Dear constituent,
Thank you for contacting me about secondary Breast Cancer.
In July I attended Breast Cancer Now’s Parliamentary event and heard more about their recently published report, Setting the Bar Too High, which outlines the challenges within the current system and provides a deeper understanding of the issues faced by those living with secondary breast cancer. I appreciate the urgency of Breast Cancer Now's report raising concerns about the impact of NICE's appraisal processes on access to medicines for secondary breast cancer.
For patients, living in North Bedfordshire and across England, I recognise that not being able to access certain treatments such as Enhertu may mean they will have less time with their friends and families.
At the 2024 General Election, I stood on a manifesto which committed to removing obstacles to the use of new medicines, such as the NHS Budget Impact Test and align NHS England's cost-effectiveness thresholds for new medicine indications with those used by NICE.
In answer to a written parliamentary question on Thursday 10 July, the Government gave no indication that it has no plans to change the severity modifier being implemented by NICE. As part of the 10-Year Health Plan, I note that the Government has committed to speed up access to medicines, but I will continue to listen to the views of patient groups such as Breast Cancer Now, about how these measures may affect the ability of breast cancer patients to access life extending drugs.
Thank you again for taking the time to contact me about this matter.
Sincerely,
