§ Mr. HinchliffeTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what time scale he has given for health authorities to provide all under 16 year olds and new patients requiring the synthetic version of blood product Factor VIII with this treatment; and what advice he has given to those authorities which previously restricted its availability because of budgetary constraints. [34957]
§ Mr. BoatengHealth Service Circular HSC 033 requests chief executives of health authorities and trusts to take the necessary steps to ensure that new patients and patients under the age of 16 have access to recombinant Factor VIII as soon as supplies allow after 1 April this year, if their clinicians recommend this treatment.
615WThe circular acknowledges that many health authorities have previously decided not to fund this treatment on the basis of the clinical evidence of effectiveness and safety relative to cost. It makes clear that extra funding will be provided in 1998–99 to cover new patients and children under 16 who were not already receiving recombinant Factor VIII prior to 26 February, and who were not covered by current contracting arrangements.
Copies of the circular are available in the Library.