Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what discussions his Department has had with NHS England and Monitor about the proposal to remove subcutaneous implantable cardiac defibrillators from the high cost device exclusion list as part of the 2016-17 national tariff proposals.

The Health and Social Care Act 2012 gives responsibility for National Tariff to Monitor and NHS England. As such, Monitor and NHS England have worked with the relevant experts to propose changes to the high cost list, including removing implantable cardiac defibrillators from the high cost list. We are currently engaging on these proposals and will respond to this feedback in the proposals set out in the Consultation on the 2016/17 National Tariff.

The Office for Life Science and the Department are conducting the Innovative Medicines and Medical Technology Review, which will be led by Sir Hugh Taylor. The review will make recommendations to Government on reform to accelerate access for NHS patients to innovative medicines and medical technologies (including devices and diagnostics).