Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made, if any, of the availability of pectus deformity surgery in (1) Scotland, (2) Wales, and (3) Northern Ireland; and whether they intend to review the guidance on commissioning surgery for pectus deformity procedures in light of this assessment.

Health is a devolved matter in the United Kingdom and each of the devolved administrations has established its own systems and processes for determining which at and how healthcare services will be available. In England, specialised services and treatments are the responsibility of NHS England and NHS Improvement and decisions are made in accordance with their published processes.

NHS England and NHS Improvement’s position on surgery for pectus deformity is set out in their clinical commissioning policy from February 2019. Their conclusion is that there is not enough evidence to routinely commission the intervention, although this policy will be reviewed when warranted by the receipt of new information.