Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when NICE last reviewed its guidance on the (a) availability and (b) prescribing of T3 for the treatment of thyroid cancer; and whether he has plans to improve access to T3 for patients where it is clinically indicated.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has not made any recommendations on the use of liothyronine in the treatment of thyroid cancer. NICE published a guideline on the assessment and management of thyroid cancer in December 2022. There are currently no plans to review the guideline.

NHS England produced advice for prescribers on the use of liothyronine, otherwise known as T3, in August 2023 that sets out details on those patients that may benefit from T3 and how prescribers can prescribe this medicine to those patients. It recommends liothyronine as part of the management of thyroid cancer in preparation for radioiodine remnant ablation and radioiodine therapy. The advice is available at the following link:

https://www.england.nhs.uk/long-read/liothyronine-advice-for-prescribers/

We are aware that liothyronine 20 microgram vials will be out of stock from October 2025 until the end of April 2026. NHS England will be issuing national communications containing advice during the period of disruption to supply of the licensed product, outlining the availability of unlicensed imports and other clinical alternatives. NHS England is not aware of any supply issues affecting oral presentations of liothyronine.