Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether she has received representations of concern from (a) patient safety groups and (b) medical equipment suppliers on the interim methods and processes statement for late-stage assessments published by NICE.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence’s (NICE) interim methods and processes for late-stage assessment have been subject to a public consultation between 29 February and 28 March 2024. The consultation allowed stakeholders from across the sector, including medical equipment suppliers, patients, and caregivers, to comment on these interim methods and processes. This included the proposed use of predetermined price ranges for categories of technologies. The Department and the NICE are unable to comment on the results of the consultation at this stage, as the NICE is currently considering the responses. Further information will be made available upon the completion of this process.