Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps she is taking to address variations in commissioning, funding, and staffing for specialist rare autoimmune rheumatic disease networks across Integrated Care Boards.

NHS England has published a national service specification relating to specialised rheumatology which includes the management of patients with rare autoimmune rheumatic diseases. The specification is available at the following link:

https://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/a13-spec-rheumatology.pdf

This specification is in the process of being refreshed to recognise the current practice of services working through a networked approach to ensure care of patients is addressed in the service most appropriate to their needs.

Commissioning responsibility for specialised rheumatology services has been delegated to integrated care boards, but there continues to be a requirement for services to meet national service specifications and standards.