Asked by: Shockat Adam (Independent - Leicester South)
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 update NHS England’s Guidance - Commissioning Excellent Nutrition and Hydration 2015-2018, including consultation that has taken place with stakeholders working in the field of nutrition and malnutrition.
Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
NHS England has undertaken a comprehensive review and refresh of the Commissioning Excellent Nutrition and Hydration 2015–2018 guidance to ensure that it reflects current evidence base, national food standards, National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidance, regulatory requirements, evidence based best practice, current research, and system structures.
This work was overseen by a National Nutrition and Hydration Advisory Board representative of key stakeholders and relevant experts.
This work included an in-depth engagement phase with patient groups, patient representatives, National Health Service and social care organisations, professional networks, voluntary and community sector organisations, other key organisations, and researchers to share work on the policy development to date and to seek their views. Feedback received from the engagement phase was analysed, themes and key findings shared with the National Hydration and Nutrition Advisory Board members, and where relevant and appropriate, incorporated into the final version of the policy.
The National Hydration and Nutrition Advisory Board reviewed and endorsed the updated policy at their November 2025 meeting. It will be published in due course.
Asked by: Shockat Adam (Independent - Leicester South)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when his Department expects to publish new national hydration and nutrition guidance, further to the review conducted by NHS England’s Nursing Directorate; and if he will publish the findings of that review.
Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
NHS England has undertaken a comprehensive review and refresh of the Commissioning Excellent Nutrition and Hydration 2015–2018 guidance to ensure that it reflects current evidence base, national food standards, National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidance, regulatory requirements, evidence based best practice, current research, and system structures.
This work was overseen by a National Nutrition and Hydration Advisory Board representative of key stakeholders and relevant experts.
This work included an in-depth engagement phase with patient groups, patient representatives, National Health Service and social care organisations, professional networks, voluntary and community sector organisations, other key organisations, and researchers to share work on the policy development to date and to seek their views. Feedback received from the engagement phase was analysed, themes and key findings shared with the National Hydration and Nutrition Advisory Board members, and where relevant and appropriate, incorporated into the final version of the policy.
The National Hydration and Nutrition Advisory Board reviewed and endorsed the updated policy at their November 2025 meeting. It will be published in due course.
Asked by: Shockat Adam (Independent - Leicester South)
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 prevent irreversible sight loss caused by glaucoma.
Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
Regular sight tests play a crucial role in the early detection of glaucoma, which is often symptomless in the early stages. Free National Health Service sight tests are available for many, including individuals diagnosed with glaucoma or aged 40 years old and over with a close family history of glaucoma.
NHS England testing has shown how improved IT connectivity between primary and secondary eye care services and the development of a single point of access could improve the referral and triage of eye care patients, reducing the time from referral to treatment and supporting more patients to be managed in the community.
The Getting It Right First Time programme is also currently developing best practice guidance for glaucoma services to support the adoption of high standards across the pathway, from detection onwards.
Asked by: Shockat Adam (Independent - Leicester South)
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 ensure that people at risk of disease-related malnutrition are identified early through screening tools in primary and community care.
Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
Disease-related malnutrition is a clinical condition affecting all ages across the community and in all health and care settings. Diagnosis and detection are key, and health staff are trained to spot the early warning signs of malnutrition so effective individual treatment can be put in place.
All National Health Services are recommended to adhere to National Institute for Health and Care Excellence clinical guidelines CG3, titled Nutrition support for adults: oral nutrition support, enteral tube feeding and parenteral nutrition, and Quality Standard QS24 which sets out clear requirements for nutritional screening and support across all care settings.
Under these guidelines, all hospital inpatients are screened for malnutrition risk on admission and regularly thereafter. In primary and community care, people are screened when registering at general practice surgeries and when there is clinical concern, and care home residents are screened on admission and when there is a clinical concern. It is also recommended that screening should be considered at other opportunities, for example health checks and flu injections. Screening is undertaken using validated tools such as the Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool (MUST). Healthcare professionals receive training in identifying and managing malnutrition, and individualised care plans are developed for those identified as at risk.
The Department recognises the significant impact of disease-related malnutrition on health outcomes and healthcare costs. The Government’s 10-Year Health Plan places a strong emphasis on prevention and early intervention. It supports the expansion of community-based services, including neighbourhood health centres, which will provide nutrition advice, weight management support, and will address the wider determinants of health. These measures aim to shift care closer to home and reduce reliance on hospital-based services.
We have launched the National Neighbourhood Health Implementation Programme in 43 places across England to improve the care they provide to their communities. Further information on the National Neighbourhood Health Implementation Programme is available at the following link:
https://neighbourhood-health.co.uk/
Asked by: Shockat Adam (Independent - Leicester South)
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 ensure equitable regional access to malnutrition screening and support for disease-related malnutrition.
Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
Disease-related malnutrition is a clinical condition affecting all ages across the community and in all health and care settings. Diagnosis and detection are key, and health staff are trained to spot the early warning signs of malnutrition so effective individual treatment can be put in place.
All National Health Services are recommended to adhere to National Institute for Health and Care Excellence clinical guidelines CG3, titled Nutrition support for adults: oral nutrition support, enteral tube feeding and parenteral nutrition, and Quality Standard QS24 which sets out clear requirements for nutritional screening and support across all care settings.
Under these guidelines, all hospital inpatients are screened for malnutrition risk on admission and regularly thereafter. In primary and community care, people are screened when registering at general practice surgeries and when there is clinical concern, and care home residents are screened on admission and when there is a clinical concern. It is also recommended that screening should be considered at other opportunities, for example health checks and flu injections. Screening is undertaken using validated tools such as the Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool (MUST). Healthcare professionals receive training in identifying and managing malnutrition, and individualised care plans are developed for those identified as at risk.
The Department recognises the significant impact of disease-related malnutrition on health outcomes and healthcare costs. The Government’s 10-Year Health Plan places a strong emphasis on prevention and early intervention. It supports the expansion of community-based services, including neighbourhood health centres, which will provide nutrition advice, weight management support, and will address the wider determinants of health. These measures aim to shift care closer to home and reduce reliance on hospital-based services.
We have launched the National Neighbourhood Health Implementation Programme in 43 places across England to improve the care they provide to their communities. Further information on the National Neighbourhood Health Implementation Programme is available at the following link:
https://neighbourhood-health.co.uk/
Asked by: Shockat Adam (Independent - Leicester South)
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 ensure people at risk of disease-related malnutrition are supported through the (a) implementation of the 10 Year Health Plan and (b) provision of neighbourhood health services.
Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
Disease-related malnutrition is a clinical condition affecting all ages across the community and in all health and care settings. Diagnosis and detection are key, and health staff are trained to spot the early warning signs of malnutrition so effective individual treatment can be put in place.
All National Health Services are recommended to adhere to National Institute for Health and Care Excellence clinical guidelines CG3, titled Nutrition support for adults: oral nutrition support, enteral tube feeding and parenteral nutrition, and Quality Standard QS24 which sets out clear requirements for nutritional screening and support across all care settings.
Under these guidelines, all hospital inpatients are screened for malnutrition risk on admission and regularly thereafter. In primary and community care, people are screened when registering at general practice surgeries and when there is clinical concern, and care home residents are screened on admission and when there is a clinical concern. It is also recommended that screening should be considered at other opportunities, for example health checks and flu injections. Screening is undertaken using validated tools such as the Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool (MUST). Healthcare professionals receive training in identifying and managing malnutrition, and individualised care plans are developed for those identified as at risk.
The Department recognises the significant impact of disease-related malnutrition on health outcomes and healthcare costs. The Government’s 10-Year Health Plan places a strong emphasis on prevention and early intervention. It supports the expansion of community-based services, including neighbourhood health centres, which will provide nutrition advice, weight management support, and will address the wider determinants of health. These measures aim to shift care closer to home and reduce reliance on hospital-based services.
We have launched the National Neighbourhood Health Implementation Programme in 43 places across England to improve the care they provide to their communities. Further information on the National Neighbourhood Health Implementation Programme is available at the following link:
https://neighbourhood-health.co.uk/
Asked by: Shockat Adam (Independent - Leicester South)
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 25 November 2025 to Question 92292, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of the requirement for pre-visit notifications on the uptake of free eye health screening on people experiencing long term homelessness.
Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
No such assessment has been made. Individuals experiencing homelessness can access NHS sight tests from high street optical practices. NHS England have made it clear to local commissioning teams that a patient without a fixed address should not be prevented from accessing high street NHS sight testing services.
Asked by: Shockat Adam (Independent - Leicester South)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of a national clinical lead for disease related malnutrition within his Department.
Answered by Ashley Dalton - 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: Shockat Adam (Independent - Leicester South)
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 that Integrated Care Boards provide equal levels of funding for children's hospices.
Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Government is developing a Palliative Care and End of Life Care Modern Service Framework for England. I refer the Hon. Member for Leicester South and the Rt. Hon. Member for Chingford and Woodford Green to the Written Ministerial Statement HCWS1087 I gave to the House on 24 November 2025.
We are supporting the hospice sector with a £100 million capital funding boost for eligible adult and children’s hospices in England to ensure they have the best physical environment for care. We are providing £80 million for children’s and young people’s hospices over the next three financial years, giving them stability to plan ahead and focus on what matters most, caring for their patients.
Asked by: Shockat Adam (Independent - Leicester South)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, when his Department will publish the findings from the independent review into civil unrest in Leicester in 2022, commissioned in 2023.
Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
I refer the Hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 87636.