Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government, with reference to paragraph 4.3.17 of National Institute for Health and Care Excellence health technology evaluations: the manual, published on 27 June 2023, under what circumstances it would be relevant to consider health effects for carers.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence’s (NICE) methods for health technology evaluation allow its independent committees to take health benefits for carers into account where relevant in determining whether a technology can be recommended for National Health Service use. The scope for the technology appraisal topic, which is developed using a process that includes consultation with stakeholders, will normally identify where carer benefits are a relevant outcome in decision-making.

NICE’s methods are set out in NICE technology appraisal and highly specialised technologies guidance: the manual, reference code PMG36, which states that “evaluations should consider all health effects for patients, and, when relevant, carers. When presenting health effects for carers, evidence should be provided to show that the condition is associated with a substantial effect on carer's health related quality of life and how the technology affects carers.” NICE appraisals specifically consider health-related quality of life, for both patients and carers, rather than quality of life as a whole.