To ask the Minister of Health to outline (i) how frequently multiple sclerosis patients should be undergoing blood tests; and (ii) what steps he is taking to ensure regular and reliable blood testing is provided for these patients.

HSC Trusts follow the NICE clinical guideline for the management of Multiple Sclerosis. With regard to the requirement for blood tests, there is no set position on how frequently patients should be undergoing blood tests. This can be dependent on a number of factors including whether a patient might have other co-morbidities or whether a patient is on a disease modifying treatment. For each disease modifying treatment there is guidance on how often blood tests need to be undertaken these can vary from monthly to six-monthly. The frequency can also be amended, if for example, results are not within acceptable levels.

In recent years, there have been some changes to the provision of blood tests for patients under the care of hospital clinicians with some testing previously undertaken in primary care now being provided in hospital settings. Resources have been made available to establish or extend phlebotomy hub capacity in Trust settings.