Asked by: Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the potential for genomic testing to identify which breast cancer patients require chemotherapy and which do not, in light of the recent trial by University College London entitled Optimal Personalised Treatment of early breast cancer using Multi-parameter Analysis.
Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Government and NHS England recognise the importance of genomic testing to support more personalised treatment for cancer patients, including those with breast cancer. While decisions on specific treatment pathways, including the use of chemotherapy for breast cancer, are made by clinicians based on individual patient circumstances and the latest clinical evidence and guidance, genomic testing is increasingly being used to inform those decisions where appropriate.
As set out in the National Cancer Plan, genomic testing is being expanded across the National Health Service so that every patient who would benefit receives testing within a clinically relevant timeframe. The plan also commits to further embedding genomic testing as a routine and timely part of treatment planning. This will support more precise clinical decision-making and ensure that patients benefit from advances in personalised medicine as the evidence base continues to develop.
The NHS Genomic Medicine Service, delivered through a national network of Genomic Laboratory Hubs and guided by the National Genomic Test Directory, already provides access to a wide range of genomic tests for over 200 cancer indications. These tests are used to inform diagnosis and treatment planning across cancer pathways. The Test Directory sets out the eligibility criteria for patients to access testing as well as the genomic targets to be tested and the method that should be used. This includes a range of testing for breast cancer that can inform treatment decisions.
Asked by: Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the potential for the drug Daraxonrasib to treat advanced pancreatic cancer; and when they expect the National Institute for Health and Care to complete their technology appraisal of the drug.
Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
Daraxonrasib is not currently licensed in the United Kingdom. Should the manufacturer submit an application to the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) for a product licence, the MHRA has processes in place to review and assess its benefit-risk in relation to quality, safety, and efficacy.
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) is responsible for providing evidence‑based recommendations on whether new, licensed medicines represent a clinically and cost‑effective use of National Health Service resources. Daraxonrasib is not currently included in NICE’s work programme. If the manufacturer submits a licensing application to the MHRA for daraxonrasib it will be considered by NICE for evaluation.
Asked by: Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of the cost to the NHS of shingles-related (1) GP appointments, (2) A&E attendances, and (3) hospital admissions, by adults aged (a) 80 and over between November 2024 and the planned date of vaccine programme implementation, and (b) aged 60 to 70 in the between 2019 and the planned date of vaccine programme implementation.
Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
Modelling which estimated the cost of shingles-related general practice attendance and hospitalisation was considered by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI). In November 2024, JCVI advised that adults aged 80 years old and over should become eligible for shingles vaccination.
The Government is still carefully considering this advice and examining factors including affordability and cost-effectiveness, the last of which is calculated based on the health benefits and costs of vaccinating this cohort. This process is being worked through as quickly as possible.
For any routine vaccination programme which the Government has agreed to implement, decisions on when to introduce or expand the programme are based on factors including availability of supply, feasibility of workforce delivery and affordability.
The second phase of the routine shingles vaccination programme for immunocompetent adults is due to begin on 1 September 2028, after which adults will become eligible at age between 60 and 65 years old.
Asked by: Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of the number of adults aged (1) 80 and over, and (2) 60 and over, who will develop shingles during the period between when the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation issued advice that each cohort should receive the shingles vaccine and the planned date of implementation for each cohort.
Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The second phase of the routine shingles vaccination programme for immunocompetent adults is due to begin on 1 September 2028, after which adults will become eligible at age 60 and 65 years old.
The Government is considering the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation’s advice on expanding shingles vaccination to adults aged 80 years old and over.
Shingles incidence is not routinely collected and published. We therefore do not hold an estimate of the number of shingles cases likely to occur in these age cohorts in these timeframes.
Asked by: Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure the implementation of Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation advice on the expansion of the NHS shingles vaccination programme to adults aged (1) 80 and over, and (2) 60 and over; and by what date they expect each of those cohorts to have access to that programme.
Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Government is carefully considering the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation’s (JCVI’s) advice on expanding shingles vaccination to adults aged 80 years old and over. We are working through this process as quickly as possible.
Adults turning 60 years of age will become eligible for shingles vaccination from 1 September 2028 through a phased implementation process concluding in September 2033. Thereafter, shingles vaccination will be offered routinely to immunocompetent adults at 60 years of age. This approach is in line with JCVI advice and helps maximise cost-effectiveness and population benefit, takes account of National Health Service delivery capacity, and is consistent with the approach taken across all four nations of the United Kingdom.
Asked by: Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government what are the reasons for the delay to shingles vaccination access for adults aged (1) 80 and over, and (2) 60 and over.
Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Government is carefully considering the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation’s (JCVI’s) advice on expanding shingles vaccination to adults aged 80 years old and over. We are working through this process as quickly as possible.
Adults turning 60 years of age will become eligible for shingles vaccination from 1 September 2028 through a phased implementation process concluding in September 2033. Thereafter, shingles vaccination will be offered routinely to immunocompetent adults at 60 years of age. This approach is in line with JCVI advice and helps maximise cost-effectiveness and population benefit, takes account of National Health Service delivery capacity, and is consistent with the approach taken across all four nations of the United Kingdom.