The Department recognises the issue of children’s screen use and social media exposure, and the role National Health Service professionals can play.

Screen use guidance forms a core part of the Government’s response to online harms, complementing regulatory action by providing clear, practical advice to parents on supporting safe, balanced, and developmentally appropriate use of digital technologies.

On 27 March 2026, the Government published advice for parents and carers on screen use for children aged zero to five years old on the Best Start in Life website, at the following link:

https://beststartinlife.gov.uk/screen-time-under-5s

This advice offers practical, non-judgemental support to help families balance screen use with other activities. The Children of the 2020s study found that children with the highest screen use at age two, around five hours daily, can say significantly fewer words than those with lower use, although this does not necessarily mean that one causes the other. We are taking a precautionary approach to screen use for younger children, especially where screen time may be replacing activities like moving, sleeping, and playing, which are all important for children’s health and development.

Building on the guidance for zero to five year olds, the Department of Health and Social Care is now working closely with the Department for Education to develop further parent and carer facing guidance for five to 16-year-olds to promote safe and healthy engagement with the digital world. Following the closure of our call for evidence on 29 June, we are reviewing the evidence received to inform the guidance, due to be published this autumn. This work is also being informed by an independent Expert Advisory Group, co-chaired by Children’s Commissioner Dame Rachel de Souza and Professor Russell Viner.

The Department of Health and Social Care is also working closely with the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology on the Government’s media literacy action plan, and we will explore how we can distribute useful information about screen use and social media to relevant clinical and public health networks.

The NHS does not currently have a specific requirement for NHS clinicians to routinely ask about children’s screen use or social media exposure. Clinicians, including speech and language therapists, take a holistic developmental history, considering a range of environmental factors where clinically relevant in order to determine a course of treatment. Clinicians are expected to draw on existing evidence, professional training, and clinical judgement in the assessment of healthcare needs.

The Department and the NHS Business Services Authority have not received a request from the General Medical Council for data relating to named services or individual prescribers of cannabis-based products for medicinal use. NHS England routinely liaises with relevant regulators and shares information to support the safe management and use of controlled drugs. In June 2026, NHS England met the General Medical Council to discuss prescribing of cannabis-based products for medicinal use and subsequently shared information, including details of named medical prescribers.

NHS England has also provided information relating to Care Quality Commission-registered services to the Care Quality Commission, as the regulator of health and social care services in England.

Unlicensed medicines, including unlicensed cannabis-based products for medicinal use in humans may be supplied, according to Regulation 167 of the Human Medicines Regulations 2012, when there is a special clinical need that cannot be met by licensed available medicines. The special need, clinical in nature, is determined by the prescriber responsible for the care of the individual patient. According to Regulation 167 of the Human Medicines Regulations 2012, the prescriber is a person who is a doctor, dentist, nurse independent prescriber, pharmacist independent prescriber, or supplementary prescriber.

Clinical-need justifications submitted during the course of notifications to the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency to import unlicensed medicines is part of normal clinical practice, which is monitored by the relevant professional healthcare regulator and the royal colleges.

The Department and the NHS Business Services Authority have not received a request from the General Medical Council for data relating to named services or individual prescribers of cannabis-based products for medicinal use. NHS England routinely liaises with relevant regulators and shares information to support the safe management and use of controlled drugs. In June 2026, NHS England met the General Medical Council to discuss prescribing of cannabis-based products for medicinal use and subsequently shared information, including details of named medical prescribers.

NHS England has also provided information relating to Care Quality Commission-registered services to the Care Quality Commission, as the regulator of health and social care services in England.

Unlicensed medicines, including unlicensed cannabis-based products for medicinal use in humans may be supplied, according to Regulation 167 of the Human Medicines Regulations 2012, when there is a special clinical need that cannot be met by licensed available medicines. The special need, clinical in nature, is determined by the prescriber responsible for the care of the individual patient. According to Regulation 167 of the Human Medicines Regulations 2012, the prescriber is a person who is a doctor, dentist, nurse independent prescriber, pharmacist independent prescriber, or supplementary prescriber.

Clinical-need justifications submitted during the course of notifications to the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency to import unlicensed medicines is part of normal clinical practice, which is monitored by the relevant professional healthcare regulator and the royal colleges.

The allocation of reserve list applicants to foundation schools is still on-going. The UK Foundation Programme Office published an update on 3 July detailing two further reserve-list allocation rounds which will take place on 15 July and 29 July respectively. The update on the reserve-list allocations is available at the following link:

https://foundationprogramme.nhs.uk/ukfp-2026-reserve-allocation-update/

The Government keeps the evidence on the health impacts of children’s exposure to harmful online content under close review and is committed to ensuring that children’s lives online are safe and enriching.

Following a national consultation, the Government will ban social media companies from offering their services to those under the age of 16. This is in line with the approach taken by Australia, and will include platforms such as Snapchat, TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook and X. The ban will restrict under 16s from accessing harmful functions, including livestreaming and stranger communications. These restrictions will apply to a wider range of online services, including on gaming sites. Regulations to enforce the ban will be laid this year, and the aim is for them to be in effect by Spring 2027. The ban will be implemented with stringent age assurance measures.

With regards to specific evidence reviews, in 2019, the UK Chief Medical Officers published a review of the evidence on screen-based activities and mental health. Since then, the government has continued to work closely with academic experts to review emerging evidence, including studies funded through the National Institute for Health and Care Research. In January 2026, the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology published a research report titled ‘Understanding the impact of smartphones and social media on children and young people’.

In addition, screen use guidance forms a core part of the Government’s wider response to online harms, complementing regulatory action by providing clear, practical advice to parents on supporting safe, balanced and developmentally appropriate use of digital technologies. Building on the publication of evidence‑based guidance for parents and carers of zero to five-year-olds in March 2026, we are now working across government to develop further parent facing guidance for five to 16-year-olds to promote safe and healthy engagement with the digital world.

The Government is also monitoring the recently announced ‘IRL Trial’, led by Professor Amy Orben, which is the first large-scale randomised controlled trial to examine how limiting access to social media may affect adolescent mental health.

We will continue to work closely with the University of Cambridge, the Wellcome Trust and wider organisations and researchers to study the impact of any interventions put in place to mitigate online harms.

I am proud of the fact that the waiting list for NHS services is more than 340,000 less than when we took office two years ago. People are being treated faster than ever before, satisfaction with GP services is increasing and we are making progress for people across this country. There is a lot more work to do, but we have laid the right foundations and are moving in the right direction.

The vast majority of people who come off the waiting list do so because they are receiving the care they need. I am confused: is the right hon. Gentleman advocating that people should stay on the waiting lists when they no longer need NHS care? Are the Opposition advocating that we should spend NHS resources chasing people who no longer need care, or should we keep the waiting lists up to date, as previous Governments have done, and ensure that everyone who needs care gets it?

Genomic testing in the National Health Service in England is provided through the NHS Genomic Medicine Service (NHS GMS) and delivered by a national genomic testing network of seven NHS Genomic Laboratory Hubs (GLHs).

NHS England captures Patient Level Contract Monitoring data across the NHS GMS to facilitate a national approach to reporting and validating activity data and turnaround times for the genomics element of the pathway. This national approach to reporting and validating data enables NHS England to both understand activity volumes, detect any backlogs, and work with the NHS GLHs to implement improvement activities.

Genomic testing in the National Health Service in England is provided through the NHS Genomic Medicine Service (NHS GMS) and delivered by a national genomic testing network of seven NHS Genomic Laboratory Hubs (GLHs). The NHS GLHs deliver testing as directed by the National Genomic Test Directory (the Test Directory), which includes tests for over 7,000 rare diseases with an associated genetic cause and over 200 cancer clinical indications. Further information on the Test Directory is available at the following link:

https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/national-genomic-test-directories/

Testing is available for all eligible patients across the whole of England and defined healthcare professionals who confirm the patient meets the Test Directory eligibility criteria, can refer their patient for testing. The rate of testing has increased steadily over the period in question from approximately 64,000 tests per month in April 2023 to 70,000 tests per month in April 2025, and the data from April 2026 is yet to be validated. The growth in testing reflects the increase in the type of genomic tests available on the National Genomic Test Directory, informed by Service Developments within the NHS GMS, implementation of genomic testing to support access to medicines, particularly in cancer, and improved access to existing testing. It is expected that demand for genomic tests will continue to rise in the coming years.

NHS England captures Patient Level Contract Monitoring data across the NHS GMS to facilitate a national approach to reporting and validating activity data and turnaround times, enabling NHS England to both understand activity volumes, detect any backlogs, and work with the NHS GLHs to implement improvement activities.

Genomic testing in the National Health Service in England is provided through the NHS Genomic Medicine Service (NHS GMS) and delivered by a national genomic testing network of seven NHS Genomic Laboratory Hubs.

Since December 2023, NHS England has published NHS genomic testing activity data on a quarterly basis on the NHS England website, at the following link:

https://www.england.nhs.uk/statistics/statistical-work-areas/genomic-testing-activity/

This shows activity delivered by the NHS GMS including for cancer and rare and inherited disease.

NHS England does not collect information on medical equipment loaned to National Health Service patients outside of NHS premises. NHS trusts, often in partnership with local councils and regional integrated community equipment services, loan a wide range of medical equipment devices free of charge to NHS patients, including mobility and disability aids, and it is the responsibility of the individual NHS body which loaned the medical equipment to pursue the return of that equipment. The Department has not made any estimates of the cost to the NHS of replacing medical equipment loaned to patients that is lost, damaged beyond repair, or not returned.

The NHS is committed to reducing waste, whilst also delivering cost savings and minimising environmental impact, as set out in the Delivering a Net Zero NHS report in 2020. Since the publication of the report, NHS England continues to work to expand locally managed walking aid refurbishment and reuse schemes, which include crutches, frames, and walking sticks. A range of resources and communications tools is available to support NHS trusts and patients with returns. This includes the Recycle Now website, where patients can check their nearest drop off location by postcode. As well as hospitals, NHS England has also established systems for walking aid return at waste and recycling centres in collaboration with local authority partners. Some trusts have offered home collection services for reusable walking aids in partnership with local authorities.

NHS England does not collect information on medical equipment loaned to National Health Service patients outside of NHS premises. NHS trusts, often in partnership with local councils and regional integrated community equipment services, loan a wide range of medical equipment devices free of charge to NHS patients, including mobility and disability aids, and it is the responsibility of the individual NHS body which loaned the medical equipment to pursue the return of that equipment. The Department has not made any estimates of the cost to the NHS of replacing medical equipment loaned to patients that is lost, damaged beyond repair, or not returned.

The NHS is committed to reducing waste, whilst also delivering cost savings and minimising environmental impact, as set out in the Delivering a Net Zero NHS report in 2020. Since the publication of the report, NHS England continues to work to expand locally managed walking aid refurbishment and reuse schemes, which include crutches, frames, and walking sticks. A range of resources and communications tools is available to support NHS trusts and patients with returns. This includes the Recycle Now website, where patients can check their nearest drop off location by postcode. As well as hospitals, NHS England has also established systems for walking aid return at waste and recycling centres in collaboration with local authority partners. Some trusts have offered home collection services for reusable walking aids in partnership with local authorities.

NHS England does not collect information on medical equipment loaned to National Health Service patients outside of NHS premises. NHS trusts, often in partnership with local councils and regional integrated community equipment services, loan a wide range of medical equipment devices free of charge to NHS patients, including mobility and disability aids, and it is the responsibility of the individual NHS body which loaned the medical equipment to pursue the return of that equipment. The Department has not made any estimates of the cost to the NHS of replacing medical equipment loaned to patients that is lost, damaged beyond repair, or not returned.

The NHS is committed to reducing waste, whilst also delivering cost savings and minimising environmental impact, as set out in the Delivering a Net Zero NHS report in 2020. Since the publication of the report, NHS England continues to work to expand locally managed walking aid refurbishment and reuse schemes, which include crutches, frames, and walking sticks. A range of resources and communications tools is available to support NHS trusts and patients with returns. This includes the Recycle Now website, where patients can check their nearest drop off location by postcode. As well as hospitals, NHS England has also established systems for walking aid return at waste and recycling centres in collaboration with local authority partners. Some trusts have offered home collection services for reusable walking aids in partnership with local authorities.

NHS England does not collect information on medical equipment loaned to National Health Service patients outside of NHS premises. NHS trusts, often in partnership with local councils and regional integrated community equipment services, loan a wide range of medical equipment devices free of charge to NHS patients, including mobility and disability aids, and it is the responsibility of the individual NHS body which loaned the medical equipment to pursue the return of that equipment. The Department has not made any estimates of the cost to the NHS of replacing medical equipment loaned to patients that is lost, damaged beyond repair, or not returned.

The NHS is committed to reducing waste, whilst also delivering cost savings and minimising environmental impact, as set out in the Delivering a Net Zero NHS report in 2020. Since the publication of the report, NHS England continues to work to expand locally managed walking aid refurbishment and reuse schemes, which include crutches, frames, and walking sticks. A range of resources and communications tools is available to support NHS trusts and patients with returns. This includes the Recycle Now website, where patients can check their nearest drop off location by postcode. As well as hospitals, NHS England has also established systems for walking aid return at waste and recycling centres in collaboration with local authority partners. Some trusts have offered home collection services for reusable walking aids in partnership with local authorities.

The shingles vaccine was previously available as part of the national immunisation programme to those aged 70 years old and over. In 2019, the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) recommended that the shingles vaccination programme should be offered to everyone at 60 years old, rather than 70 years old. In 2026, after reviewing updated modelling, the JCVI confirmed that this recommendation should remain.

Based on the JCVI’s initial recommendation, and following an assessment of effective use of National Health Service resources and careful consideration of individual risk and population benefit, the Department, the UK Health Security Agency, and NHS England agreed that the expansion of the shingles vaccination programme would be rolled out in phases.

Phase 1 takes place between 1 September 2023 and 31 August 2028. In this current phase, individuals reaching 65 or 70 years old should be called in on or after their 65th or 70th birthday. Phase 2 will take place from 1 September 2028 to 31 August 2033. During this phase, individuals reaching 60 or 65 years old should be called in on or after their 60th or 65th birthday. From 1 September 2033 onwards, vaccination will be routinely offered to individuals turning 60 years old on or after their 60th birthday.

Phasing the roll-out of the shingles vaccination over time to everyone aged 60 years old maximises cost effectiveness, ensures continuity in messaging over time to maximise coverage, and maintains a consistent approach from all four nations in the United Kingdom.

The Value Based Procurement (VBP) guidance, published on 11 June 2026, applies to medical technology as defined by the Medical Device Regulations 2002. This includes consumables, implants, diagnostics, equipment and digital technologies. The Department worked with trade associations, suppliers, and patient groups to develop supporting information which sets out the types of evidence that buyers should consider assessing when carrying out a VBP process. The guidance states that evidence standards should be used to the extent relevant, accounting for the maturity of the supplier base, product being procured, and availability of cost-effectiveness and clinical outcome data. Buyers should also seek to understand the maturity of evidence through pre-market engagement with suppliers.

The Department will publish the independent evaluation of the VBP pilots this summer. Feedback from the National Health Service trusts involved in the pilot work demonstrated that the guidance was considered usable by procurement teams, helped to simplify the procurement process and reduced variation in how non-financial criteria are evaluated. The pilot findings informed refinements to the final published guidance and implementation planning. The Department intends to undertake ongoing monitoring and assessment of how the guidance is being applied in practice to measure its impact and inform future development.

The new Medium Term Planning Framework sets out a multi-year funding settlement for the NHS to support a move to medium-term financial and delivery planning cycles. The on-line training that is being provided for procurement teams will support the adoption of the guidance and explains how the structured and standardised approach should streamline the procurement process.

NHS trusts are responsible for setting and adhering to finance procedures, including the involvement of finance directors in purchasing decisions as per schemes of delegation. To support understanding of the guidance within the finance community, the Department engaged with finance professionals via professional networks during its development. The planned evaluation over the coming months of how the guidance is been applied will assess if further actions are needed to embed principles of VBP.

The guidance sets out that buyers should conduct their procurements in line with relevant legislation. The guidance recommends that buyers should communicate the existing standard of care and any performance baselines, to the extent relevant to the product or service being procured. Buyers should work with relevant stakeholders, including clinicians, to determine the most suitable method of assessing incremental clinical benefit and the associated weighting this should be given relative to cost, tailored to the product being procured and the supplier market.

The Value Based Procurement (VBP) guidance, published on 11 June 2026, applies to medical technology as defined by the Medical Device Regulations 2002. This includes consumables, implants, diagnostics, equipment and digital technologies. The Department worked with trade associations, suppliers, and patient groups to develop supporting information which sets out the types of evidence that buyers should consider assessing when carrying out a VBP process. The guidance states that evidence standards should be used to the extent relevant, accounting for the maturity of the supplier base, product being procured, and availability of cost-effectiveness and clinical outcome data. Buyers should also seek to understand the maturity of evidence through pre-market engagement with suppliers.

The Department will publish the independent evaluation of the VBP pilots this summer. Feedback from the National Health Service trusts involved in the pilot work demonstrated that the guidance was considered usable by procurement teams, helped to simplify the procurement process and reduced variation in how non-financial criteria are evaluated. The pilot findings informed refinements to the final published guidance and implementation planning. The Department intends to undertake ongoing monitoring and assessment of how the guidance is being applied in practice to measure its impact and inform future development.

The new Medium Term Planning Framework sets out a multi-year funding settlement for the NHS to support a move to medium-term financial and delivery planning cycles. The on-line training that is being provided for procurement teams will support the adoption of the guidance and explains how the structured and standardised approach should streamline the procurement process.

NHS trusts are responsible for setting and adhering to finance procedures, including the involvement of finance directors in purchasing decisions as per schemes of delegation. To support understanding of the guidance within the finance community, the Department engaged with finance professionals via professional networks during its development. The planned evaluation over the coming months of how the guidance is been applied will assess if further actions are needed to embed principles of VBP.

The guidance sets out that buyers should conduct their procurements in line with relevant legislation. The guidance recommends that buyers should communicate the existing standard of care and any performance baselines, to the extent relevant to the product or service being procured. Buyers should work with relevant stakeholders, including clinicians, to determine the most suitable method of assessing incremental clinical benefit and the associated weighting this should be given relative to cost, tailored to the product being procured and the supplier market.

The Value Based Procurement (VBP) guidance, published on 11 June 2026, applies to medical technology as defined by the Medical Device Regulations 2002. This includes consumables, implants, diagnostics, equipment and digital technologies. The Department worked with trade associations, suppliers, and patient groups to develop supporting information which sets out the types of evidence that buyers should consider assessing when carrying out a VBP process. The guidance states that evidence standards should be used to the extent relevant, accounting for the maturity of the supplier base, product being procured, and availability of cost-effectiveness and clinical outcome data. Buyers should also seek to understand the maturity of evidence through pre-market engagement with suppliers.

The Department will publish the independent evaluation of the VBP pilots this summer. Feedback from the National Health Service trusts involved in the pilot work demonstrated that the guidance was considered usable by procurement teams, helped to simplify the procurement process and reduced variation in how non-financial criteria are evaluated. The pilot findings informed refinements to the final published guidance and implementation planning. The Department intends to undertake ongoing monitoring and assessment of how the guidance is being applied in practice to measure its impact and inform future development.

The new Medium Term Planning Framework sets out a multi-year funding settlement for the NHS to support a move to medium-term financial and delivery planning cycles. The on-line training that is being provided for procurement teams will support the adoption of the guidance and explains how the structured and standardised approach should streamline the procurement process.

NHS trusts are responsible for setting and adhering to finance procedures, including the involvement of finance directors in purchasing decisions as per schemes of delegation. To support understanding of the guidance within the finance community, the Department engaged with finance professionals via professional networks during its development. The planned evaluation over the coming months of how the guidance is been applied will assess if further actions are needed to embed principles of VBP.

The guidance sets out that buyers should conduct their procurements in line with relevant legislation. The guidance recommends that buyers should communicate the existing standard of care and any performance baselines, to the extent relevant to the product or service being procured. Buyers should work with relevant stakeholders, including clinicians, to determine the most suitable method of assessing incremental clinical benefit and the associated weighting this should be given relative to cost, tailored to the product being procured and the supplier market.

The Value Based Procurement (VBP) guidance, published on 11 June 2026, applies to medical technology as defined by the Medical Device Regulations 2002. This includes consumables, implants, diagnostics, equipment and digital technologies. The Department worked with trade associations, suppliers, and patient groups to develop supporting information which sets out the types of evidence that buyers should consider assessing when carrying out a VBP process. The guidance states that evidence standards should be used to the extent relevant, accounting for the maturity of the supplier base, product being procured, and availability of cost-effectiveness and clinical outcome data. Buyers should also seek to understand the maturity of evidence through pre-market engagement with suppliers.

The Department will publish the independent evaluation of the VBP pilots this summer. Feedback from the National Health Service trusts involved in the pilot work demonstrated that the guidance was considered usable by procurement teams, helped to simplify the procurement process and reduced variation in how non-financial criteria are evaluated. The pilot findings informed refinements to the final published guidance and implementation planning. The Department intends to undertake ongoing monitoring and assessment of how the guidance is being applied in practice to measure its impact and inform future development.

The new Medium Term Planning Framework sets out a multi-year funding settlement for the NHS to support a move to medium-term financial and delivery planning cycles. The on-line training that is being provided for procurement teams will support the adoption of the guidance and explains how the structured and standardised approach should streamline the procurement process.

NHS trusts are responsible for setting and adhering to finance procedures, including the involvement of finance directors in purchasing decisions as per schemes of delegation. To support understanding of the guidance within the finance community, the Department engaged with finance professionals via professional networks during its development. The planned evaluation over the coming months of how the guidance is been applied will assess if further actions are needed to embed principles of VBP.

The guidance sets out that buyers should conduct their procurements in line with relevant legislation. The guidance recommends that buyers should communicate the existing standard of care and any performance baselines, to the extent relevant to the product or service being procured. Buyers should work with relevant stakeholders, including clinicians, to determine the most suitable method of assessing incremental clinical benefit and the associated weighting this should be given relative to cost, tailored to the product being procured and the supplier market.

The Value Based Procurement (VBP) guidance, published on 11 June 2026, applies to medical technology as defined by the Medical Device Regulations 2002. This includes consumables, implants, diagnostics, equipment and digital technologies. The Department worked with trade associations, suppliers, and patient groups to develop supporting information which sets out the types of evidence that buyers should consider assessing when carrying out a VBP process. The guidance states that evidence standards should be used to the extent relevant, accounting for the maturity of the supplier base, product being procured, and availability of cost-effectiveness and clinical outcome data. Buyers should also seek to understand the maturity of evidence through pre-market engagement with suppliers.

The Department will publish the independent evaluation of the VBP pilots this summer. Feedback from the National Health Service trusts involved in the pilot work demonstrated that the guidance was considered usable by procurement teams, helped to simplify the procurement process and reduced variation in how non-financial criteria are evaluated. The pilot findings informed refinements to the final published guidance and implementation planning. The Department intends to undertake ongoing monitoring and assessment of how the guidance is being applied in practice to measure its impact and inform future development.

The new Medium Term Planning Framework sets out a multi-year funding settlement for the NHS to support a move to medium-term financial and delivery planning cycles. The on-line training that is being provided for procurement teams will support the adoption of the guidance and explains how the structured and standardised approach should streamline the procurement process.

NHS trusts are responsible for setting and adhering to finance procedures, including the involvement of finance directors in purchasing decisions as per schemes of delegation. To support understanding of the guidance within the finance community, the Department engaged with finance professionals via professional networks during its development. The planned evaluation over the coming months of how the guidance is been applied will assess if further actions are needed to embed principles of VBP.

The guidance sets out that buyers should conduct their procurements in line with relevant legislation. The guidance recommends that buyers should communicate the existing standard of care and any performance baselines, to the extent relevant to the product or service being procured. Buyers should work with relevant stakeholders, including clinicians, to determine the most suitable method of assessing incremental clinical benefit and the associated weighting this should be given relative to cost, tailored to the product being procured and the supplier market.