Randerson anger at Health Minister's backtracking on Cancer drugs

11.09.00am GMT Wed 25th Feb 2009

The Welsh Lib Dems believe everything should be done to pay for life prolonging drugs

Welsh Lib Dem Assembly Member for Cardiff Central, Jenny Randerson AM has today reacted with anger after the Health Minister, Edwina Hart backtracked on the funding of the drug Lenalidomide, a life prolonging drug for sufferers of Multiple Myeloma (bone cancer).

During plenary questions on the 4th of February, Mrs Hart seemingly agreed to issue guidance to LHBs asking them to pre-empt final NICE guidance on the drug, but after a contradictory statement to the press, Jenny Randerson wrote to the Minister seeking clarification. In a long-awaited reply, Mrs Hart has now ruled out issuing any such guidance.

The issue of funding for Lenalidomide was brought to attention by Mr Peter Ataou, a Multiple Myeloma patient from Jenny Randerson's constituency. After a hard fought campaign, and a large protest at the Senedd, Mr Ataou's case was resolved satisfactorily, but many other Multiple Myeloma sufferers around Wales are still not being funded for the drug.

Jenny Randerson said: "I am very angry. If you read the official record of what was said , the Health Minister makes it very clear in answer to my questions that she would ask LHBs to fund the drug immediately. She has now backtracked completely. It took a long time for her to reply to my letter which suggests she was stalling for time because she knew how scandalous this situation is.

"I believe that the large numbers of Multiple Myeloma patients who were in the public gallery at the time of my question will be seriously distressed by this u-turn. This is totally unacceptable. You can not play with the emotions of people with such a serious disease. At the very least she should apologise."

NOTES:

The Record of Proceedings from 4th February reads:

Jenny Randerson: You may be aware of the case of my constituent, Peter Ataou, who has been protesting outside the Assembly today. I hope that I can give you good news on his case. By some strange coincidence, following the publication of the story of the protest, yesterday afternoon, the local health board rang him up and said that his appeal for the life-prolonging drug Revlimid, otherwise known as lenalidomide, had been granted. Mr Ataou has fought for six months on this case. It started with the unedifying spectacle of the trust and the LHB arguing about who was responsible for paying for this drug. Will you look again at this issue? In the light of the fact that LHBs and trusts are about to merge, it is truly stupid that they are arguing about who is responsible for payment. In the light of your letter about this drug, which was received last week, could you issue guidance to LHBs that they should, if you like, anticipate the result of the draft guidance that the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence has already issued, which we fully expect to be implemented in April, which states that this drug should be made available to sufferers of multiple myeloma, because it will help to prolong their lives?

Edwina Hart: On a personal level, we would all be pleased that this matter has been resolved to your constituent's satisfaction. The case has provided me with interesting information about how things work or do not work in the NHS with regard to these issues. I am happy to say 'yes' to both points that you have raised.