Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if his Department will make an assessment of the merits of licensing melatonin for over 18s in the UK who are diagnosed with autism and related sleep disorders.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence has published guidance for the use of melatonin in the United Kingdom which is available at the following link:

https://cks.nice.org.uk/topics/insomnia/prescribing-information/melatonin/

Currently, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency has made no specific assessment of licensing melatonin for over 18s in the UK who are diagnosed with autism and related sleep disorders. Clinicians make prescribing decisions for patients, taking into account best prescribing practice, appropriate guidance and the local commissioning decisions of integrated care boards. The clinician works with the patient to decide on the course of treatment, with the provision of the most clinically appropriate care being the primary consideration.