Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Seema Kennedy and Tracy Brabin

Tuesday 23rd July 2019 Commons Chamber

[Tracy Brabin (Batley and Spen) (Lab/Co-op)]

T3. My constituent Catherine is undergoing post-operative breast cancer treatment. A new drug, Pertuzumab, which has been approved by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, has been shown to improve a woman’s life chances. The drug was prescribed for Catherine by her oncologist at the Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust, but that was overruled by NHS England, although in the neighbouring trust patients are allowed it. Can the Minister guarantee that women who could extend their lives by taking this drug have access to it, no matter where they live?

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health and Social Care (Seema Kennedy)]

When drugs have been approved by NICE, there is an obligation to prescribe them. If the hon. Lady will write to me, I shall be able to look into this matter more closely.