Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, for what reasons foetal alcohol spectrum disorder is not recognised as a mental health condition for the purposes of treatment.

Foetal alcohol spectrum disorder is a term used to describe a range of disorders and disabilities associated with prenatal alcohol exposure. It is not generally regarded as a single condition, but as an umbrella term that covers several alcohol-related medical conditions.

Foetal alcohol spectrum disorder can include physical or intellectual disabilities, as well as problems with behaviour and learning. Treatment services for people with foetal alcohol spectrum disorder will be different for each individual depending on the symptoms. It is for individual clinicians to make decisions on appropriate treatments, together with the patient or their families or carers, taking into account any relevant guidance.