Blog archive - November 2010

This is a free blogging space for LRC members. Opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the LRC.

WELL DONE JERRY HICKS

Marie Lynam
27th November 2010 at 20:20
0 comments
The 52,000 votes (or so) for Jerry Hicks is a very good result. It is enormous considering the wall of opposition that he faced at all levels in the middle and top layers of UNITE.  [continue/comment...]
Tags: build anti-cut tendencies in labour

This is a free blogging space for LRC members. Opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the LRC.

Cambridge University Occupation

Matt Wells
26th November 2010 at 16:41
0 comments
See report here :http://labourfight.wordpress.com/ 50 students in occupation of the old schools building by senate house in defence of education. Send messages of solidarity to (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).  [continue/comment...]

This is a free blogging space for LRC members. Opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the LRC.

Please help stop the postcode lottery in the South East which denies lifesaving treatment to cancer

Lesley Whiting
26th November 2010 at 11:46
2 comments
I recently had vital cancer treatment (Cyberknife Radiotherapy), paid for by a Charity, because the South East Coast Specialist Commissioning Group (who consider applications for funding on behalf of eight Primary Care Trusts in Sussex, Surrey and Kent), refused funding, and I couldn’t afford to pay for it.
Now I’m campaigning to end the shameful postcode lottery that means some cancer patients can get this lifesaving treatment, and others can’t.
Sadly, I’m not the only patient who has been refused funding for this treatment in the South East. I am told by one of the clinics who deliver this treatment, that they have been refused funding for this treatment in at least a dozen cases (and one patient has since died).
When my application for funding was made, we were told by the Specialist Commissioning Group, that they do not fund Cyberknife under any circumstances, because it has not been approved by NICE, and because the Commissioning Group had carried out an “extensive review”, which suggested it was neither clinically, or cost effective. However, when asked for a copy of the “extensive review”, we were told they hadn’t actually done one, and in fact were relying on an out of date Canadian Public Health Document (out of date because ironically the Canadian Government have since approved Cyberknife treatment).
The fact is that the majority of medical professionals are in favour of Cyberknife. That is why Mount Vernon NHS Hospital have spent three million pounds buying Cyberknife (and have just started accepting those patients who can get funding), and The Royal Marsden in London and St. James’s in Leeds have just bought Cyberknife and will start accepting patients in 2011. Even NICE are fast tracking their report on this life-saving treatment - and in fact twenty eight PCT’s do fund Cyberknife.
It’s very unfair that cancer patients living in an area where PCT’s do fund it can get treatment, and those who don’t can’t.
If you live in Sussex, Surrey or Kent, please will you write to your MP, and ask why The South East Coast Specialist Commissioning Group refuse to fund Cyberknife Radiotherapy (otherwise known as Stereotactic Radiotherapy).
Thank you  [continue/comment...]