With regard to the above NICE Single Technology Appraisal No108: Paclitaxel for the adjuvant treatment of early node-positive breast cancer (http://guidance.nice.org.uk/TA108) published 27 September 2006, there is no SMC advice on this medicine for this indication.
NHS Scotland should note that:
- NHS Boards should continue to adhere to the SMC advice. In the absence of SMC advice, the NICE STA is for noting only.
- The new NICE single technology appraisal process is being monitored by NHS Quality Improvement Scotland, Scottish Executive Health Department and Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) for a period of time. During this period recommendations of NICE STAs will be only for noting by NHS Scotland in the knowledge that SMC have already issued advice on the medicine which NHSScotland should follow.
- Hard copies of the NICE appraisals are available from NHS Quality Improvement Scotland (contact Shonagh Buchanan, tel 0141 225 6993 or email shonagh.buchanan@nhshealthquality.org)
