Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if his Department will maintain funding for specialist (a) clinical and (b) surveillance services for Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease.

Effective diagnostic and surveillance services for Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) are necessary to monitor public health protection measures and ensure that patients receive appropriate care and support.

Currently, specialist diagnostic and surveillance services are provided by the National CJD Research and Surveillance Unit. From April 2025, funding for diagnostic and clinical services is transferring from the National Institute for Health and Care Research to NHS England. This includes funding for specialist testing, neuropathology services, and clinical support.

Also from April 2025, the lead for CJD surveillance in England will be the UK Health Security Agency. CJD will be added to schedule 1 of the Health Protection (Notification) (Amendment) Regulations 2025. Subject to Parliamentary clearance, CJD notification in England will become a statutory duty from 6 April 2025.