§ Dr. GibsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he plans to meet patient representatives of senior ophthalmologists to discuss the implications of preliminary NICE guidance on the use of photodynamic therapy to treat age-related macular degeneration; [49937]
(2) what guidance he intends to issue to health authorities regarding patients currently being treated on the NHS with photodynamic therapy; and if he will make a statement; [49936]
(3) what assessment his Department has made of the preliminary NICE guidance on the use of photodynamic therapy to detect age-related macular degeneration, and if he will make a statement. [49935]
§ Ms BlearsThe National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) is currently conducting an appraisal of photodynamic therapy for age-related macular degeneration.
359WNICE have published for consultation the initial thoughts of the independent appraisal committee. This consultation document is available on the NICE website (www.nice.org.uk) and provides organisations representing patients, professions and manufacturers with the opportunity to comment. The closing date for comments is 30 April 2002.
As it is possible that the document issued for consultation may change, it would be inappropriate for the Department to comment until their final guidance has been published. Guidance will be issued to the national health service when NICE have concluded their appraisal.
In the meantime, we have asked NHS bodies to continue with local arrangements for the managed introduction of new technologies where guidance from NICE is not available at the time the technology first became available. These arrangements should involve an assessment of all relevant factors including the available evidence on effect.