Hi,
My MP Nigel Mills, finally replied to all the numerous e-mails me, my family and friends have sent him over the past few weeks.
Not sure what to make of it though.
Dear Ms Beresford,
Thank you for contacting me regarding the National Institute of Clinical
Excellence (NICE) and the approval of drugs for use on the NHS.
The Government will introduce a new system of value-based pricing which will
make effective treatments affordable to patients on the NHS. These plans will
ensure licenced and effective drugs are available to NHS clinicians and
patients. The Government will focus NICE's role on what matters most - advising
clinicians on effective treatments and quality standards - rather than making
decisions on whether patients should access drugs that their doctors want to
prescribe.
As a result of these changes, NICE will not be able to issue formal restrictions
on the use of treatments on the NHS. Instead, these decisions will be taken
locally. Taken together, I believe these policies will help restore confidence
in our drugs licencing system, and help patients gain access to the medication
they need.
I will be in touch with you again, once the PCT respond with their answer from
their cancer lead.
Thank you again for taking the time to contact me.
Yours sincerely,
Nigel Mills MP
Member of Parliament for Amber Valley
House of Commons, London, SW1A 0AA Tel: 020 7219 7233
Thomas Henry House, 1-5 Church Street, Ripley, DE5 3BU Tel 01773 744341