Health secretary tackles cancer 'postcode lottery'

Tuesday, 28 October 2003 12:00 AM

Health secretary Dr John Reid is reportedly gearing up to order an end to 'postcode prescribing' of cancer drugs.

The current system denies thousands of patients the most effective treatment available because of where they live.

Dr Reid has ordered "Cancer Tsar" Mike Richards to conduct a nationwide review in order to find out why some health authorities are reluctant to prescribe new drugs that are nationally recommended.

The government review comes at the same time as an update to the 2000 Cancer Plan, which sets targets to cut treatment waiting times and smoking and pledges an extra £50 million a year to cancer care.

The health secretary claims that the state will deal with any funding problems as a result of prescribing expensive new treatments.

However, Dr Richards admitted that around £80 million earmarked for cancer care in 2001-02 did not reach the intended patients and services in a report published earlier this year and doctors last week stated that patients are still dying unnecessarily because of a lack of staff and essential equipment.

A Department of Health source told ITV News: "The differences in take-up around the country are simply not acceptable. Patients should be given the drugs they need and we will do all we can to resolve the problem."

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