Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will take steps to ensure that there is a single, simple and comprehensive scheme providing up-front support with the running costs of medical devices provided by the NHS.

Within NHS England, financial support is already provided for certain specialist National Health Services to offset increased energy costs faced by patients using medical equipment at home. This includes patients using home haemodialysis or home oxygen concentration. In line with the commitments in the 10-Year Health Plan, the Department of Health and Social Care is working with the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero to help ensure more health vulnerable households also receive assistance with costs associated with their care.

The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero is leading the development of an ambitious new Warm Homes plan and Fuel Poverty Strategy to help make homes warmer, more comfortable, and more energy efficient. The Department of Health and Social Care is working hard to ensure that expanding support for patients who use NHS-provided electrical medical devices in their own home is included in the Fuel Poverty Strategy.