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Written question asked by Layla Moran (Liberal Democrat) on Friday, 9 January 2026, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 13 January 2026. It was answered by Zubir Ahmed (Labour) on Wednesday, 21 January 2026 on behalf of the Department of Health and Social Care.

Depressive Illnesses: Ketamine

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he plans to request that NICE conduct an exceptional (expedited) partial review of the NICE Depression guideline (NG222) to consider the inclusion of intravenous racemic ketamine as an option for patients for whom electroconvulsive therapy is being considered.

Answer

The Department has no plans to ask the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) to conduct a review of the NICE guideline on the treatment and management of depression, reference code NG222.

NICE is an independent body and is responsible for taking decisions on whether its guidelines should be updated in light of new evidence and changes in clinical practice. NICE operates an active surveillance programme and when new evidence emerges, it proactively considers whether existing guidance should be reviewed and, if appropriate, updated. Decisions as to whether NICE will create new, or update existing, guidance are overseen by an integrated, cross-organisational prioritisation board. NICE has no current plans to review intravenous racemic ketamine in the context of the depression guideline.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
104585
Session
2024-26
Subjects
Depressive illnesses National Institute for Health and Care Excellence Ketamine
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk