Request
As the patients' representative on the NICE evaluation committee for Abiraterone, I am trying to find out from each Regional Health Authority how many patients have applied to the EDF for Abiraterone and what proportion have been successful. I hope under the freedom of information act you will be able to supply this information.
Our Response
I refer to your email and subsequent clarification emails requesting information in respect of the Cancer Drug Fund (CDF) and the number of patients who have applied for Abiraterone.
I can confirm in accordance with S.1 (1) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA) that we do not hold all of the information that you have requested. However, I am able to provide some information in response to each of your enquiries, as follows:-
a) Number of applications for Abiraterone and the proportion of successful applications
We receive monthly monitoring information from East Midlands Specialised Commissioning Group that administers the CDF on our behalf. Based on this information, the number of applications to end November was 16. We do not hold the information on how many of these applications were successful but are aware that the CDF clinical panel decided at the end of November that it would fund Abiraterone where patient meet specific clinical criteria.
b) Request for a complete break-down of what the Cancer Drugs Fund has been spent on
A spread sheet detailing the expenditure on the CDF is attached for the period up to end September 2011. This is the most recent information we hold. Please note that this was prior to the CDF’s decision to fund Abiraterone.
East Midlands Specialised Commissioning Group administer the CDF on behalf of NHS Midlands and East (East Midlands Office) and may hold more up to date information. They can be contacted at http://www.emscg.nhs.uk/.
Further information about how the CDF works and reports relating to the CDF can be found on our website via the following link: http://www.eastmidlands.nhs.uk/cancer-drugs-fund/.
I hope that this information is of use. If you are dissatisfied with the way in which we have dealt with your request you can ask us to review our decision by writing to:-
Mr Moosa Patel
Director of Corporate Affairs
NHS East Midlands
Octavia House
Interchange Business Park
Bostock's Lane
Sandiacre
Nottingham
NG10 5QG
If at the conclusion of any review you remain dissatisfied you may complain to the Information Commissioner who can be contacted at:-
The Office of the Information Commissioner
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5AF
