Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that patients and their families are informed about tissue freezing options prior to surgery where clinically appropriate.

The Department recognises the importance of ensuring that patients and their families are appropriately informed about treatment and tissue retention options where clinically suitable.

Consent and tissue retention arrangements are subject to requirements set out by the Human Tissue Authority and other relevant guidance. NHS England will continue to consider whether there are opportunities to improve guidance and patient information, ensuring any future approach remains clinically appropriate, legally compliant, and aligned with existing regulatory frameworks.