Written question asked by Patsy Calton (Liberal Democrat) on Tuesday, 10 February 2004, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 25 February 2004. It was answered by Melanie Johnson (Labour) on Wednesday, 25 February 2004 on behalf of the Department of Health.

Dept of Health

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his Answer of 16th December 2003 to the honourable Member for Christchurch, Official Report, 415 c877W, on brachytherapy treatment, by what date the Department will have decided whether the treatment referred to is a suitable topic for referral to the National Institute for Clinical Excellence as a technology appraisal.

Answer: Mrs. Calton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to his answer, 16 December 2003, Official Report, column 877W, to the hon. Member for Christchurch (Mr. Chope), on brachytherapy treatment, by what date the Department will have decided whether the treatment referred to is a suitable topic for referral to the National Institute for Clinical Excellence as a technology appraisal. [154938] Miss Melanie Johnson: It is not yet possible to say when the Department will be in a position to consider brachytherapy for the treatment of prostate cancer as a potential topic for referral to the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) as a technology appraisal. More evidence on the effectiveness and cost effectiveness of brachytherapy in the treatment of prostate cancer will be needed for the Department to be able to consider its referral to NICE. It is not yet known when current studies are likely to produce such evidence.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 418 c463-4W;418 c483-4W; 154938
Session: 2003-04
Subjects: Medical treatments National Institute for Clinical Excellence Prostate cancer
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk