Tuesday November 4 2008
Patients will be allowed to pay for additional drugs without losing their NHS treatment, it was announced today. NHS patients, particularly those with a terminal illness, will also have more drugs made available to them as part of the changes, and approval times for new drugs will be speeded up.
What was the previous situation?
Until now, patients haven’t been allowed to top up their NHS care with drugs they have paid for privately. In the past, those who paid for drugs privately gave up their right to NHS treatment.
Where did the news come from?
The health secretary set out these measures on November 4. They are based on recommendations made in a report by the national cancer director, Professor Mike Richards. The report is the culmination of a four-and-a-half-month review on the effect of current policy on NHS patients who choose to pay privately for some drugs.
Also announced today are new proposals from NICE (National Institute of Clinical Excellence) on the approval of new therapies.
What do the new measures mean?
NHS patients who choose to pay for private treatment alongside their NHS treatment can do so, provided the extra treatment is carried out in a private facility and is not subsidised by the NHS. Any extra costs associated with the private treatment, such as tests and time spent by NHS staff, will also need to be paid for by the patient.
- NICE will propose a new, more flexible system for appraising expensive drugs for treating terminally ill patients.
- The NICE approval process for new drugs will be speeded up so that patients can get them more quickly.
- There will be new guidelines for primary care trusts aiming to make treatment more consistent, with advice on funding of new drugs where there is no NICE guidance.
Where can I find out more information?
The full report by Professor Mike Richards can be found on the Department of Health website.
Draft guidance for trusts on patients who wish to pay for additional private care can also be found on the Department of Health website.
