Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the ability of people with (a) disabilities and (b) long term health conditions to see a consultant.

No specific assessment has been made. National Health Service trusts are responsible for ensuring reasonable adjustments are made to support patients accessing hospital services. This could include longer appointment times for patients with their consultant, priority for earlier appointments slots and provision of equipment aids for ease of access.

NHS Digital and NHS England have introduced the Reasonable Adjustment Flag, which indicates when reasonable adjustments are required for an individual. Following successful pilots, the platform is now available in all providers. Technology is also providing patients with disabilities or long-term health conditions with more choice and convenience when accessing the care they need. This includes virtual appointments, digital triaging and remote monitoring through the NHS app or My Planned Care.