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 education, health and care plans for children with cystic fibrosis in Wiltshire; and what steps he is taking to help support local authorities to improve those plans.

We are committed to ensuring that people living with cystic fibrosis have access to appropriate support and services, so that they can fulfil their potential and lead happy, healthy and productive lives.

NHS England commissions 47 specialised cystic fibrosis centres for adults and children across England. This includes the children’s specialist cystic fibrosis service based at Southampton Children’s Hospital, which serves patients in Wiltshire. Service specifications published by NHS England clearly define the standards of services, care and outcomes that people can expect from these centres. Those service specifications aim to deliver improvements to life expectancy and quality of life for children with cystic fibrosis.

Where a local authority does not meet its duties, the Department for Education can take action that prioritises children’s needs and supports local areas to bring about rapid improvement. The Department for Education works to monitor, support, and challenge local authorities, working closely with NHS England to tackle weaknesses that sit with health partners.

For this reason, the Department of Health and Social Care has not specifically made a formal assessment of the adequacy of education, health, and care plans for children with cystic fibrosis in Wiltshire.