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 potential impact of limited trial site locations on the ability of motor neurone disease patients to participate in research; and what support his Department provides to help patients who need to travel significant distances to access trials.

The National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), funded by the Department, supports patients and the public to take part in high-quality research. In 2024/25, the NIHR Research Delivery Network supported 35 motor neurone disease (MND) studies and recruited over 2,900 participants.

We recognise that MND trials are often concentrated in specialist centres, which can create challenges for patients who live far from these sites. To address this, NHS England and the NIHR provide practical support to reduce travel barriers. The Healthcare Travel Costs Scheme enables eligible patients to claim travel expenses for National Health Service appointments, including research visits, while many trial sponsors and sites reimburse travel, accommodation, and subsistence costs. NIHR Clinical Research Facilities and the NIHR Research Delivery Network also provide logistical support to facilitate participation.

In line with the NHS 10-Year Plan, there is a growing emphasis on delivering research in community and home settings, supported by digital tools and mobile research teams.