If you register for free, you will be able to post threads, vote on polls and lots more. If you have problems with the registration or logging in, please contact the administrator.
It's been in the news again locally over the past few days. A lad who lived in Northumberland finally won his battle to get the local PCT to pay for cancer drugs which will drastically improve the quality of his life. Prior to that, the PCT had turned down his requet and he had been forking out £3000 a month for the 'magic bullet' treatment.
It's not the first time this has happened of course - it's very much a nationwide thing, that depending on where you live is the deciding factor on what medical treatment you receive - particularly when it comes to the more expensive life saving/prolonging drugs.
So - why can't there be one rule for all rather than where you happen to live being the over-riding factor ?
Having worked for the NHS before, abiet 8 years ago, I saw first hand how cash was wasted by PCT's. I'd imagine things haven't changed much since then.
Originally posted by Big Geordie:
So - why can't there be one rule for all rather than where you happen to live being the over-riding factor ?
Having worked for the NHS before, abiet 8 years ago, I saw first hand how cash was wasted by PCT's. I'd imagine things haven't changed much since then.
Because if their value can be proven, they might start buying them in sufficient quantities to make it economical for more people?
I'm actually starting to wonder whether it's actually right for the NHS to pay ludicrous amounts of money to people with what are essentially terminal diseases.
£3000 a month just for somebody to be more comfortable due to their illness seems very wasteful to me tbh.
Originally posted by Gregg Carter:
I'm actually starting to wonder whether it's actually right for the NHS to pay ludicrous amounts of money to people with what are essentially terminal diseases.
£3000 a month just for somebody to be more comfortable due to their illness seems very wasteful to me tbh.
Originally posted by Doog:
<BLOCKQUOTE>Originally posted by Gregg Carter:
I'm actually starting to wonder whether it's actually right for the NHS to pay ludicrous amounts of money to people with what are essentially terminal diseases.
£3000 a month just for somebody to be more comfortable due to their illness seems very wasteful to me tbh.
so they should just be left to die in agony then? </BLOCKQUOTE>
The NHS has a duty of care does it not ? If there are drugs out there which can pro-long someone's life/ease their suffering then surely it's worth it IMO.
I'm not saying i definitely believe this by the way - Just looking to try and see the arguments on both sides. There are definitely arguments both for and against it.
The NHS Postcode lottery business 
Linear Mode
