Asked by: Danny Beales (Labour - Uxbridge and South Ruislip)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment her Department has made of trends in the level of variation between Integrated Care Boards in the commissioning of long-term stoma care services and access to specialist stoma nursing for adults.
Answered by James Frith - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Government is committed to supporting people living with a stoma to access high quality, safe, and personalised care. Living with a stoma can have a profound impact on an individual’s health, wellbeing, and quality of life, and we recognise the importance of ensuring that people receive the products, clinical support, and advice that best meet their needs.
Through the National Health Service, stoma appliances continue to be available on prescription, supported by specialist clinicians who play a vital role in helping people to manage their condition and live independently. The Department does not hold data on variation between integrated care systems in access to specialist stoma review and structured follow-up.
However, the Department is aware that patient experience varies. Patient choice can be impacted by the prescribing and dispensing models in place, and this has an impact on patient experience and quality of life.
Through NHS England, the Department is currently reviewing the provision of stoma and continence products and services. The aim is to improve patient outcomes, support informed choice, and ensure people are receiving the most appropriate products and care throughout their lives.
The review has so far focussed on understanding the current arrangements from a system, supplier, and patient perspective. The review is in progress, and the next step is to engage stakeholders on what could or should change and therefore potential solutions. It is therefore too early to determine the recommendations resulting from the review.
A completion date has not yet been set, however the Department will comply with any requirements to publish the outcome of any consultation undertaken as part of the review.
Asked by: Danny Beales (Labour - Uxbridge and South Ruislip)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether NHS England requires Integrated Care Boards to collect and report data on the proportion of adults with a stoma who receive an annual review by a specialist stoma nurse.
Answered by James Frith - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Government is committed to supporting people living with a stoma to access high quality, safe, and personalised care. Living with a stoma can have a profound impact on an individual’s health, wellbeing, and quality of life, and we recognise the importance of ensuring that people receive the products, clinical support, and advice that best meet their needs.
Through the National Health Service, stoma appliances continue to be available on prescription, supported by specialist clinicians who play a vital role in helping people to manage their condition and live independently. The Department does not hold data on variation between integrated care systems in access to specialist stoma review and structured follow-up.
However, the Department is aware that patient experience varies. Patient choice can be impacted by the prescribing and dispensing models in place, and this has an impact on patient experience and quality of life.
Through NHS England, the Department is currently reviewing the provision of stoma and continence products and services. The aim is to improve patient outcomes, support informed choice, and ensure people are receiving the most appropriate products and care throughout their lives.
The review has so far focussed on understanding the current arrangements from a system, supplier, and patient perspective. The review is in progress, and the next step is to engage stakeholders on what could or should change and therefore potential solutions. It is therefore too early to determine the recommendations resulting from the review.
A completion date has not yet been set, however the Department will comply with any requirements to publish the outcome of any consultation undertaken as part of the review.
Asked by: Danny Beales (Labour - Uxbridge and South Ruislip)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether she plans to introduce a nationally standardised stoma care pathway for adults.
Answered by James Frith - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Government is committed to supporting people living with a stoma to access high quality, safe, and personalised care. Living with a stoma can have a profound impact on an individual’s health, wellbeing, and quality of life, and we recognise the importance of ensuring that people receive the products, clinical support, and advice that best meet their needs.
Through the National Health Service, stoma appliances continue to be available on prescription, supported by specialist clinicians who play a vital role in helping people to manage their condition and live independently. The Department does not hold data on variation between integrated care systems in access to specialist stoma review and structured follow-up.
However, the Department is aware that patient experience varies. Patient choice can be impacted by the prescribing and dispensing models in place, and this has an impact on patient experience and quality of life.
Through NHS England, the Department is currently reviewing the provision of stoma and continence products and services. The aim is to improve patient outcomes, support informed choice, and ensure people are receiving the most appropriate products and care throughout their lives.
The review has so far focussed on understanding the current arrangements from a system, supplier, and patient perspective. The review is in progress, and the next step is to engage stakeholders on what could or should change and therefore potential solutions. It is therefore too early to determine the recommendations resulting from the review.
A completion date has not yet been set, however the Department will comply with any requirements to publish the outcome of any consultation undertaken as part of the review.
Asked by: Danny Beales (Labour - Uxbridge and South Ruislip)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the Answer of 4 March 2026 to Question 116635 on Stoma Appliances, when NHS England's review of stoma and continence products and stoma services is expected to conclude; and whether the findings of that review will be published.
Answered by James Frith - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Government is committed to supporting people living with a stoma to access high quality, safe, and personalised care. Living with a stoma can have a profound impact on an individual’s health, wellbeing, and quality of life, and we recognise the importance of ensuring that people receive the products, clinical support, and advice that best meet their needs.
Through the National Health Service, stoma appliances continue to be available on prescription, supported by specialist clinicians who play a vital role in helping people to manage their condition and live independently. The Department does not hold data on variation between integrated care systems in access to specialist stoma review and structured follow-up.
However, the Department is aware that patient experience varies. Patient choice can be impacted by the prescribing and dispensing models in place, and this has an impact on patient experience and quality of life.
Through NHS England, the Department is currently reviewing the provision of stoma and continence products and services. The aim is to improve patient outcomes, support informed choice, and ensure people are receiving the most appropriate products and care throughout their lives.
The review has so far focussed on understanding the current arrangements from a system, supplier, and patient perspective. The review is in progress, and the next step is to engage stakeholders on what could or should change and therefore potential solutions. It is therefore too early to determine the recommendations resulting from the review.
A completion date has not yet been set, however the Department will comply with any requirements to publish the outcome of any consultation undertaken as part of the review.
Asked by: Danny Beales (Labour - Uxbridge and South Ruislip)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether NHS England's review of stoma and continence products and stoma services includes consideration of the commissioning and delivery of long-term stoma care services, including care pathways, routine specialist follow-up and access to specialist stoma nurses.
Answered by James Frith - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Government is committed to supporting people living with a stoma to access high quality, safe, and personalised care. Living with a stoma can have a profound impact on an individual’s health, wellbeing, and quality of life, and we recognise the importance of ensuring that people receive the products, clinical support, and advice that best meet their needs.
Through the National Health Service, stoma appliances continue to be available on prescription, supported by specialist clinicians who play a vital role in helping people to manage their condition and live independently. The Department does not hold data on variation between integrated care systems in access to specialist stoma review and structured follow-up.
However, the Department is aware that patient experience varies. Patient choice can be impacted by the prescribing and dispensing models in place, and this has an impact on patient experience and quality of life.
Through NHS England, the Department is currently reviewing the provision of stoma and continence products and services. The aim is to improve patient outcomes, support informed choice, and ensure people are receiving the most appropriate products and care throughout their lives.
The review has so far focussed on understanding the current arrangements from a system, supplier, and patient perspective. The review is in progress, and the next step is to engage stakeholders on what could or should change and therefore potential solutions. It is therefore too early to determine the recommendations resulting from the review.
A completion date has not yet been set, however the Department will comply with any requirements to publish the outcome of any consultation undertaken as part of the review.
Asked by: Danny Beales (Labour - Uxbridge and South Ruislip)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, for what reason domiciliary dental services are not routinely commissioned and resourced to meet the needs of patients requiring domiciliary care.
Answered by James Frith - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
Integrated care boards are responsible for commissioning primary care and community dental services, including domiciliary care, to meet the needs of local populations.
Asked by: Danny Beales (Labour - Uxbridge and South Ruislip)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when the Department will publish the list of specialised services that will remain nationally commissioned, and what criteria will be used to determine the allocation of services between national and delegated commissioning arrangements.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
As of April 2025, integrated care boards (ICBs) are responsible for commissioning the majority of specialised services. NHS England commissions all ‘highly’ specialised services, high secure mental health services, and a small number of other services on a national basis. The list of services commissioned by ICBs and NHS England is available at the following link:
https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/nhs-england-service-codes/
From April 2027, the legislative reforms proposed are that ICBs should commission the majority of specialised services, with my Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, directing ICBs on these functions. It is proposed that the services to be commissioned nationally by my Rt Hon. Friend will be set out in regulations.
The Department published an Equality Impact Assessment of ICBs as strategic commissioners alongside the Health Bill on 14 May 2026. This is available at the following link:
Asked by: Danny Beales (Labour - Uxbridge and South Ruislip)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether the Department will publish additional analysis of the potential operational implications of further specialised commissioning reform, including through an updated Equality Impact Assessment.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
As of April 2025, integrated care boards (ICBs) are responsible for commissioning the majority of specialised services. NHS England commissions all ‘highly’ specialised services, high secure mental health services, and a small number of other services on a national basis. The list of services commissioned by ICBs and NHS England is available at the following link:
https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/nhs-england-service-codes/
From April 2027, the legislative reforms proposed are that ICBs should commission the majority of specialised services, with my Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, directing ICBs on these functions. It is proposed that the services to be commissioned nationally by my Rt Hon. Friend will be set out in regulations.
The Department published an Equality Impact Assessment of ICBs as strategic commissioners alongside the Health Bill on 14 May 2026. This is available at the following link:
Asked by: Danny Beales (Labour - Uxbridge and South Ruislip)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department has set a target date for the restoration of the UK's measles elimination status.
Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Measles and rubella elimination UK strategy outlines the system-wide actions across four key pillars needed to achieve and sustain measles and rubella elimination. The strategy is available at the following link:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/measles-and-rubella-elimination-uk-strategy
Key actions underway include:
There is no set timeline for re-establishing elimination status. Achieving this remains a long-term strategic goal that will require consistent, sustained effort rather than short-term interventions.
The World Health Organization target is to achieve at least 95% coverage with two doses of the measles (MMR) vaccine to ensure herd immunity and prevent outbreaks.
Provisional uptake date is available at the following link:
Asked by: Danny Beales (Labour - Uxbridge and South Ruislip)
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 support the restoration and maintenance of the UK's measles elimination status; and what assessment he has made of the potential impact of current childhood vaccination coverage rates on achieving that objective.
Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Measles and rubella elimination UK strategy outlines the system-wide actions across four key pillars needed to achieve and sustain measles and rubella elimination. The strategy is available at the following link:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/measles-and-rubella-elimination-uk-strategy
Key actions underway include:
There is no set timeline for re-establishing elimination status. Achieving this remains a long-term strategic goal that will require consistent, sustained effort rather than short-term interventions.
The World Health Organization target is to achieve at least 95% coverage with two doses of the measles (MMR) vaccine to ensure herd immunity and prevent outbreaks.
Provisional uptake date is available at the following link: