Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether Mast Cell Activation Syndrome is recognised within NHS England; whether national diagnostic guidelines for MCAS are being developed, including in relation to its association with neurological, psychiatric and autonomic conditions such as dysautonomia and postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome; and what steps his Department is taking to reduce the time taken for diagnosis of patients presenting with multisystem inflammatory, allergic and autonomic symptoms.

NHS England recognises mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS), and that patients may experience a spectrum of clinical presentations and symptoms making diagnosis challenging.

NHS England is considering publishing guidance to help integrated care commission services locally that meet the needs for people with MCAS.

The Department has published the 10-Year Health Plan which will shift care out of hospitals and into virtual and neighbourhood services in the community. Planned care will be more efficient and patients will wait less time for their care.