Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of instructing NICE to review it's infant head circumference measurement guidelines, in the context of improving the diagnosis and treatment of (a) hydrocephalus and (b) other long term related complications.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) develops its guidance independently and keeps its published guidelines under active surveillance so that it is able to update its recommendations in light of any significant new evidence. Decisions on updates to existing guidance are made by NICE’s Prioritisation Board in line with NICE’s published common prioritisation framework.

NICE’s guideline on “suspected neurological conditions: recognition and referral” includes recommendations on head circumference measurement. We understand that NICE is currently reviewing its recommendations to consider if any update to its recommendation is warranted.