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 with devolved Administrations to help reduce waiting times from GP referral to first routine dermatology appointments.

It is unacceptable that patients across the United Kingdom continue to wait lengthy periods for treatment. Although health is a devolved matter, bringing down the elective waiting lists, including for dermatology, is a top priority across the four nations of the UK. We are working collaboratively with the devolved administrations to drive forward our objective of supporting people to lead more independent, healthier lives for longer.

This includes special cross-border arrangements for patients who live on the English and Welsh border to make sure they receive healthcare without confusion or delay, and that patient data can be accessed by relevant professionals. We will continue to ensure these arrangements support high-quality care for patients in both England and Wales.

We continue to work with colleagues across all the devolved administrations to share knowledge and insights into National Health Service data and performance across all specialities, including dermatology.