Foetal Anomaly Screening

Ashley Dalton Excerpts

Wednesday 17th December 2025 Written Statements

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health and Social Care (Ashley Dalton)]

I would like to inform the House that I have accepted the UK National Screening Committee’s recommendation to add the quadruple screening test to the foetal anomaly screening programme pathway for Edwards’ syndrome.

Edwards’ syndrome, also called trisomy 18, is caused by an additional—third—copy of chromosome 18 in some or all cells and affects one in 1,500 pregnancies. This is a genetic life-limiting condition and results in physical and severe learning disabilities. Sadly, most babies with this condition will die during their first year of life; only 13% survive past their first birthday.

Under the current screening pathway, eligible women are offered a screening test called the combined test, which combines the results of a blood test and ultrasound scan taken in the first trimester, plus maternal age, to determine the chance of a baby having Down’s syndrome, Edwards’ syndrome or Patau’s syndrome. Sometimes it is not possible to complete the combined test—for example, if a woman is more than 14 weeks’ pregnant, or the baby is lying in an awkward position during the ultrasound.

The quadruple test, which is a maternal blood test offered in the second trimester, already provides pregnant women an additional point in the pathway to screen for Down’s syndrome. Accepting the UK National Screening Committee’s recommendation means that pregnant women who have not completed the first trimester combined test can be offered the quadruple test to screen for Edwards’ syndrome.

Where an increased chance for Edwards’ syndrome is identified, pregnant women are offered a referral pathway, information and options, therefore supporting informed choice.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank the UK National Screening Committee for continuing to provide invaluable expert advice on screening programmes, and pay tribute to all those who work to deliver high-quality screening across the country.

[HCWS1199]

Sudden Cardiac Death in Young People

Ashley Dalton Excerpts

Monday 15th December 2025 Commons Chamber

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health and Social Care (Ashley Dalton)]

I thank my good friend, my hon. Friend the Member for Harlow (Chris Vince), for bringing forward this debate and sharing the stories of Clarissa and Jude. I thank all hon. Members for their contributions, and I acknowledge the losses to which they have attested.

I must say that visiting the Harlow constituency was one of the highlights of my year, and it was a pleasure to open the new high-security containment labs with my hon. Friend and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State. These labs are a critical part of our health and national security, and they bring jobs and growth to Harlow. I hope his constituents know how much their MP is battling for them in this place every day, and how his work is already paying dividends. I pay tribute to him for that.

[Carla Lockhart (Upper Bann) (DUP)]

I commend the hon. Member for Harlow (Chris Vince) for securing this debate. I believe I saw him with a little person—a little man—in the corridor, so I congratulate him and welcome him to parenthood. When he spoke of Clarissa, as parents we could not help but be moved.

I know this may be a slightly different direction, but many out there are concerned about the increase in the numbers of particularly young people dying from sudden death syndrome, and the potential link to vaccination and covid vaccination. This is not to get controversial, but can the Minister just assure the House that data is being looked at and assessed? The Minister has spoken of labs and technology. Can she give some information to the general public about the Government’s interest in this subject, and assure them that this is being looked at?

[Ashley Dalton]

The hon. Member will know that all vaccines are assessed and are not issued unless they are considered safe. We collect data on conditions and potential impacts right across the medical estate. I have not seen any data that would suggest there is a link to any particular vaccine, but if there is, the data would show us that and it would be considered.

My hon. Friend the Member for Harlow and I stood on a manifesto to tackle the biggest killers, including cardiovascular disease, to halve the gap in healthy life expectancy between the richest and poorest regions in England, and to reverse the legacy left to us by the previous Government. Through his work with the CRY campaign and everything he said in the Chamber this evening, it is evident that he is staying true to those promises. I also thank my hon. Friend the Member for North West Leicestershire (Amanda Hack) for further highlighting the work of CRY. Any MP who campaigns on prevention is pushing at an open door with this Government. We are shifting the focus of our NHS from sickness to prevention. As my hon. Friend the Member for Harlow rightly points out, it is a tragedy when young lives are lost to preventable illness. He and others make a powerful case for a national screening programme, so let me address that point head-on.

I fully support a national screening programme, as long as the experts agree that it would do more good than harm. Our National Screening Committee gives advice based on a range of factors and while balancing the pros and cons of screening population level groups, the committee has previously given evidence that introducing mass screening for sudden cardiac death could cause harm by misdiagnosing some people. For example, receiving a false diagnosis could lead to people being prescribed medication they do not need; people undergoing medical procedures they do not need, such as having an implantable defibrillator fitted; and people living in fear of sudden cardiac death when they are not genuinely at risk. However, the committee is currently reviewing the evidence for sudden cardiac death screening and will open a public consultation in early 2026. We will look carefully at the findings of the consultation and I know that the CRY campaign will make its voice heard.

Several Members discussed defibrillators, and their training and use. NHS England runs training sessions on first aid, CPR and the use of defibrillators both in the community and in schools under the Restart a Heart programme. NHS England has trained over 35,800 adults and children in CPR and defibrillator use in the past 13 years, and 2,134 so far this year. NHS England delivers the sessions via its resuscitation team and via its community first responders, and also runs lifesaving skills workshops for harder to reach communities and ethnically diverse groups. It has trained 407 people in lifesaving skills in that group so far this year.

It is important to remember the care and support that loved ones receive when they lose a loved one to sudden cardiac arrest, or when they find out that a family member has an inherited heart condition. NHS England’s service specification sets out how that care should be provided by specialist teams in a way that is tailored to meet the needs of families.

[Fleur Anderson]

I thank the Minister for giving way and for the good news about looking into the possibility of rolling out screening across the whole country, especially bearing in mind the evidence from Italy, where the good has been shown to outweigh the potential downsides. I look forward to getting involved in that consultation. The amount of training on CPR and the use of defibrillators has been extensive. The choice of song to sing along to, to get the rhythm right, is really important. Will the Minister share with us whether she would use “Stayin’ Alive” or “Pink Pony Club” as her defibrillator singalong song?

[Ashley Dalton]

I think “Stayin’ Alive” is a bit of a sharp one, really, isn’t it? Given that once “Pink Pony Club” is in my head I cannot get rid of it for weeks, I think I will probably opt for that one! My hon. Friend makes a really important point, which is that learning CPR and how to use a defibrillator properly is a crucial life skill. I am really pleased and proud that NHS England is continuing to roll that out in our schools and communities.

NHS England is also keeping under review the specialist service specification for providing care to families, working closely with the Association for Inherited Cardiac Conditions, Cardiomyopathy UK, Heart Valve Voice and the British Heart Foundation. We are also working with the NHS genomics programme to align the service specification with genomics resources. I will talk briefly about our vision of genomics.

We are going through a revolution in medical science that means we can transform the NHS over the coming decade from a service that diagnoses and treats ill health to one that can predict and prevent it. If we can harness the power of life sciences to the health service, we can achieve many of the aims my hon. Friends and others have set out today. Within a decade, every newborn will undergo whole genome sequencing, which assesses future risk of hundreds of diseases, including cardiovascular conditions. Every baby will have their DNA mapped, allowing people to receive tailored healthcare, long before symptoms begin.

Those advances could one day put an end to blanket screening and rudimentary health MOTs. Instead of mass screening, increasingly patients will be offered personalised health checks and targeted medicines far earlier, and adverse drug reactions will be avoided. That will help to transform the NHS from a reactive healthcare system into a proactive one. This ambition will be funded by a £650 million boost to genomics as part of the Government’s life sciences sector plan. We are just scratching the surface of what genomics, gene editing and life sciences can do.

Under this Government, NHS waiting lists are falling, ambulances are arriving faster, and we are lifting hundreds of thousands of kids out of poverty. Our 10-year plan is building on the founding principle of the NHS so that it provides healthcare free at the point of risk, not just at the point of need, and now we are shifting the focus of our NHS from sickness to prevention. Wherever we can go further on prevention, we will.

I have heard the case made by my hon. Friend the Member for Harlow this evening. He is a powerful advocate for those who have lost loved ones to sudden cardiac death, and we are listening to him and others who are pushing us to go further. I shall update him and, of course, the House next year, following the review of evidence and the public consultation.

Question put and agreed to.

DHSC Annual Accounts: Covid-19 Reporting

Ashley Dalton Excerpts

Thursday 11th December 2025 Written Statements

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health and Social Care (Ashley Dalton)]

The 2024-25 annual report and accounts for the Department of Health and Social Care has been published today, 11 December 2025.

The annual report discloses losses relating to covid-19 inventory that the Department is reporting under the requirements of HM Treasury’s “Managing Public Money” guidance on dealing with public resources. The losses primarily relate to inventory procured during the pandemic, the great majority of which has already been impaired in departmental financial statements in previous years. However, we are required to disclose losses when they crystallise, which is when they reach their expiry dates or are subject to disposal. The losses are as follows:

Covid-19 medicines

There were two constructive losses occurring in 2024-25, of £856 million and £393 million respectively, relating to two covid-19 antiviral medicines that reached their expiry dates during the year. The bulk of these items were procured from December 2021 in response to the emergence of the omicron variant in late 2021, at a time when its severity and potential impact on vaccine efficacy were uncertain. In practice, the impact was less severe than previous variants, meaning not all medicines purchased were used prior to their expiry dates. All efforts were made with the manufacturers and the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency to extend the expiry dates to the greatest extent possible in order to get best value from the Government’s investment.

Covid-19 vaccines

The annual report and accounts disclose a constructive loss valued at £527 million relating to 19,285,820 doses of covid-19 vaccine, all of which reached their expiry dates during the 2024- 25 financial year. This was due to the actual use of vaccines ultimately falling below the total of 412,177,005 covid-19 vaccine doses procured as part of pandemic contracts, the majority of which were signed in the 2020-21 financial year. This level of vaccine doses was procured to give the Government the ability to vaccinate the entire population under potential “reasonable worst-case scenarios”, meaning there was always a risk that some stock would expire before it was potentially required.

Covid-19 testing kits

A loss of £0.7 million (547,420 units) has been disclosed relating to testing kits which reached their expiry date during 2024-25 and could not be repurposed. The stock was therefore disposed of, avoiding further storage costs being incurred by the taxpayer.

Covid-19 personal protective equipment

A “claim waived or abandoned” loss arises where a decision is taken not to present or pursue a claim, which could be, or has been, properly made. As set out in the DHSC group 2024-25 annual report and accounts, the Department is now waiving or abandoning claims to the value of £572 million against 25 covid-19 PPE suppliers. The Government covid counter-fraud commissioner has reviewed these cases and supports the Department’s course of action in each.

Managed quarantine service

A loss of £16.7 million has been disclosed in relation to debts arising from the covid-19 managed quarantine service. The MOS handled 214,000 arrivals who entered the UK during the pandemic between April and December 2021^[1] and who were required to isolate in a quarantine hotel provided by the service. Of the loss disclosed, £6.3 million relates to debt where there is insufficient evidence of validity and £10.4 million relates to “hardship” debt which is no longer economically viable to pursue.

[1] NAO Report “Managing cross-border travel during the COVID-19 pandemic” https://www.nao.org.uk/reports/managing-cross-border-travel-during-the-covid-19-pandemic/

[HCWS1160]

Acquired Brain Injury Action Plan

Ashley Dalton Excerpts

Thursday 4th December 2025 Westminster Hall

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health and Social Care (Ashley Dalton)]

It is a pleasure to serve under your chairship, Dame Siobhain. I congratulate the right hon. Member for South Holland and The Deepings (Sir John Hayes) on securing this important debate on an issue that touches many thousands of lives across the country. I acknowledge and thank all hon. Members for the stories of their constituents that they have shared today.

I begin by paying tribute to the right hon. Gentleman and the all-party parliamentary group for acquired brain injury for shining a light on what has too often been an invisible issue. Through its recent report, “Right to Rehab: The Cost of Acquired Brain Injury to the UK Economy”, the all-party group, ably supported by the UK Acquired Brain Injury Forum, has demonstrated both the human and the economic imperative for action. That report reveals the staggering £43 billion annual cost of ABI to our economy. It makes a compelling case for improved rehabilitation, cross-Government co-ordination and investment in specialist services. That work has helped to drive vital conversations across health, justice, education and beyond to ensure that people living with ABI are no longer overlooked.

Recently, I was delighted to be able to attend and speak at the UKABIF annual ABI summit last month, where I met key stakeholders, including people with lived experience, for a panel discussion on the stage and at a separate meeting afterwards. I have taken away some important calls for action from those discussions. The Government have also listened to the calls of the all-party group and others for a dedicated plan. I reassure the right hon. Member for South Holland and The Deepings and others that we remain committed to delivering on that promise.

In the coming months, in the first half of next year, I confirm that we will publish the acquired brain injury action plan, a landmark step in delivering the joined-up approach that people with ABI deserve. I also confirm that when we publish it, that plan will draw on a wide range of evidence, including the evidence that was submitted in the 2022 call for evidence. The plan will set out clear priorities across health, social care, education, justice and beyond in a bid to move towards rehabilitation and long-term support being better embedded throughout public services. It will reflect continuing engagement with clinicians, charities and people with lived experience. It will provide the blueprint for improving outcomes, reducing inequalities and supporting independence.

[Sir John Hayes]

All the Minister has said so far is incredibly welcome. On ministerial engagement, given what she said about the cross-departmental working, which I called for earlier, is she engaged with the Ministers in those Departments in drawing up the plan and, if so, how?

[Ashley Dalton]

I am just coming to that, so the right hon. Member’s intervention was very timely. As has been highlighted, the plan matters, because ABI is not just a health issue; it touches education, employment, justice, work, benefits, housing, homelessness and many other areas of life. Without co-ordinated action, too many people will continue to fall through the gaps.

In the first instance, therefore, I have started conversations with ministerial colleagues who have responsibility for education at the DFE, for the criminal justice system at the MOJ, for housing and homelessness at the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, and for work and benefits at the Department for Work and Pensions. The Department also reached out to those working on transport, sport and defence, among others, asking them to commit to tangible actions in the ABI plan. I note the suggestion of my hon. Friend the Member for Bury North (Mr Frith)—he is no longer in his place—and we will give that consideration.

The plan will build on already excellent work that is going on across Whitehall, helping to tackle the impacts of ABI directly or indirectly. That includes the Ministry of Justice’s update to its new neurodiversity action plan; working with the Department for Transport on its road safety strategy; the Department for Education’s planned consultation on an updated version of supporting pupils with medical conditions at school; and the Home Office-led work to tackle domestic abuse.

I also confirm, as was raised by the hon. Member for Bath (Wera Hobhouse), that the Government are committed to advancing research into ABI in sport. We recognise the significant impact of sports-related head injuries on long-term health outcomes. Through the National Institute for Health and Care Research, we are co-funding a major initiative, the UK traumatic brain injury platform. In addition, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport established the concussion in sport research forum, in which we are working alongside them.

We recognise that developing the plan is taking slightly longer than we had originally wished, but I reassure right hon. and hon. Members that that is not because of a lack of commitment; it is because we want to get it right. We want to take ABI stakeholders with us and to set the plan against the new health and social care landscape described in this summer’s 10-year health plan. In Manchester last month, I had the opportunity, as I said, to hear directly about potential solutions and opportunities from those at the coalface.

ABI affects every facet of life, and creating a plan that truly delivers requires co-ordination across multiple Departments and extensive stakeholder engagement, as well as alignment with wider reforms and developments such as the 10-year health plan, neighbourhood health services, new NICE guidance on rehabilitation and NHS England’s recently refreshed service specification for adult neurology services. That will mean that, although the report may be slightly delayed, it will have a comprehensive cross-Government approach to drive real change by improving rehabilitation, reducing inequalities and supporting people with ABI to live independent and fulfilling lives.

I know that the all-party group, the right hon. Member for South Holland and The Deepings, my hon. Friend the Member for Hartlepool (Mr Brash), and the Lib Dem spokesperson, the hon. Member for Mid Sussex (Alison Bennett), all recognise that rehabilitation is the cornerstone of recovery and independence. Reports from the APPG and UKABIF have made it clear that timely, specialist rehabilitation can transform lives. Rehabilitation is what turns survival into quality of life, enabling people to return to work, education and their communities. The APPG has consistently championed a statutory right to rehabilitation because it knows that too many people face fragmented services and missed opportunities, and as a result their health deteriorates once they are back in the community.

What the final action plan will say on community rehabilitation will be worked through carefully with stakeholders and with NHS England to ensure that we get it right. We must ensure that our proposals are feasible and viable. However, at the absolute minimum, it will highlight the new NICE guidelines on rehabilitation, setting the expectation that the NHS should take these into account, as well as showcasing the best practice that already exists.

Many hon. and right hon. Members raised data sharing. I am keen to pursue better data sharing on ABI across Departments and the NHS to ensure that our response is joined up and that it improves patient identification, care and support. Rehabilitation is a central focus of our 10-year health plan, which recognises that timely, high-quality rehabilitation reduces long-term disability, improves quality of life and saves significant costs for both health and social care. By embedding rehabilitation into integrated care pathways, expanding community-based services and investing in specialist multidisciplinary teams, the 10-year health plan will ensure that support is available when and where it is needed, including for people who have experienced ABI. That commitment reflects a shift towards person-centred care, helping people to regain skills, to return to work or education, and to live fulfilling lives after serious illness or injury.

Through the 10-year health plan, we are introducing neighbourhood health centres and deploying multi- disciplinary teams to provide holistic support to people with conditions like ABI. We know that every ABI journey is different, and recovery depends on care that reflects individual needs, goals and circumstances. That is why the plan promises to expand personalised care approaches, giving people a say in their care. We commit, therefore, to providing 95% of people with complex needs with a personalised care plan by 2027. That means that people with ABI will benefit from structured and co-ordinated support that is tailored to their needs. The expansion of personal health budgets outlined in the health plan will give people greater flexibility, choice and control over their care.

Our digital transformation commitments will make a real difference too. By improving data sharing between health, social care and rehabilitation services, we can ensure continuity of care and avoid delays. Digital care plans will allow patients and professionals to track progress and adjust goals in real time. Those innovations mean more personalised and co-ordinated care. I am really keen to explore better data collection and sharing between the NHS, patient groups, researchers and those with lived experience across my long-term conditions portfolio, which includes ABI. There are ongoing discussions within the Department on how we might be able to improve the quality of, and access to, health data. I know that there is some great data out there, but too often access to it is too restricted.

The Government will publish the 10-year workforce plan in spring 2026. This will set out action to create a workforce that is ready to deliver the transformed service set out in the 10-year health plan.

My hon. Friend the Member for Blaydon and Consett (Liz Twist) mentioned mental health. NHS talking therapies have a specific pathway for people with long-term physical health conditions, including ABI, and all ICBs are expected to expand services locally by commissioning NHS talking therapies services integrated into physical healthcare pathways, including those for ABI.

Together with the ABI action plan, the 10-year health plan and the 10-year workforce plan will represent a step change in how we support people with ABI. The action plan will deliver a joined-up approach across health, social care, education, justice and beyond, ensuring that rehabilitation and long-term support are no longer fragmented. The 10-year health plan complements this by embedding personalised care planning, expanding community rehabilitation and harnessing digital innovation. These commitments will mean better access to timely, tailored services, improved continuity of care, and a focus on independence and quality of life. By working collaboratively across Government, the NHS and stakeholders will turn these plans into action and deliver the outcomes that people with ABI deserve.

I have covered as many issues as possible. There are some that I do not have immediate information about, but I will write after the debate to the shadow Minister, the hon. Member for Sleaford and North Hykeham (Dr Johnson), about her question on mechanical thrombectomy. By working together right across Government and making sure we have joined-up data and joined-up thinking, we will bring forward the action plan on ABI in the first half of 2026 to deliver the outcomes that people with ABI deserve and need.

HIV Action Plan

Ashley Dalton Excerpts

Monday 1st December 2025 Written Statements

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health and Social Care (Ashley Dalton)]

I am pleased to announce to the House that today the Government will publish its HIV action plan, setting out how we will achieve our ambition to end HIV transmissions within England by 2030.

We are at a pivotal moment in the fight against HIV.

Over the past two decades in England, the epidemic has been transformed, and in the last five years we have made major progress in prevention, testing, PrEP use and treatment.

However, progress is slowing. New diagnoses fell by 2% from 2023 to 2024, with progress not benefiting all groups equally. For example, in white gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men (GBMSM), diagnoses fell by 11% from 2020 to 2024, but among ethnic minority GBMSM, they increased by 50% over the same time period.

The epidemic we face today is broader and more complex, requiring an equitable, evidence-driven response.

As set out in our 10-year health plan ending HIV transmission is a national priority for this Government, supporting the three major shifts our health system needs: from hospital to community, from treatment to prevention, and from analogue to digital.

The plan I am announcing today has been developed by my Department, in partnership with the UK Health Security Agency and NHS England, and informed through extensive engagement with other Government Departments, local government, voluntary and community sector partners, sexual health stakeholders and—crucially—with people with lived experience.

Our plan sets out a clear framework for action, backed by over £170 million in funding over the next three years.

It focuses on five core themes: prevent, test, treat, thrive and collaborate.

Through these themes, the plan commits to:

Prevent HIV transmission through equitable access to HIV prevention services.

Scale up testing to reduce transmission and protect people’s health.

Rapidly linking and retain people living with HIV in care, ensuring individuals can live healthy lives and cannot pass it on

Address stigma and improve the quality of life for people living with HIV.

Strengthen the healthcare system to improve HIV and wider sexual health.

Importantly, this plan sets out the national, regional and local actions required to accelerate progress and deliver.

It will enable Government, the NHS, UKHSA, local government, academia, industry, the voluntary and community sector, and people living with HIV to work together to engage everyone in prevention, testing and treatment, and to tackle stigma.

I would like to thank the many individuals and organisations who have supported the development of this plan, including community partners and those with lived experience. Their insights have been invaluable in shaping actions that will meet real needs and address health inequalities.

I too am very grateful for the cross-party support that has helped shape this plan and for the foundations we have built this on. Working together in this spirit will be essential to tackling HIV going forward and to reach our ambitions. I urge all members to lend their backing to this plan so we can deliver meaningful change across the country.

[HCWS1107]

Children with Serious Neurological Conditions

Ashley Dalton Excerpts

Thursday 20th November 2025 Commons Chamber

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health and Social Care (Ashley Dalton)]

I congratulate my hon. Friend the Member for West Ham and Beckton (James Asser) on securing this important debate and acknowledge the journey of his constituent Shelina Begum and the work she has done on behalf of her daughter, Tafida Raqeeb, with the establishment of the Tafida Raqeeb Foundation and all the work it does.

I thank my hon. Friend the Member for Bexleyheath and Crayford (Daniel Francis) for his contribution. His tireless work raising issues around supporting and caring for children with neurological issues is well known in this House. My hon. Friend the Member for Leeds South West and Morley (Mark Sewards) raised the issue of access to EHCPs—which are provided through local authorities—which continues to need work, and my hon. Friend the Member for Newcastle-under-Lyme (Adam Jogee) highlighted the need for joined-up care and services.

I am grateful for the opportunity to speak on a subject that touches on the lives of thousands of families across the country. There are hundreds of serious neuro- logical conditions that affect children, ranging from epilepsy and cerebral palsy to rare, genetic and degenerative disorders and acquired brain injury. I will speak on the common themes that unite people’s experiences: the need for timely diagnosis, integrated care and comprehensive support for every child and family, regardless of the specific condition they face.

Living with a serious neurological condition is a life-altering reality for children and their families. Whether congenital, acquired or progressive, these conditions often bring profound physical limitations, developmental delays and complex care needs. Families face relentless hospital visits, financial strain and the emotional toll of uncertainty, all while navigating fragmented health, education and social care systems.

The Government recognise these challenges and are committed to improving access to care, reducing inequalities and providing holistic support through health, education and social care systems. Our 10-year health plan will transform care for children with serious neurological conditions by delivering integrated, community-based services that put families at the centre and by prioritising early identification and intervention, ensuring that children receive timely diagnoses and treatment to prevent complications. Through neighbourhood health centres, multidisciplinary teams—including paediatric neurologists, therapists, mental health professionals and social workers—will provide wraparound support that meets medical, emotional and practical needs. Digital tools will empower parents to manage appointments and access records as easily as they bank online. This is about creating a system that works for families, not against them.

Through NHS England’s neurology transformation programme, we are creating pathways that wrap around families. The national bundle of care for children and young people with epilepsy sets clear standards for paediatric epilepsy care. For cerebral palsy, new commissioning frameworks ensure early intervention and co-ordinated services. Specialised paediatric neurosciences services provide access to life-changing procedures, such as epilepsy surgery and selective dorsal rhizotomy—that is a difficult word to say, Madam Deputy Speaker.

The Government are committed to improving lives for those affected by rare diseases, which includes some serious neurological conditions, under the UK rare diseases framework. This includes better co-ordination of care and improving access to specialist care, treatment and drugs. We also hear that children and families impacted by these conditions can struggle to access mental health support, which is just not right. To address that, the NHS genomics education programme has published new resources on rare diseases for healthcare professionals to help them with sensitive conversations. The 10-year health plan also sets out ambitious goals to transform mental health services across the country so that everyone living with a rare disease, along with their loved ones, can get the support they truly deserve.

We know that timely access to care is critical, yet many families face delays of months. That is unacceptable. That is why we have committed to meeting the NHS constitutional standard of patients seen within 18 weeks by March 2029. For the elective reform plan and the neurology transformation programme, we are expanding diagnostic capacity, rolling out virtual consultations and opening more community diagnostic centres seven days a week. Those steps will cut waiting lists and ensure that children and families get the care they need when they need it.

We know that neurological conditions often come with emotional and behavioural challenges. That is why mental health support is being embedded into paediatric neurology pathways. Initiatives such as the national bundle of care for children and young people with epilepsy include psychological support as a core component. We are also expanding mental health support teams in schools and launching young futures hubs to provide integrated local support. This holistic approach recognises that physical and mental health are inseparable.

For many families, the move from paediatric to adult services is a key time of uncertainty. We are addressing that through structured transition planning, as set out in the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidance and NHS England frameworks.

[Daniel Francis]

Transition is a key issue for families in this area. In the last Parliament, the all-party parliamentary group on cerebral palsy issued recommendations about health pathways for adults, because for a lot of these conditions, including cerebral palsy, there are not the same health frameworks for adults as there are for children. Will the Minister take that point away and look at how we can replicate some of the pathways that are there for children in the adult sector?

[Ashley Dalton]

I am more than happy to do that. All too often, we have seen that the transition is a really difficult time, and as he points out, where services are perhaps not as joined up and cohesive for adults as they are for children, that is hugely jarring—a huge problem for families to navigate. We are committed to making sure that transition plans start early, involve families and ensure that continuity of care. Our goal is to make the process smooth and supportive, not stressful and fragmented.

Health is only one part of the picture. Children with serious neurological conditions often have special educational needs and disabilities, and their success depends on a joined-up approach across sectors. That is why the SEND reforms that the Government are working on are so important. We are moving towards earlier intervention, stronger inclusion in mainstream education, and better collaboration between health, education and social care. These changes will ensure that support is needs-led rather than diagnosis-driven, with clear accountability across integrated care boards and schools. By embedding mental health provision, improving workforce expertise and planning smooth transitions into adulthood care, we aim to deliver consistent, high-quality support that helps children to thrive and restores confidence in the system.

Caring for a child with a serious neurological condition can place enormous financial strain on families. The welfare system is designed to provide a crucial lifeline, ensuring that no family is crushed by the additional, often substantial, costs associated with their child’s condition. The Government provide support through a range of benefits, including disability living allowance, carer’s allowance, personal health budgets and local authority support, including respite care and equipment provision. Financial support is not just about money; it is about giving families the stability and security they need to focus on what matters most—their child’s wellbeing.

Our commitment to children with serious neurological conditions reflects the core values of our society: compassion, fairness and the belief that every child deserves the chance to reach their full potential. By improving healthcare access and providing comprehensive support systems, we are building a more inclusive and resilient future for all. We will ensure that no child or family feels abandoned, and that compassion and co-ordination define the care that they receive.

[Madam Deputy Speaker (Ms Nusrat Ghani)]

We have just checked the pronunciation of dorsal rhizotomy—hopefully I have not got it wrong either!

Question put and agreed to.

World COPD Day

Ashley Dalton Excerpts

Thursday 20th November 2025 Westminster Hall

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health and Social Care (Ashley Dalton)]

It is a pleasure, as always, to serve under your chairship, Mr Efford. I thank the hon. Member for Strangford (Jim Shannon) for securing this timely debate, as we mark World COPD Day. As hon. Members have clearly demonstrated in this debate, tackling COPD does not lend itself to one area of activity; that point was well made by my hon. Friend the Member for Blaydon and Consett (Liz Twist).

COPD is known to affect 1.5 million people in the UK but, due to uncertainties, that number, as has been stated, could well be much higher. Improvements are needed across society and the healthcare system to reduce the incidence of COPD and help people living with the condition—people like my mum, Margaret—to lead healthier, longer lives. Our 10-year plan is built around the recognition that widespread change is needed to shift from treating COPD to preventing it, to ensure that those living with COPD receive care in the areas where they live and to embrace new technology to diagnose COPD earlier. I reassure the shadow Minister that the National Institute for Health and Care Research welcomes all proposals for research, and I encourage researchers to submit proposals on COPD and similar respiratory conditions for consideration.

Before I speak about the actions we are taking through the plan and more broadly, I want to address the points about a modern service framework for respiratory disease. Frameworks for cardiovascular disease and severe mental illness and the first ever service framework for frailty and dementia will be developed first. However, there will be more—those are just the first three. The criteria for determining future frameworks will be based on where there is potential for rapid and significant improvements in quality of care and productivity. I assure hon. Members that respiratory disease will be considered alongside many other things as we bring forward more modern service frameworks in the future.

As has been said, smoking is the No. 1 preventable cause of COPD. The Tobacco and Vapes Bill will be the biggest public health intervention since Labour’s indoor smoking ban in 2007. The Bill also allows us to expand current indoor smoking restrictions to outdoor public places and workplaces. In England, we are considering extending smoke-free outdoor places to outside schools, children’s playgrounds and hospitals. Prevention will always be better than cure. As part of our health mission, we will shift the health system from treatment to prevention by tackling the social determinants of health. The public health allocations, including for smoking cessation, will be announced shortly.

In terms of vaccines, the primary aim of the national covid-19 vaccination programme remains the prevention of serious illness, hospitalisations and deaths arising from covid-19. The independent Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation has advised that population immunity to covid-19 has been significantly increasing due to a combination of naturally acquired immunity following recovery from infection and vaccine-derived immunity. The focus of the JCVI-advised programme has therefore moved towards targeted vaccination of the two groups who continue to be at higher risk of serious disease, including mortality: the oldest adults and individuals who are immunosuppressed.

In line with the JCVI advice, a covid-19 vaccination is being offered to adults aged 75 years and over, residents in care homes for older adults, and individuals aged six months and over who are immunosuppressed. I do not have to hand the data on uptake for the Liberal Democrat spokesperson, the hon. Member for North Shropshire (Helen Morgan), but the Government’s vaccine strategy is being rolled out and is focused on stabilising and increasing vaccine take-up. I will write to the hon. Lady with an update on the data following this debate.

In terms of housing and air quality, the Tobacco and Vapes Bill is the first step, but it is only part of the action that we are taking to improve air quality. We are working across Government with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to tackle air pollution and with the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero to fix housing and reduce damp and mould, both of which can exacerbate COPD, as hon. Members have said today, and make life much harder for people than it needs to be.

We are also working with the Department for Work and Pensions to support people with COPD to get back into and stay in work. In March, we announced in the “Pathways to Work” Green Paper that we will establish a new guarantee of support for all disabled people and people with long-term health conditions claiming out-of-work benefits who want help to get into or return to work. That will be backed up by £1.9 billion of new funding by the end of the decade.

Unemployment is worst in the most deprived areas of the country, and those areas have the worst health inequalities. COPD disproportionately affects people in deprived areas and we intend to address that. Yesterday, we announced the publication of our men’s health strategy, which includes our commitment to addressing entrenched health inequalities in ex-mining and industrial communities, where economic transition and occupational legacies have led to persistent respiratory and cardiovascular disease burdens. As part of the strategy, we will expand the existing respiratory pathways transformation fund initiative by investing an additional £1 million this year, through the Oxfordshire health innovation network, to develop targeted, case-finding initiatives in former coalfield areas. That will help us to identify the individuals who need support to access appropriate local services. We will continue to capture learning in the men’s health strategy “one year on” report.

The hon. Member for Strangford raised coverage of spirometry and the progress made to increase coverage of this diagnosis service in the community. I also assure the shadow Minister that we are shifting care from hospitals to the community, as it is one of the key pillars of the 10-year plan, and we are building on progress so far. The number of community diagnostic centres reporting spirometry testing capacity is growing and will continue to as more sites come online. So far this year, we have seen an increase in CDC spirometry testing of 2,000 tests a month—more than in the previous year.

Preventing and diagnosing COPD are two key areas we are making improvements in, but we also want to ensure that people with COPD have healthier lives. As highlighted by the shadow Minister, pulmonary rehabilitation is a key intervention to improve the health of people with COPD and reduce pressure on NHS hospitals. As he knows, we inherited very low rates of people accessing this service, and I want briefly to set out the action we are taking to change that.

We want to ensure equitable access to these services and reduce health inequalities. To address that, NHS England has published commissioning standards for pulmonary rehabilitation, setting out the benchmarks that high-quality services should aim for, while recognising that cardiac comorbidity is highly prevalent in patients attending pulmonary rehabilitation. In addition, the nine health systems across England have been awarded funding totalling £2.61 million through the pathway transformation fund to deliver innovative projects between October 2025 and March 2026, to drive system-wide transformation in asthma and COPD care. I confirm to the hon. Member for Strangford that reporting on the outcomes of the PTF projects will follow later in 2026.

It is vital that all screening programmes are evidence-based. That is why the Government are guided by the independent scientific advice of the UK National Screening Committee. Lung cancer screening has been very positive, particularly for deprived communities, and is growing year on year. I visited a programme in the north-west recently and saw the amazing work that they were doing to identify early-stage lung disease. It is an opportunity for many more people to be recognised and treated for lung conditions who previously were not receiving support. Where emphysema is found, the screening programme refers people to their GP. GPs have established clinical pathways for supporting people with COPD.

The hon. Member for Strangford is understandably interested in biologic therapies, which have also been mentioned by other Members. Biologic therapies for COPD will be commissioned by ICBs, should NICE approve them. The high cost of biologics means that a specialist approach by ICBs is needed, but we cannot pre-empt the findings of NICE, so we will wait to see the outcome of that.

I want briefly to cover the points made on winter planning. The NHS chief executive wrote to the NHS in September following the testing of winter plans, and set out key areas for learning for providers and systems. It included the need for robust plans to maximise vaccination rates and proactively to manage rising risk to COPD patients during the winter, including the optimisation of care and remote monitoring, greater emphasis on self-management and education, and strengthening community support. The actions being taken as part of winter planning, and the other actions I have set out today on smoking cessation and pulmonary rehabilitation, directly relate to the NICE fundamentals of COPD care. I hope that the totality of that work reassures the hon. Members for Strangford and for Surrey Heath that we are committed to NICE’s fundamentals being delivered across the country.

Too many people have had their lives cut short by COPD—people such as my cousin’s husband, Steve Ormerwood, who we lost to COPD far too young. His wife, Janet, his children, Adam and Joanne, his young granddaughter, Ada, and all our family feel his loss keenly. COPD is a lifelong condition, but it can and should be prevented. This Government take our responsibility to that goal with the utmost seriousness, as the cross-Government approach to that mission demonstrates. Equally serious is the need to ensure that those living with COPD, especially from communities that have been overlooked, are supported to live healthier and longer lives.

Men’s Health Strategy for England

Ashley Dalton Excerpts

Wednesday 19th November 2025 Written Statements

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health and Social Care (Ashley Dalton)]

Today marks the publication of England’s first-ever men’s health strategy.

It can be tough to be a man in today’s society. Mental ill health is on the rise, preventable killers such as heart disease and prostate cancer are being caught far too late, and tragically, suicide remains one of the leading causes of death of men under 50.

At the same time, lots of young men and boys—particularly those from working-class backgrounds—are being led astray by a proliferation of harmful influences and left feeling isolated and confused by the bombardment of conflicting messages about what it means to be a man.

Men can be less likely to seek help and more likely to suffer in silence. This, combined with a higher propensity to smoke, drink, gamble and use drugs, all adds up to a crisis in men’s health that ripples through families, workplaces and communities. This first-ever men’s health strategy for England is the Government’s response.

The strategy is designed to support men to take charge of their physical health and mental wellbeing. It is informed by the voices of experts, including men’s groups, charities, men’s health ambassadors, campaigners and partners. It supports men first by expanding access to support services; secondly, by ensuring that they are supported to take better care of themselves; and thirdly, by ensuring stigma is challenged and every man feels empowered to reach out for help.

The vision is simple yet bold: to improve the health of all men and boys in England. The strategy identifies six levers through which we will achieve this vision.

Improving access to healthcare services

To improve access, the Government will invest in community-based men’s health programmes, partner with organisations including the Premier League, develop digital health services, equip professionals to respond to men’s health needs, work with media experts and improve the evidence on men’s health literacy.

Supporting individual behaviours

The strategy includes targeted “stop smoking” and cocaine and alcohol-related interventions, alongside implementation of the new statutory levy on gambling operators, which will provide increased independent, sustainable funding to support system-wide improvements relating to the research, prevention and treatment of gambling-related harms across Great Britain.

Developing healthy living and working conditions

Actions include workplace health initiatives, promoting NHS health checks for professional drivers, and campaigns to build resilience against online harms.

Fostering strong social, community, and family networks

The strategy harnesses the sports sector to build men and boys’ social connections and improves father inclusion in Best Start family hubs, and Healthy Babies. It also commits to strengthening the evidence base on the mental health of fathers during the perinatal period. For example, it explores commissioning research on the rate of all-cause mortality and suicide-specific mortality in fathers in the year after childbirth.

Addressing societal norms

The Government will challenge and change these norms by building the evidence base and identifying ways to build media literacy skills in men.

Tackling health challenges and conditions

Targeted actions include neighbourhood-based suicide prevention pilots and respiratory illness case-finding initiatives in former coalfield areas.

This strategy is a crucial first step, laying the foundation from which we can learn, iterate and grow. Recognising that men’s health issues cannot be solved by Government alone, the Government are committed to learning from, and working in partnership with, the voluntary, community and social enterprise sector, through the establishment of a new stakeholder group to inform implementation. The Government will also look to build a broader coalition, including with service providers, employers and important sectors such as media and sport.

The Government will also work with the newly established Men’s Health Academic Network, and fund research through the National Institute of Health and Care Research to build the evidence and inform future policy direction.

This strategy is not just a plan; it is a call to action to create a society where men and boys are supported to live longer, healthier and happier lives; where stigma is replaced by understanding; and where every man knows that his health matters.

[HCWS1074]

Myalgic Encephalomyelitis

Ashley Dalton Excerpts

Wednesday 19th November 2025 Westminster Hall

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health and Social Care (Ashley Dalton)]

It is a pleasure to serve under your chairship, Mr Mundell. I congratulate the hon. Member for Wells and Mendip Hills (Tessa Munt) on securing this debate, and pay tribute to her for her continued advocacy on behalf of people living with myalgic encephalomyelitis. Her work has ensured that the voices of those affected are heard at the highest levels of Government, and I am happy to accept her invitation to meet her and stakeholders, and the invitation from my hon. Friend the Member for Leigh and Atherton (Jo Platt), the chair of the APPG.

I thank all hon. Members who have contributed today, and I particularly acknowledge all the constituents they have referred to. They all deserve the very best care from our NHS. I will endeavour to respond to as many of the issues raised as I possibly can. If I have not covered something, my officials will take notes and follow up in writing.

[Rachael Maskell (York Central) (Lab/Co-op)]

I am really grateful to the Minister. We know that, at the heart of this, we need to ensure that all clinicians have a basis of training, and that is certainly missing at the moment. We see misdiagnosis, and we see some provision, including fatigue clinics, providing the wrong interventions. Will she ensure that there is a strategy around training clinicians and making it mandatory?

[Ashley Dalton]

I will come later in my remarks to the training that is being rolled out as part of the delivery plan.

Myalgic encephalomyelitis—better known as ME—and chronic fatigue syndrome, which I will refer to from now on as ME/CFS, is a condition that affects an estimated 390,000 people in the UK. Its symptoms can be profoundly debilitating, impacting every aspect of daily life, from work and education to family and social life. For those with severe or very severe ME/CFS, even basic tasks such as sitting up, eating or speaking can become impossible. We recognise the devastating impact this condition has on individuals and families. For too long, people with ME/CFS have faced stigma, misunderstanding, disbelief and inconsistent care.

[Fleur Anderson (Putney) (Lab)]

The Minister is a passionate advocate for women’s health. Does she agree that the reason for this disease often being overlooked and for the stigma she has talked about is that women are five times more likely than men to get it? Will she support clear funding, accountability and deadlines within the welcome plan that has been delivered, and a service for very severe ME for all ICBs?

[Ashley Dalton]

I recognise my hon. Friend’s points, and I will cover some of them in my remarks. She will be aware that the women’s health strategy is currently being refreshed, so we hope to dovetail wherever possible.

I want to set out the steps that this Government are taking to change the misunderstanding, stigma and inconsistent care that patients have experienced. Through our ME/CFS final delivery plan, we will deliver better care, boost research and ensure that every person living with ME/CFS is treated with dignity and compassion.

First, let us acknowledge the reality. ME/CFS is a complex multi-system condition. Its fluctuating nature makes diagnosis and management challenging. Historically, services have been extremely varied, and in some cases patients have felt dismissed or rejected by the healthcare system. That is unacceptable. We have heard those concerns loud and clear through our extensive consultation on the interim delivery plan and through ongoing engagement with patients, carers, clinicians, researchers and charities. Last year’s prevention of future deaths report following the tragic death of Maeve Boothby O’Neill further highlighted the urgent need for reform, pointing to a lack of specialist beds and inadequate training for clinicians. We cannot and will not allow such failings to continue.

In July, we published the ME/CFS final delivery plan, marking a significant milestone in our commitment to improving lives. The plan is built around three core themes: boosting research, improving attitudes and education, and enhancing care and support. With a clear commitment to ensure that people with ME/CFS can live as independently as possible and see their overall quality of life enhanced, that plan will help us to take an important step towards achieving that, but we acknowledge that there is more to do. We will continue to build on the foundation of those actions well beyond the publication of the plan. It is the springboard—the beginning, not the end.

Although the final delivery plan does not include every suggestion received through the consultation responses or through the task and finish group, it does not mean that those proposals will not be considered in the future, subject to resource and funding. We look forward to continuing those conversations.

[Dr Luke Evans]

The Minister attended the task and finish group, as did I. Will it meet again to consider that?

[Ashley Dalton]

I will come to the task and finish group in my remarks.

Research is the key to unlocking better treatments and improving quality of life. As has been mentioned, we have seen progress through projects such as DecodeME, the world’s largest genetic study of ME/CFS, which is funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research and the Medical Research Council. Preliminary findings from the study indicate genetic differences in eight areas linked to the immune and nervous systems in people with ME/CFS. That discovery of specific genetic signals may help us to understand the biological pathways involved in ME/CFS in the future.

However, we need to go further. That is why the plan includes a funding offer and a commitment to continue working with researchers, industry and patient groups. New awards announced this year include funding for repurposed treatments and £845,000 for a large infrastructure project called PRIME, or, to give it its full name, Building Infrastructure for Patients, Researchers and Industry for ME/CFS.

Together with the MRC, we are actively exploring next steps in ME/CFS research. For example, earlier this month we co-hosted the research showcase event for post-acute infection conditions, including ME/CFS. It brought together people with lived experience, researchers, clinicians and funders to help to stimulate further research in this field. We are now considering the discussions that took place at the showcase to explore the next steps to stimulate further research. The output of that event will be circulated as soon as possible.

The final delivery plan also sets out actions to improve access to specialist services—to provide better support for children and young people, and their families, and to address employment challenges. It aligns with our 10-year health plan, which includes the roll-out of neighbourhood health services, bringing care closer to home and ensuring that multidisciplinary teams can support people with complex conditions such as ME/CFS.

Provision varies across the country and we are determined to reduce those inequalities. The final delivery plan includes actions to improve service mapping and workforce training so that every patient, regardless of postcode, can access the care they need. NHS England is working closely with the Department to support ICBs in commissioning equitable evidence-based services. Two of the most important actions in the plan are focused on NHS services. NHS England has already started its work on co-designing resources for systems to improve services for mild and moderate ME/CFS.

[Dr Evans]

Given that NHS England is due to be abolished, who will take that on?

[Ashley Dalton]

While NHSE is in the process of being dismantled, all its functions continue, and the new Department of Health and Social Care will continue all its work. None of that is being got rid of; it is simply being brought together into a more efficient, new Department of Health and Social Care. The Department will continue to meet a group of key stakeholders to move the work forward on mild and moderate ME/CFS in the coming weeks. Additionally, I confirm that the DHSC has already started conversations with NHS England to explore a specialised service prescribed by the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care for severe ME/CFS. That work will continue.

Changing attitudes is as important as changing services to many people with ME/CFS who have faced disbelief or stigma. As outlined in the plan, we will address that by launching a public awareness initiative to improve understanding of the condition and the support available. We will work with schools, employers and social care providers to ensure that children and adults with ME/CFS receive the information and support that they need.

[John Milne (Horsham) (LD)]

Will the Minister give way?

[Ashley Dalton]

I will not, as time is short.

To support healthcare professionals in diagnosis, as set out in the final delivery plan, the Department has worked with NHS England to develop an e-learning programme on ME/CFS for all healthcare professionals. The aim is to support staff so that they can provide better care and improve patient outcomes.

The plan was not developed in isolation. It reflects thousands of consultation responses and the input of the cross-sector task and finish groups. We repurposed the task and finish groups into a new post-publication stakeholder engagement group, and we look forward to working closely with it during the all-important implementation phase.

I recognise that some stakeholders feel that the plan does not go far enough, but let me be clear: this is not the end of the journey; this is simply the foundations. Our work does not stand alone; it stands on the broader ambition to transform the NHS from a sickness service into a health service. We are working with the DWP and the Department for Education to ensure that all the issues raised are considered, in particular during the Timms review.

ME/CFS has been overlooked for far too long. We are determined to change that. To everyone living with ME/CFS and to your families and carers, I say this: we hear you; we value you; we believe you; and we are committed to making the system work better for you and with you. Together, we can build a future where everyone receives the care, respect and support that they deserve.

[David Mundell (in the Chair)]

Tessa Munt, you have one minute to wind up the debate.

Pandemic Preparedness: Exercise PEGASUS

Ashley Dalton Excerpts

Tuesday 4th November 2025 Written Statements

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health and Social Care (Ashley Dalton)]

Exercise Pegasus, the Tier T pandemic preparedness exercise led by the Department of Health and Social Care with the UK Health Security Agency, will conclude live participation on 5 November 2025.

Exercise Pegasus has been the largest simulation of a pandemic in UK history, involving every Government Department, the devolved governments, representation from arm’s length bodies, local resilience fora, and the engagement of businesses, academics, and external stakeholders.

Across three core exercise days, held on 18 September, 9 October and 30 October, participants were challenged to respond across the key phases of a pandemic—emergence, containment and mitigation.

Exercise Pegasus was based on a novel enterovirus originating from a fictional island. Enteroviruses are a group of viruses that usually cause mild illnesses but can lead to serious conditions such as meningitis or acute flaccid paralysis. While the exercise used a single disease to drive the scenario, learning will be applicable across a range of diseases and modes of transmission. The Government continue to plan and prepare for a range of pandemic and emerging infectious disease scenarios.

Although live participation in Exercise Pegasus has now concluded, critical work continues. A fourth phase—recovery—is planned to be exercised in 2026. Findings will be published as part of the Government’s commitment to transparency.

[HCWS1015]