Karin Smyth MP: speeches

Speeches

• 13 Jan 2026 · Topical Questions · Hansard source

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  I know that this is of great concern to my hon. Friend and his constituents. It is a matter for the commissioning officer at his local ICB. I recommend that he keeps talking with them about the best provision for his constituents.

• 13 Jan 2026 · NHS 10-year Workforce Plan · Hansard source

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  I thank the hon. Member for her almost support for the Bill that we will present later to address much of this problem. Again, we are clearing up the mess we were left by her party, which, by changing the rules in delivering a workforce plan in 2023, essentially ramped up the supply of staff by extrapolating existing trends without any reference to the constraints or needs of the service. Our workforce plan will be different. We do hope for support for the Bill to remove some of the problem with foundation and specialty training places, and we look forward to rigorous debate on that subject.

• 13 Jan 2026 · NHS 10-year Workforce Plan · Hansard source

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  My hon. Friend and the Secretary of State are right to address the fact that we need to look across the whole span, and at people moving between those workforces. As he will know, the fair pay agreement, with the £500 million increase to support it, is part of our work to ensure those issues are addressed across the piece.

• 13 Jan 2026 · NHS 10-year Workforce Plan · Hansard source

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  The services my hon. Friend outlines cover a number of different areas in different locations, and I think it is very important that the workforce plan we are bringing forward reflects a different model of care. We have seen more services going into secondary care and particularly hospitals, at the expense of community care and particularly primary care. That needs to change across the age spectrum, and the new workforce plan will be designed in lockstep with a new service design, more staff in neighbourhoods and more digital support, as well as to address the issues she outlines.

• 13 Jan 2026 · NHS 10-year Workforce Plan · Hansard source

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  The Government will publish the 10-year workforce plan in the spring. This plan will ensure that the NHS has the right people in the right places with the right skills for patients when they need them, and we are engaging extensively with partners to ensure that this plan delivers for staff and patients.

• 13 Jan 2026 · NHS 10-year Workforce Plan · Hansard source

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  Yes, because those issues are a result of the shocking staff morale as a result of the policies of the hon. Gentleman’s Government. As highlighted by Lord Darzi, staff morale, and issues around staff sickness and the huge increase in agency spending on their watch, are all signs of a system that is not functioning for patients or staff. We absolutely will bring forward measures to address those issues.

• 13 Jan 2026 · Puberty Suppressants · Hansard source

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  The PATHWAYS trial has undergone a thorough independent review and has received all the regulatory and ethical approvals. The sponsors of the study, King’s College London and South London and Maudsley NHS foundation trust, are working to ensure that it is conducted in compliance with the relevant regulations.

• 13 Jan 2026 · Puberty Suppressants · Hansard source

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  I thank my hon. Friend for his question and his constructive work in this area on behalf of young people. I think there is a further question on this topic on the Order Paper. The Government are looking at how we can best use the data linkage study from that previous work. As I think hon. Members understand, that data was collected for different purposes—it is not of the quality that might be needed for this review—but we will continue to use all the evidence that is available, both in this country and in others, in line with the best clinical practice and under the guidance that Dr Hilary Cass prescribed in her review.

• 13 Jan 2026 · Puberty Suppressants · Hansard source

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  We need to be very careful about our language, in line with Dr Cass’s report. We are talking about children who are presenting with gender dysphoria and in gender distress. The Government support moving away from the medical intervention model towards a holistic approach to care based on the evidence, and that has cross-party support more generally, although I am not entirely sure of the position of the Liberal Democrats on supporting it. That is the model with which we are progressing. On the wider issues with regard to support for children and young people, particularly as they present across the board, this Government are investing much more than anyone else has indicated that they would in support for all services.

• 13 Jan 2026 · Puberty Suppressants · Hansard source

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  We absolutely stand by that work, and we are working with NHS England to make sure it is mandated to do exactly that.

• 13 Jan 2026 · Puberty Suppressants · Hansard source

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  As the hon. Lady knows, the Government are acting on the recommendations of the excellent report from Hilary Cass, which I think she would agree is world-leading evidence, and moving the model away from medical intervention towards a more holistic approach to care. The Government will continue to be guided by that evidence, as the whole House will appreciate. The hon. Lady referenced Keira Bell, and I know that my hon. Friend the Member for Birmingham Edgbaston (Preet Kaur Gill) has asked the Secretary of State to meet clinicians and others who disagree with the trial. That meeting is being arranged, and we will continue to work under the guidelines for clinical evidence.

• 13 Jan 2026 · Puberty Suppressants · Hansard source

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  I think all Members across the House are concerned about the distress with which young people are coming forward for all of these services, and the need to support them and their families. Again, it is important that all parts of this trial follow clear ethical and clinical guidelines.

• 16 Dec 2025 · Transgender People: Provision of Healthcare · Hansard source

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  I will finish. I met Dr Sullivan recently to understand her report and how it impacts on the Department of Health and NHS England. My understanding is that each Department is looking at the recommendations of her review, and that it is important to have accurate data. I will ensure that the hon. Member for Sleaford and North Hykeham (Dr Johnson) gets an answer on whether there will be a formal Government response. This Government were elected on a manifesto to bring down inequality. We are doing so through a number of different measures—on the soft drinks industry, free school meals, the generational ban on smoking and Awaab’s law. In her Budget, the Chancellor lifted half a million children out of poverty at the stroke of a pen. We are determined to ensure that no one falls through the cracks of our health system, and we will give transgender people the care they deserve. I hope the actions I have set out today demonstrate our commitment to that goal and our focus on improving healthcare provision for transgender people, across all ages, based on good clinical scientific evidence. We will cut waiting lists for gender services, along with all other waiting lists, and ensure that healthcare is always evidence-based, improving health outcomes for trans people and the wider community.

• 16 Dec 2025 · Transgender People: Provision of Healthcare · Hansard source

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  It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Mr Turner. I thank and congratulate my hon. Friend the Member for North Warwickshire and Bedworth (Rachel Taylor) on securing this important debate. Without giving away any state secrets, we are roughly the same age; I am not gay, but I also marched and campaigned against section 28—I remember those days from very early on. I want to say from the outset that this Government stand for the important principle in our healthcare system—which has been echoed this afternoon by many Members—that everyone in our country deserves access to first-class healthcare. I will not rehearse here the mess that we inherited from the last Government; we do not have time. However, we are determined to ensure that what I have set out happens. If we are to make good on that principle, we must take account of the diverse needs of our society. That of course includes trans people and the wider lesbian, gay and bisexual community. Colleagues are right to say that transgender people experience significant and specific health inequalities throughout their lives. As we have been reminded again this afternoon and should always bear in mind when we have debates in this place, these are real people’s lives. Many people are with us today in the Public Gallery, and I am sure that many others are watching online. That is why this Government have commissioned NHS England to undertake a health evidence review, led by Dr Michael Brady, the national adviser on LGBT health, whom I met in advance of this debate. He has held the position of adviser since 2019 and works as a sexual health and HIV consultant at King’s College hospital. I am pleased that he is doing that review. The work is considering how we can better understand lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender healthcare needs and will provide a clearer picture of what the problems are—the data, the evidence—and how we need to address them. That is particularly important in relation to preventive healthcare and the inequalities space. The Government have been very clear about our commitment to reversing the shocking health inequalities in this country. My hon. Friend the Member for Walthamstow (Ms Creasy) highlighted where there is good practice across the country. In addition, it is important to highlight the fact that despite the umbrella term of LGBT, needs are different in this group, and equality terms are covered by different aspects of the Equality Act 2010. All of this needs to be clearly evidenced and brought forward in the work to which I am referring. Lots of people asked this question: we anticipate that the findings of the evidence review will be finalised in the new year. We will then be considering those very carefully. We have talked this afternoon about the fact that trans people—they are the subject of this debate—have unique health needs and specialist services to support them. This Government are improving specialist gender services for children, young people and adults in England. I recognise that those wishing to access gender services are waiting far too long for a first appointment. We are determined to change that, which is why NHS England has increased the number of adult gender dysphoria clinics in England from seven to 12, with the roll-out of five new pilot clinics since July 2020. These clinics are helping to tackle long waits, but we know that waiting times for these services can be distressing and are having a real impact on people’s wellbeing. To support those facing long waits, the Department of Health and Social Care has tendered for a new Waiting Well pilot. That will run for 12 months and provide those on the waiting list for the gender dysphoria clinic in the south-west region with access to support and information before appointments. The aim is for the pilot to launch in early 2026 and to inform plans for a national offer, subject to effective evaluation. It is vital that transgender people are able to access the high-quality healthcare that they deserve. As we have heard, NHS England has asked Dr David Levy to carry out a review of adult gender services, because that was a specific recommendation from the Cass review of children and young people’s gender services. As an independent chair, Dr Levy will examine the model of care and operating procedures of each service, and is carefully considering feedback and outcomes from clinicians and patients. To respond to a number of questions this afternoon, that includes issues relating to shared care prescribing and monitoring of hormone medication. Dr Levy has been supported in his review by independent senior clinicians and professional bodies. I expect the review to be published shortly, and I know that my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State will inform the House as soon as that has happened, but let me assure Members here, and people listening to or reading about this debate, that we will use the review as a basis to improve NHS adult gender services. Issues relating to children have been raised this afternoon. I know that children and young people’s gender services are a sensitive topic that elicits strong opinions, some of which we have heard today. Let me be very clear: we will take an evidence-based approach when it comes to the health and wellbeing of all children and young people. Their safety is our primary concern. We are committed to implementing the recommendations of the Cass review, to ensure that children who access these services receive the same high-quality care as any other child or young person accessing NHS services. We believe that the Cass review remains an excellent, evidence-based report. I urge all hon. Members to use it as their guide when making assertions, including in their understanding of gender dysphoria. We welcome that report and accept its work; it is our guidance for navigating healthcare for transgender young people. It is still my understanding that the report is not supported by the Green party, and not properly supported by the Liberal Democrats, so when we talk about evidence, colleagues perhaps need to check and go back to the source report, because we are determined to follow the evidence and great work done by Hilary Cass. NHS England has opened three new services in the north-west, London and the south-west, as we have heard. Those services operate under a fundamentally different and new clinical model, in which children and young people get the tailored and holistic care they need from multidisciplinary teams of experts in paediatrics, neurodiversity and mental health. A fourth service in the east of England is expected to open early in the new year. NHS England aims to open service provision in every region of England by 2026–27. That will help to further reduce waiting times and bring these services much closer to the homes of the children and young people who need them. On puberty blockers and the pathways trial, the Cass review was clear that better quality evidence is critical to understanding the effects of puberty-suppressing hormones. That is why the NHS has removed them from children’s gender services, and why the Government have indefinitely banned them in private supply. Dr Cass also recommended a clinical trial to understand the effects of these hormones, which is why the pathways trial has been established. In this controlled study, puberty suppression will be offered solely within the context of the comprehensive assessment and psychosocial support now offered by the NHS. The trial has undergone comprehensive review, has received independent scientific, ethical and regulatory approvals, and will soon open to recruitment. I know that many hon. Members have strongly held views about this research. However, I want to be really clear that safeguarding the children and young people participating in this trial is our absolute priority. In response to the hon. Member for South West Devon (Rebecca Smith) on detransitioning, I will add that NHS England has called for evidence from people with lived experience and from professionals; I understand that the consultation closes on 28 December.

• 25 Nov 2025 · Cancer Care · Hansard source

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  I thank the hon. Lady for that question and for her work on this issue. She makes a really important point about consistency of care. We understand that services are different in different parts of the country—sometimes the needs are different—but we want to ensure that, where there is good practice and proven evidence, care is rolled out. As we say, bring the best of the NHS to the rest of the NHS. I am sure that the Under-Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, my hon. Friend the Member for West Lancashire (Ashley Dalton), will take note of that point.

• 25 Nov 2025 · Cancer Care · Hansard source

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  We are committed to transforming cancer care, having already invested £70 million in new radiotherapy machines to help patients to be treated more quickly. We are investing £26 million in the NHS, opening community diagnostic centres in the evening and at weekends to catch cancer early, and our national cancer plan will have patients at its heart—from referral to diagnosis, treatment and ongoing care.

• 25 Nov 2025 · Cancer Care · Hansard source

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  Of course, I am sorry to hear about the loss of my hon. Friend’s constituent’s wife, and our thoughts are with him and his family. My hon. Friend raises an excellent point, and we are supporting people with cancer who are experiencing poor mental health care by expanding access to psychological therapies through NHS talking therapies. I am sure that the Under-Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, my hon. Friend the Member for West Lancashire (Ashley Dalton), will be happy to talk to him as she develops her cancer plan to ensure that these issues are incorporated.

• 25 Nov 2025 · New Hospital Programme · Hansard source

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  I am sure this is leading somewhere else but, broadly, yes, I think I do.

• 25 Nov 2025 · New Hospital Programme · Hansard source

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  I congratulate my hon. Friend on getting a lot of estates questions into that one point. The point is that local people value the local facilities that they have known for a very long time. That is why we are committed to reversing the decline in capital investment under the last Government—Lord Darzi outlined the shocking £40 billion black hole on capital. Part of our move towards neighbourhood health services is exactly about getting services closer to people’s homes, and we look forward to having further conversations with my hon. Friend and her constituents.

• 25 Nov 2025 · New Hospital Programme · Hansard source

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  The hon. Gentleman is an assiduous campaigner on behalf of Royal Berkshire hospital and now of Frimley Park hospital. I met with Members of Parliament last week who are involved in the RAAC schemes, which are progressing to plan. We are absolutely on target with progressing that plan, and we look forward to the proposals coming through from the local integrated care board.

• 25 Nov 2025 · New Hospital Programme · Hansard source

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  I think that the Conservatives’ constituents know exactly what their promises were built on: sand. That is why there are very few Conservative Members in the House and a lot of Members on the Labour Benches. We took hold of the programme and put it on a sustainable and credible footing, and we will deliver it.

• 25 Nov 2025 · New Hospital Programme · Hansard source

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  My hon. Friend makes an excellent point about working across Government with GB Energy to support local health systems in reducing health costs. That is an important part of our efficiency drive. He is a strong advocate for a local facility at Maghull, and we are absolutely committed to working with the ICB so that it develops the most efficient services where people are actually located, rather than expecting them to go to and fro and get bounced around the health system. I hope he can see further progress on that issue.

• 25 Nov 2025 · New Hospital Programme · Hansard source

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  Again, what the hon. Gentleman says is really quite astonishing: like everybody else, he knows that no money was allocated by his Government to the new hospital programme beyond last March. The Conservatives know that and they need to start being honest with their constituents— [ Interruption. ]

• 25 Nov 2025 · New Hospital Programme · Hansard source

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  In January we published an honest, realistic and deliverable plan that puts the programme on a sustainable footing, ensuring that taxpayers get the maximum value for money. We are committed to delivering all the schemes and are moving at pace, with funding in place for design work, construction and business case development. Outside the new hospital programme, we are investing £30 billion in day-to-day maintenance repairs of the NHS estate across this spending review period.

• 25 Nov 2025 · New Hospital Programme · Hansard source

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  Yes, I can give the hon. Gentleman that guarantee. The last Government could have learned the lessons of some of the PFI schemes that were very costly and did not run. Why did they not learn those lessons? Why did they not take action to reverse some of the decline? Why did they not take control of the system and do something about it? We have learned the lessons from those schemes, thanks in part to the great work done by parliamentarians on Committees such as the Public Accounts Committee. The new system to build the new neighbourhood health centres, which are fundamental to our drive to shift care out of hospital, will be different and will be publicly owned; they will revert to the public. The schemes are fundamentally different, and I am very happy to talk about it in more detail.