ATRIAL FIBRILLATION AND ACCESS TO DRONEDARONE

Early day motion 572, tabled 12 January 2010 by Lord Maples (Conservative). Signed by 29 members.

That this House recognises the human and financial costs of atrial fibrillation (AF) and that its prevalence is likely to double over the next 50 years; further recognises dronedarone as a first-in-class anti-arrhythmic drug, and the only anti-arrhythmic medication known to improve long-term cardiac health in AF patients; notes with concern that the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) has issued draft guidance proposing to deny the use of dronedarone to patients in England and Wales; believes that it is a fundamental principle of the NHS that patients and doctors should have a choice in therapy options; understands that many people with AF who currently struggle to manage the condition would benefit from access to this treatment and that its use would yield considerable cost savings in the longer term through reduced hospital admissions and reduced incidence of stroke; further recognises the widespread dismay among both clinicians and patients at the NICE draft guidelines on dronedarone and the late and unhelpful timing of its publication on Christmas Eve 2009; supports the Atrial Fibrial Association's campaign to enable those treated by the NHS to have access to this medicine and for NICE to review its decision at a second NICE Appraisal Committee meeting to be held on 24 February 2010; and calls on NICE to ensure that patients, carers and health professionals are permitted to give evidence at this meeting.

Signatures by party: Labour 16, Liberal Democrat 6, Conservative 3, Independent 2, DUP 1, Plaid Cymru 1.