Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the stock of Verteporfin held by NHS trusts.

The Department is aware of an ongoing supply issue affecting Visudyne^® (verteporfin) injection due to manufacturing issues. We are working closely with the supplier and the National Health Service (NHS) to ensure that patients with the greatest clinical need can access the medicine. Comprehensive clinical guidance has been issued to the NHS which provides information on management of potentially affected patients during this time.