NHS: Evidence-based Medicine

Baroness Wall of New Barnet Excerpts

Wednesday 10th October 2012 Lords Chamber

[Earl Howe]

My Lords, yes I can. There is a real impetus within Government to look at evidence-based treatment for illegal drug users.

[Baroness Wall of New Barnet]

My Lords, I am surprised that in his response to the noble Lord, Lord Taverne, the noble Earl did not remind him of the health and well-being boards which make decisions now about what is happening locally. Certainly, from my experience, homeopathy has been one of the issues that the health and well-being board in Enfield has been looking at. Obviously, the evidence base is important, but should not that direction on what is locally required be made a priority?

[Earl Howe]

The noble Baroness makes an important point, and of course she is right that health and well-being boards will be very important forums for establishing the clinical priorities in geographic regions and then setting strategies to meet those priorities. However, in the end, it is for commissioners and individual clinicians to decide what is best for patients in a particular area.