§ Lord McColl of Dulwichasked Her Majesty's Government:
How patients with coronary heart disease can obtain treatment with drug eluting stents ahead of the appraisal from the National Institute for Clinical Excellence, given that evidence is available on their clinical efficacy. [HL1934]
§ Lord Hunt of Kings HeathPrimary care trusts as local commissioners of services decide in consultation with local acute trusts and clinicians what services and treatment to provide for their local population. Individual patients should discuss their treatment options with their consultant.
The absence of guidelines from the National Institute for Clinical Excellence does not prevent the National Health Service using new drugs or technologies. Standing guidance to the NHS states specifically that clinicians should not wait for NICE guidance but should in the interim period make a local decision about whether to fund a particular intervention on the basis of the available published information.