5 Implementation

5.1 Section 7(6) of the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Constitution and Functions) and the Health and Social Care Information Centre (Functions) Regulations 2013 requires clinical commissioning groups, NHS England and, with respect to their public health functions, local authorities to comply with the recommendations in this appraisal within 3 months of its date of publication.

5.2 The Welsh Assembly Minister for Health and Social Services has issued directions to the NHS in Wales on implementing NICE technology appraisal guidance. When a NICE technology appraisal recommends the use of a drug or treatment, or other technology, the NHS in Wales must usually provide funding and resources for it within 3 months of the guidance being published.

5.3 When NICE recommends a treatment 'as an option', the NHS must make sure it is available within the period set out in the paragraphs above. This means that, if a patient has advanced hormone-dependent prostate cancer with spinal metastases and the doctor responsible for their care thinks that degarelix is the right treatment, it should be available for use, in line with NICE's recommendations.

5.4 The drug costs used for decision-making purposes in this appraisal are the relevant costs to the NHS for degarelix as of June 2016. These are based on arrangements available to the NHS between the company and the Commercial Medicines Unit, and clinical commissioning groups. The discounted drug costs are commercial in confidence. Any enquiries from NHS organisations about the discounted drug costs used in this appraisal should be directed to: the Commercial Medicines Unit for information about the framework agreements for secondary care; and Ferring Pharmaceuticals Customer Services Department (0844 9310052 or customer.services@ferring.com) for information about the commercial scheme for clinical commissioning groups.