HC Deb 18 December 2003 vol 415 c1134W
Andy King

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what his policy is towards new treatments which allow patients to self-administer at home; [144549]

(2) what steps he is taking to help patients access new treatments which allow them to self-administer their treatment at home when recommended by their clinician. [144550]

Ms Rosie Winterton

The Government's policy is to promote self-care and give patients greater control over their treatment. On 9 December, we published "Building on the Best: Choice, Responsiveness and Equity in the NHS". This document broadly sets out how we need to make the national health service more responsive to patients by offering more choice across the spectrum of health care. Redesigning services around the wishes and choices of different groups of service users will improve access to care and treatment and reduce health inequalities.