Written question asked by Lord Barker of Battle (Conservative) on Tuesday, 15 October 2002, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 7 November 2002. It was answered by Hazel Blears (Labour) on Thursday, 7 November 2002 on behalf of the Department of Health.

Dept of Health

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what representations his Department has received concerning delays in obtaining NICE guidance on cancer treatments.

Answer: Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations his Department has received concerning delays in obtaining NICE guidance on cancer treatments. [75799] Ms Blears: The Department has received numerous letters and other representations regarding delays in obtaining guidance from the National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE) on cancer treatments. The appraisal process, from referral to completion, has been designed to allow the full participation of patients, clinicians, companies and stakeholders. NICE is fully aware of the need to ensure that the process is as streamlined as possible, without losing any of the important safeguards it contains, in order to publish guidance soon after the treatments are launched. It is not acceptable for funding authorities to refuse to fund a newly licensed treatment just because it is awaiting appraisal by NICE. Decisions on funding should be based on local consideration of the available evidence when NICE appraisals are awaited.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 75799; 392 c490-1W;392 c502-3W
Session: 2001-02
Subjects: Cancer Administrative delays Medical treatments Publications National Institute for Clinical Excellence
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk