Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to ensure that all children with additional needs are given the tailored support they need and deserve within the healthcare system.

We are working with the Department for Education to implement the proposals within the ‘SEND review: right support, right place, right time’ green paper. This includes commissioning analysis on how the health needs of children and young people with special education needs and disabilities can be met through effective workforce planning.

All National Health Service organisations are legally required to follow the Accessible Information Standard to meet the communication needs of patients and carers with a disability, impairment or sensory loss, including children with additional needs. NHS England is currently reviewing the Accessible Information Standard to ensure it is fit for purpose and expects the updated standard and supporting documents to be published in early 2023.

NHS England is also working with NHS Digital to develop a ‘digital flag’ for reasonable adjustments in patient health records to ensure that NHS staff can tailor the support provided to the person’s specific needs. There are different categories of adjustments, including for communication support and requirements for accessible information.