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09-Jan-2007 - Cancer man feels 'cheated' by NHS
Keith Ditchfield
A cancer patient has said he feels cheated after the NHS refused to pay his £3,000 a month medication bill. Keith Ditchfield, from Stonyhurst, Lancashire, travelled to Germany for Radiotherapy to treat his renal cancer.
He was advised to take the drug Nexavar, which East Lancashire Primary Care Trust decided not to fund.
Nexavar has not yet been appraised by the National Institute for health and Clinical Excellence (N.I.C.E.) - a reason cited for refusing it the PCT.
The drug, which is used to halt Tumour development, is regularly prescribed in Europe and the United States.
Mr Ditchfield was diagnosed with renal cancer two years ago, and travelled to Germany for treatment unavailable in the UK.
"I feel cheated," he said. "I think it's terrible that you have to pay to save your own life, when you're paying the NHS all your life."
A statement from East Lancashire Primary Care Trust said: "In the absence of N.I.C.E. guidance, our panel took into account the fact that Scotland's equivalent of N.I.C.E. has turned down the use of this drug."
The PCT also said it considered "if there were any exceptional circumstances in this instance. "After expert clinical advice it was decided there were not," it said.
Mr Ditchfield said he will keep paying for the drug as long as he can.
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Comments
Sadly Keith Ditchfield died on 09-Oct-2007 after a long battle with the Challenges of Kidney Cancer. There is a brief summary of his illness and items about his life IN MEMORIAM at: Keith Ditchfield
It is hoped his family and friends will feel disposed to contribute more information.
Regards, User: Greg L-W.
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