Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Ben Gummer and Caroline Nokes

Tuesday 2nd June 2015 Commons Chamber

[Caroline Nokes]

I thank the Minister for that response and welcome him to his place. Yesterday my constituent Jules Geary came to see me regarding her son Jagger, who suffers from Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Jagger had been approved for Translarna treatment but then suddenly found that it had been withdrawn at the last moment. Like many other boys, he is now waiting, not knowing when a treatment that will prolong his mobility will be forthcoming. Will my hon. Friend meet me, Jules and Muscular Dystrophy UK to discuss how this process can be streamlined so that other children do not have to wait this long?

[Ben Gummer]

Muscular dystrophy is a terrible, debilitating illness and my sympathies go out to Jagger and his family. My hon. Friend will be aware that families and their representatives will be going to Downing Street on 10 June to make their representations on this matter. The Minister for Life Sciences has introduced an accelerated access review precisely because of the concerns that my hon. Friend has raised, and I know that he will welcome representations once it has been completed.