Asked by: Andrew Gwynne (Independent - Gorton and Denton)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment has he made of the adequacy of mental health services in Greater Manchester.
Answered by Zubir Ahmed - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
We recognise that people with mental health issues, including those in Greater Manchester, are not getting the support or care they need, which is why we are working to ensure the National Health Service provides the right support to the right people at the right time.
That is why, as part of our mission to build an NHS that is fit for the future and that is there when people need it, the Government is recruiting an additional 8,500 mental health workers, including psychiatrists, by the end of this Parliament. We are more than halfway towards this target, which will help to ease pressure on busy mental health services.
The 10-Year Health Plan sets out ambitious plans to boost mental health support across the country, including in Greater Manchester. We will transform the current mental health system so people can access the right support at the right time in the right place. This includes transforming mental health services into 24/7 neighbourhood mental health centres, building on existing pilots, and investing up to £120 million to bring the number of mental health emergency departments up to 85.
Asked by: Andrew Gwynne (Independent - Gorton and Denton)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what progress he has made on providing financial compensation to people affected by in-utero exposure to sodium valproate.
Answered by Zubir Ahmed - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Government is carefully considering the work by the Patient Safety Commissioner and her report, which set out options for redress for those harmed by valproate and pelvic mesh. This is a complex issue involving input from different Government departments. The Government will provide a further update to the Patient Safety Commissioner’s report.
Asked by: Andrew Gwynne (Independent - Gorton and Denton)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 1 September 2025 to Question 69778 on Hysteroscopy: Correspondence, whether his Department holds information on the number of women who were not sent a letter in advance of an outpatient hysteroscopy appointment.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Department does not hold information on the number of women who were not sent a letter in advance of an outpatient hysteroscopy appointment specifically.
Letters and information sent to patients are determined at a local level by individual National Health Service trusts. A range of additional information is available for patients on hysteroscopy procedures, including on the NHS.UK website, and the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists has created a patient information resource on hysteroscopy. This is available at the following link:
https://www.rcog.org.uk/outpatient-hysteroscopy
Asked by: Andrew Gwynne (Independent - Gorton and Denton)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent progress he has made in helping to reduce sudden cardiac deaths in (a) children and (b) young adults.
Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
NHS England has published a national service specification for inherited cardiac conditions that covers patients who often present as young adults with previously undiagnosed cardiac disease or families requiring follow up due to a death from this cause. This describes the service model and guidance that should be followed to support diagnosis and treatment of patients or family members. It also includes the requirement for specialised inherited cardiac conditions services to investigate suspected cases.
NHS England is currently reviewing this service specification in line with the national service specification methods review process. NHS England is working with a broad range of stakeholders as part of this review including National Health Service clinical experts, the Association of Inherited Cardiac Conditions, Cardiomyopathy UK, Heart Valve Voice, and the British Heart Foundation.
The consensus at present is to focus on the rapid identification and care of people who are likely to be at risk of sudden cardiac death, and on automated external defibrillator use in people who suffer a cardiac arrest.
Asked by: Andrew Gwynne (Independent - Gorton and Denton)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he has made an assessment of the feasibility of implementing swab tests for the detection of Arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathies in children with risk factors for those diseases.
Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
No assessment has been made as this test is in development, backed by the British Heart Foundation. An early study has been undertaken, but further research is needed.
Asked by: Andrew Gwynne (Independent - Gorton and Denton)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what information his Department holds on the number of hysteroscopies that were stopped early because of intolerable patient pain in the NHS in England in 2024.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The data requested is not held.
Asked by: Andrew Gwynne (Independent - Gorton and Denton)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will hold discussions with NHS Trusts on the adequacy of letters sent to patients before a hysteroscopy on (a) the procedure, (b) pain relief and (c) the principles of informed consent.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Government recognises that some procedures, such as hysteroscopy, can result in pain, and the level of pain experienced will vary between individual women. It is important that healthcare professionals provide women with information prior to their procedure so that women can make an informed decisions about the procedure and pain relief options, including the option of local or general anaesthetic.
Clinical guidelines support healthcare professionals to provide evidence-based care. The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) published an updated guideline on outpatient hysteroscopy in September 2024. The updated guideline has reference to minimising pain and discomfort during hysteroscopy procedures. While RCOG guidelines are not mandatory, they are designed to support high-quality care, and the Department and NHS England encourages local implementation tailored to patient needs. This is available at the following link:
Letters and information sent to patients are determined at a local level by individual National Health Service trusts. A range of additional information is available for patients on hysteroscopy procedures, including on the NHS website, and the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists has created a patient information resource on hysteroscopy. This is available at the following link:
https://www.rcog.org.uk/outpatient-hysteroscopy
As with all procedures, healthcare professionals are expected to fully explain the procedure in advance, including expected symptoms, side effects, and risks. These conversations should be undertaken using a shared decision-making approach that ensures individuals are supported to make decisions that are right for them. This provides a collaborative process through which a clinician supports a patient to reach a decision about their treatment, bringing together the clinician’s expertise, such as treatment options, evidence, risks and benefits, with the patient’s preferences, personal circumstances and values. NHS England has published guidelines on the use of shared decision making.
Asked by: Andrew Gwynne (Independent - Gorton and Denton)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will have discussions with NHS Trusts on the adequacy of the processes used to obtain informed consent for hysteroscopy procedures.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Government recognises that some procedures, such as hysteroscopy, can result in pain, and the level of pain experienced will vary between individual women. It is important that healthcare professionals provide women with information prior to their procedure so that women can make an informed decisions about the procedure and pain relief options, including the option of local or general anaesthetic.
Clinical guidelines support healthcare professionals to provide evidence-based care. The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) published an updated guideline on outpatient hysteroscopy in September 2024. The updated guideline has reference to minimising pain and discomfort during hysteroscopy procedures. While RCOG guidelines are not mandatory, they are designed to support high-quality care, and the Department and NHS England encourages local implementation tailored to patient needs. This is available at the following link:
Letters and information sent to patients are determined at a local level by individual National Health Service trusts. A range of additional information is available for patients on hysteroscopy procedures, including on the NHS website, and the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists has created a patient information resource on hysteroscopy. This is available at the following link:
https://www.rcog.org.uk/outpatient-hysteroscopy
As with all procedures, healthcare professionals are expected to fully explain the procedure in advance, including expected symptoms, side effects, and risks. These conversations should be undertaken using a shared decision-making approach that ensures individuals are supported to make decisions that are right for them. This provides a collaborative process through which a clinician supports a patient to reach a decision about their treatment, bringing together the clinician’s expertise, such as treatment options, evidence, risks and benefits, with the patient’s preferences, personal circumstances and values. NHS England has published guidelines on the use of shared decision making.
Asked by: Andrew Gwynne (Independent - Gorton and Denton)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will implement mandatory clinician guidelines for hysteroscopies to (a) minimise pain and (b) promote informed decision making.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Government recognises that some procedures, such as hysteroscopy, can result in pain, and the level of pain experienced will vary between individual women. It is important that healthcare professionals provide women with information prior to their procedure so that women can make an informed decisions about the procedure and pain relief options, including the option of local or general anaesthetic.
Clinical guidelines support healthcare professionals to provide evidence-based care. The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) published an updated guideline on outpatient hysteroscopy in September 2024. The updated guideline has reference to minimising pain and discomfort during hysteroscopy procedures. While RCOG guidelines are not mandatory, they are designed to support high-quality care, and the Department and NHS England encourages local implementation tailored to patient needs. This is available at the following link:
Letters and information sent to patients are determined at a local level by individual National Health Service trusts. A range of additional information is available for patients on hysteroscopy procedures, including on the NHS website, and the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists has created a patient information resource on hysteroscopy. This is available at the following link:
https://www.rcog.org.uk/outpatient-hysteroscopy
As with all procedures, healthcare professionals are expected to fully explain the procedure in advance, including expected symptoms, side effects, and risks. These conversations should be undertaken using a shared decision-making approach that ensures individuals are supported to make decisions that are right for them. This provides a collaborative process through which a clinician supports a patient to reach a decision about their treatment, bringing together the clinician’s expertise, such as treatment options, evidence, risks and benefits, with the patient’s preferences, personal circumstances and values. NHS England has published guidelines on the use of shared decision making.
Asked by: Andrew Gwynne (Independent - Gorton and Denton)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 22 July 2025 to Question 65734 on Sodium Valproate: Women, whether his Department holds information on the number of women between the ages of 18 and 52 who were prescribed sodium valproate in 2024.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) holds prescription data relating to drugs and appliances dispensed within a community setting in England.
The number of female patients between the ages of 18 and 52 years old who were prescribed sodium valproate in England in 2024 was approximately 14,600.
The data is based on figures extracted from the NHSBSA ePACT2 database, which includes all National Health Service prescriptions prescribed in England and dispensed within a community setting, held for the chemical substance of sodium valproate, where the prescriptions have been submitted to the NHSBSA by dispensing contractors for the payment of the supply of drugs and the associated services.