Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the effect of cancelled elective surgeries on the development and training of trainee surgeons.

The Department has made no such assessment.

Health Education England (HEE) has responsibility for promoting high quality education and training that is responsive to the changing needs of patients and local communities; ensuring that the healthcare workforce has the right skills, behaviours and training, and is available in the right numbers to support the delivery of healthcare and health improvement.

HEE, working with National Health Service trusts, will continue to ensure all trainees are supported to gain the required experience necessary to meet their curriculum requirements.