APPG, Policy

APPG holds evidence sessions in Parliament

Written by Aaron Dennis, July 16, 2019

Over the course of the last six weeks, the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Haemophilia and Contaminated Blood has held a series of evidence sessions in Parliament on Access to Treatment for people with bleeding disorders.

Parliamentarians including Sir Peter Bottomley MP, Diana Johnson MP, Liz McInnes MP and Baroness Meacher have heard powerful testimony from people with bleeding disorders, representatives from the pharmaceutical industry, leading clinicians and commissioners from the NHS.

Our initial hearing focused on discussing critical issues around the experiences of people with bleeding disorders, the importance of ensuring access to innovative new treatments going forward, and the current standards of care.  

Our second panel revolved around questions on the current system of commissioning, and the reforms needed to guarantee access to the very best new and existing treatments.  

And our final panel saw representatives from NHS England questioned on their role as commissioners, the processes of commissioning, the aims of the NHS, and how best to reform the system to ensure that everyone with bleeding disorders can access the treatments they need, while leading clinicians discussed the challenges they face, and the potential new treatments have in terms of revolutionising standards of care.

The APPG will continue to press the Government on all of the issues raised so far, and if you’d like to get more involved let us know at [email protected]