Cancer patients win appeal for life-saving medication

HUNDREDS of people in the Lothians have been given life-saving cancer medication, despite it not being widely available on the NHS.

More than 350 people successfully appealed to the health board in the last two years for medication only handed out in "exceptional circumstances".

It has prompted praise for NHS Lothian's compassion in dealing with patients who have life-threatening illnesses, reinforcing its reputation as a world-leading centre for cancer research and care.

Figures obtained by the Evening News under the Freedom of Information Act show that of the 400 who applied for cancer care "not usually provided" through their consultants, only 35 were refused.

This is a vastly different picture to many NHS Trusts in England, where the balance is nearer half and half for approval and refusal.

Dr Charles Swainson, NHS Lothian's medical director, said: "NHS Lothian is committed to ensuring that all of our patients get the best possible treatment available and is the reason for the creation of our highly regarded exceptional cases panel.

"In the last two years, we have agreed funding for medicine that would not otherwise be available, either because it is still going through the approval process or because it is so rare, for hundreds of patients."

NHS Lothian's partnership with various charities, including Breakthrough Breast Cancer, means it is at the "cutting edge" of clinical trials, enabling more patients to seek alternative medication.

But experts have rejected the notion that the health board is a "soft touch".

Some requests for protracted vomiting, cardiac disease and reproductive medicine were turned down, probably on the basis of sky-high costs.

Labour's health spokeswoman for the city, Cllr Lesley Hinds, said: "It's fantastic so many people have been successful in securing the treatment they need."