Fourteen new specialist treatments get routine NHS funding

NHS England has approved routine funding for 14 new specialised treatments, including a heart implant to reduce risk of stroke, a surgical procedure that will improve the mobility of children with cerebral palsy, and drugs for cancer, haemophilia, osteoporosis, and familial hypercholesterolaemia.1

The treatments were assessed by the Clinical Priorities Advisory Group, chaired by Nick Partridge and made up of doctors, specialists, and patients’ representatives. The group assesses drugs, medical devices, and treatments according to their clinical effectiveness, benefit to patients, and value for money. It considers recommendations from clinical reference groups and teams covering specialised commissioning responsibilities.

The group has approved funding for left atrial appendage occlusion, which is an alternative treatment for patients with atrial fibrillation who cannot take an oral anticoagulant. It …