MORE than one third of cancer patients who applied to West Sussex Primary Care Trust (PCT) for exceptional funding for lifeline cancer drugs in 2007 were refused, a new survey has revealed.
Last year 74 cancer patients applied to West Sussex PCT for exceptional funding to pay for treatments, and 23 of these were turned down.
Patients have to apply for exceptional circumstances funding if they need a drug which has not been approve
d by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence for use by trusts.
The Rare Cancers forum carried out a national survey where they found that out of the 62 trusts that replied to them 11 granted all requests and three did not grant any of them.
The funding decisions are made by a panel made up of clinical staff and lay people who have to judge each application on two factors.
To make a successful claim, patients must prove that they are 'significantly different to the general population of patients with the condition in question' and are 'likely to gain significantly more benefit from the intervention than might be expected from the average patient with the condition'.
A spokeswoman for West Sussex PCT said: "When a patient or their doctor requests funding for treatment or investigations that are excluded from services commissioned by West Sussex Primary Care Trust (PCT), each individual patient's case is reviewed at the West Sussex Review Panel for Patients with Individual Needs.
"This panel takes into account a number of factors including information provided by the professionals involved, the evidence of effectiveness from clinical trials and any national and local policies or guidance, including that from cancer networks.
"The panel considers the submission relating to the individual patient in addition to evidence on likely health outcome, clinical effectiveness, cost effectiveness and equity.
"The PCT has an agreed appeals process. This is not a re-hearing of the merits of the case but is a hearing to determine whether the Review Panel has breached any of the following principles; procedural impropriety, irrationality or illegality.
"West Sussex Primary Care Trust (PCT) respects the right of individuals to determine the course of their own lives, including the right to be fully involved in decisions concerning their health care.
"However, this has to be balanced against the PCT's responsibility to ensure equitable and consistent access to appropriate quality healthcare for all the population."
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