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Written question asked by Mike Amesbury (Labour) on Friday, 1 September 2023, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 5 September 2023. It was answered by Will Quince (Conservative) on Wednesday, 6 September 2023 on behalf of the Department of Health and Social Care.


Scoliosis: Children

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make an assessment with the Secretary of State for Education of the potential merits of screening for scoliosis in schools.

Answer

The UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC) is an independent scientific advisory committee that advises health ministers and the National Health Service in all four countries about all aspects of screening policy and supports implementation.

The UK NSC has reviewed screening school aged children for scoliosis in 2021 and recommended against screening. This is because there is not enough evidence to show if detecting the condition earlier through screening results in better health outcomes than waiting until symptoms develop. Details of the UK National Screening Committee’s review are available at the following link:

https://view-health-screening-recommendations.service.gov.uk/scoliosis/


Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
196516
Session
2022-23
Subjects
Children Schools Screening Scoliosis
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk