Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what specialist treatment centres are available in England for the management and treatment of generalised and partial lipodystrophy; and what referral procedures are in place for patients who live far away from such specialist treatment centres.

Based at Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge, The National Severe Insulin Resistance Service provides a multidisciplinary National Health Service service for patients with severe insulin resistance and / or lipodystrophy from across England. The service supports both adult and paediatric patients.

Patients who meet the relevant criteria can be referred to the service by their treating clinician. Information for referring clinicians, including details of the referral criteria, can be found here:

https://www.cuh.nhs.uk/printpdf/pdf-page/3546

The Service is happy to accept referrals or to discuss any patients whom it is felt have severe insulin resistance and/or lipodystrophy. It can provide diagnostic (both genetic and biochemical) support in addition to access to funded treatment options including GLP1agonists, U500 insulin, leptin and IGF-I in some patients. The Service also provide specialist dietetic input and diabetes nursing input. Ongoing care is usually shared closely with the referring clinician.