Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps his Department has taken to help early diagnosis of very long-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency.

The UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC) advises Ministers and the National Health Service in all four countries about all aspects of screening policy and supports implementation.

The UK NSC is currently reviewing newborn screening for very long chain acyl CoA dehydrogenase deficiency (VLCADD) against its internationally recognised criteria. A public consultation on the screening review opened on 21 November 2014 and will close on 23 February 2015. A copy of the consultation is available at:

http://www.screening.nhs.uk/fattyacidoxidation

Improving education and awareness of rare diseases across the healthcare professions, including VLCADD, is a commitment in the UK Strategy for Rare Diseases. The Department continues to work closely with its delivery partners to implement the Strategy.