Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the (a) social, (b) economic and (c) personal effects of (i) beta-thalassaemia and (ii) chronic genetic illnesses on the communities in which those illnesses occur.

NHS England, as the commissioner of services for patients with beta-thalassaemia and other chronic genetic illnesses, is not responsible for assessing the social, economic and personal effects of the conditions on the communities in which they occur. However, all service specifications and policies are developed in conjunction with stakeholders, including patient groups and patient representatives, and all are subject to engagement and consultation.