Request
Dear Sir/Madam
Freedom of Information Act 2000 – Request for Information from NHS East Midlands
This request concerns the following drug;
Avastin (Bevacizumab) manufactured by Roche for the treatment of Glioblastoma
Under the terms of the Freedom of Information Act 2000, please provide me with the following information:
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How many applications for funding for the treatment of Glioblastoma with the drug Avastin (Bevacizumab) have been received by NHS East Midlands since 1st October 2010 to present date?
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On how many occasions has NHS East Midlands approved funding for the drug Avastin (Bevacizumab) for the treatment of Glioblastoma since 1st October 2010?
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Please provide any published statements or any documents relied on by NHS East Midlands regarding the commissioning of the above treatment.
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Please confirm the population base for the NHS East Midlands area.
Please acknowledge receipt of this request and reply by e-mail in order to speed up the process.
Yours Faithfully,
Our Response
I refer to your email of 6 October 2011 requesting information in respect of Avastin (Bevacizumab) manufactured by Roche for the treatment of Glioblastoma.
I can confirm in accordance with S.1 (1) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA) that we do not hold all of the information that you have requested.
The Cancer Drugs Fund in the East Midlands is administered on behalf of the Strategic Health Authority (SHA) East Midlands office by the East Midlands Specialised Commissioning Group. We are advised by them that 5 applications have been received for this treatment, all of which were unsuccessful. NHS Midlands and East, East Midlands office does review unsuccessful applications at the request of the referring clinician but no requests for a review have been received.
There are no documents held by NHS East Midlands office regarding the commissioning of this drug. I should point out that NHS East Midlands and East does not have a commissioning function.
We advise that the best source of information regarding population numbers for the East Midlands is the Office for National statistics via the following web address – we do not hold this information:
http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/regional-statistics/region.html?region=East+Midlands
I hope that this information is of use. If you are dissatisfied with the way in which we have dealt with your request you can ask us to review our decision by writing to:-
Mr Moosa Patel
Director of Corporate Affairs
NHS East Midlands
Octavia House
Interchange Business Park
Bostock's Lane
Sandiacre
Nottingham
NG10 5QG
If at the conclusion of any review you remain dissatisfied you may complain to the Information Commissioner who can be contacted at:-
The Office of the Information Commissioner
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5AF
