Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government what action they are taking to improve the (1) information, and (2) resources, on coeliac disease provided to (a) primary healthcare professionals, and (b) the public.

The Government has made no assessment of the diagnostic pathway for coeliac disease. It is the responsibility of integrated care boards (ICBs) to make available appropriate provision to meet the health and care needs of their local population, including the diagnosis of coeliac disease.

To support healthcare professionals in the diagnosis and management of coeliac disease, and improve the diagnostic pathway nationally, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has produced guidance on the recognition, assessment and management of coeliac disease [NG20].

NICE guidelines represent best practice and health professionals, including general practitioners, and service commissioners are expected to take them fully into account. Guidelines published by NICE are not mandatory and do not replace the judgement of clinicians in determining the most appropriate treatment for individual patients.

To assist with increasing the visibility of coeliac disease, NICE promotes guidance via its website, newsletters, and other media. It also publishes information for the public, which explains the care people with coeliac should receive as set out in the NICE guideline.

Information for the public on coeliac disease is also published by the National Health Service and is available on the NHS.UK website in an online-only format.