§ Mr. BeggsTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what consideration he has given to extending the guidelines published by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence on the management of multiple sclerosis to Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement. [168080]
§ Angela SmithGuidelines produced by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) are only applicable to England and Wales; there is no statutory requirement to implement NICE guidelines in Northern Ireland. The Department advises health and social services boards and trusts on the local applicability of NICE guidance, and is considering how guidelines issued by NICE can be fully assessed and applied in the context of Northern Ireland's health and social services.
Following the issue of NICE guidelines on the use of disease modifying medicines for people with multiple sclerosis, the Department agreed to participate with the other UK Departments in a scheme for monitoring patients to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of supplying these treatments. Over 500 Northern Ireland multiple sclerosis patients are currently taking part in the UK-wide scheme.