Commons Sense

House of Commons · Westminster Hall

Medical Technology Regulations and the NHS

28 March 2023 · 3 other contributors · 6,498 words

Opened by Caroline Dinenage Con Gosport

Responding minister: Will Quince

BrexitNHS

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Caroline Dinenage raised concerns about medical technology regulations and the nhs in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.

Key points

  • MP raises concerns about NHS challenges in accessing health technologies due to post-Brexit regulatory changes.
  • MP highlights over 54,000 people waiting for treatment in her local area with an average wait of 16.9 weeks.
  • MP seeks assurances from the government on timescales for new models and expedited approval for dementia treatments.

Key requests to Government

The MP asks the Minister to confirm the timescales for the new model to ensure continued patient access to health tech and to assure her that the MHRA stands ready to accelerate the approval of promising dementia treatments as soon as they become available. She also seeks assurance that systems like NICE will not be obstacles to swift drug availability.

How the debate unfolded

MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said.

Opened the debate

Caroline Dinenage Con Gosport

The MP is concerned about the challenges faced by the NHS in accessing life-saving and life-enhancing health technologies due to post-Brexit regulatory changes. She highlights that over 54,000 people are waiting for treatment in her local area with an average wait of 16.9 weeks. Additionally, there are delays in bringing dementia drugs to market which could significantly impact patient outcomes.

Other contributors (3)
  • Andrew Gwynne Ind Gorton and Denton

    He commended the importance of medical technology in the NHS, generating over £27 billion annually and providing around 138,000 jobs. Andrew highlighted Labour's ambition for a 10-year plan to revolutionise care, focusing on early detection and prevention using genomics and new technologies. He expressed concern about the long adoption period of medtech devices in the NHS, which currently takes approximately 17 years according to the Health Tech Alliance.

  • Jim Shannon DUP Strangford

    Regulation is essential for health services, but it must go hand in hand with demand. Access to life-saving treatments should be prioritised.

  • Martyn Day SNP Linlithgow and East Falkirk

    The regulation of medical devices is crucial for patient safety, with the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency overseeing all medicines and medical devices. However, there are concerns that the UK Government's Retained EU Law Bill could remove important protections and standards, leading to potential adverse events in the NHS.

Government Response

Will Quince

The Minister highlighted the importance of medical technology to UK plc, NHS, and patients. He announced £10 million funding for MHRA over two years to support innovation and expedite access to new treatments while maintaining regulatory standards. The first set of regulatory changes will be implemented by summer, followed by a transition period for CE-marked devices into law. Post-market surveillance requirements are planned for later this year. The Minister pledged to collaborate with industry and innovators to address healthcare challenges and accelerate the adoption of medtech innovations.

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