Sponsored by
Postcode lottery patient wins fight for drug
A woman who faced losing her sight because of a postcode lottery has won her battle for the treatment health chiefs previously refused to fund.
Lesley Fletcher, who has Myopic Choroidal Neovascularisation (CNV) which damages central vision, fought North Yorkshire Primary Care Trust after it refused to fund treatment with the drug Lucentis or another, Avastin.
But following an appeal, the 55-year-old catering assistant has been told that funding has been approved for her to receive one of the drugs.
Ms Fletcher, of Sutton-in-Craven, near Keighley, said: "It is fantastic. I feel as if a weight has been lifted off me. I am so grateful to everyone who has helped - the Macular Disease Society and my consultant Helen Devonport – she has gone beyond her duty.
"We started off trying to get Lucentis. We got to the point where we did not seem to be getting anywhere so we tried for the cheaper drug, Avastin. The first time we applied it was turned down. The Avastin will prevent my sight from deteriorating. My biggest fear was not being able to see."
Ms Fletcher travelled to Westminster earlier this year to highlight the situation which leaves people in some areas without treatment being given to those in other parts of the country.
Cathy Yelf, head of external relations for the Macular Disease Society, said: "We are absolutely delighted for Lesley. It has been a long battle which has been very stressful for her and her family. She has had this fear hanging over her for many months and it's wonderful that that threat has now been lifted.
"We are very pleased and grateful to the PCT for taking such care over this decision. We very much hope that other patients won't have to go through the same lengthy process that Lesley has gone through and the PCT will recognise the value of clinical medical advice on these matters.
"Our advocacy service is still working with patients in parts of the country where very obstinate PCTs are still refusing to approve treatment and we hope that anybody having difficulty getting treatment will contact us for support."
The U-turn on Ms Fletcher's treatment does not, however, mean that patients in the same situation will receive funding for the drug from NHS North Yorkshire and York, formerly the PCT.
Dr David Geddes, medical director for NHS North Yorkshire and York, said: "Our individual case panel makes decisions about whether to fund treatments for conditions which fall outside guidance issued by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) and are therefore not routinely commissioned by the NHS. This is the case with Lucentis and Avastin for the condition Myopic Choroidal Neovascularisation.
"The individual case panel, which consists of a range of professionals including doctors, takes into account the clinical and cost effectiveness of such treatments. The panel also weighs up whether the treatment is likely to result in a good outcome for the patient against the risks it will expose them to."
Dr Geddes said it was not possible to comment on individual cases because of patient confidentiality but all decisions by the case panel were on a case-by-case basis so any decision to fund a particular treatment related only to that specific case.
Email to a friend
Print this page- Leeds lose Ward to Palace: Is there anyone they can afford now?
- Sheffield Wednesday leaving it late to hijack Leeds United over Ward
- As Snodgrass dithers over Leeds, Warnock throws a lifeline
- Ball is in Leeds United’s court over contract - Snodgrass
- Police turning blind eye to Asian voter fraud, says MP
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Yorkshire
Saturday 26 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 9 C to 21 C
Wind Speed: 17 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 9 C to 22 C
Wind Speed: 13 mph
Wind direction: East
