Special Educational and Disability Needs 2025-03-25
2025-03-25
TAGS
Response quality
Questions & Answers
Q1
Partial Answer
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Context
The Accrington Victoria hospital closed last year after 14 years of mismanagement, leading to the relocation of clinical services from a fully purposed building for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).
Last year we faced the devastating closure of the Accrington Victoria hospital. A fully purposed building for children with SEND had to be used to relocate clinical services. How does the Minister plan to ensure that those with SEND are at the heart of commissioning plans and service development?
We will consider policies through the 10-year health plan to ensure that children with SEND are at the heart of commissioning plans. We hosted a roundtable recently with children and young people, including those with SEND, so their voices can feed directly into the 10-year plan.
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Assessment & feedback
Specific actions or commitments related to ensuring SEND prioritisation in NHS service development were not provided.
Response accuracy
Q2
Partial Answer
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Context
Colleagues from across the House supported a debate calling for the Down Syndrome Act 2022 to be implemented three years after its passage. The Minister for Secondary Care stated that Down syndrome-specific guidance would be produced.
Will the Minister ensure that the consultation group is restricted to organisations that represent Down syndrome people only and promise that statutory guidance will finally be issued before the end of this calendar year?
Work to develop the Down Syndrome Act statutory guidance is being taken forward as a priority, with a view to publishing it for consultation by the summer. It involves people with Down syndrome as part of a wider group.
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Assessment & feedback
Specific commitment to restricting the consultation group only to organisations representing Down syndrome individuals and providing a clear deadline were not given.
Response accuracy