Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of access to cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator modulator therapies for people with cystic fibrosis on the ability of people with other respiratory conditions to receive lung transplants.

Lung transplantation has demonstrated greater survival benefits in general for patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) over other diagnoses warranting transplantation. However, the use of CF transmembrane conductance regulator modulators may further increase median survival. Overall, individual differences still exist and the decision to list a patient at a transplant centre is always down to the patient’s clinical team, based on the patient’s individual circumstances.

The selection process should always be fair and transparent and the whole population of potential lung transplant recipients is considered. Treatment including transplant is based both on clinical need and a patient’s capacity to benefit as well as the balance of risk and alternative therapies.

As lung transplantation has evolved, recommendations and indications are constantly being updated. The International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation published a consensus document in 2021, for selecting candidates for lung transplantation. A copy of the selection criteria is attached.