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Patient’s drug agony
Friday 17th August 2007, 11:46AM BST.
A cancer patient says he may be forced to sell his home to pay for a drug which he believes will prolong his life as health chiefs are not willing to do so.
The drug Barry Richards is fighting to get hold of is Sutent – the same one which ex-Wolves star Ian “Iggy” Cartwright was denied.
Mr Richards, of Tipton, has had a four-week trial on the drug, but after that runs out he will have to foot the £3,000 a month bill himself if he wants to continue. His daughter, Debbie Reeve, is writing to health bosses to ask why the drug is not supported by them.
Read the full story in the Express & Star.
A cancer patient says he may be forced to sell his home to pay for a drug which he believes will prolong his life as health chiefs are not willing to do so.
The drug Barry Richards is fighting to get hold of is Sutent – the same one which ex-Wolves star Ian “Iggy” Cartwright was denied.
Mr Richards, of Tipton, has had a four-week trial on the drug, but after that runs out he will have to foot the £3,000 a month bill himself if he wants to continue. His daughter, Debbie Reeve, is writing to health bosses to ask why the drug is not supported by them.
Mr Richards, aged 71, first had to have a kidney removed in 2004 when it was found to be cancerous. Since then the cancer has spread to his lung.
Mr Richards, of Whitehouse Street, said: “I have been told by my doctors that pretty much the only hope is this new drug.
“I just don’t know why it is not available to everyone. The first four weeks of treatment is free.
“I have started the course and now I’m on the second week.
“I am also having steroids as I was quite weak and now I’m a different man.
“I hope to get the drug. I haven’t asked what the alternative might be.”
Paul Birch, Head of Commissioning at Sandwell Primary Care Trust said: “Sunitib or Sutent was one of a number of drugs considered by the Pan Birmingham Cancer Network, of which the PCT is a member.
“The Network is a group of PCTs, cancer specialists and other clinicians working together to develop cancer services across the area.
“Despite an increase of over £1m across the network and £200k from Sandwell PCT alone, Sutent was one of a number of drugs and treatments which could not be supported.
“This was partly because this drug is not currently subject to National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence guidance, although it would be funded in line with any guidance if or when that is released,” he added.
Ex-Wolves star Ian Cartwright, aged 42, was also denied the drug and a campaign was started by his friends.
Fundraising events raised more than £20,000 so he could continue to have the treatment.
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Seems like the NHS likes to support ‘trendy’ illnesses.
Get rid of a few managers and admin staff, and then the NHS will start doing the job it was invented for.
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Once again we see that money is more important than human life. I truly grieve for my home. Good luck to you Barry, I hope things work out for you,
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Get rid of the pen pushers in the PCT, cut down on all the meetings and jolleys that these fools at the top keep dreaming up, and instead of using the money that is being extorted from the motorist when they have to park on hospital car parks, to pay the telephone number salaries of the people running the NHS , use it instead to fund the treatments needed by people like this guy.
Jim of Bearwood
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I’m doing a parachute jump tomorrow to try to raise money for the breast cancer ward in Stafford Hospital the money raised is to go towards decorating and furnishing a room for patients and their families to sit in to discuss their problems.
What brasses me off more than anything is the wastage and fraud committed by government authorities, how much did the Dome cost and is still costing, how much is wasted by this crooked government on project after project that fails Prescotts car and bus lanes as just one example, we see Prescott go off to Goa etc for three months with his entourage, Beckett off to South America with her entourage all first class of course i could go on but i think every right minded person knows what i am saying.
Barry it may pay to rehouse to Scotland you won’t miss out there thats for sure, even Wales get free prescriptions.
Doesn’t it make you sick that we have to have so many charities collecting for the various illness’s yet as soon as a Minister/MP/Council leader or any one in authority is sick see how quickly they get seen to no worries on expense then.
Unfortunately it appears million pound statues/paintings etc are more important to hospitals than care. Has anyone noticed that depite the remarks on these blogs i think i have ever only seen two people from authorities try to defend their actions shows they know they are guilty of neglect but also shows they don’t care and have no fear of any reprisals from government authorities.
We send hundreds of billions to countries abroad to help their sick but in England nothing.
Good luck to you Barry i hope you get what you obviously need.
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It is appalling that in England people are denied treatments that could prolong or save their lives, whilst those living in Scotland have access to drugs and services that are paid for by English tax payers. A review should be done quickly to rectify this situation, but in the meantime NOBODY should be denied the best possible care and treatments.
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afternoon Barry,
Did you read of the asylum seekers demands that were given to them by the Home Office this last week.
They complained about the biscuits they were being given, the tea was rubbish according to them and they wanted better makes of coffee, new DVDs and players wanted, more telly’s, new mattress’s as the ones they had were not good enough or soft enough for them the list went on.
On being questioned about the Home Office giving in to these peoples demands the public were virtually told to mind their own business as it was nothing to do with them by the Home Office.
I’ll say to you what i said to OAP Tim from Walsall lets get you to Calais, hide in my car we’ll come back with you being an illegal asylum seeker, we will rip your passport up get you to a hospital get the treatment you need. if you are up for it we can do it:))
Did you see another asylum seeker who stabbed the head teacher Mr. Lawrence has been granted permission to stay in England as his life would be in danger if he was deported.Unbelievable
But there you go, you Barry can suffer without any problem yet the scum in authorities can give your money away to anyone.
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