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Written question asked by Helen Morgan (Liberal Democrat) on Friday, 9 October 2026, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 13 October 2026. It was answered by James Frith (Labour) on Monday, 26 October 2026 on behalf of the Department of Health and Social Care.

Complex Regional Pain Syndrome: Medical Treatments

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps have been taken to ensure those with complex regional pain syndrome have access to novel treatments.

Answer

It is for the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) to consider Scrambler Therapy or any other novel treatments for complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS). Decisions on whether a topic should be prioritised for the development of NICE guidance are taken by the NICE prioritisation board, chaired by NICE’s Chief Medical Officer, in line with its published prioritisation framework.

The prioritisation board considered Scrambler therapy for CPRS in January 2026 and concluded that it should not be prioritised for guidance development as it does not have regulatory approval and the evidence base is very limited. NICE’s prioritisation board will reconsider this decision if a technology receives regulatory approval and new evidence emerges.

National Institute for Health and Care Research funded research on CRPS aims to improve how the condition is managed, understand its biological and genetic causes, and test possible treatments. Current research is working to make care more consistent and identify people who may be at risk at an early stage. This work aims to make this rare, long-term pain condition easier to diagnose and treat in both specialist and general healthcare settings.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
30936
Session
2026-27
Grouped for answer
Yes
Subjects
Medical treatments Complex regional pain syndrome
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk