Written question asked by Nick Harvey (Liberal Democrat) on Thursday, 6 November 2003, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 19 November 2003. It was answered by Baroness Winterton of Doncaster (Labour) on Wednesday, 19 November 2003 on behalf of the Department of Health.

Dept of Health

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what representations (a) he and (b) his ministerial colleagues has received from (i) the Royal College of Opthalmology, (ii) the AMD Alliance and (iii) the RNIB on the implementation of NICE guidance for wet age-related macular degeneration; and if he will make a statement.

Answer: Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations (a) he and (b) his ministerial colleagues has received from (i) the Royal College of Ophthalmology, (ii) the AMD Alliance and (iii) the RNIB on the implementation of NICE guidance for wet age-related macular degeneration; and if he will make a statement. [138049] Ms Rosie Winterton: We have recently received representations from the Royal National Institute for the Blind and the Macular Disease Society raising concerns about the extended implementation period from three to nine months. They were concerned that primary care trusts would delay paying for photodynamic therapy (PDT) until the latest possible time. Specialised commissioning groups are leading the implementation of PDT and at a meeting held on 4 November, departmental officials made clear that funding should not delay implementation of the guidance. The Department is also working closely with the Royal College of Ophthalmologists on the implementation of the guidance.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 138049; 413 c1118-9W
Session: 2002-03
Subjects: Finance Diseases Eyesight Medical treatments Macular degeneration Waiting lists National Institute for Clinical Excellence
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk