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NHS England announces provisional investment decisions for specialised services

NHS England has today (11 July) set out the results of its annual process for deciding which new treatments and services it will make available to patients.

Around a hundred policies were considered over the course of the year.

Many of these were considered as ‘In Year Service Developments’ – policies which are cost-saving or cost neutral. Twelve new treatments and services in this category have been confirmed today, and are listed below.

Policies which require new investment are considered as part of the Annual Prioritisation process. Eighteen new treatments and services, together with some new genetic tests for rare inherited conditions, have provisionally been identified as affordable within the resources available for this category of additional treatments this year.

However, final decisions on whether or not to commission these services cannot now be taken until the outcome of a judicial review on HIV prevention, the result of which may require the prioritisation process to be run again.

Draft versions of each policy have been guided by relevant Clinical Reference Groups – which comprise patients and clinical experts – and published for public consultation on the NHS England website on a rolling basis throughout the year.

Feedback received has been factored into the final policy propositions and helped to inform recommendations made on them by the independently-chaired Clinical Priorities Advisory Group (CPAG).

Annual Prioritisation – provisional results

In considering policies placed before it, CPAG followed the published procedure, which was subject to recent public consultation.

Policies were first grouped by CPAG into three categories of patient benefit, and then three categories of cost. This methodology allows for the proposals to be split into five levels of cost/benefit.

Policies with the greatest clinical benefit and lowest cost attracted the highest priority recommendation (level 1), while those with lowest clinical benefit and high cost attracted the lowest (level 5).

These recommendations are then used to inform commissioning decisions by the Specialised Commissioning Oversight Group (SCOG), which are then ratified by the Specialised Services Commissioning Committee of the NHS England board.

22 policies which would require additional expenditure were considered by CPAG across the five priority levels.

There is sufficient funding available in the expanded specialised commissioning budget for 2016/17 to enable the proposals in levels 1-4 of cost/benefit priority to be routinely commissioned. This means that they will be made available to patients who meet the clinical criteria set out in each policy.

However, this investment remains subject to the outcome of a judicial review which will determine whether NHS England has the power to commission the use of antiviral drugs for the prevention of HIV, given before exposure (known as PrEP, or Pre-exposure Prophylaxis) to individuals who are at high risk of contracting the virus – specifically, men who have condomless sex with multiple male partners.

Should the High Court decide that NHS England does have the power to commission this preventative service, a clinical commissioning policy on PrEP will need to be finalised, publicly consulted on, and then given a relative priority ranking against the other proposals listed below. This means that the policies in each priority level may change and some of the services provisionally set to be funded could be displaced and not therefore funded.

View NHS England’s legal advice on PrEP.

The 18 policy proposals which will be routinely commissioned, subject to the outcome of the judicial review, are:

Level 1

  • Complex obesity surgery (children) for severe and complex obesity
  • Use of plerixafor for stem cell mobilisation (update to include paediatrics)

Level 2

  • Bone morphogenic protein-2 for spinal fusion
  • Robotic assisted surgery for kidney cancer
  • Stereotactic radiosurgery/radiotherapy for ependymoma, haemangioblastoma, pilocytic astrocytoma and trigeminal schwannoma
  • Tocilizumab for Takayasu arteritis
  • Treatments for Graft versus Host Disease (GvHD) following Haematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation
  • Treatment of iron overload for transfused and non-transfused patients with chronic inherited anaemia
  • Penile prostheses for end stage erectile dysfunction (this is a service currently being commissioned by CCGs which will become NHS England’s funding responsibility from April 2017)

Level 3

  • Auditory brainstem implants for children with deficiency or missing auditory nerves
  • Ivacaftor for children (2 to 5) with cystic fibrosis (named mutations)
  • Pegvisomant for acromegaly as a third-line treatment (adults)
  • Prosthetics for lower limb loss
  • Tolvaptan for hyponatraemia secondary to the Syndrome of Inappropriate Antidiuretic Hormone (SIADH) for patients who require cancer chemotherapy

Level 4

  • Haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (Lymphoplasmacytic Lymphoma (adults))
  • Pasireotide for Cushing’s Disease
  • Sodium oxybate for symptom control of narcolepsy with cataplexy (children)
  • Rituximab for immunoglobulin G4 related disease

In addition NHS England will be routinely commissioning 30 new genetic tests for rare inherited conditions.  These tests have been recommended to NHS England for adoption by the UK Genetic Testing Network (UKGTN).

The four proposals with the lowest cost/benefit priority (level 5) are not currently affordable and will proceed to be published as not routinely commissioned – this will not be affected by the outcome of the judicial review. These policies will be considered again next year in the relative prioritisation process for 2017/18.

Those policies are:

  • Eculizumab for treatment of recurrence of C3 glomerulopathy post-transplant
  • Everolimus for subependymal giant cell astrocytoma (SEGA) associated with tuberous sclerosis complex
  • Riociguat for pulmonary arterial hypertension
  • Second allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplant for relapsed disease

Dr Jonathan Fielden, NHS England’s National Director for Specialised Commissioning and Deputy National Medical Director, said: “We want to thank the many patients, members of the public, clinical experts and groups who have contributed to designing and informing this process.  We’re pleased that we have been able today to announce new treatments and services to enhance the care and outcomes for many patients although we are frustrated, that we cannot yet confirm funding for an additional eighteen services whilst we await the outcome of a judicial review.”

“This is because, if NHS England loses the judicial review, we will need to consider displacing some of the proposed new treatments depending on the PrEP decision. NHS England is doing all it can to expedite these proceedings, which are preventing us confirming the new opportunities for so many.”

In Year Service Development Decisions

As described above, policies developed which are assessed as cost-neutral or cost saving are processed as In Year Service Developments – these are not subject to the ongoing judicial review.

NHS England will be publishing the following 12 policy proposals as In Year Service Developments for routine commissioning:

  • Bone conducting hearing implants for hearing loss (all ages)
  • Cinacalcet for complex primary hyperparathyroidism
  • Immune tolerance induction for haemophilia (all ages)
  • Palliative radiotherapy for bone pain
  • Prophylactic treatment of hereditary angioedema (HAE) types I and II
  • Radiotherapy for after primary surgery for breast cancer
  • Rituximab for cytopaenia complicating primary immunodeficiency
  • Rituximab for dermatomyostitis and polymyostis in adults
  • Rituximab for immunobullous diseases
  • Surgical sperm retrieval for male infertility (previously commissioned at CCG level)
  • Tenofovir alafenamide containing treatments for HIV
  • Ureothroplasty for benign urethral strictures in adult men (previously commissioned at CCG level)

NHS England has also published the policy proposals which were processed as In Year Service Developments and will not be routinely commissioned – these are listed below.

The clinical commissioning policies considered and finalised as part of this process will be made available on the NHS England website in due course, and communicated directly to relevant providers.

Groups representing patients, services users and other stakeholders will be told the outcome of the decisions and invited to meet with senior NHS England staff, where they will have the opportunity to hear in detail the rationale for each decision.

NHS England will be consulting on revised policies on In Year Service Developments and Individual Funding Requests later in the year.


The following treatments and services were considered and will be published as In Year Service Developments not for routine commissioning:

  • Amifampridine phosphate – Lambert Easton Myasthenic Syndrome
  • Argus II prosthesis – Vision
  • Autologous Chondrocyte Implantation – Osteochondral lesions of the talus
  • Chemosaturation – For metastases from an ocular melanoma where standard treatment options are not available
  • Deep Brain Stimulation – post stroke pain
  • Dornase Alfa inhaled therapy – Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia (All ages)
  • Everolimus – Prevention of organ rejection following heart transplantation
  • Extra corporeal membrane oxygenation service – Adults with cardiac failure
  • Fampridine – Multiple Sclerosis
  • Gastroelectrical stimulation – Gastropaerisis
  • Infliximab – Hidradenitis suppurativa
  • Inhaled Therapies Aztreonam (continuous use) – People with Cystic Fibrosis chronically colonised with Pseudomonas B
  • Intravenous Immunoglobulin – Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis and autoimmune encephalitis
  • Pasireotide – Acromegaly
  • Personalised External Aortic Root Support (PEARS) – Surgical management of enlarged aortic root  (adults)
  • Proton Beam Therapy – Prostate Cancer
  • Renal Denervation – Resistant Hypertension
  • Robotic assisted lung resection surgery – Primary lung cancer
  • Robotic assisted surgery – Oesophago-gastric Surgery
  • Robotic assisted surgery for bladder cancer
  • Robotic assisted transoral surgery – Throat and voice box cancers
  • Selexipag – Pulmonary hypertension
  • Stereotactic ablative body radiotherapy – Hepatocellular carcinoma or cholangiocarcinoma
  • Stereotactic ablative body radiotherapy – –previously irradiated tumours of the pelvis, spine and nasopharynx
  • Stereotactic ablative body radiotherapy – Renal cancer
  • Stereotactic ablative body radiotherapy for oligometastatic disease
  • Stereotactic ablative body radiotherapy for prostate cancer
  • Stereotactic radiosurgery – Adults with Parkinson’s tremor and Familial Essential Tremor
  • Temperature-controlled laminar airflow device – Persistent allergic asthma (children)
  • Teraparitide – Oesteogenesis imperfecta
  • Tocilizumab – Giant Cell Arteritis
  • Ziconitide – Intrathecal delivery for chronic refractory cancer pain

 

11 comments

  1. Bob Bartrum says:

    Good morning
    I have read through your list here but see no priorities for psychological therapies or other mental health treatments. Are these treatments included anywhere in any priority listings?
    Are mental health services receiving any investment?
    My trust, Devon Partnership, are currently making sweeping cuts in services and personnel putting increasing pressure on front line staff with over-emphasis on use of IT which has no positive effect on quality and is significantly reducing face to face engagement with service users. I would welcome your comments and information on proposed government funding for mental health services. Thank you.

    Bob Bartrum
    Senior Community Mental Health Practitioner (Nurse) Older Peoples Services

  2. Roger Brown says:

    Stem Cell Transplantation for Waldenstrom Macroglobulinemia (‘LPL’- Level 4 in your list) has been a standard modest cost treatment for relapsed patients who have run out of options until now and included in published clinical guidelines. Your release implies that it’s a new treatment, whilst its actually yet a further withdrawal of treatment options. Clinicians are in disarray and patients are being used as counters as the treatment is being removed until the high court ruling on PREP is challenged. This is totally unethical and should be withdrawn immediately. We wish to make this totally public and transparent.
    Roger Brown, Chair Waldenstrom UK

  3. Krupa Patel says:

    Please can you clarify the process for a re review for the in year service developments that are not recommended for routine commissioning? What is the process and timeframe? How can I obtain the grades or scoring system in order to address them for future submissions? What conditions would prompt a re-review?

  4. Krupa Patel says:

    if a treatment was considered as In Year Service Development not for routine commissioning then when can it be re-reviewed? What is the process and timeframe?

  5. kevin riley says:

    THE NHS IS SHORT OF FUNDS FOR TWO REASONS – FIRSTLY BECAUSE THE GOVERNMENT WISHES IT TO BE SO – SECONDLY BECAUSE FAR TOO MUCH MONEY (CIRCA 60%) OF TAXPAYERS MONEY IS PAID ON EMPLOYING ON CHIEF EXECUTIVES (OVER 165 OF THEM) AND OTHER “MANAGEMENT” PERSONNEL THAN IS SPENT ON FRONT LINE SERVICE DELIVERY STAFF.

    YOUR REPRESENTATIVE STATED ON THE NEWSNIGHT THAT ONE RESULT OF BREXIT WAS THE REQUIREMENT TO MAKE FURTHER SO CALLED “SAVINGS” TO THE AMOUNT THE GOVERNMENT IS PREPARED TO ALLOCATE TO THE NHS.

    NO ONLY IS THE ABOVE WRONG IN FACT BUT IT IS ALSO LEGALLY INCORRECT AS IT IS OPEN TO THE GOVERNMENT TO ALLOCATE AS MUCH AS IT LIKES EACH YEAR TO THE NHS OUT OF THE OVERALL AMOUNT IT RECEIVES IN TAXES EACH YEAR.

    THE REALITY IS THAT THE UK IS RANKED ONE FROM THE BOTTOM IN THE AMOUNT IT SPENDS EACH YEAR ON THE NHS AS COMPARED TO THE OTHER 15 ORIGINAL MEMBERS OF THE EU.

    So far as the level of spending on the NHS in the UK is concerned (given the differences in the way countries fund their hea

  6. S lucas says:

    I fail to see how not funding a drug like everolimus to a child who currently has up to 80 seizures a day who has been in hospital 19 times since November for up to two weeks at a time and used ambulances at least 20 times this year alone could possibly be saving money the child cannot have brain surgery because of where the tubers are but this drug reduces the size of them he is 3 1/2 years old cannot sit up walk talk or feed himself I understand everyone thinks they should be first in a queue but when the drug is already being used for other illnesses hard to understand 1 in 6000 children have this illness so it is hardly going to cost a fortune you would like to think that the NHS would like to give children a decent start in life wherever possible but it sometimes seems not to be the case I would like you to tell him face to face that this is down to money by the way my daughter can’t work because he needs 24 hour care guess what that costs the government more money in benefits

  7. Nick Benbow says:

    No mention of Pectus surgeries. This has been handled so poorly and put patients through an awful lot of stress and anxiety. Clearly, Pectus Surgery cannot be cut. Please can you email me direct and confirm whether it is the case that Pectus surgery will be routinely commissioned? A large number of patients and their families need their minds put at ease immediately.

  8. Professor John Warner says:

    The rejection of temperature controlled laminar airflow is a short-sighted decision. This modality of treatment for allergic asthma has proven efficacy and is cost saving for those with severe disease. Furthermore a non-pharmaceutical approach is preferred by patients. How can a cost saving treatment be rejected particularly at a time of financial stress?

  9. Jean Sheargold says:

    Regarding the lower leg prosthetics. Please can you allow NHS patients to fund their own upgraded prosthetics through the NHS. This will not add any more cost to the budget but will improve mobility & comfort for thousands of patients.
    Why is this not permitted?

  10. Terry Kavanagh says:

    I find it difficult to believe that due to individuals choosing to have condom-less sex with multiple male partners, priority levels may change and some of the services could be scrapped!!

  11. Steve Bojakowski says:

    Please could you let me know when the in year service developments that are not recommended for routine commissioning will be re – reviewed? What conditions would prompt a re-review?

    I look forward to hearing from you.

    Many thanks.