Oral QuestionDepartment of Health and Social Care

If he will make a statement on his departmental responsibilities.

Tabled: 12 February 2026Answered: 24 February 2026

Asked by

Sarah Edwards

LabourTamworth

Answering Minister

the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care

Answer from Hansard

The Minister for Secondary Care (Karin Smyth)

My hon. Friend highlights an important point about the need to have further roll-outs of CDCs, particularly for communities such as hers. We are expanding those and expanding the time available for them. We are also expanding access through the front door through the NHS app and digital. Our new online hospital service will improve the sorts of issues that she mentions so that we bring services closer to her patients and do not expect them to have to travel.