asked by: Clive Lewis (Labour - Norwich South)
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 (a) support the recruitment and training of midwives and (b) increase the availability of employment opportunities for newly qualified midwives.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
We are working with NHS England and the Nursing and Midwifery Council to ensure that midwifery training consistently delivers modern maternity care that respects a woman’s choice and individual circumstances. We are also introducing a new set of professional standards for modern employment in spring 2026, to deliver our ambition to make the National Health Service the best place to work.
The Graduate Guarantee in 2025, backed by £8 million, delivered more than 850 additional roles for newly qualified midwives. NHS England is working closely with universities and employers to align graduate numbers with vacancies through improved workforce planning, enhanced support for students, and coordinated local recruitment.
Asked by: Clive Lewis (Labour - Norwich South)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what is the content of the advice he has been given on the contract and performance of Palantir and the Federated Data Platform, particularly in relation to triggering the break clause in March 2027.
Answered by Preet Kaur Gill
Ministers in the Department have been apprised of the nature of the NHS Federated Platform contract, that the seven-year contract term is split into an initial three-year term, plus extension options of two years, plus one year and one year, and that the initial term ends in March 2027. They have been notified therefore that the contract will be reviewed and, in line with standard contract management processes, that a decision will be needed on its extension. Ministers have received written and verbal briefing on the ongoing rollout of the NHS Federated Platform and the benefits achieved, including information which is published quarterly by NHS England at the following link:
Asked by: Clive Lewis (Labour - Norwich South)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether an impact assessment has been conducted of delaying consideration of a specialised commissioned service until April 2027 on patients with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (also known as Chronic Fatigue Syndrome).
Answered by Sharon Hodgson
The Government published the ME/CFS Final Delivery Plan in July 2025, which is available at the following link:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/mecfs-the-final-delivery-plan
The plan focuses on three main areas to improve care and support for those with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS), boosting research, improving attitudes and education, and bettering the lives of people with this debilitating disease. It also sets out a series of actions, which will help address the key challenges and drive forward improvements to outcomes and quality of life for people living with ME/CFS in England.
The Department worked closely with ME/CFS patients, carers, clinicians, charities, research funders and researchers throughout the development of the plan. This engagement has helped to shape new and more ambitious actions that deliver meaningful change for the ME/CFS community.
Due to transformation in NHS England, the decision has been made to delay the action to review a case for a specialised service commission until April 2027. Until this time, integrated care boards (ICBs) should continue to commission appropriate services for patients with very severe ME/CFS as needed. ICBs are responsible for the commissioning of services for all severity levels of ME/CFS. NHS England and the Department are developing a new template service specification for mild and moderate ME/CFS which will include reference to severe and very severe ME/CFS. Officials, alongside stakeholders, are considering interim measures to support people with very severe ME/CFS.
The Department and NHS England will continue to work with stakeholders across and beyond government and the NHS to progress the agreed actions set out in the plan and to ensure the best possible care for people with ME/CFS.
Asked by: Clive Lewis (Labour - Norwich South)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he has sought advice on triggering the break clause in Palantir’s contract with the NHS.
Answered by Zubir Ahmed
The current contract for the NHS Federated Data Platform is for seven years, ending in 2031, with the initial term ending March 2027.
Advice is given regularly on the contract and performance, and ministers have been given advice on the need for a decision this year on the extension of the contract in line with standard contract management processes.
We continuously assess performance against the contract, and performance of the programme as a whole, and publish data on uptake and benefits each quarter.
Asked by: Clive Lewis (Labour - Norwich South)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether there has been any considerations to stop working with unregulated private clinics in prescribing gender-affirming care for adults.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
Unregulated private services pose a risk to patient safety as they are not subject to the same regulatory oversight as services registered with the Care Quality Commission. This includes private online services.
It is for an individual general practitioner (GP) to decide whether to accept a request from a private provider for a shared care agreement in relation to hormone medications. The National Health Service has issued guidance that advises GPs not to enter into shared care agreements with unregulated private providers or where GPs are not confident that the request is being made by a reputable organisation.
Asked by: Clive Lewis (Labour - Norwich South)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether (a) he or (b) any members of his Department met or corresponded with Lord Mandelson on Palantir.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
Neither my Rt. Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, nor any members of the Department have met or corresponded with Lord Mandelson on Palantir Technologies.
We utilise a range of international suppliers based on operational requirements, value for money, and compliance with our security and legal obligations, with all suppliers subject to rigorous due diligence.
Asked by: Clive Lewis (Labour - Norwich South)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when he expects the Spending Review budget allocations for his Department to be finalised and an allocation made to future ringfenced spending on NHS dentistry.
Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Secretary of State for Wales
NHS England has now published the Medium-Term Planning Framework and allocations for 2026/27 to 2027/28. The framework and allocations are available, respectively, at the following two links:
https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/allocation-of-resources-2026-27-to-2027-28/
National Health Service organisations are now in the process of developing their operational plans that will detail how they will meet the standards set out in the Medium-Term Planning Framework.
A separate schedule has been issued setting out the 2026/27 to 2027/28 integrated care boards (ICBs) primary, optometry, and dentistry (POD) allocations, which is available at the following link:
The utilisation of ICB POD allocations is subject to a ringfence on budgets for dental services.
Asked by: Clive Lewis (Labour - Norwich South)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many of the community diagnostic centres and surgical hubs set up since July 2024 are run by private contractors.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
Since July 2024, five new community diagnostic centres (CDCs) have started reporting activity for the very first time. None of these five will be run by the independent sector (IS) once they are fully operational. Of these five CDCs, the Thanet CDC is temporarily using magnetic resonance imaging services leased from an IS provider to ensure temporary capacity while the main facility is built. Upon completion of the permanent site, the Thanet CDC site will be National Health Service owned and use only NHS owned assets.
Since July 2024, 23 new surgical hubs have opened. None of these surgical hubs are run by IS providers.