Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of NHS policies on private access for patients with Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome seeking faster access to specialist care.

Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (PoTS) is diagnosed by a combination of general practitioners (GPs) and specialist clinicians. GPs can diagnose PoTS in many cases but, if they are unsure of symptoms or if symptoms are complex, they will refer patients to specialists for diagnosis, or where patients do not respond to initial treatment, patients may be referred to specialised cardiology or neurology services. The Royal College of General Practitioners’ Syncope Toolkit provides information to GPs, including the use of the active stand test, to rule out other conditions and potentially diagnose PoTS more quickly. Management of PoTS typically involves lifestyle changes and medications to help control symptoms, and can involve support from a multidisciplinary team.

Where patients are referred to secondary care for diagnosis, we are investing in additional capacity to deliver appointments to help bring waiting lists and times down. The Elective Reform Plan, published in January 2025, sets out the specific productivity and reform efforts needed to return to the constitutional standard, that 92% of patients to wait no longer than 18 weeks from referral to treatment, by March 2029.

By expanding community-based services for routine monitoring and follow up, employing artificial intelligence for productivity, and investing in digital tools and data, as outlined in the 10-Year Health Plan, we can ensure that consultants’ time is reserved for complex cases of PoTS, including specialist diagnostic assessments.

Integrated care boards (ICBs), with oversight from NHS England, have a statutory responsibility to commission services which meet the needs of their local populations, including for those with PoTS. It is the responsibility of ICBs to work with clinicians, service users, and patient groups to develop services and care pathways that meet the needs of patients with PoTS. While the Department recognises the significant challenges of PoTS diagnoses, responsibility for specific clinical pathways and specialist training rests with local National Health Service bodies.

The Department has made no assessment of the impact of NHS policies on private access for patients with PoTS seeking faster access to specialist care.