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 (a) awareness and (b) treatment of postural tachycardia syndrome in North Shropshire constituency.

In North Shropshire, the planning and commissioning of services for postural tachycardia syndrome (PoTS) is led by the Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin Integrated Care Board (ICB). It is this local ICB’s responsibility to work with clinicians, service users, and patient groups to develop services and care pathways that meet the needs of patients with PoTS.

Many patients with PoTS can be diagnosed and managed effectively within primary care. In complex cases, or where patients do not respond to initial treatment, patients may be referred to specialised cardiology or neurology services. Management of PoTS typically involves lifestyle changes and medications to help control symptoms, and can involve support from a multidisciplinary team.

To improve awareness among healthcare professionals, the Royal College of General Practitioners includes training on PoTS as part of its Syncope Toolkit, an online resource for general practitioners. This provides education, practical guidance, and case studies to help primary care doctors recognise PoTS and manage initial investigations.

Additionally, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence provides a Clinical Knowledge Summary on blackouts and syncope, last updated November 2023, which advises clinicians on best practice in assessing and diagnosing PoTS.

The 10-Year Health Plan aims to transform services and outcomes for people living with complex conditions like PoTS by prioritising integrated, personalised care. The plan focuses on earlier diagnosis and promotes multidisciplinary teams and community-based services to deliver coordinated support closer to home, reducing reliance on hospital care. Digital innovations, including remote monitoring and an enhanced NHS App, will help manage long-term conditions like PoTS more effectively. The plan also commits to 95% of people with complex needs having a personalised care plan by 2027. Personalised care plans will improve support for people with complex needs by ensuring that care is tailored to the individual and coordinated across services.

These measures will help to ensure that patients in North Shropshire, as in the rest of England, will receive timely diagnosis, coordinated specialist care delivered though locally based multidisciplinary teams, and personalised support that addresses their needs.