Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to help improve diagnostic pathways and patient safety for individuals presenting with symptoms of gastroparesis.

The Government remains committed to improving outcomes for people living with rare diseases, including gastroparesis, through the UK Rare Diseases Framework and England Rare Diseases Action Plans. Faster diagnosis is a priority under the framework. Patients with suspected gastroparesis typically undergo blood tests and imaging to exclude other causes, followed, where necessary, by a gastroscopy and tests to assess how quickly food passes through the stomach. Integrated care boards commission all services for patients with gastroparesis, with the exception of gastro-electrical stimulation, which falls within the remit of nationally commissioned services.

Addressing health inequalities for people living with rare conditions is a priority under the UK Rare Diseases Framework. In the 2026 England Rare Diseases Action Plan, we introduced a new and important action to address health inequalities for rare diseases through the Core20PLUS5 Framework. However, there has not been a formal comparative assessment across the four nations in relation to their respective National Health Service provision of gastroparesis services and treatment.