Post by Deanne Jenkyns on Jun 19, 2008 18:33:28 GMT 1
ITN - Tuesday, June 17 07:00 pm
The Government is to review a ban on cancer patients who pay for private care getting NHS treatment.
Health Secretary Alan Johnson told MPs cancer expert Professor Mike Richards will lead the review, which has been blamed for preventing some patients receiving free treatment if they opt to pay for drugs not available on the NHS.
Tory MP John Baron led the campaign for a review following the death of his constituent, 64-year-old Linda O'Boyle, who was denied free treatment because she opted for a drug only available privately.
Mr Baron said: "The ban on co-payments was cruel because, as we know, it took NHS care away from patients who were dying."
Mr Johnson said: "I'm asking Mike Richards to look at a very complex issue here. I'm not saying that he comes down one way or the other.
"He needs to review this issue given the need to protect the principles of the NHS as a service free at the point of need and the very understandable concerns of the family of Mrs O'Boyle and many other people involved."
Shadow health secretary Andrew Lansley said: "There are essentially two principles that we need to be looking very carefully at.
"One is that if patients access private treatment beyond the boundaries of NHS care, that should not as a result mean they lose their entitlement to NHS care.
"And NHS care itself should continue to be both comprehensive and free, based on need not ability to pay."
The Government is to review a ban on cancer patients who pay for private care getting NHS treatment.
Health Secretary Alan Johnson told MPs cancer expert Professor Mike Richards will lead the review, which has been blamed for preventing some patients receiving free treatment if they opt to pay for drugs not available on the NHS.
Tory MP John Baron led the campaign for a review following the death of his constituent, 64-year-old Linda O'Boyle, who was denied free treatment because she opted for a drug only available privately.
Mr Baron said: "The ban on co-payments was cruel because, as we know, it took NHS care away from patients who were dying."
Mr Johnson said: "I'm asking Mike Richards to look at a very complex issue here. I'm not saying that he comes down one way or the other.
"He needs to review this issue given the need to protect the principles of the NHS as a service free at the point of need and the very understandable concerns of the family of Mrs O'Boyle and many other people involved."
Shadow health secretary Andrew Lansley said: "There are essentially two principles that we need to be looking very carefully at.
"One is that if patients access private treatment beyond the boundaries of NHS care, that should not as a result mean they lose their entitlement to NHS care.
"And NHS care itself should continue to be both comprehensive and free, based on need not ability to pay."
LC charity Ball