Parliamentary Search

Written question asked by Oliver Dowden (Conservative) on Friday, 10 July 2026, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 14 July 2026. It was answered by Sharon Hodgson (Labour) on Friday, 17 July 2026 on behalf of the Department of Health and Social Care.

Diabetes: Screening

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what discussions he has had with NHS bodies regarding a future screening programme for early-stage type 1 diabetes.

Answer

The Government is guided by the UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC), an independent scientific advisory committee which makes its recommendations based on internationally recognised criteria and a rigorous evidence review and consultation process. It is only where the UK NSC is confident that there is robust evidence that to screen would provide more good than harm that a screening programme is recommended, as all medical interventions carry an inherent risk.

The UK NSC received a submission via its 2024 open call process to consider screening for autoimmune type 1 diabetes through blood testing. Now that the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence has published its recommendation on the drug teplizumab, the UK NSC will look again at this open call submission and consider whether a fresh review of the evidence for type 1 diabetes screening should be undertaken.

The UK NSC is aware of the Early Surveillance for Autoimmune Diabetes study and looks forward to receiving the results of this study when the trial is complete.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
17764
Session
2026-27
Subjects
Diabetes Screening
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk