Asked by: Lee Anderson (Reform UK - Ashfield)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to support children living with Functional Neurological Disorder.
Answered by Sharon Hodgson - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Government recognises that functional neurological disorder (FND) can have a significant impact on the lives of children and their families. Children with FND may experience a wide range of symptoms, and early recognition and access to appropriate support is essential. FND can be difficult to identify in children, as symptoms often overlap with other neurological and developmental conditions. Early and accurate detection is therefore essential to ensure children receive appropriate assessment, clear communication of diagnosis, and timely access to multidisciplinary support.
Health professionals are supported by national evidence‑based products which play an important role in strengthening recognition and referral pathways. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) includes FND within its guideline, Suspected neurological conditions: recognition and referral, reference code NG127. It outlines common symptom patterns associated with FND, such as fluctuating limb weakness, sensory disturbances, episodes of altered awareness, and difficulties with memory and concentration, and sets out recommended referral routes for suspected cases.
NICE’s Clinical Knowledge Summary on FND also provides practical advice for clinicians on the diagnosis and management of FND, supporting improved recognition in primary and non‑specialist care.
In addition, NICE published, in October 2025, new guidance on rehabilitation for chronic neurological disorders, reference code NG252, which will help improve access to consistent, multidisciplinary support for children and young people with neurological conditions, including those with FND.
Integrated care boards (ICBs) are responsible for commissioning services that meet the needs of their local populations, including pathways for children with neurological conditions such as FND. ICBs are expected to work with clinicians and specialists, informed by national guidance, to ensure appropriate assessment, referral and support arrangements are in place for children presenting with symptoms consistent with FND.
NHS England ensures that ICBs follow NICE guidance through a combination of statutory oversight frameworks, annual performance assessments, and local clinical governance requirements.
Asked by: Lee Anderson (Reform UK - Ashfield)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to support the recovery of people who have been diagnosed with severe Functional Neurological Disorder in Nottinghamshire.
Answered by Sharon Hodgson - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The majority of services for people with neurological conditions, including functional neurological disorder (FND), are commissioned locally. Integrated care boards (ICBs), including the NHS Nottingham and Nottinghamshire ICB, have a statutory responsibility to commission services that meet the needs of their local population. This includes ensuring appropriate assessment, referral routes, and access to multidisciplinary rehabilitation for people diagnosed with FND. ICBs are expected to work with clinicians, service users, and patient groups to develop pathways that are responsive and convenient for patients.
National guidance is also in place to improve the consistency of care. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) provides advice to clinicians on recognising and managing FND through its Suspected neurological conditions: recognition and referral guideline, reference code NG127, and Clinical Knowledge Summary, which support improved identification and care planning across primary and specialist settings.
NHS England ensures that ICBs follow NICE guidance through a combination of statutory oversight frameworks, annual performance assessments, and local clinical governance requirements.
The National Neurosciences Advisory Group developed an Optimal Clinical Pathway for FND, published in 2023, which sets out what good, person‑centred FND care should look like across the National Health Service. The pathway provides a clear, evidence‑informed framework for commissioners and clinicians, emphasising timely assessment, clear and compassionate communication of the diagnosis, and coordinated multidisciplinary rehabilitation involving neurology, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, and psychological support. It also outlines how services should work together across primary, community, and specialist care to ensure patients receive consistent support, reduce unwarranted variation, and avoid patients being passed between services without a coherent plan.
NHS England has also strengthened expectations for FND care through its updated Specialised Neurology Service Specification (Adult), published in August 2025, which, for the first time, includes explicit requirements relating to FND. The specification states that all specialised neurology centres must ensure access to appropriate FND treatment services and adopt a multidisciplinary, networked model of care.
Asked by: Lee Anderson (Reform UK - Ashfield)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to ensure people diagnosed with Functional Neurological Disorder can access adequate support services.
Answered by Sharon Hodgson - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The majority of services for people with neurological conditions, including functional neurological disorder (FND), are commissioned locally. Integrated care boards (ICBs), including the NHS Nottingham and Nottinghamshire ICB, have a statutory responsibility to commission services that meet the needs of their local population. This includes ensuring appropriate assessment, referral routes, and access to multidisciplinary rehabilitation for people diagnosed with FND. ICBs are expected to work with clinicians, service users, and patient groups to develop pathways that are responsive and convenient for patients.
National guidance is also in place to improve the consistency of care. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) provides advice to clinicians on recognising and managing FND through its Suspected neurological conditions: recognition and referral guideline, reference code NG127, and Clinical Knowledge Summary, which support improved identification and care planning across primary and specialist settings.
NHS England ensures that ICBs follow NICE guidance through a combination of statutory oversight frameworks, annual performance assessments, and local clinical governance requirements.
The National Neurosciences Advisory Group developed an Optimal Clinical Pathway for FND, published in 2023, which sets out what good, person‑centred FND care should look like across the National Health Service. The pathway provides a clear, evidence‑informed framework for commissioners and clinicians, emphasising timely assessment, clear and compassionate communication of the diagnosis, and coordinated multidisciplinary rehabilitation involving neurology, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, and psychological support. It also outlines how services should work together across primary, community, and specialist care to ensure patients receive consistent support, reduce unwarranted variation, and avoid patients being passed between services without a coherent plan.
NHS England has also strengthened expectations for FND care through its updated Specialised Neurology Service Specification (Adult), published in August 2025, which, for the first time, includes explicit requirements relating to FND. The specification states that all specialised neurology centres must ensure access to appropriate FND treatment services and adopt a multidisciplinary, networked model of care.
Asked by: Lee Anderson (Reform UK - Ashfield)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to reduce misdiagnosis of the wrong neurological condition.
Answered by Sharon Hodgson - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Government recognises the importance of ensuring that people with neurological symptoms receive an accurate and timely diagnosis. Clearer diagnostic pathways and improved clinical understanding are key to improving earlier recognition and reducing misdiagnosis of conditions like functional neurological disorder (FND).
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guideline, Suspected neurological conditions: recognition and referral, reference code NG127, sets out the symptoms commonly associated with FND and the recommended referral pathways for suspected cases, helping clinicians identify positive diagnostic signs rather than relying on a diagnosis of exclusion.
NHS England ensures that integrated care boards (ICBs) follow NICE guidance through a combination of statutory oversight frameworks, annual performance assessments, and local clinical governance requirements.
NICE’s Clinical Knowledge Summary on FND offers further practical advice for clinicians in both primary and non‑specialist care on the diagnosis and management of the condition, supporting more consistent recognition across the system.
ICBs are responsible for commissioning services that meet the needs of their local populations. This includes ensuring appropriate assessment, referral, and support arrangements are in place for people presenting with symptoms consistent with FND, informed by national guidance.
Asked by: Lee Anderson (Reform UK - Ashfield)
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 improve diagnosis procedures for Functional Neurological Disorder.
Answered by Sharon Hodgson - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Government recognises the importance of ensuring that people with neurological symptoms receive an accurate and timely diagnosis. Clearer diagnostic pathways and improved clinical understanding are key to improving earlier recognition and reducing misdiagnosis of conditions like functional neurological disorder (FND).
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guideline, Suspected neurological conditions: recognition and referral, reference code NG127, sets out the symptoms commonly associated with FND and the recommended referral pathways for suspected cases, helping clinicians identify positive diagnostic signs rather than relying on a diagnosis of exclusion.
NHS England ensures that integrated care boards (ICBs) follow NICE guidance through a combination of statutory oversight frameworks, annual performance assessments, and local clinical governance requirements.
NICE’s Clinical Knowledge Summary on FND offers further practical advice for clinicians in both primary and non‑specialist care on the diagnosis and management of the condition, supporting more consistent recognition across the system.
ICBs are responsible for commissioning services that meet the needs of their local populations. This includes ensuring appropriate assessment, referral, and support arrangements are in place for people presenting with symptoms consistent with FND, informed by national guidance.
Asked by: Lee Anderson (Reform UK - Ashfield)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to encourage people to seek help in the early stages of hearing loss.
Answered by Zubir Ahmed - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
National Health Service audiology services are locally commissioned, and the responsibility for meeting the needs of non-hearing people lies with local NHS commissioners.
We expect local commissioning to be informed by the best available evidence, relevant National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines, and guidance issued by NHS England. In 2015, NHS England published The Action Plan on Hearing Loss which sets out key objectives on hearing loss including, prevention, early diagnosis, maximising independence, and enabling people to take part in every-day activities. In 2018, NICE issued the guidance, Hearing loss in adults: assessment and management, which aims to improve hearing loss services. The NHS also provides information on hearing loss online, at the following link:
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/hearing-loss/
This includes a link to a free online hearing test from the Royal National Institute for Deaf People, signposting to services and, for those having hearing loss, things to help communicate with others and to avoid more damage to hearing.
Asked by: Lee Anderson (Reform UK - Ashfield)
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 increase the availability of walk-in mental health support.
Answered by Zubir Ahmed - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Government has already taken significant steps to stabilise and improve National Health Service mental health services but there is much more to do. Transforming the system will take time, but we are committed to delivering a new approach to mental health.
Six community based Mental Health Centres are now operating across England, in Birmingham, York, Copeland, Tower Hamlets, Lewisham, and Sheffield, providing open access to treatment and support for adults with severe mental health needs. The centres intend to improve continuity of care, drive down waits, and reduce inpatient admissions.
We are also making £473 million of capital funding available over the next four years, which we encourage systems to invest in new care models such as Mental Health Centres and also new Mental Health Emergency Departments, reducing pressure on busy accident and emergency services and ensuring people have the right support they need in calm and compassionate environments.
Asked by: Lee Anderson (Reform UK - Ashfield)
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 research into alopecia.
Answered by Zubir Ahmed - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Department invests over £1.6 billion each year on research through its research delivery arm, the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). The NIHR welcomes funding applications for research into any aspect of human health and care including alopecia. These applications are subject to peer review and judged in open competition, with awards being made on the basis of the importance of the topic to patients and health and care services, value for money, and scientific quality. Further information is available at the following link:
https://www.nihr.ac.uk/get-involved/suggest-a-research-topic
The NIHR provides an online service called Be Part of Research, which promotes participation in health and social care research by allowing users to search for relevant studies and register their interest. There are currently several studies supported by Be Part of Research focusing on alopecia, with further information available at the following link:
https://bepartofresearch.nihr.ac.uk/
Asked by: Lee Anderson (Reform UK - Ashfield)
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 help support research into hearing loss treatment.
Answered by Zubir Ahmed - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Department delivers research into hearing loss via the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR).
This includes, for example, £2.4 million of NIHR funding for a study that will compare giving adults with severe hearing loss implants in both ears versus just one ear to inform future guidance.
As well as funding research itself, the Department invests significantly in centres of excellence and collaborations, services, and facilities to enable development and delivery of research in England. This includes the NIHR Biomedical Research Centres (BRCs), which drive innovation in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of ill-health through early phase translational research. Several of the NIHR BRCs have hearing health themes, supporting a broad range of research into hearing loss treatment, including drug discovery, gene and cell therapies, and regenerative approaches targeting inner ear damage.
The NIHR continues to welcome funding applications for research into any aspect of human health and care, including hearing loss.
Asked by: Lee Anderson (Reform UK - Ashfield)
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 help ensure backup energy generators at hospitals are well maintained.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
It is the responsibility of each National Health Service provider to have resilience plans and procedures in place. Guidance is provided to the NHS within the Health Technical Memorandum 06 series, namely Health Technical Memorandum 06-01: Electrical services supply and distribution, Health Technical Memorandum 06-02: Electrical safety guidance for low voltage systems, and Health Technical Memorandum 06-03: Electrical safety guidance for high voltage systems, which are all respectively available at the following three links:
https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/electrical-services-supply-and-distribution-htm-06-01/
https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/electrical-safety-guidance-for-low-voltage-systems-htm-06-02/
This guidance is for healthcare organisations, defined as organisations that provide or intends to provide healthcare services, and is therefore applicable to primary and secondary care providers.