Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what priority has been accorded to the provision of diabetic pumps for children; and what discussions his Department has had with each of the devolved administrations on that provision.

Clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) are responsible for commissioning diabetes services to meet the requirements of their population. In doing so, CCGs need to ensure that the services they provide are fit for purpose, reflect the needs of the local population and are based on the available evidence and take into account national guidelines.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) is responsible for producing guidelines for best practice of treatment and care. Treatments such as Continuous Subcutaneous Insulin Infusion (CSII) or ‘insulin pump' therapy may be brought into routine use in the National Health Service after their efficacy, safety, and cost-effectiveness have been appropriately demonstrated.

Health is a devolved matter under the devolution settlements and thus it would be a matter for the devolved administrations to determine their use of diabetic pumps. Devolved administrations would be aware of guidance published by NICE on the use of CSII for children, and are able to follow these if they choose to do so.