“The Individual Funding Request (IFR) process is in place to consider the NHS funding of treatments/interventions/therapies and surgery that are not routinely commissioned by Herefordshire & Worcestershire Integrated Care Board (ICB).
An IFR application will be considered on the basis of the evidence, supplied by the treating clinician, to confirm that the patient's clinical presentation and circumstances are clinically exceptional to the known group of patients with the same condition or clinically exceptional to the ICB population. If this is established, the Panel will review the evidence supplied to confirm the clinical effectiveness of the requested treatment for the patient. If this second stage is confirmed, the Panel will then review the evidence of the cost-effectiveness of the requested treatment.
A Prior Approval process is required to allow patients to receive the right treatment at the right time in their treatment pathway/disease progression and ensure patients do not receive treatments that are not clinically appropriate for them. This ensures best use of available NHS resources.
The prior approval process requires clinicians to confirm that the patient's clinical presentation meets the locally agreed eligibility criteria for treatment, as listed in the local commissioning policies. Only the clinician intending to provide this treatment/intervention (the treating clinician) should make an application to the ICB after they have reviewed the current policy list.
To view a list of current policies (which require Prior Approval or an IFR), please click on this link: Clinical and Prescribing Policies, Guidance and Pathways :: Herefordshire and Worcestershire Integrated Care System (hwics.org.uk)
