Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make it his policy to promote the drafting of NICE guidelines on early intervention by clinicians to treat infants diagnosed with Hemiplegia; and what recent assessment his department has made of the relative effectiveness of treatment for this form of brain injury or deformity if attempted (a) prior to and (b) only after an infant's first one thousand days of life.

There are no current plans to commission the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) to develop guidelines specifically on the treatment of hemiplegia in infants. Topics for new or updated NICE guidance are identified through its established prioritisation process, which considers the needs of the health and care system, the availability of evidence, and input from key stakeholders.

At present, NICE does not have plans to develop guidance in this area, and has not previously published guidance specifically on hemiplegia in infants.

The Department has not undertaken a specific assessment of the relative effectiveness of early intervention compared with treatment at a later stage for this condition. Decisions about clinical intervention are made by healthcare professionals, drawing on the best available evidence, clinical expertise, and individual patient need.

Proposals for new NICE guidance can be submitted for consideration through the NICE prioritisation process.