Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to raise awareness hidden disabilities.

The Government will publish a National Strategy for Disabled People in 2020 to ensure all disabled people can lead a life of opportunity and fully participate in society.

In addition, National Health Service trusts are taking actions to help improve awareness of hidden disabilities such as:

- Several trusts have signed up to the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower Lanyard Scheme. Through the wearing of a sunflower lanyard, patients and the public can indicate that they have a hidden disability and that they may require additional assistance; and

- The Accessible Information Standard is a requirement for organisations that provide NHS care or publicly-funded adult social care. It ensures that people with a disability, impairment or sensory loss are provided with information they can easily read or understand, with support, so they can communicate effectively with services.