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Written question asked by Chi Onwurah (Labour) on Thursday, 9 November 2023, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 13 November 2023. It was answered by Andrew Stephenson (Conservative) on Thursday, 16 November 2023 on behalf of the Department of Health and Social Care.

Gastrointestinal System: Diseases

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of reinstating the positions of National Clinical Director for (a) gastroenterology and (b) liver disease.

Answer

A National Clinical Director provides clinical advice and leadership on the NHS England Internal Medicine Specialised Services portfolio, which includes specialised gastroenterology and liver disease. A National Speciality Advisor provides clinical advice more specifically to the hepatobiliary and pancreas programme.

The Getting It Right First Time (GIRFT) programme has invested in clinical leadership in gastroenterology, which is one of its priority workstreams. The programme will be establishing a liver disease programme in 2024/25, including recruiting to a clinical lead role.

The National Clinical Director for Cancer is leading work on on-the-spot liver scans, that has already found that around one in ten people in communities visited have advanced liver damage that needs further monitoring or treatment as it could lead to liver cancer.

NHS England is funding preventative interventions that support individuals to reduce the harm caused by alcohol use and obesity. To support this work, NHS England has invested in a National Clinical Director for Diabetes & Obesity and a National Speciality Advisor for alcohol dependence.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
1130
Session
2023-24
Subjects
Diseases Gastrointestinal system National clinical directors
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk