Press release: NHS Confederation responds to NICE issuing final guidance on Herceptin

23 Aug 2006

Dr Gill Morgan, chief executive of the NHS Confederation which represents more that 90 per cent of NHS organisations, said:

"We welcome today's guidance on the use of Herceptin in early stage breast cancer as it will provide primary care trusts with clarity about the prescription of this drug.

"Many aspects of the new rapid appraisal process that has been used to produce the guidance have been positive, in particular the decision of Newbury Primary Care Trust to accept NICE's invitation to appeal.

"Even though the appeal was rejected, it is a positive step forward because it means that more information has been put into the appraisal process; anomalies and inconsistencies have been questioned.

"It is likely that this new rapid system of appraisal will lead to more such appeals as more PCTs develop strong local panels to review clinical evidence and advise on the introduction of new therapies at a local level.

"After all, it is the role of primary care trusts, not NICE, to provide a voice for all patients living in the communities that they serve. It is the responsibility of managers and clinicians to balance trade-offs, often this means making heartbreaking decisions on a regular basis. A pound can only be spent once, and thus a new therapy will displace another treatment in a cash limited system like the NHS.

"It is because of the competing needs of patients and the public that it is vital we start to have a proper debate about our priorities. It is important that the NHS does not value groups of patients with emotive conditions more than those groups who are less vocal."

ENDS

Notes for editors

The NHS Confederation represents more than 90% of the organisations that make up the NHS. Its members include the majority of NHS acute trusts, ambulance trusts, foundation trusts, mental health trusts, primary care trusts, special health authorities and strategic health authorities in England; trusts and local health boards in Wales; and health and social service trusts and boards in Northern Ireland.

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