Herceptin and the NHS financial crisis

Letters sent to local newspapers.

Great news, a lady down in the South-West won her court case on 12th April to be treated with Herceptin for her breast cancer. However, everyone was quick to point out that this did not set a precedent, so other women in need must fight on.

The problem is that such NHS treatment costs around £20,000 and NHS Trusts in England have huge financial problems. Many have overspent in the last fiscal year and will have their budgets cut this year in order to recoup the ‘debts’. Staff are being sacked in an effort to balance their books. So, if woman in England are to get Herceptin then other people may have to go untreated just so the necessary money can be found.

Of course there is no such NHS financial crisis in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland as we in England generously provide these regions with a subsidy of around £15 billion per year (and rising) and happily make do with poorer services for ourselves. Why? Because we sit back and let it happen.

We let the Scots, Welsh and Northern Irish govern themselves but allow them to run our country through the auspices of the UK Parliament. We have no say in how they spend our money but we let them tell us how to spend what is left in the pot for us. If you want a fairer share of your tax monies you need an English Parliament that will speak up and fight for you.