The investment in focal therapies, announced on 2 June 2026, will strengthen existing provision in line with the expansion of the TRANSFORM trial for prostate cancer screening.

Any expansion of focal therapy provision to new sites will include appropriate clinical and market engagement. Officials at the Department are working closely with clinicians and researchers to optimise the planned investment of up to £2.8 million in focal therapy. Further details of this investment will be announced in due course.

The Government recognises that obesity is associated with significant labour market challenges, including reduced workforce participation and increased sickness absence. The Government remains committed to monitoring emerging evidence to better understand the full range of health and economic benefits associated with obesity treatments. Indeed, the evidence base for the impact of health interventions on employment outcomes is rapidly growing, with very robust evidence on the impact of bariatric surgery and Talking Therapies.

The Government itself has not made an overall economic assessment of the impact of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and neurodivergence. However, the independent ADHD Taskforce, which reported in 2025, reported that currently the estimated economic costs of not treating ADHD are approximately £17 billion to the United Kingdom’s economy. Three relevant ongoing reviews will help the Government better understand the issues and how they could be addressed.

The Government announced on 4 December 2025 the launch of an Independent Review into Prevalence and Support for Mental Health Conditions, ADHD and Autism. The final report, due in the summer, will make recommendations on how the Government, the health system, and wider public services can respond to increasing demand for support more fairly and effectively so that people receive the right support, at the right time, in the right place.

The next stage of the review will look at service design and how services might respond more effectively to rising need, including the role of earlier intervention, community-based provision, and more integrated pathways across health, education, and other public services. The review will also look at the question of what role the private sector plays in diagnostic services.

The Timms Review, the first review of the Personal Independence Payment benefit, is examining how it can better support disabled people to live independently and access the right support at the right level. It published its interim report on 15 July 2026, with the final review due to report in the autumn. Additionally, the Milburn Review on Young People and Work is examining how health conditions, including ADHD and autism, can affect participation in education, employment, and training, and the implications for welfare dependency. It published its interim report on 28 May, with the final report due to be published later this year. The Government will consider the findings from these reviews, alongside those of the Independent Review into Prevalence and Support for Mental Health Conditions, ADHD and Autism.

The Obesity Pathway Innovation Programme evaluation has been commissioned independently through the National Institute for Health and Care Research and is entirely independent of Eli Lilly and Company. The evaluation team is currently working with funded projects to understand service delivery models and planned data collection, with the final evaluation framework being developed by Autumn 2026. The findings of this independent evaluation will inform national decision-making, including future evidence requirements, and the outputs of the independent evaluation will be disseminated and made publicly available as appropriate.

The Young People and Work Report has been commissioned by the UK Government to investigate the persistently high numbers of young people out of work, education and training (NEETs). On the 28^th May 2026, Alan Milburn published his diagnostic report, outlining his discoveries on the drivers of the increase in the number of young people who are part of this group.

The Report is being taken forward in two distinct phases, the first, a discovery phase which will provide a diagnosis on the increase in the number of young people who are NEET. The second phase will be a solution phase, which will identify potential areas for reform, aimed at increasing opportunities for young people.

The final Report is intended to take a holistic view of the welfare, health, skills and employment system and identify areas for reform. The Author will provide a full and final report in September.

Any proposals to change access to the benefits system will be considered in light of the conclusions and recommendations of the Young People and Work Report.

Integrated care boards (ICBs) are responsible for commissioning ear wax removal and audiology services that meet the needs of their local populations, taking account of relevant national guidance and local service arrangements.

NHS England is supporting ICBs and provider organisations to improve performance and reduce waiting lists for appointments and assessments for hearing services. This includes capital investment to upgrade audiology facilities in National Health Service trusts, expanding audiology testing capacity via community diagnostic centres, and direct support through a national audiology improvement collaborative.

Further, through the Medium Term Planning Framework, we have set a clear target for systems to reduce long waits for community health services. By 2028/29 at least 80% of community health services activity should take place within 18 weeks, including community audiology activity.

The Department has not made a formal assessment of the impact of a modern service framework (MSF) for hearing health on variation in access to audiology and ear wax removal services between integrated care boards (ICBs).

The Government's 10-Year Health Plan announced the development of MSFs to support more consistent, high-quality care, and to reduce unwarranted variation. After the initial wave of MSFs is complete, the National Quality Board will determine the conditions to prioritise for new MSFs as part of its work programme.

ICBs have a statutory responsibility to commission services that meet the needs of their local populations, including audiology services and, where clinically required, ear wax removal services. In exercising their functions, ICBs must have regard to reducing inequalities in access to, and outcomes from, healthcare services. Ear wax removal services should be commissioned in line with National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidance.

Following the increase in the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence’s (NICE) cost-effectiveness thresholds in April 2026, NICE, NHS England, and the manufacturers have resumed discussions to explore whether a commercial offer can be agreed that would make Enhertu cost-effective for HER2-low metastatic or unresectable breast cancer.

NICE previously published guidance in July 2024 and did not recommend Enhertu for this indication because the cost-effectiveness estimates were above the acceptable range for National Health Service resources.

Those discussions are ongoing. NICE and NHS England remain committed to securing access to effective treatments where they represent value for NHS patients.

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.

No formal assessment has been made. The Department does not hold data on waiting times for glaucoma treatment. However, for ophthalmology, which covers glaucoma treatment, as of May 2026, 74.1% of patient pathways were waiting within 18 weeks. This is an improvement of 3.9% over the past year.

We are committed to returning by March 2029 to the National Health Service constitutional standard that 92% of patients wait no longer than 18 weeks from referral to consultant-led treatment across England, including for ophthalmology. We are investing in and modernising NHS services to support this, including through our new online hospital, NHS Online, which will help reduce patient waiting times across England by giving people on glaucoma pathways the choice of getting the specialist care they need from their home. NHS Online will deliver the equivalent of up to 8.5 million appointment and assessments in its first three years across all specialities. We are also expanding the number of surgical hubs, which provide dedicated and protected elective capacity to drive improvement in six specialities, including ophthalmology.

HER2‑low breast cancer is managed with treatments for HER2‑negative breast cancer. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has published guidance recommending a number of medicines for the treatment of HER2-negative breast cancer which are now available for the treatment of National Health Service patients in line with NICE’s guidance.

Trastuzumab deruxtecan (Enhertu) is the first licensed treatment for HER2‑low metastatic or unresectable breast cancer. The Government recognises how disappointing it was for all those affected that NICE was unable to recommend Enhertu for use in the treatment of HER2-low metastatic or unresectable breast cancer. This was because, at the price offered by the company in 2024, the treatment was too expensive for the benefits it provided, and NICE concluded it was not cost effective. Despite NICE and NHS England offering unprecedented flexibilities, the companies were unable to offer Enhertu at a cost-effective price. It is estimated that approximately 1,000 to 1,500 people would have been eligible for treatment with Enhertu for HER2-low metastatic or unresectable breast cancer after chemotherapy, had NICE been able to recommend it.

As part of the United States and United Kingdom partnership, announced in April 2026, NICE is now using a new higher cost-effectiveness threshold. The update to the NICE cost effectiveness threshold has already made a direct difference for NHS patients with several treatments, including treatments for cancer, that may not have been recommended under the previous threshold. Given these new circumstances, discussions involving NICE, the manufacturers, and NHS England have resumed to try to seek an agreement on a commercial offer that would make Enhertu cost-effective.

The Department has made no assessment on the of the impact of the lack of accessibility of the Enhertu drug for HER2-low metastatic breast cancer in England upon the objective of becoming one of the top three fastest places in Europe for patient access to medicines by 2030.

HER2‑low breast cancer is managed with treatments for HER2‑negative breast cancer. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has published guidance recommending a number of medicines for the treatment of HER2-negative breast cancer which are now available for the treatment of National Health Service patients in line with NICE’s guidance.

Trastuzumab deruxtecan (Enhertu) is the first licensed treatment for HER2‑low metastatic or unresectable breast cancer. The Government recognises how disappointing it was for all those affected that NICE was unable to recommend Enhertu for use in the treatment of HER2-low metastatic or unresectable breast cancer. This was because, at the price offered by the company in 2024, the treatment was too expensive for the benefits it provided, and NICE concluded it was not cost effective. Despite NICE and NHS England offering unprecedented flexibilities, the companies were unable to offer Enhertu at a cost-effective price. It is estimated that approximately 1,000 to 1,500 people would have been eligible for treatment with Enhertu for HER2-low metastatic or unresectable breast cancer after chemotherapy, had NICE been able to recommend it.

As part of the United States and United Kingdom partnership, announced in April 2026, NICE is now using a new higher cost-effectiveness threshold. The update to the NICE cost effectiveness threshold has already made a direct difference for NHS patients with several treatments, including treatments for cancer, that may not have been recommended under the previous threshold. Given these new circumstances, discussions involving NICE, the manufacturers, and NHS England have resumed to try to seek an agreement on a commercial offer that would make Enhertu cost-effective.

The Department has made no assessment on the of the impact of the lack of accessibility of the Enhertu drug for HER2-low metastatic breast cancer in England upon the objective of becoming one of the top three fastest places in Europe for patient access to medicines by 2030.

HER2‑low breast cancer is managed with treatments for HER2‑negative breast cancer. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has published guidance recommending a number of medicines for the treatment of HER2-negative breast cancer which are now available for the treatment of National Health Service patients in line with NICE’s guidance.

Trastuzumab deruxtecan (Enhertu) is the first licensed treatment for HER2‑low metastatic or unresectable breast cancer. The Government recognises how disappointing it was for all those affected that NICE was unable to recommend Enhertu for use in the treatment of HER2-low metastatic or unresectable breast cancer. This was because, at the price offered by the company in 2024, the treatment was too expensive for the benefits it provided, and NICE concluded it was not cost effective. Despite NICE and NHS England offering unprecedented flexibilities, the companies were unable to offer Enhertu at a cost-effective price. It is estimated that approximately 1,000 to 1,500 people would have been eligible for treatment with Enhertu for HER2-low metastatic or unresectable breast cancer after chemotherapy, had NICE been able to recommend it.

As part of the United States and United Kingdom partnership, announced in April 2026, NICE is now using a new higher cost-effectiveness threshold. The update to the NICE cost effectiveness threshold has already made a direct difference for NHS patients with several treatments, including treatments for cancer, that may not have been recommended under the previous threshold. Given these new circumstances, discussions involving NICE, the manufacturers, and NHS England have resumed to try to seek an agreement on a commercial offer that would make Enhertu cost-effective.

The Department has made no assessment on the of the impact of the lack of accessibility of the Enhertu drug for HER2-low metastatic breast cancer in England upon the objective of becoming one of the top three fastest places in Europe for patient access to medicines by 2030.

HER2‑low breast cancer is managed with treatments for HER2‑negative breast cancer. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has published guidance recommending a number of medicines for the treatment of HER2-negative breast cancer which are now available for the treatment of National Health Service patients in line with NICE’s guidance.

Trastuzumab deruxtecan (Enhertu) is the first licensed treatment for HER2‑low metastatic or unresectable breast cancer. The Government recognises how disappointing it was for all those affected that NICE was unable to recommend Enhertu for use in the treatment of HER2-low metastatic or unresectable breast cancer. This was because, at the price offered by the company in 2024, the treatment was too expensive for the benefits it provided, and NICE concluded it was not cost effective. Despite NICE and NHS England offering unprecedented flexibilities, the companies were unable to offer Enhertu at a cost-effective price. It is estimated that approximately 1,000 to 1,500 people would have been eligible for treatment with Enhertu for HER2-low metastatic or unresectable breast cancer after chemotherapy, had NICE been able to recommend it.

As part of the United States and United Kingdom partnership, announced in April 2026, NICE is now using a new higher cost-effectiveness threshold. The update to the NICE cost effectiveness threshold has already made a direct difference for NHS patients with several treatments, including treatments for cancer, that may not have been recommended under the previous threshold. Given these new circumstances, discussions involving NICE, the manufacturers, and NHS England have resumed to try to seek an agreement on a commercial offer that would make Enhertu cost-effective.

The Department has made no assessment on the of the impact of the lack of accessibility of the Enhertu drug for HER2-low metastatic breast cancer in England upon the objective of becoming one of the top three fastest places in Europe for patient access to medicines by 2030.

HER2‑low breast cancer is managed with treatments for HER2‑negative breast cancer. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has published guidance recommending a number of medicines for the treatment of HER2-negative breast cancer which are now available for the treatment of National Health Service patients in line with NICE’s guidance.

Trastuzumab deruxtecan (Enhertu) is the first licensed treatment for HER2‑low metastatic or unresectable breast cancer. The Government recognises how disappointing it was for all those affected that NICE was unable to recommend Enhertu for use in the treatment of HER2-low metastatic or unresectable breast cancer. This was because, at the price offered by the company in 2024, the treatment was too expensive for the benefits it provided, and NICE concluded it was not cost effective. Despite NICE and NHS England offering unprecedented flexibilities, the companies were unable to offer Enhertu at a cost-effective price. It is estimated that approximately 1,000 to 1,500 people would have been eligible for treatment with Enhertu for HER2-low metastatic or unresectable breast cancer after chemotherapy, had NICE been able to recommend it.

As part of the United States and United Kingdom partnership, announced in April 2026, NICE is now using a new higher cost-effectiveness threshold. The update to the NICE cost effectiveness threshold has already made a direct difference for NHS patients with several treatments, including treatments for cancer, that may not have been recommended under the previous threshold. Given these new circumstances, discussions involving NICE, the manufacturers, and NHS England have resumed to try to seek an agreement on a commercial offer that would make Enhertu cost-effective.

The Department has made no assessment on the of the impact of the lack of accessibility of the Enhertu drug for HER2-low metastatic breast cancer in England upon the objective of becoming one of the top three fastest places in Europe for patient access to medicines by 2030.