Asked by: Freddie van Mierlo (Liberal Democrat - Henley and Thame)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the response of 23 February 2026 to question 112545, what progress she has made on securing a reliable supply of testosterone and oestrogen HRT implants.
Answered by James Frith - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.
Asked by: Freddie van Mierlo (Liberal Democrat - Henley and Thame)
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 July 2026 to UIN 10804, when the UK National Screening Committee will next review the evidence for whether screening for Group B Streptococcus should be routinely offered during pregnancy.
Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
There is nothing to add at this time to the answer cited in the Hon. Member’s question. When there is new information available, the Hon. Member will be updated in the normal way.
Asked by: Freddie van Mierlo (Liberal Democrat - Henley and Thame)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment has she made of the potential merits of appointing a brain cancer lead in her Department.
Answered by James Frith - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
Further to the answer provided on 25 June in response to Question 9944, I refer the Hon. Members to the press release published on GOV.UK on 14 October concerning new action the Government is taking to improve the diagnosis and treatment of brain cancer, which is available at the following link:
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/brain-cancer-patients-to-see-faster-development-of-new-treatments
Asked by: Freddie van Mierlo (Liberal Democrat - Henley and Thame)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps she is taking to support carers who take care of people with rare cancers.
Answered by James Frith - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
Further to the answer provided on 25 June in response to Question 9944, I refer the Hon. Members to the press release published on GOV.UK on 14 October concerning new action the Government is taking to improve the diagnosis and treatment of brain cancer, which is available at the following link:
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/brain-cancer-patients-to-see-faster-development-of-new-treatments
Asked by: Freddie van Mierlo (Liberal Democrat - Henley and Thame)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of the means to improve diagnosis and treatment of brain cancer.
Answered by James Frith - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
Further to the answer provided on 25 June in response to Question 9944, I refer the Hon. Members to the press release published on GOV.UK on 14 October concerning new action the Government is taking to improve the diagnosis and treatment of brain cancer, which is available at the following link:
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/brain-cancer-patients-to-see-faster-development-of-new-treatments
Asked by: Freddie van Mierlo (Liberal Democrat - Henley and Thame)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps her Department is taking to help improve innovation and technology for brain cancer treatment.
Answered by James Frith - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
Further to the answer provided on 25 June in response to Question 9944, I refer the Hon. Members to the press release published on GOV.UK on 14 October concerning new action the Government is taking to improve the diagnosis and treatment of brain cancer, which is available at the following link:
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/brain-cancer-patients-to-see-faster-development-of-new-treatments
Asked by: Freddie van Mierlo (Liberal Democrat - Henley and Thame)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps she is taking to help increase the use of clinical trials for research into pancreatic cancer.
Answered by James Frith - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 15 July in response to Question 16704.
Asked by: Freddie van Mierlo (Liberal Democrat - Henley and Thame)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when newborn screening for Spinal Muscular Atrophy will be available to families in Oxfordshire.
Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
I refer the Hon. Member to the announcement made on the evaluation of newborn screening for spinal muscular atrophy by the Department on 16 July, which is available at the following link:
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/every-baby-in-england-to-get-life-saving-genetic-test-from-birth
In addition, the newborn heel prick test is routinely carried out by health visitors or community midwives on day five after birth.
Asked by: Freddie van Mierlo (Liberal Democrat - Henley and Thame)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if she will direct NHS England and the UK Foundation Programme Office (UKFPO) to permit NHS Trusts to appoint provisionally registered doctors who are currently without an NHS Foundation Year doctor post to any such posts that become available after the closure of the allocation process by UKFPO.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The information requested for Question 29058 is not held centrally in the format requested.
Recruitment to the 2026 UK Foundation Programme has now concluded. Total numbers of Foundation Programme places in the United Kingdom are agreed through a four-nation workforce planning process and take into account the fact that a proportion of applicants withdraw from the Foundation Programme each year. The Government therefore has no plans to backfill any vacant posts that may arise for 2026.
Asked by: Freddie van Mierlo (Liberal Democrat - Henley and Thame)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many foundation year doctor posts were unavailable to newly appointed foundation doctors this year because they were occupied by doctors granted extensions to complete training competencies; and how many such posts are scheduled to become vacant from 1 December 2026.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The information requested for Question 29058 is not held centrally in the format requested.
Recruitment to the 2026 UK Foundation Programme has now concluded. Total numbers of Foundation Programme places in the United Kingdom are agreed through a four-nation workforce planning process and take into account the fact that a proportion of applicants withdraw from the Foundation Programme each year. The Government therefore has no plans to backfill any vacant posts that may arise for 2026.