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 directing NHS England to reclassify splint replacements for children by hospital orthotics departments as an essential service so that their ordinary treatment routines can resume.

NHS England and clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) are responsible for commissioning a comprehensive health service. CCGs make decisions about the planning and commissioning of healthcare services that meet the needs of their local population. The Government supports CCGs in local, clinically-led commissioning of services, as they are best placed to know the different needs of their areas.