ERYTHROPOIETIN AND PATIENT CARE

Early day motion 1016, tabled 14 November 2005 by Ian Gibson (Labour). Signed by 95 members.

That this House regrets the provisional recommendation of the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) on funding for erythropoietin for patients suffering from cancer treatment-induced anaemia; recognises the unnecessary suffering that restricting the use of erythropoietin will cause to people undergoing treatment for cancer and the extra burden that will be placed on an overstretched National Blood Service; believes that erythropoietin represents an accepted standard of care across Europe and that the decision to restrict its use will undermine the National Cancer Plan by removing clinical choice of treatment and worsening the experience of the patient; and welcomes NICE's decision to review its preliminary findings but urges the Department of Health and NICE to look more widely at the impact on quality of life, to consider implementing international standards for the use of erythropoietin and to take account of the positive impact this may have on the efficient use of donated blood.

Signatures by party: Labour 56, Conservative 18, Liberal Democrat 13, DUP 4, Plaid Cymru 2, Social Democratic and Labour Party 1, UUP 1.