Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask Her Majesty's Government, in view of carbon monoxide poisoning risks in the home, what steps they have taken to (1) raise awareness of the availability of free call-out gas services, (2) ensure that every pregnant woman has a carbon monoxide alarm following the suspension of antenatal screening for carbon monoxide, (3) amend the symptoms algorithm on the NHS 111 line to take account of the fact that symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning can masquerade as those of COVID-19.

The Department does not have a remit for the oversight of gas services or domestic carbon monoxide alarms.

NHS England and NHS Improvement issued guidance to maternity services to pause carbon monoxide testing of pregnant women during COVID-19 pandemic.

NHS 111, through the NHS Pathways system, uses information and symptoms given by the patient to assess what care they need. NHS Pathways does not diagnose but will recommend further action, including referrals, based upon their assessment. If anyone (including pregnant women) presents with symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning, they would be assessed using the appropriate algorithm based on their symptoms.