Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent steps he has taken to improve (a) awareness of and (b) diagnosis of 22Q11 deletion syndrome.

22q11.2 deletion syndrome is a disorder that involves many different areas of the body and the severity can vary among patients. 22q11.2 deletion syndrome is an integral part of the immunodeficiency section of the training curriculum for paediatric and adult immunologists. In addition, cardiac aspects of 22q deletion syndrome are specifically included in the curriculum for paediatric cardiology.

There are 32 immunology centres accredited or working towards accreditation with the Quality in Primary Immunodeficiency Services programme including a number of paediatric immunology centres located across the United Kingdom, which provide services for patients affected by the disease. Such accreditation processes means that specialist expertise can be more readily available across the country and provide access to the services need in the diagnosis of this disease.