Medical Research: International Rare Diseases Research Consortium Debate

Full Debate: Read Full Debate
Department: Department of Health and Social Care

Medical Research: International Rare Diseases Research Consortium

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath Excerpts
Thursday 28th February 2013

(11 years, 9 months ago)

Lords Chamber
Read Full debate Read Hansard Text Read Debate Ministerial Extracts
Lord Hunt of Kings Heath Portrait Lord Hunt of Kings Heath
- Hansard - -

My Lords, I declare my interests in the Register in the health service. Following on from the previous question, I understand that the commissioning costs of rare diseases will be met nationally by the NHS Commissioning Board. However, when patients require regular medication, which would presumably be prescribed by their GP, will funding responsibility fall on local clinical commissioning groups? If so, will they be given specified resources to fund what are often very expensive treatments?

Earl Howe Portrait Earl Howe
- Hansard - - - Excerpts

My Lords, the funding for expensive treatments will be very much the responsibility of the Commissioning Board. However, of course the noble Lord is right, because a patient with a rare disease will need to be treated along a pathway of care, some of which will be specialised and some of which will be more routine. It is therefore important that we build into our UK plan for rare diseases an awareness of that pathway so that this is a seamless process. The commissioning must be joined up between the board, clinical commissioning groups and, indeed, local authorities that provide social care.