Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to improve (a) early diagnosis and (b) treatment of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

The United Kingdom Rare Disease Strategy, published in 2013, sets out our commitment to raising awareness about all rare diseases including idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and our strategic vision for improving the lives of all those affected. The Strategy promotes improvements to ensure that people living with a rare disease receive high-quality care.

The Government recognizes the need for awareness raising and training of health care professionals for rare diseases. This is being taken forward through the work of the UK Rare Diseases Policy Board and NHS England’s Rare Diseases Implementation plan, which commits NHS England to engaging with the Royal College of General Practitioners (GPs) and the Nursing and Midwifery Council on opportunities for GPs and health visitors to recognise and facilitate earlier diagnosis of rare diseases.

There are limited drug treatment options for IPF and two drugs, Pirfenidone and Nintedanib, are commissioned following National Institute for Health and Care Excellence Technology Appraisals. Alongside this, the Department funds research into rare diseases such as IPF through the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR).