Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with NHS England and the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence about access to innovative treatments for sickle cell disease.

Department officials regularly discuss a range of issues with colleagues in NHS England and the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), including access to new and innovative treatments for a range of diseases and conditions.

The NICE makes evidence-based recommendations for the National Health Service on whether new medicines should be routinely funded by the NHS, based on an assessment of their costs and benefits. The NICE is currently evaluating exagamglogene autotemcel within its licensed indication for treating sickle cell, and has not yet published final guidance.

The NICE will aim to publish guidance on any new, licensed treatment for sickle cell disease as soon as possible after licensing.