§ Mr. ToddTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will list the health authorities in which beta interferon is made available to newly diagnosed MS sufferers; [160262]
(2) what guidance he has given to health authorities on their policies on the use of beta interferon pending the outcome of the NICE review. [160261]
154W
§ Mr. DenhamWe have recently reminded all chief executives in the National Health Service that existing guidance contained in circulars EL(95)97 and HSC 1999–176 remains in place pending the publication of authoritative guidance from the National Institute for Clinical Excellence.
Information about health authorities' policies on the treatment of multiple sclerosis is not available centrally. Any such policies should provide for individual cases to be considered on their merits in the light of the evidence available on different forms of treatment.