Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the report by the Cystic Fibrosis Trust entitled UK Cystic Fibrosis Service Resourcing 2019 to 2021, published in June 2022, what steps his Department is taking to to reduce the number of adult cystic fibrosis centres that do not have a social worker as part of their multi-disciplinary team.

NHS England’s adult and paediatric cystic fibrosis service specifications set out national standards for cystic fibrosis services and states that cystic fibrosis multi-disciplinary teams in all centres should include social workers. There are regular reviews between regional commissioning teams and providers, which include ensuring compliance with standards in the service commissioned.