Written Assembly Questions tabled on 28 November 2014 for answer on 5 December 2014
R - Signifies the Member has declared an interest.
W - Signifies that the question was tabled in Welsh.
(Self identifying Question no. shown in brackets)
Written Questions must be tabled at least five working days before they are to be answered. In practice, Ministers aim to answer within seven/eight days but are not bound to do so. Answers are published in the language in which they are provided, with a translation into English of responses provided in Welsh.
To ask the Minister for Health and Social Services
Kirsty Williams (Brecon and Radnorshire): What progress is being made to formally fund interstitial lung disease (ILD) services in Wales? (WAQ68073)
Answer received on 8 December 2014
The Minister for Health and Social Services (Mark Drakeford): In 2013, NICE issued both a health technology assessment (TA262) and a clinical guideline on the treatment of Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (CG163). Health boards have considered these locally and through the All Wales Medical Directors Group. The development of a single coordinated specialized MDT approach has been identified as the best method to implement the guidance. This would increase equity and is likely to improve outcomes and manage demand. WHSSC will be facilitating discussions to put this in place.
Kirsty Williams (Brecon and Radnorshire): How many specialist idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) nurses are there currently in Wales, and what steps are being taken to increase awareness and diagnosis of the condition? (WAQ68074)
Answer received on 8 December 2014
The Minister for Health and Social Services (Mark Drakeford): We do not hold figures on the number of specialist IPF nurses. Health boards are required to ensure that - as with lung cancer - patients are managed through a multi-disciplinary team, made up of doctors, nurses and experts in the condition, and have access to specialist nursing support.
Health boards are working together to develop a national approach to treating IPF in line with National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidelines and the ambitions set out in our Respiratory Delivery Plan.
Darren Millar (Clwyd West): What action is Welsh Government taking to raise awareness, diagnosis and treatment of hepatitis C among at-risk groups including: i) the south-Asian Community; ii) injecting drug users (including those who inject image-enhancing drugs); iii) patients who contracted the disease through exposure to contaminated blood products; and iv) the homeless? (WAQ68075)
Answer received on 8 December on 2014
Mark Drakeford: In August 2014, the Chief Medical Officer for Wales wrote to the NHS regarding arrangements for identifying and referring patients with Hepatitis C or Hepatitis B virus. The letter brings together a range of information to raise awareness of hepatitis infection in at risk groups to assist GPs and healthcare professionals to improve patient services. A copy of the letter can be found at:
http://wales.gov.uk/topics/health/cmo/publications/cmo/2014/hepatitis/?lang=en
Since the introduction of the Blood Borne Viral Hepatitis Action Plan for Wales in 2010, over 100 individuals in Wales working with groups at risk of infection have completed the Royal College of General Practitioners' course on blood borne viral hepatitis. A "train the trainer" course on blood borne viruses was rolled out in 2011 and over 100 individuals from a range of organisations including those from health care, prisons and local authorities have been trained to provide further training within their organisations.
The clinical networks set up under the Blood Borne Viral Hepatitis Action Plan have established links with a range of local agencies to help raise awareness. These include third sector organisations, statutory and non-statutory substance misuse services and housing services.
Darren Millar (Clwyd West): What steps are being taken by the Welsh Government to ensure awareness, diagnosis and treatment of hepatitis C can be provided in settings appropriate to the patient (i.e. at haemophilia clinics, homeless hostels, drug and alcohol centres, and in the community)? (WAQ68076)
Answer received on 5 December 2014
The Minister for Health and Social Services (Mark Drakeford): Funding from the Welsh Government in 2013 enabled Health Boards to purchase an additional five specialist scanners which can detect liver damage without the need for invasive biopsies. All Health Boards in Wales with a hepatitis treatment centre now have access to both a fixed and portable scanner. Portable scanners can be used at a range of outreach centres to improve diagnosis and services for harder to reach groups who may not otherwise attend clinics.
Darren Millar (Clwyd West): Further to the publication of the liver strategy, what funding is the Welsh Government making available to ensure that patients are able to benefit from advances in the treatment of hepatitis C? (WAQ68077)
Answer received on 8 December 2014
Mark Drakeford: Provision has been made within the draft budget for 2015-2016 to maintain support for the clinical networks established through the Blood Borne Viral Hepatitis Action Plan. The costs of meeting any new hepatitis treatments approved by National institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) and the All Wales Medicines Strategy Group will be taken into account when setting the annual allocation and consequent efficiency requirements for the NHS.
Darren Millar (Clwyd West): What assessment has the Welsh Government made of the impact of new treatments for hepatitis C in Wales? (WAQ68078)
Answer received on 8 December 2014
The Minister for Health and Social Services (Mark Drakeford): Innovation in the development of new drugs and treatments is the key factor in reducing the burden of hepatitis C infection. The ongoing advances in treatments for hepatitis C provide the potential for much improved patient outcomes.
There are established processes for the introduction of new treatments into the NHS in Wales. The Welsh Government is monitoring progress on the National Institute of Health and Care Excellence's (NICE) appraisal of new hepatitis C treatments and will consider the implications when guidance is available. Health boards must make any medicines available that have been recommended for routine use by NICE or the All Wales Medicines Strategy Group no later than three months following their decision.