Chris Hinchliff: All Documents

Written Question

Ultrasonics

Monday 3rd November 2025

Asked by: Chris Hinchliff (Independent - North East Hertfordshire)

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 reduce waiting times for urgent pelvic ultrasounds.

Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

We inherited a broken National Health Service, and reducing elective waiting lists is a key part of getting it back on its feet and building an NHS that is fit for the future. To that end we have committed to achieving the NHS Constitutional standard that 92% of patients should wait no longer than 18 weeks from Referral to Treatment by March 2029. Cutting waiting times for diagnostic tests including those for urgent pelvic issues is a crucial step in reducing the elective waiting list.

In the Autumn Budget 2024, the Chancellor announced £600 million of capital funding to support the reduction of diagnostic waiting lists, including continued investment in new and expanded Community Diagnostic Centres (CDCs), new acute hospital diagnostic equipment, and investment in digital diagnostic capabilities.

Abdomen or pelvic ultrasounds are one of five imaging tests for which general practitioners (GPs) can now make direct referrals, meaning patients can get the scan they need sooner at their local hospital or other NHS facility, whichever offers this service. The General Practice Direct Access Guidance advises how GPs can make the most of GP direct access especially where specific diagnostic tests are under the threshold for referral under the urgent suspected cancer referral pathway.

Patients can also be referred for pelvic ultrasounds for a number of reasons, including suspected urological malignancies, and other gynaecological cancers. Improved performance on the Faster Diagnosis Standard means that 135,000 more people have had cancer diagnosed or ruled out within 28 days between September 2024 and August 2025, compared the same months in the previous year.

We have also already made excellent progress turning the commitments in the Women's Health Strategy into tangible action, including tackling gynaecology waiting lists using the private sector.

Speech in Commons Chamber - Thu 30 Oct 2025
Property Service Charges

"The scandal of property service charges is one of the most unjust, indefensible and generally enraging issues facing my constituents. In many cases, the charges amount to little more than a form of parasitic exploitation of ordinary people by absentee landlords and businesses. It has been allowed to fester for …..."
Chris Hinchliff - View Speech

View all Chris Hinchliff (Ind - North East Hertfordshire) contributions to the debate on: Property Service Charges

Speech in Commons Chamber - Thu 30 Oct 2025
Business of the House

"Neil Whitehouse, a loving father and grandfather who lived in my constituency, sadly lost his fight with cancer earlier this year. Neil was a lifelong advocate of the NHS, but tragically delays in communication between NHS departments may have prevented him receiving earlier, lifesaving treatment. We cannot give back to …..."
Chris Hinchliff - View Speech

View all Chris Hinchliff (Ind - North East Hertfordshire) contributions to the debate on: Business of the House

Division Vote (Commons)
29 Oct 2025 - Sentencing Bill - View Vote Context
Chris Hinchliff (Ind) voted No and in line with the House
One of 10 Independent No votes vs 2 Independent Aye votes
Vote Tally: Ayes - 173 Noes - 323

Division Vote (Commons)
29 Oct 2025 - Sentencing Bill - View Vote Context
Chris Hinchliff (Ind) voted No and in line with the House
One of 7 Independent No votes vs 4 Independent Aye votes
Vote Tally: Ayes - 82 Noes - 314

Division Vote (Commons)
29 Oct 2025 - European Convention on Human Rights (Withdrawal) - View Vote Context
Chris Hinchliff (Ind) voted No and in line with the House
One of 10 Independent No votes vs 2 Independent Aye votes
Vote Tally: Ayes - 96 Noes - 154

Division Vote (Commons)
29 Oct 2025 - Sentencing Bill - View Vote Context
Chris Hinchliff (Ind) voted Aye and in line with the House
One of 7 Independent Aye votes vs 2 Independent No votes
Vote Tally: Ayes - 321 Noes - 103

Division Vote (Commons)
29 Oct 2025 - Sentencing Bill - View Vote Context
Chris Hinchliff (Ind) voted No and in line with the House
One of 7 Independent No votes vs 5 Independent Aye votes
Vote Tally: Ayes - 182 Noes - 311

Division Vote (Commons)
28 Oct 2025 - China Spying Case - View Vote Context
Chris Hinchliff (Ind) voted No and in line with the House
One of 7 Independent No votes vs 3 Independent Aye votes
Vote Tally: Ayes - 174 Noes - 327