§ Sandra GidleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what recent representations he has received on the availability of taxanes; and if he will make a statement; [74214]
(2) how much was spent on taxanes for breast cancer for the most recent financial year available, broken down by (a) health authority and (b) health trusts; and if he will make a statement; [74212]
(3) what estimate he has made of the number of women benefiting from treatment for breast cancer (a) before and (b) after publication of the most recent NICE guidance; and if he will make a statement. [74213]
§ Ms BlearsThe National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) published its review of taxanes (docetaxel and paclitaxel) for the treatment of breast cancer in September 2001.
There have been no recent representations on the availability of taxanes.
All health authorities have confirmed that they are implementing the NICE appraisals. However, the Department does not hold central data on the number of patients treated with a particular drug or on the amount spent on individual drugs. NICE estimate the additional cost to the National Health Service of 432W implementing the guidance on taxanes to be around 16 million per annum for England and Wales and that around 5,000 women are likely to benefit from the guidance.