Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have held discussions with NHS England about why NHS bodies in Wessex are developing guidelines on the use of liothyronine which are at variance with national guidelines issued by NHS England.

The Department has not had specific discussions with NHS England on this issue with Wessex. However, the national guidelines advise clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) that local decisions should be made regarding arrangements for the on-going prescribing of liothyronine, taking into account both the local needs of the population and the best practice set out in the guidance. While CCGs are expected to have regard to national guidance, they are entitled to develop their own local approaches to its implementation.

Advice developed by the Regional Medicines Optimisation Committee (South) will, however, be made available to CCGs to support a consistent national approach to the on-going prescribing of liothyronine.

As I mentioned in the debate on Branded Health Service Medicines (Costs) Regulations on the 20 of June, Official Report, columns 2076-80, I will pursue this further with NHS England to promote appropriate adoption of the guidance.