Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to improve the equity of access to cough-assist treatments for people suffering with (a) motor neurone disease and (b) other muscle-atrophying conditions.
Local commissioners are responsible for making sure cough-assist treatments are provided for people suffering with motor neurone disease (MND) and other muscle-atrophying conditions, according to local need and in line with best practice guidance. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence produced the ‘Motor neurone disease: assessment and management’ guideline in February 2016, which covers assessing and managing MND. It aims to improve care from the time of diagnosis, and covers information and support, organisation of care, managing symptoms and preparing for end of life care. This guideline includes recommendations for when to administer a range of treatments for assisting cough effectiveness and is available at the following link: