§ Mr. HancockTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what drugs approved by NICE are unavailable nationwide; and if he will make a statement; [48669]
(2) what regulations apply to (a) local community care trusts, (b) health authorities and (c) hospital trusts regarding the prescription of drugs accepted by NICE; and if he will make a statement; [48670]
(3) what powers doctors possess to prescribe drugs in contravention of local authority policy; and if he will make a statement. [48671]
§ Ms BlearsHealth authorities and primary care trusts are under a statutory obligation set out in Directions to provide appropriate funding for treatments recommended by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE). The Directions were made using powers in the National Health Service Act 1977 and came into force on 1 January 2002. The Directions were introduced as part of the Government's strategy to ensure consistency of access to treatments recommended by NICE and deemed appropriate by clinicians for their individual patients. Funding is provided in baseline allocations to meet these commitments.