Please find below questions being asked via Freedom of Information for Solihull Hospital and Good Hope Hospital
These questions aim to understand the use of biologics in Dermatology and activity in Atopic Dermatitis.
Funding pre-NICE;
1. Is it your Trust/CCG policy to wait until 90 days post NICE guidance to fund new drugs or do they fund earlier?
Provided the Trust has the infrastructure in place to support the new drug then it would be funded prior to the 90 days post positive NICE TAG.
2. What is your Trust/CCG policy re use of Zero Risk (ZR)/Early Use Schemes (EUS), i.e. where a medicine is made available free of charge or at a reduced price to the NHS whilst awaiting NICE/SMC approval, in lieu of NICE?
If a patient or patient cohort is identified by clinicians then the Trust will consider accessing zero risk schemes prior to a NICE decision.
3. What is the process for getting such ZR/EUS schemes implemented/approved/signed off within your Trust/hospital? Who needs to sign the contracts for such schemes?
The scheme would be reviewed by the Directorate Pharmacist and submitted to the Trust MAAG (Medicines Advisory Group) for final approval. Depending on the scheme it may be signed by the Trust Chief Pharmacist or Directorate Pharmacist.
IFR/Cohort Funding;
4. What is your Trust’s policy re Individual Funding Request and/or Cohort Funding policy? Ref: IFR/Cohort Funding
Signed off on the IFR request form by Clinical Director and subsequently the Head of the Division.
5. Do you have a pathway/preferential prescribing list, illustrating sequential use of Biologics in Dermatology? What does this recommend?
For Psoriasis only, no pathway exists for Eczema as no biologic has been available so far.
6. How many lines/trials of biologics are allowed/funded for the management of psoriasis within your trust/CCG? What happens if a clinician needs to exceed this?
As per patient need.
7. If there is a biologics psoriasis pathway – how often is it updated to reflect changes to NICE status of new therapies?
At least annually but sooner if new therapies are introduced.
8. If there is no formulary/pathway – what do the Trust/CCG utilise in order to guide use of biologics in the management of psoriasis?
Not applicable
Atopic Dermatitis
9. How many patients attended for a new outpatient appointment in dermatology Utilising ICD-10 classification -L20 Atopic Dermatitis (Eczema) – from April 2015 – March 2016?
All referrals for Eczema are seen in general Dermatology clinics. It is not possible to identify numbers to differentiate this group of patients.
10. The number of pediatric attendances of patients utilizing ICD-10 classification -L20for Atopic Dermatitis (Eczema) – from April 2015 – March 2016?
All pediatric referrals for Eczema are seen in general pediatric Dermatology clinics. It is not possible to identify numbers to differentiate this group of patients.
11. Does your Trust have a pediatric dermatologist? Does your Trust have a pediatrician with a dermatology interest/specialism?
Yes, there are six Consultant Paediatric Dermatologists within the Dermatology Directorate.
