§ Mrs. Helen ClarkTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what plans he has to improve treatment facilities for ankylosing spondylitis; [140486]
(2) what information he has collated on the availability of anti-TN F treatment for ankylosing spondylitis; [140488]
(3) what estimate he has made of the numbers of patients with ankylosing spondylitis who (a) might benefit from anti-TNF treatment and (b) benefit from anti-TNF treatment. [140489]
§ Dr. LadymanThe anti-TNF drug. Remicade (Infliximab), is licensed for ankylosing spondylitis for patients who have not responded adequately to conventional drugs. It is given by injection into a vein (intravenously) every four to eight weeks.
Infliximab for the treatment of ankylosing spondylitis was referred to the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) in October 2003. Until NICE publishes its guidance on treatments for ankylosing spondylitis, national health service bodies are expected to continue with local arrangements for the managed introduction of new technologies where guidance from NICE is not available at the time the technology first became available. These arrangements should involve an assessment of all the available evidence. Funding for such treatments should not be withheld simply because of an absence of guidance from NICE. The anticipated date for publication of the NICE guidance is due on its website at www.nice.org.uk shortly.
Information is not collected centrally on the number of patients who benefit or who might benefit from anti-TNF treatment. However, the table shows figures which relate to hospital admissions.
303W
Primary diagnosis (ICD-10 M45,-) Ankylosing Spondylitis—Count of finished admission episodes: NHS hospitals, England 2001–02 Number Admissions 1,379 Notes:
1. Admissions—Admissions are defined as the first period of inpatient care under one consultant within one healthcare provider. Please note that admissions do not represent the number of inpatients, as a person may have more than one admission within the year.
2. Diagnosis (Primary Diagnosis)—The primary diagnosis is the first of up to 14 (seven prior to 2002–03) diagnosis fields in the Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) data set and provides the main reason why they patient was in hospital.
3. Grossing—Figures have not (yet) been adjusted for shortfalls in data (i.e. the data are ungrossed).
Source:
Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), Department of Health.