Asked by: Lisa Smart (Liberal Democrat - Hazel Grove)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of differing pay and conditions between people employed by NHS Professionals Ltd and people directly employed by the NHS on (a) recruitment, (b) retention and (c) staff morale.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
No such assessment has been made. National Health Service trusts will locally identify the mix of permanent and temporary staffing that fits their workforce requirements and delivers value for money. This can include the use of NHS professionals.
The Government values the dedicated staff we have working in the NHS, and is committed to supporting them so that they can continue to thrive, and we can retain their valuable skills and experience within the NHS. NHS England is leading a national NHS retention programme to drive a consistent, system-wide approach to staff retention across NHS trusts. This ensures trusts have access to proven retention strategies, data-driven monitoring, and can foster a more stable, engaged, productive, and supported workforce.
Asked by: Lisa Smart (Liberal Democrat - Hazel Grove)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of irregular rail timetables on (a) employment and (b) education access in Greater Manchester.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The department requires its operators to plan services and rail timetables that are designed to respond to expected passenger demand, which includes understanding local demand factors such as access to employment and education. These timetables should be resilient and provide value for money for the taxpayer. Timetables are kept under review and, where appropriate, adjusted to reflect fluctuations in demand.
Asked by: Lisa Smart (Liberal Democrat - Hazel Grove)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her Department is taking to increase the (a) frequency and (b) reliability of rail services on the Rose Hill to Manchester Piccadilly line.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The department expects operators to match capacity and frequency of their services to demand, which can mean increased service frequency where that is the right response - although these must also be operationally sustainable and deliver value for taxpayers.
Ministers have made very clear to Northern’s management that its current performance, including between Rose Hill and Manchester, is not acceptable, and that is why the Rail North Partnership, through which the Department and Transport for the North jointly manage Northern’s contract, issued it with a notice of breach of contract. This required Northern to produce a detailed plan to improve its services.
Asked by: Lisa Smart (Liberal Democrat - Hazel Grove)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of not including Stepping Hill Hospital in the New Hospital Programme on (a) patient and staff safety, (b) quality of care and (c) the condition and adequacy of the infrastructure at that hospital.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Stockport Foundation NHS Trust submitted an expression of interest (EOI) to join the New Hospital Programme (NHP) in 2021, alongside other National Health Service trusts. The Department worked with NHS England on a joint prioritisation exercise assessing the EOIs in detail.
All EOIs were scored against a series of indicators from four categories: deliverability; better and smarter use of NHS infrastructure; fairer allocation of investment and efficient use of public resources; and stronger and greener NHS buildings. This assessment was conducted in conjunction with an analysis of metrics covering estates, finance, and quality from existing national datasets. An assessment of these EOIs against regional strategic priorities was also conducted.
In May 2023, the Government confirmed that five hospitals constructed primarily using reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) would be brought into the NHP, following a structural assessment by NHS England and the Department, which found that these hospitals would be unsafe to operate beyond 2030. Due to the size, complexity, and costs involved in rebuilding RAAC hospitals, it was not possible to invite other schemes to join.
We are supporting the Stockport Foundation NHS Trust to improve the condition of the infrastructure at Stepping Hill Hospital, with up to £11.5 million from the critical infrastructure risk fund confirmed in 2024/25 to support the replacement of outpatient capacity and to deliver much needed improvements to patient and staff safety.
Asked by: Lisa Smart (Liberal Democrat - Hazel Grove)
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 to (a) local authorities and (b) Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council to identify new sites for the (i) expansion and (ii) development of existing hospital facilities.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Government recognises that delivering high quality National Health Service healthcare requires the right infrastructure in the right places.
Integrated care systems (ICSs) are responsible for strategic infrastructure planning as well as managing the operational capital for their respective local areas. This includes expanding and developing hospital facilities. The Department is supporting local NHS organisations to better manage their estates, and systems have developed infrastructure strategies which will inform their decision making and estate management.
In this context, the Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council and other local authorities are encouraged to engage with their local integrated care board (ICB), the Greater Manchester ICB, to discuss opportunities for developing hospital infrastructure.
Asked by: Lisa Smart (Liberal Democrat - Hazel Grove)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of the maintenance and repairs backlog at Stepping Hill Hospital on the quality of patient care.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Government recognises that delivering high-quality National Health Service healthcare requires safe and effective infrastructure.
Integrated care systems (ICSs) are responsible for strategic infrastructure planning for their respective areas and were recently commissioned by NHS England to develop 10-year infrastructure strategies. As part of these strategies, systems assessed how the estate, digital, equipment, and workforce models contribute to the delivery of the overarching system strategy, related clinical pathways, and national priorities for delivering care. The strategies included consideration of the condition of the estate.
In 2025/26, the Greater Manchester Integrated Care Board (ICB), responsible for Stepping Hill Hospital, has been provisionally allocated £187 million for operational capital, over £36 million for estates safety, and over £30 million to support constitutional standards recovery. The Stockport NHS Foundation Trust is encouraged to discuss options with the Greater Manchester ICB to allocate some of their operational capital and national programme allocations towards tackling the backlog of maintenance and ensuring that infrastructure supports quality care at Stepping Hill Hospital.
We are pleased that despite challenging infrastructure, the Stockport NHS Foundation Trust has made progress towards reducing its waiting list. As of February 2025, there were 35,824 patient pathways waiting for a procedure. Of these, 54.3% of pathways were waiting within 18 weeks for a procedure. This compares to 50.3% of pathways waiting within 18 weeks for a procedure in February 2024.
Asked by: Lisa Smart (Liberal Democrat - Hazel Grove)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the annual profits of NHS Professionals Ltd were in each of the last five years; and whether those profits were (a) reinvested into NHS service provision and (b) returned to his Department.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
NHS Professionals Ltd (NHSP), a limited company wholly owned by the Department, is a supplier of clinical and non-clinical temporary workforce to client National Health Service trusts.
The following table shows NHSP profit before tax and dividends paid to the Department over the last five years:
| Year Ended 31/3/24 £million | Year Ended 31/3/23 £million | Year Ended 31/3/22 £million | Year Ended 31/3/21 £million | Year Ended 31/3/20 £million |
Profit before Tax | 3.7 | 8.5 | 16.8 | 18.9 | 11 |
Dividends paid | nil | 10 | 18 | nil | 10 |
Dividends received from NHSP are not ringfenced for specific purposes, but they are directly invested back into the wider healthcare economy by the Department. Where dividends are not taken, any profits generated are retained within the business and reinvested to support the delivery of its strategy.
Full details of profits, dividend payments and declarations are shown in NHSP’s statutory accounts which are available at the following link:
https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/06704614
Asked by: Lisa Smart (Liberal Democrat - Hazel Grove)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will take steps with (a) Stockport Council and (b) the Greater Manchester Combined Authority to provide Metrolink services to Stockport.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
This Government is investing in transport improvements across our city regions, including Greater Manchester which is receiving over £1 billion through its City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement. In line with the Government’s commitment to devolution, decisions on where to invest this funding, including whether to extend the Metrolink network, rest with Greater Manchester Combined Authority, in partnership with its constituent local authorities. The Greater Manchester CRSTS programme includes a number of schemes which will transform public transport and active travel in Stockport, including initiatives focused on bus priority.
Asked by: Lisa Smart (Liberal Democrat - Hazel Grove)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what information her Department holds on the number of contacts that each police force has had (a) with people experiencing suicidal ideation and (b) where a suicide is in progress in the last 12 months.
Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Home Office)
The Home Office does not collect or hold data on these subjects.
The College of Policing’s Authorised Professional Practice guidance contains a chapter intended to support the police in offering crisis intervention to people who are at risk of suicide and to respond professionally and effectively when suicide occurs: https://www.college.police.uk/app/mental-health/suicide-and-bereavement-response
The Independent Office for Police Conduct’s annual report on the number of deaths during or following police contact in England and Wales contains information on the number of apparent suicides following police custody. The most recent publication is here: https://www.policeconduct.gov.uk/publications/annual-deaths-during-or-following-police-contact-report-202324
The Independent Advisory Panel on Deaths in Custody is working with the National Police Chiefs’ Council, College of Policing, and key health and voluntary sector stakeholders to improve support for those at risk of suicide following release from police custody.
Asked by: Lisa Smart (Liberal Democrat - Hazel Grove)
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 access to cognitive behavioural therapy for autistic adults with (a) a gambling addiction and (b) other forms of addiction.
Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
National Health Service treatment for those experiencing gambling-related harms is currently offered through 15 specialist clinics, representing every region of England. These clinics provide access to expert clinicians who are able to offer relevant psychological and psychiatric support, including cognitive behavioural therapy. The Department is also continuing to invest in local drug and alcohol treatment services.
In addition, people, including autistic people, who are experiencing symptoms of anxiety and/or depression as a result of an addiction can be referred by their general practitioner, or can self-refer, to NHS Talking Therapies.
Operational guidance for autism assessment services, published by NHS England in April 2023, sets out the expectation that primary and secondary mental health and psychological therapies services should make reasonable adjustments to routine care, so that it is more accessible for autistic people. Further information is available at the following link:
https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/autism-diagnosis-and-operational-guidance/
NHS England has also published guidance for NHS systems on how to improve the quality and accessibility of care and support for autistic adults to meet their mental health needs, which is available at the following link: