Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how much and what financial support is in place for non-clinical and therapeutic settings treating patients with (a) MS, (b) cancer and (c) strokes with (i) mental health interventions and (ii) pain relief.

Clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) are responsible for commissioning care and prevention services for patients with multiple sclerosis, cancer and strokes. In doing so, CCGs need to ensure that the services they provide, including those in non-clinical and therapeutic settings are fit for purpose, reflect the needs of the local population and are based on the available evidence and take into account national guidelines

In addition to CCG funding of NHS services, on 22 May, the Government announced £22 million of funding for health and social care charities, many of whom provide non-clinical and therapeutic support services to patients with these conditions. The Department is engaging with the relevant charities directly to ensure the money goes out to the charities as quickly as possible.