NHS service to support drug assessments celebrates successes
An innovative service, led by a Birmingham NHS organisation and set up to ensure an effective working relationship with the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE), is celebrating a string of successes less than a year since it was launched.
The Commissioning Support Appraisal Service (CSAS) was established in September 2009, and was contracted by NHS Birmingham East and North on behalf of the 152 NHS primary care trusts (PCTs) across England. The priority was to work with PCTs to ensure that they were consulted on when NICE – the independent organisation responsible for providing national guidance on promoting good health and preventing and treating ill health – is considering technology appraisal of a new drug.
Following its launch, the CSAS has set up a steering group, designed and launched a website and developed the PCT network for reviewing and providing input into NICE developments.
Already, the CSAS has encouraged a better relationship between NICE and PCTs, ensuring that NICE has an increased understanding of the consequences of new drug approvals for PCTs and the difficult decisions that have to be taken in relation to funding. There has been real engagement in the appraisals process by PCT commissioners, giving balance in technology appraisal discussions.
The CSAS is now working to grow the number of PCTs involved and has run website updates and campaigns to coach and encourage PCT comments on NICE appraisals.
Andrew Donald, Chief Operating Officer at NHS Birmingham East and North and Chair of the CSAS Steering Group, said: “We are really proud of the achievements that the CSAS has made in such a short space of time. There is no other initiative like this, which had to gain support from all 152 PCTs in order to support them in working with NICE, and providing advice from a commissioning perspective on technology appraisals.
“Historically, PCTs have not engaged in this process for many reasons, including time, resources, skills and expertise. Because of this, many drugs were approved through the NICE appraisal process without input from commissioners at PCTs. This resulted in a small number of costly appeals. PCTs are now seen as a key part of the NICE technology assessment process, improving relationships and saving money by avoiding appeals.”
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Enquiries
For more information, please contact Sarah Millard, NHS Birmingham East and North External Communications Manager, on 0121 380 0620.
Notes to editors
NHS Birmingham East and North is one of 152 primary care trusts (PCTs) within the English NHS. As a PCT, it is responsible for the wise investment of public money to ensure health improvement, access to health services and where appropriate the provision of health services to a local population of some 438,000 people, across 17 wards in north and east Birmingham.
We organise and fund the delivery of health care with the involvement of local people, maximising health outcomes for every pound spent, referred to as commissioning.
The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) provides guidance, sets quality standards and manages a national database to improve people’s health and prevent and treat ill health. NICE’s website can be accessed at www.nice.org.uk.
Tags: National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence, NICE