Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the Answers of 13 April 2021 to Questions 175739, 175740 and 175741 on Neuromuscular Disorders: Medical Treatments, what assessment has he made of the likelihood of a backlog of NHS patients building up during the process to determine the location of the second provider and its successful implementation; what steps he is taking to tackle that patient backlog; and if he will make a statement.

NHS England and NHS Improvement aim to complete the process to determine the location of a second provider to deliver transcranial magnetic resonance guided focused ultrasound services before the end of 2021/22. Until the location has been agreed, patients will continue to access assessment and treatment at the established centre in London.

NHS England and NHS Improvement commissioned this service in April 2021, therefore the number of patients who will be eligible for this treatment is uncertain. NHS England and NHS Improvement anticipate a level of patient backlog, as a result of patients who are suitable for treatment waiting for the service to be established. Capacity for provision of service in the first year has therefore taken this into account. The actual demand will be closely monitored in the first few years to better inform future commissioning.