Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps his Department is taking to increase specialist neuromuscular consultant support for children attending Royal Manchester Children's Hospital NHS Foundation Trust.

This is a matter for the National Health Service locally.

The majority of paediatric neurology services are specialised and are based in Neurosciences Centres which have the necessary infrastructure in terms of diagnostic services and other specialities, including consultant expertise.

NHS England is responsible for commissioning specialised neurological services, including some services for patients with neuromuscular disorders. NHS England has published two separate service specifications for neurological care, one for adults and one for children, that sets out what providers must have in place to offer evidence-based, safe and effective care for patients with neurological conditions, including neuromuscular disorders.

Both service specifications for neurological care can be found at:

www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/d04-neurosci-spec-neuro.pdf

www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/e09-paedi-neurology.pdf