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 adequacy of the provision of specialist epilepsy nursing services in Hampshire; and what steps his Department is taking to ensure that people with epilepsy in Hampshire have timely access to those nurses.

Services for people with epilepsy are commissioned locally by integrated care boards (ICBs) so the responsibility of services in Hampshire would sit with the Hampshire and Isle of Wight ICB.

We recognise the very important role that epilepsy specialist nurses play in providing care to people with epilepsy, in conducting ongoing reviews and medication monitoring, and in supporting self-management, thereby helping to reduce avoidable hospital admissions and improve quality of life.

The updated service specification for specialised adult neurology services, which NHS England published in August 2025, sets out that clinical nurse specialists can play a key case manager role for patients with long-term neurological conditions such as epilepsy.

The Government has already made progress in increasing the number of frontline staff, improving working conditions, and making the National Health Service a rewarding and fulfilling place to work. This is helping to ensure patients receive the timely care they need.

However, we must go further. The Government is committed to publishing a 10 Year Workforce Plan which will set out the action we will take to create a workforce ready to deliver the transformed service set out in the 10-Year Health Plan.