Consultation on proposed changes to the Cancer Drugs Fund
NHS England are consulting on proposed changes to the way the Cancer Drugs Fund (CDF) works. We will be submitting a response to the consultation and are keen to hear your thoughts on the proposals to ensure we represent your views in our response.
The CDF was established in 2010 to give patients in England access to access the cancer drugs their doctors think will help them that would not otherwise be available from the NHS.
The number of people who have benefitted from the CDF has increased over the years since it was established. NHS England is consulting on proposed changes to allow the CDF to cope with this increase in demand and ensure the CDF is sustainable.
The consultation proposes a number of changes to the way the CDF works, including:
Introducing a re-evaluation process to assess the clinical benefit of the drugs which are currently available through the CDF
This re-evaluation to look at both clinical benefit and cost, for the first time
Removing drugs from CDF which are highly priced in relation to clinical benefit
More information on the consultation ‘Proposals for a sustainable Cancer Drugs Fund’ is available on the NHS England website: england.nhs.uk/ourwork/pe/cdf/cdf-sop/
Please let us know your thoughts via this survey: surveys.breastcancercare.org.uk/survey-–-cancer-drugs-fund-consultation
Due to the short timescale for the consultation, the survey will close at midnight on 21st October.
We would recommend reading the consultation guide (england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/cdf-consult-guide-031014.pdf) before completing the survey as it gives an overview of the background to the consultation and further details about the proposals. It should take around 30 minutes to read this and complete the survey.
If you have any questions about this survey or about the consultation, please contact campaigns@breastcancercare.org.uk or call Emma on 0207 960 3574.
Many thanks in advance
Emma Lavelle
Policy Manager