Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment she has made of the availability and accessibility of NHS services for the diagnosis and treatment of tongue-tie in newborn babies; what the average waiting time is for treatment following referral in each NHS region; and whether she will consider issuing guidance to NHS trusts on assessing babies for tongue-tie where breastfeeding difficulties are identified before discharge from maternity services.

It is for local National Health Service trusts and integrated care boards to determine how their tongue division services are funded and commissioned, as well as the referral criteria. NHS England does not have national guidance, nor monitor waiting times for tongue-tie services.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence sets out guidance on tongue-tie, including advising that an assessment for tongue-tie should be considered if there are feeding concerns.