Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what his Department's policy is on the treatment of cobalamin deficiency during the covid-19 outbreak.

The British Committee for Standards in Haematology (BCSH), document, ‘Guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of Cobalamin and Folate disorders’ sets out best practice on the treatment of cobalamin (Vitamin B12) deficiency. The guidance sets out that the majority of patients affected can be successfully treated with a quarterly intramuscular injection of vitamin B12. The BCSH operates independently of Department and NHS England and produces evidence-based guidelines on the diagnosis and treatment of haematological disease.

In response to the COVID-19 outbreak, the BCSH has provided published a range of general and specific hematology guidance for clinicians. This includes new guidance on the management of both dietary and non-dietary B12 deficiency. Both sets of guidance can be found at the following links:

b-s-h.org.uk/guidelines/guidelines/diagnosis-of-b12-and-folate-deficiency/
b-s-h.org.uk/media/18259/bsh-guidance-b12-replacement-covid-1924042020finalversion2020-4-3.pdf