Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the relative availability of second stem cell transplants for patients whose disease relapses in England and the (a) devolved nations of the UK, (b) EU and (c) US.

The Department has not made a comparative assessment of the availability of second stem cell transplants in different countries. Decisions related to the commissioning of treatments in England are made by NHS England. These decisions are based on clinical evidence, including international studies, and are kept under review. In the case of second stem cell transplants for patients with relapsed disease the risks of the treatment must be weighed against the potential long-term benefits.

Following a review of the most recent clinical evidence NHS England announced on 24 February 2017 that second transplants would routinely be made available for patients in England with relapsed disease. Approximately 15 patients a year that suffer a relapse are expected to benefit from this treatment option.