Oral Answers to Questions

The Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Wes Streeting, responded to tabled questions on the effectiveness of the NHS dental contracting framework. Streeting acknowledged the severe crisis in NHS dentistry, with 13 million people in England having unmet dental needs. He pledged to meet with the British Dental Association immediately to start conversations on contract reform and rebuild NHS dentistry. MPs from Labour constituencies such as Norwich North, Sunderland Central, and High Peak raised concerns about the lack of access to NHS dentists in their areas, and Streeting committed to working with them to address these issues. In the topical questions section, Streeting welcomed the new Shadow Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Victoria Atkins, and acknowledged the need to work across party lines to fix the NHS. Atkins questioned Streeting's previous comments on junior doctors' pay demands, and Streeting reiterated that the government would negotiate in good faith with junior doctors. Streeting also discussed the government's plans to implement the recommendations of the Cass review on the treatment of young people questioning their gender. The Minister for Care, Stephen Kinnock, responded to tabled questions on the adequacy of access to NHS mental health services. Kinnock acknowledged the mental health crisis caused by 14 years of Conservative neglect and outlined the government's plans to recruit 8,500 more mental health workers and introduce legislation to modernize the Mental Health Act. MPs from Labour constituencies such as Bedford and Macclesfield raised concerns about the lack of access to mental health services in their areas, and Kinnock committed to working with them to address these issues. In the topical questions section, Kinnock discussed the government's plans to ensure that clinically effective and cost-effective medicines for conditions like Alzheimer's reach patients in a timely and safe way. The Minister for Secondary Care, Karin Smyth, also responded to questions on the government's plans to improve access to NHS urgent and emergency care services and address staffing shortages in maternity and neonatal services.