Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what discussions his Department has had with Integrated Care Boards on the potential impact of women who are on waiting lists for medical treatment on their decision-making for when they have children.

The Department has not held specific discussions with integrated care boards on the potential impact of women being on waiting lists for medical treatment on their decisions about when to have children.

We recognise that long waits for treatment can have a significant impact on patients' lives and future plans, including the decision to have children. We are committed to reducing waiting times, so that patients receive timely care and treatment.

As set out in the Plan for Change, we are committed to returning by March 2029 to the NHS constitutional standard that 92% of patients wait no longer than 18 weeks from referral to consultant-led treatment across all specialties. We are on track, hitting our first interim target of 65% in March 2026.

Integrated care boards are responsible for planning and commissioning services to meet the needs of their local populations and for supporting the delivery of elective recovery in their areas.