Kick in the teeth for Shropshire women

Cancer drug for women over border sparks fury

Breast cancer patients from Wales will jet the drug Herceptin free of charge at the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital while Shropshire women are still expected to pay £47,000 for private treatment.

It is believed the women would be cared or by the same teams that would treat Shropshire patients if health chiefs agreed to fund the drug.

The move, revealed today, has angered North Shropshire MP Owen Paterson who has been campaigning for free treatment for cancer patients in his constituency.

He is demanding an explanation from Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt and claimed Shropshire patients fighting to get Herceptin on the NHS had been dealt another "kick in the teeth".

It is believed that up to fbur women from Mid Wales will be treated at their "local" Royal Shrewsbury Hospital.

The drug is fully funded in Wales for early stage cancer, but the Shropshire County Primary Care Trust has said it will not fund it for early stage cancer until it is fully licensed, a move expected by he summer.

This could lead to about 40 patients from Shropshire, including Telford & Wrekin, being eligible for Herceptin on the NHS at a cost of more than £1.2 million.

Julie Grant, Shropshire Bounty PCT chief executive, said today "Everyone is finding the situation difficult. The sooner we get national clarity the better."

Suzanne Digwood, of Loughton, near Bridgnorth, who has been campaigning to get Herceptin on the NHS, said the drug was being handed out in the style of a postcode lottery.

"It's unethical and not right," she said.