§ Mr. FlookTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress is being made in making beta interferon available for MS sufferers by(a) primary care trusts and (b) hospital trusts serving (i) West Somerset and (ii) Taunton Deane. [73269]
§ Ms BlearsBeta interferon and glatiramer acetate are available on the National Health Service for the treatment of people with multiple sclerosis (MS) under the "risk-sharing scheme". The scheme, which came into operation on 6 May 2002, allows such treatments to be prescribed on the NHS to patients who meet the criteria set out by the Association of British Neurologists. All pharmaceutical companies involved have agreed terms for the supply of their products under the scheme. Patients will be monitored to confirm whether the drugs are working and costs to the NHS will reduce if patients do not benefit as expected.
Currently, approximately 51 patients from Somerset are receiving treatment. The local primary care trusts are in discussion to arrange funding for an MS nurse beyond the period provided for by the pharmaceutical industry.
§ Bob SpinkTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what appeal procedures are in place to enable MS patients who have been denied a place on the beta interferon pilot to challenge that decision; [73511]
(2) what audit procedures are in place to ensure that local implementation takes place of the risk-sharing scheme involving drug therapies for beta interferon that he announced earlier this year; [73515]
(3) how many patients were receiving treatment with drug therapies for beta interferon in Essex on 5 May; and how many patients are now being treated with these therapies; [73513]
(4) what controls he intends to use to prevent consultants who do not agree with the wider use of beta interferon from preventing their qualifying MS patients from entering the pilot; [73512]
(5) what assessment his Department has made of progress in implementing the risk-sharing scheme in relation to beta interferon; and if he will make a statement; [73514]
(6) what progress is being made in making beta interferon available for MS sufferers by (a) primary care trusts and (b) hospital trusts serving patients in Essex. [73510]
§ Mr. LammyIf a clinician has decided that a patient should not receive treatment under the risk-sharing scheme, and that patient is dissatisfied with the decision, we expect the patient would be offered a second opinion from another clinician.
794WThe risk-sharing scheme is subject to the usual arrangements for clinical governance and audit adopted within the National Health Service. It is the role of the strategic health authority to ensure that policy is delivered appropriately in its area. Each neurology centre submits data to the scheme co-ordinator. Sheffield University's School of Health and Related Research (ScHARR).
Primary care trusts and strategic health authorities are not expected to report routinely to the Department, though we have, in this instance, requested reports on progress. We understand that, in most areas if treatment is not already being initiated, it will start over the autumn.
We understand that 139 Essex patients were being treated prior to the inception of the scheme and that 19 patients have been initiated on treatment since May.