The Government has announced the introduction of human papilloma virus (HPV) self-testing in the National Health Service cervical screening programme for the under-screened population in England. The NHS has begun planning an in-service evaluation (ISE) of HPV self-testing in the wider population.

The purpose of the ISE is to ensure that the self-test is acceptable, accurate, and feasible compared with a clinician collected specimen, and to evaluate its impact on cervical screening uptake and ensure that the programme continues to prevent the same number of cancers. The findings of the ISE will inform any future UK National Screening Committee recommendation to ministers to offer self-testing across the whole population, alongside clinician-led screening.

Integrated care boards are responsible for commissioning health services to meet the needs of their populations. In doing so they must have regard to the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidance, including for diabetes. The National Diabetes Audit (NDA), and the National Paediatric Diabetes Audit (NPDA) along with NHS Digital’s NDA and NPDA dashboards provide comprehensive data on care processes and outcomes and highlight variation. The dashboards help commissioners, providers, and paediatric diabetes units benchmark themselves and target improvements.

NHS Dorset has a policy in place for the provision of prescribable continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) for both type 1 and type 2 diabetes.

In order to ensure that Dorset patients are being treated appropriately, use of CGM is tracked against patient eligibility criteria as set out in NICE guidance and the NHS Dorset CGM policy.

The number of radiotherapy treatment machines in use across the National Health Service in England is not recorded as part of a nationally mandated data collection.

The commissioning of radiotherapy services is overseen by local systems. They have the responsibility to ensure that sufficient capacity is in place for local populations, taking account of the different factors that can affect demand and capacity. The projected number of machines needed to meet future demand depends on a range of factors including clinical practice, for instance fraction protocols, patient choice, between different equivalent treatments, local working practices, for instance the hours and days of operation, as well as the technical specification of treatment machines, and the throughput per hour.

Improving access to diabetes technologies is a priority for NHS England, which uses routine data from the National Diabetes Audit (NDA) to help integrated care boards and providers benchmark themselves and target improvements.

The NDA 2025/26 reports that 64% of people registered as living with type 1 diabetes and eligible for Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM) had access to the technology and 65% of people registered as living with type 2 diabetes and eligible for CGM had access to the technology.

The eligibility criteria for CGM amongst type 2 diabetics are set in guidance published by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), available at the following link:

https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/NG28

NICE is an independent body with its own processes for reviewing and updating its guidance taking account of the best available evidence of both clinical and cost effectiveness

A new diabetes technology dashboard is in development, for publication in 2026. This will allow health systems and providers to better understand access to technology and target improvement efforts, to support higher uptake of CGM for those eligible.

Improving access to diabetes technologies is a priority for NHS England, which uses routine data from the National Diabetes Audit (NDA) to help integrated care boards and providers benchmark themselves and target improvements.

The NDA 2025/26 reports that 64% of people registered as living with type 1 diabetes and eligible for Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM) had access to the technology and 65% of people registered as living with type 2 diabetes and eligible for CGM had access to the technology.

The eligibility criteria for CGM amongst type 2 diabetics are set in guidance published by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), available at the following link:

https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/NG28

NICE is an independent body with its own processes for reviewing and updating its guidance taking account of the best available evidence of both clinical and cost effectiveness

A new diabetes technology dashboard is in development, for publication in 2026. This will allow health systems and providers to better understand access to technology and target improvement efforts, to support higher uptake of CGM for those eligible.

The eligibility criteria for hybrid closed loop (HCL) devices for people with diabetes are set in guidance published by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) at the following link:

https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ta943

NICE is an independent body with their own processes for reviewing and updating their guidance, taking account of the best available evidence of both clinical and cost effectiveness.

As part of NHS England’s HCL implementation, HCL has been provided to over 600 pregnant women with type 1 diabetes. Further details on NHS England’s five-year national implementation strategy are published online, at the following link:

https://www.england.nhs.uk/long-read/hybrid-closed-loop-technologies-5-year-implementation-strategy/

To reduce variation and health inequalities, data on the uptake of continuous glucose monitors (CGM) for diabetics is collected as part of the National Diabetes Audit (NDA).

NHS England plans to routinely publish this data in the NDA Core Quarterly dashboard in 2025/26, which will provide the data insights integrated care boards require to deliver CGM to their populations.

The number of radiotherapy machines in use which are over the 10-year recommended age is not published by NHS England. The Department also does not hold detailed information about the age of radiotherapy machines, as local systems are responsible for radiotherapy treatment services and since April 2022 the responsibility for investing in new radiotherapy machines has been with local systems.

The Government has invested an additional £70 million of central funding into new LINAC radiotherapy machines to replace older, less efficient machines. These machines are now being rolled out across the country, to help boost radiotherapy productivity and reduce waiting times for cancer patients.

NHS England has developed a five-year national strategy with guidance to National Health Service providers on the phased uptake approach of hybrid closed loop (HCL) systems. Rollout started in April 2024 with pregnant women, children, young people, those planning to become pregnant, and adults already using pumps who want to transition to an HCL system.

So far under the strategy, over 600 pregnant women with type 1 diabetes have been provided with an HCL.

There are currently over 200,000 people living with diabetes in England who benefit from real-time continuous glucose monitoring (CGM)

In order to help integrated care boards (ICBs) improve access to CGM to eligible people, data is now collected as part of the National Diabetes Audit. NHS England routinely publishes this data in the NDA Core Quarterly dashboard in 2025/26, which provides the data insights ICBs require, including data on CGM uptake, variation, and health inequalities. Further information on this is available at the following link:

https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/publications/statistical/national-diabetes-audit

Decisions about the funding and provision of health services, including post-surgery bras and breast protheses, are the responsibility of local integrated care boards.

NHS England funded audits into primary and metastatic breast cancer to help identify and reduce inequalities and variations in care. Using routine data collected on patients diagnosed with breast cancer in a National Health Service setting, the audits bring together information to look at what is being done well, where it is being done well, and what needs to be done better. Findings were published in September 2025, and the NHS is acting on the findings.

Patient experience and outcomes remain a key priority for the Department, and we will continue to look for opportunities to improve all aspects of cancer care. The National Cancer Plan, due to be published early in the new year, will have patients at its heart and will cover the entirety of the cancer pathway, including people living with and beyond cancer.

The Government has engaged with a range of stakeholders on the effectiveness of a number of trauma and bleed kits in regards to serious violence or for use in other settings. In response to the Manchester Arena Inquiry, the Department for Health and Social Care has worked alongside partners such as the National Counter Terrorism Security Office (NaCTSO), health stakeholders and civil society to standardise the contents of Public Access Trauma Kits (PAcT kits). These kits can be found at venues and public spaces of private and public sector organisations and are suitable to support the treatment of many life-threatening injuries.

To ensure PAcT kits can be used by any person regardless of training, instructions on their use have been made clearer and universal signage has also been developed so PAcT kit locations can be better identified.

The 10 Year Health Plan aims to reduce the prevalence of type 2 diabetes and enhance the care of patients living with diabetes through the delivery of the three shifts. Hospital to community will enable those living with diabetes to manage their care in the best way for them through the Neighbourhood Health Service. Analogue to digital will make it easier for those living with diabetes to access tailored advice and manage their appointments at a time that suits them. Treatment to prevention will make it easier for people to access diabetes screening and support people to make healthier choices to prevent them from developing type 2 diabetes.

By 2035, all patients will have access to wearables. Wearables will enable patients and their carers to better manage their care by having access to their health data such as blood pressure and glucose levels. They will also enable remote monitoring to alert a patient’s care team to any issues so that appropriate interventions can be made quickly before they progress.

Continuous glucose monitoring systems are available on the National Health Service in line with National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence guidelines which state that, among other criteria, a person must have a diagnosis of diabetes. People with a diagnosis of diabetes are not eligible for the NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme (NHS DPP).

Therefore, no assessment has been made on the impact of providing free continuous glucose monitoring systems through the NHS DPP.

Data from the National Diabetes Audit suggests that the number of people with type 2 diabetes using continuous glucose monitoring is increasing. In 2022/23, 37,000 people were using continuous glucose monitoring, rising to 95,000 people in 2023/24, and to 155,000 people in 2024/25. Metrics that are useful for health systems to monitor access to glucose monitoring will be published later this year

Unlike for medicines, there is no national pathway to prioritise and nationally fund the highest impact health technology, including wearable technology. As a result, we see significant unwarranted variation in uptake, weakening the perceived attractiveness of the United Kingdom’s market. From April 2026, building on and adapting our experience with medicines, we will begin expanding NICE’s technology appraisal process, which includes mandated funding by the NHS, to cover some devices, diagnostics, and digital products. This will focus on those that meet the NHS’ most urgent needs and support financial sustainability.

By 2035, all patients will have access to wearables. Wearables will enable patients and their carers to better manage their care by having access to their health data such as blood pressure and glucose levels. They will also enable remote monitoring to alert a patient’s care team to any issues so that appropriate interventions can be made quickly before they progress. The 10-Year Health Plan aims to reduce the prevalence of type 2 diabetes and enhance the care of patients living with diabetes through the delivery of the three shifts:

• from hospital to community, which will enable those living with diabetes to manage their care in the best way for them through the Neighbourhood Health Service;
• from analogue to digital, which will make it easier for those living with diabetes to access tailored advice and manage their appointments at a time that suits them; and
• from treatment to prevention, which will make it easier for people to access diabetes screening and support people to make healthier choices to prevent them from developing type 2 diabetes.

Following the announcement to introduce human papillomavirus (HPV) self-sampling in the National Health Service cervical screening programme for the under-screened population, the NHS has begun planning an in-service evaluation (ISE) of HPV self-sampling in the wider population.

The purpose of the ISE is to ensure that the self-sampling test is as accurate at detecting HPV as a clinician collected specimen, and to evaluate its impact on cervical screening uptake. The findings of the ISE will inform any future UK National Screening Committee recommendation to ministers to offer self-sampling across the whole population.

The National Cancer Plan will cover the entirety of the cancer pathway, from referral and diagnosis to treatment and ongoing care. Radiotherapy plays a crucial role in the care of many cancer patients, and we remain committed to continuing support for radiotherapy in the future.

In October 2024, as part of a broader investment across the health sector, the Government announced that £70 million would be spent on new radiotherapy machines to improve cancer treatment. We expect that trusts will be fully using new machines by the end of June 2026.

The plan will include further details on how we will improve outcomes for cancer patients, as well as speeding up diagnosis and treatment, ensuring patients have access to the latest treatments and technology, and ultimately drive up this country’s cancer survival rates.

The Department looks at opportunities to utilise technology to improve diagnostic performance and bring down cancer waiting times. We are committed to backing an innovative clinical research ecosystem in the United Kingdom so that patients can be among the first to benefit as we make the National Health Service fit for the future.

The Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has not currently made a specific assessment of the potential merits of using nanoneedles to detect cancers.

There have been no donations of National Health Service equipment specific to infection control. However, the Government recently announced a £7.5 million package to strengthen medical care in Gaza and the region, including additional funding for UK-Med and the World Health Organization in Egypt. The Government’s funding has provided 1.3 million items of life-saving medicines and enabled UK-Med to support over 500,000 patient consultations across Gaza.

We are committed to ensuring that patients benefit from safe and effective innovations more quickly, that National Health Service organisations are supported to make informed, value-based decisions on medical technology, and that we put in place a low-friction procurement environment to support the medical technology (MedTech) industry, and in particular small and medium-sized enterprises in the United Kingdom.

To support this, we’re developing a digital product comparison platform called MedTech Compass. It will align with the new NHS Innovator Passport, making key information visible in one place, in order to avoid suppliers having to submit the same data to every NHS trust.

The current regulatory regime ensures that all medical devices placed in the market are safe, and MedTech Compass will only display products with Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency approval.

The initial development phase of MedTech Compass, to test design concepts, will complete early next year and the findings of this phase will inform the specifics around how the system will operate.

An evaluation plan and metrics will be considered as part of the MedTech Compass development process, which may include measuring the time taken to adoption and other metrics informed by the initial development phase learnings.