Post by Deanne Jenkyns on Jul 23, 2007 14:36:53 GMT 1
By Angela Taggart Chief reporter
FRIENDS and family of cancer victim Jimmy Jenkyns have highlighted his plight outside South Tyneside District Hospital.
The 55-year-old has been denied the life-prolonging drug Tarceva on the NHS.
Mr Jenkyns, from South Shields, who was diagnosed with lung cancer in April last year, has been paying for the drug himself, at a cost of £1,741 a month.
However, he has remained a NHS patient at the hospital, under consultant oncologist Dr Mazdai, who recommended him as a candidate for the drug.
But South Tyneside NHS Foundation Trust has now said it is unable to continue prescribing the drug, because it is not funded by South Tyneside Primary Care Trust (PCT).
The PCT is not funding the drug because it has not yet been approved for use in England, although it is available in Scotland.
Mr Jenkyns has been referred to Sunderland Royal Hospital for a
"second opinion", but Mr Jenkyns and wife Deanne, 39, are unhappy with this explanation.
Mrs Jenkyns, who runs a contract cleaning business with her husband, organised the one-day protest at the main entrance to the hospital in Harton Lane, South Shields, on Friday.
She said: "We wanted to make people aware of what has happened because of all the support we have received through the media.
"Why should we go quietly, especially when we have done nothing wrong?"
A recent scan showed the primary tumour in Mr Jenkyns's lung has shrunk by a third and some of the secondary tumours have disappeared.
Mrs Jenkyns added: "We've worked it out and he's only been on it for about six weeks, and he's been on a reduced dose, so it is an amazing response really."
Protesters held banners and handed out leaflets as cars beeped their horns in support.
Mrs Jenkyns added: "Everybody thinks it is outrageous. It is not just us.
"People could find themselves in the same position as us one day.
"We didn't expect to be in this position and it needs to be highlighted, it needs to be addressed and it needs to be put right."
The hospital declined to comment further.
Last Updated: 23 July 2007 2:25 PM
FRIENDS and family of cancer victim Jimmy Jenkyns have highlighted his plight outside South Tyneside District Hospital.
The 55-year-old has been denied the life-prolonging drug Tarceva on the NHS.
Mr Jenkyns, from South Shields, who was diagnosed with lung cancer in April last year, has been paying for the drug himself, at a cost of £1,741 a month.
However, he has remained a NHS patient at the hospital, under consultant oncologist Dr Mazdai, who recommended him as a candidate for the drug.
But South Tyneside NHS Foundation Trust has now said it is unable to continue prescribing the drug, because it is not funded by South Tyneside Primary Care Trust (PCT).
The PCT is not funding the drug because it has not yet been approved for use in England, although it is available in Scotland.
Mr Jenkyns has been referred to Sunderland Royal Hospital for a
"second opinion", but Mr Jenkyns and wife Deanne, 39, are unhappy with this explanation.
Mrs Jenkyns, who runs a contract cleaning business with her husband, organised the one-day protest at the main entrance to the hospital in Harton Lane, South Shields, on Friday.
She said: "We wanted to make people aware of what has happened because of all the support we have received through the media.
"Why should we go quietly, especially when we have done nothing wrong?"
A recent scan showed the primary tumour in Mr Jenkyns's lung has shrunk by a third and some of the secondary tumours have disappeared.
Mrs Jenkyns added: "We've worked it out and he's only been on it for about six weeks, and he's been on a reduced dose, so it is an amazing response really."
Protesters held banners and handed out leaflets as cars beeped their horns in support.
Mrs Jenkyns added: "Everybody thinks it is outrageous. It is not just us.
"People could find themselves in the same position as us one day.
"We didn't expect to be in this position and it needs to be highlighted, it needs to be addressed and it needs to be put right."
The hospital declined to comment further.
Last Updated: 23 July 2007 2:25 PM
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