Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between David Mowat and Rehman Chishti

Tuesday 7th February 2017 Commons Chamber

[Rehman Chishti (Gillingham and Rainham) (Con)]

2. What steps his Department is taking to support people with post-polio syndrome.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health (David Mowat)]

My hon. Friend will be aware that polio was eradicated from the UK in the 1980s. However, between 25% and 80% of sufferers go on to development post-polio syndrome, a condition that, although not life-threatening, can be debilitating. The NHS response centres on structured self-management and pain relief and increasing referrals to both physio and occupational therapy.

[Rehman Chishti]

As parliamentary ambassador for the British Polio Fellowship, I know that 93% of people are unaware of post-polio syndrome. Low awareness among GPs, and in the NHS more generally, is leaving patients waiting for up to six years for a diagnosis. Will the Government agree to fund a PPS awareness campaign?

[David Mowat]

I congratulate my hon. Friend on his work for the British Polio Fellowship, which is a good charity that makes a real difference. He is right that the condition is difficult to diagnose; the symptoms are vague and there is no definitive test. NICE is updating its best practice, and the British Polio Fellowship has developed guidelines that we all need to use to build GP awareness of the condition.