Asked by: Ruth George (Labour - High Peak)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps NHS England will take to encourage the uptake of innovative and cost-effective medicines as set out in the 2019 voluntary scheme for branded medicines pricing and access.
Answered by Steve Brine
The 2019 voluntary scheme for branded medicines pricing and access contains ambitions to improve patients’ outcomes and the health gain from medicines spend by simplifying, streamlining and improving access, pricing and uptake arrangements for cost-effective medicines; and delivering faster adoption of the most clinically and cost-effective medicines.
This will be supported by changes to the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence’s value assessment of new products, availability of increased commercial flexibility, and support for the National Health Service to increase uptake where appropriate. Use of products, particularly those which provide greatest health gain for patients, will be monitored and reviewed through this scheme. NHS England is developing a cohesive commercial framework to support this.
Asked by: Ruth George (Labour - High Peak)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what discussions he has had with (a) Roche and (b) NHS England on introducing a managed access scheme for ocrelizumab to made available for people living with primary progressive MS.
Answered by Steve Brine
In November 2018, my Rt. hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, met with Roche to discuss life sciences, and briefly discussed the negotiations between Roche and NHS England on ocrelizumab. Similarly, the former Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health (Lord O’Shaughnessy) met with Roche in December 2018. Both Ministers encouraged the on-going negotiations and agreed that these negotiations needed to continue in order to ensure the best conclusion for both parties, and patients that suffer from primary progressive multiple sclerosis. Those discussions are rightly for NHS England and Roche and it would not be appropriate for Ministers to intervene.
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) is currently developing technology appraisal guidance on the use of ocrelizumab for the treatment of primary progressive multiple sclerosis. NHS England is in discussions with Roche, the manufacturer of ocrelizumab, to seek to agree a commercial agreement that might enable NICE to recommend use of the drug.
Asked by: Ruth George (Labour - High Peak)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the status is of negotiations between Roche and NHS England on access to ocrelizumab for people with primary progressive MS on the NHS; and if he will take steps to help the two parties reach an agreement to deliver access to that drug.
Answered by Steve Brine
In November 2018, my Rt. hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, met with Roche to discuss life sciences, and briefly discussed the negotiations between Roche and NHS England on ocrelizumab. Similarly, the former Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health (Lord O’Shaughnessy) met with Roche in December 2018. Both Ministers encouraged the on-going negotiations and agreed that these negotiations needed to continue in order to ensure the best conclusion for both parties, and patients that suffer from primary progressive multiple sclerosis. Those discussions are rightly for NHS England and Roche and it would not be appropriate for Ministers to intervene.
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) is currently developing technology appraisal guidance on the use of ocrelizumab for the treatment of primary progressive multiple sclerosis. NHS England is in discussions with Roche, the manufacturer of ocrelizumab, to seek to agree a commercial agreement that might enable NICE to recommend use of the drug.
Asked by: Ruth George (Labour - High Peak)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he has plans to publish the Social Care Green Paper before the UK leaves the EU.
Answered by Caroline Dinenage
An ageing society means that we need to reach a longer-term sustainable settlement for social care. This is why the Government has committed to publishing a Green Paper at the earliest opportunity setting out its proposals for reform.
Asked by: Ruth George (Labour - High Peak)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether the Government’s preparations for the UK leaving the EU potentially with no deal are expected to delay the publication of the Social Care Green Paper.
Answered by Caroline Dinenage
No, as an ageing society, we need to reach a longer-term sustainable settlement for social care. The Social Care Green Paper remains a priority and the Government has committed to publishing at the earliest opportunity.
Asked by: Ruth George (Labour - High Peak)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps the Department is taking to ensure that the Social Care Green Paper is published at the earliest opportunity.
Answered by Caroline Dinenage
The Social Care Green Paper remains a priority for this Government. The Department is working hard to publish a Green Paper setting out proposals for reform at the earliest opportunity.
Asked by: Ruth George (Labour - High Peak)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to raise awareness among health professionals of the new Royal College of Physicians Guidelines on complex regional pain syndrome.
Answered by Steve Brine
It is not the role of the Department to promote clinical guidance to health professionals. Health professionals, once qualified, are expected to stay informed about the latest evidence in clinical practice.
The updated guidance on complex regional pain syndrome, published by the Royal College of Physicians was developed in partnership with 28 other organisations. A number of the organisations involved have sought to promote the guidance via online media and their respective websites. A copy of the guidance can be found at the following link:
www.rcplondon.ac.uk/guidelines-policy/complex-regional-pain-syndrome-adults
Asked by: Ruth George (Labour - High Peak)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the average waiting times have been for (a) a referral and (b) an urgent referral to a pain clinic in each clinical commissioning group area in the most recent period for which figures are available.
Answered by Stephen Hammond
The information is not held centrally.