CareWatch needs your help
THE committee for Health & Social Care is in the process of undertaking a review of its National Institute of Health & Care Excellence (NICE) Technology Appraisal (TA) policy, so that it can report back to the States with an overview of implementation and to make recommendations, or otherwise, for future funding of these medicines across the Bailiwick.
Since this fundamental policy shift of Jan 2020 we know hundreds of new drugs and treatments have been introduced potentially benefitting over 3,000 patients in the first two years, with an additional 600 new patients year on year. The expectation was that these new drugs would significantly improve patient outcomes, reducing unpleasant side effects, improve and extend the quality of life for a huge range of patients suffering from serious conditions like diabetes, MS, cardiac conditions and cancer. Early data from HSC suggest that these life-changing treatments have been delivered by HSC for considerably less than expected, approximately £5m. instead of the £14m. forecast by the review, which is very welcome news and a significant achievement by HSC in these strained financial times.
The in-depth clinical and financial analysis, conducted by an organisation independent of Health and Social Care, was expected to be delivered to the Committee on 19 June. Disappointingly the terms of reference for this review did not include any direct engagement with health and social care users, the patients. However, after some push back from patient group Health Equality for All, the panel members of CareWatch have now been invited by HSC to co-ordinate that patient and family feedback by 14 July.
With time so short, CareWatch needs your help. They are very keen to hear if the expected benefits for patients, or others, have been realised.
Heal fears that without clear evidence of these real-life lived patient experiences, the focus of some of our States deputies will be solely the cost, without regard for the positive impact on patients and their families' lives, and consequential economic and community payback. The consequences of having funding reduced by the States for these drugs and treatments are unimaginable.
It is also important to have feedback from those that still are not getting timely access to new drugs and treatments under this policy. CareWatch would gladly receive any negative observations and from any groups involved in patient representation, so that it can highlight the areas where we must do better. Your vital feedback will be used to inform HSC’s proposals for inclusion in a policy letter to be presented to the States, currently anticipated in September.
Please contact me or if you prefer;
l The CareWatch chair via email https://www.carewatch.org.gg
l via your GP, specialist nurse, or consultant
l via your support group or charitable organisation
l via geraldine.oriordan@gov.gg prescribing advisor to the States of Guernsey and NICE TA review project board chair.
Names or any other personal details are not needed, just the condition you have been or are being treated for, with as much information as you think relevant on your health experience, and how you think changes in your treatment have impacted your quality of life. If you are uncertain as to whether some or all of your treatment has had a TA recommendation it is easy to check by asking your GP, specialist nurse or consultant.
MIKE READ
Chairman of Heal
Panel member of CareWatch
Health rep for the Guernsey Disability Alliance
mp.read@cwgsy.net