§ Mr. AmessTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what action he plans to take to ensure that health care trusts abide by National Institute for Clinical Excellence guidance on anti TNF therapy. [128678]
§ Dr. LadymanClinicians have to make an independent clinical judgment, taking due account of the National Institute for Clinical Excellence's (NICE) advice and the strength of evidence which lies behind it. They may therefore depart from the advice if, in their view, the circumstances of the individual patient justify doing so. But they will be held accountable, through clinical governance arrangements, for their clinical decisions.
616WThe Commission for Health Improvement (CHI) and NICE have agreed a methodology for CHI to incorporate the monitoring of NICE guidance in its clinical governance reviews. Specifically, CHI now looks to see if national health service trusts have mechanisms in place to implement and comply with NICE guidance. CHI will also support and facilitate clinicians to discuss when NICE guidance is and is not followed on an individual patient basis.
The Commission for Healthcare Audit and Inspection will be the main inspector of NHS services in the future. It will carry out inspection against clear national standards and we expect NICE guidance to be included in those standards.
§ Mrs. Helen ClarkTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make it his policy to collect centrally information regarding the level of availability of anti TNF therapy to qualifying patients for each primary care trust. [129135]
§ Dr. LadymanThe National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE) recommended the use of anti-TNF therapy in March 2002. We have issued directions obliging strategic health authorities and primary care trusts to provide appropriate funding for treatments recommended by NICE. This is in line with our manifesto commitment to ensure that patients receive drugs and treatments recommended by NICE on the national health service if considered appropriate by their clinicians. The Commission for Health Improvement (CHI) and NICE have agreed a methodology for CHI to incorporate the monitoring of NICE guidance in its clinical governance reviews. Specifically, CHI now looks to see if NHS trusts have mechanisms in place to implement and comply with NICE guidance. CHI will also support and facilitate clinicians to discuss when NICE guidance is and is not followed on an individual patient basis.
The Commission for Healthcare Audit and Inspection will be the main inspector of NHS services in the future. It will carry out inspection against clear national standards and we expect NICE guidance to be included in those standards.