The plight of an Isle of Wight man with renal cancer who was refused a life-prolonging drug has been taken up in the House of Commons by Island MP Andrew Turner.  Mr Turner has asked health ministers if they could intervene after the IW Primary Care Trust (PCT) would not pay for the drug, Sutent for John Burrell.

Speaking during an adjournment debate on Tuesday, Mr Turner said:

“Mr Burrell is in an impossible situation; one cannot fail to be moved by his plight.”

He told MPs the PCT would not pay between £4,000 and £7,000 for initial treatment as the drug had not yet been approved by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE).

Mr Turner added:

“Across The Solent in Portsmouth and Southampton and in 60 other PCTs up and down the country, Sutent would be prescribed for Mr Burrell.” He accused the IW PCT of being inflexible.

Mr Burrell, 63, lives with his wife, Elaine, in School Road Godshill, they have been married 41 years and have lived on the Island for five years.

Mr Turner quoted from the front page article in the County Press the letter sent by Dr Kudingila Madhava, a consultant oncologist based St Mary’s Hospital, Portsmouth, to the PCT:

“As Mr Burrell is a young patient and has been very fit until recently, he would really be an ideal candidate for this treatment. It would be unfortunate if you deprived him of this newer drug just because of lack of funding.”

Mr Turner added:

“The NICE policy makes it absolutely clear that that local decisions are OK for medicines, which have not yet been approved (by NICE), yet this does not seem to be happening on the Isle of Wight.

“Southampton City and Portsmouth City Teaching PCTs confirm they prescribe Sutent, judging each request on its merits. The North East Strategic Health Authority approves it as routine first and second-line treatments for 12 trusts.

“Taking Dr Madhava’s words into account it is hard to see what argument for giving this treatment to Mr Burrell could be more compelling.

“The only conclusion can be there is a postcode lottery which affects the Island – to the great detriment of my constituents and their families.”

Mr Turner added he understood Mr Burrell is one of two patients in two years to be refused Sutent by the PCT.

During his speech Mr Turner also criticised the time taken by NICE to approve new drugs.  Ministers must also ensure that NICE evaluate new and apparently effective drugs swiftly, so all patients can benefit from them.
Isle of Wight Community News @Island Pulse Article supplied MP Andrew Turner.