Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what guidance the NHS provides to operational delivery networks on tackling hepatitis C to minimise variation in the effectiveness of local care services throughout England.

NHS England commissions hepatobiliary care services, infectious diseases services and hepatitis C Operational Delivery Networks (ODNs) in accordance with published service specifications. Specifications set out requirements of services including any relevant National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidance. The aim is to reduce variation across local services and allow for the development of care and treatment services relevant to local population need. NHS England also incentivises the 22 ODNs to develop local services relevant to local need through a Commissioning for Quality and Innovation Scheme. National, regional and local support is provided to ODNs as required. NHS England is planning a review of ODNs during 2018 which will further improve support available and reduce any unwarranted variation.