Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they intend to conduct an assessment of the impact of the withdrawal of Liothyronine (T3) on patients as a result of Clinical Commissioning Groups misinterpreting or failing to follow NHS England's guidance on the prescription of that drug.
The Department has had no such discussions with NHS England on ensuring liothyronine is prescribed in accordance with the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidelines, nor does the Department intend to conduct such an assessment.
The Regional Medicines Optimising Committee published its latest guidance on the prescribing of liothyronine in November and we can confirm NHS England is working closely with clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) on the prescribing of liothyronine to support them with the implementation of guidance for CCGs on items which should not be routinely prescribed in primary care.
CCGs are expected to have regard to national guidance, and are responsible for developing their own local approaches to its implementation taking into account local priorities and needs.