Appendix B. Sources of evidence considered by the Committee

The following documentation and opinions were made available to the Committee:

A The assessment report for this appraisal was prepared by the Liverpool Reviews and Implementation Group. Newer hypnotic drugs for the management of insomnia, August 2003

B The following organisations accepted the invitation to participate in this appraisal. They were invited to make submissions and comment on the draft scope, Assessment Report and the Appraisal Consultation Document (ACD). Consultee organisations are provided with the opportunity to appeal against the Final Appraisal Determination.

I Manufacturer/sponsors:

  • Aventis

  • Generics (UK)

  • Lagap Pharmaceuticals

  • Pliva Pharma

  • Sanofi Synthelabo

  • Wyeth

II Professional/specialist and patient/carer groups:

  • Age Concern Cymru

  • Age Concern England

  • British Association for Service to the Elderly

  • British Geriatrics Society

  • British Sleep Society

  • Council for Involuntary Tranquilliser Addiction

  • Royal College of General Practitioners

  • Royal College of Psychiatrists

  • Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain

  • Royal Society of Medicine, Sleep Medicine Section

  • Sleep Matters, Medical Advisory Service

III Other groups:

  • Department of Health

  • Kingston Primary Care Trust

  • Welsh Assembly Government

IV Commentator organisations (without the right of appeal):

  • British National Formulary (BNF)

  • Loughborough Sleep Research Centre

  • NHS Confederation

  • NHS Quality Improvement Scotland

  • Sleep Assessment and Advisory Service

  • Sleep Research Centre, University of Glasgow

C The following individuals were selected from clinical expert and patient advocate nominations from the professional/specialist and patient/carer groups. They participated in the Appraisal Committee discussions and provided evidence to inform the Appraisal Committee's deliberations. They gave their expert personal view on zaleplon, zolpidem and zopiclone for the management of short-term insomnia by attending the initial Committee discussion and/or providing written evidence to the Committee. They were also invited to comment on the ACD.

  • Ms Pam Armstrong, Clinical Nurse Specialist & Advisor, Council for Involuntary Tranquilliser Addiction

  • Professor Heather Ashton, Emeritus Professor of Clinical Psychopharmacology, Division of Psychiatry, University of Newcastle upon Tyne

  • Mrs Helen Kay, on behalf of Council for Involuntary Tranquilliser Addiction

  • Dr Adrian Williams, Consultant Physician and Director, Sleep Disorders Centre, St Thomas' Hospital, London

  • Professor Kevin Morgan, Professor of Gerontology, Sleep Research Centre, Loughborough University