§ 28. Mr. SarwarTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the assistance offered by the Government to CJD victims and their families. [122890]
§ Yvette CooperWe will shortly be publishing some new guidance for health care professionals on caring for CJD patients. Among other things, it will stress the important role a named 'key worker' plays in ensuring the response properly meets the patient's and family's needs.
A national care co-ordinator has recently joined the Government-funded National CJD Surveillance Unit in Edinburgh to provide specialist expertise in CJD for professionals and carers.
230WThe Department of Health also funds the CJD Support Network, a voluntary organisation providing help and support to patients and families affected by all types of CJD, to employ a case co-ordinator to help local service providers respond appropriately to patients' and families' care needs. In addition, the Human BSE Foundation are funded by the Department to provide help and support specifically to patients and families affected by variant CJD.
Finally, negotiations are underway to ensure the funding of the London Prion Unit at St. Mary's Hospital, which specialises in treating vCJD patients, and also offers information, advice and support for patients, families and professionals on all types of CJD.