Written question asked by Bob Spink (Conservative) on Monday, 6 June 2005, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 8 June 2005. It was answered by Liam Byrne (Labour) on Thursday, 9 June 2005 on behalf of the Department of Health.

Rheumatoid Arthritis

Question: (2) what estimate she has made of the number of patients with severe rheumatoid arthritis who would benefit from anti-TNFa therapy but who do not receive it; and if she will make a statement;

Answer: It is the responsibility of strategic health authorities to ensure local compliance with clinical guidelines issued by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE).The Department does not hold information on the number of people who would benefit from, or are receiving, specific treatments.All primary care trusts in England and Wales are obliged to make available anti-tumour necrosis factor treatment for those patients with rheumatoid arthritis who meet the clinical guidelines issued by NICE.

Secondary information