Blind charity joy at U-turn on sight drug

A U-turn on provision of a sight-saving drug has been welcomed by a charity which supports visually-impaired people across Dudley, Wolverhampton and Sandwell.

All primary care trusts will now be required to consider funding Lucentis where patients have the condition wet age-related macular degeneration in only one eye. The guidance has been welcomed by the Beacon Centre for the Blind.

The charity said it will end a postcode lottery on provision of the drug.

Kate Fletcher, capital appeals officer from centre in Sedgley, said: "This decision will mean sight-saving treatment for thousands, ending the postcode lottery that restrictive funding policies have created.

"It will bring relief to AMD sufferers forced to decide whether to spend life-savings on treatment."

PCTs will be required to implement the guidance in less than three months.

Earlier this month health chiefs in Dudley reviewed their veto on the treatment after it emerged only five per cent of people in the borough with the condition receive Lucentis injections.

Since April 2007, Dudley PCT has funded just two out of 43 requests for Lucentis, which costs up to £15,000 per year, and said it was because the cases were exceptional.

While awaiting national guidance it put in place an interim policy which meant it funded requests from patients who had the condition in both eyes.

Among sufferers is grandmother Violet Greenshill of Russell Hall Road, Dudley.

Originally she was refused the drug but following the review was told she was eligible. Mrs Greenshill aged 67, said: "I am ecstatic, it's such a relief to know I can have this drug."

Dudley PCT spokeswoman laura Broster said: "We recognise the importance of equality of access."