Drug access varies across county

The survey asked about the availability of five top cancer drugs

Access to some cancer drugs on the NHS in Berkshire can vary greatly depending on whether you live in the west or the east of the county, BBC research shows.

The study focused on five drugs not yet given approval for widespread NHS use.

Last year East Berkshire Primary Care Trust funded 13.9% of requests for the five (once recommended by a doctor), but West Berkshire PCT funded 85%.

East Berkshire PCT said the report did not show why individuals were given or declined the drugs.

The poll was carried out across the UK for the BBC One series, Dom's on the Case.

Programme researchers contacted all of the 149 Primary care trusts in England, and the health authorities in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

On top of hearing the news that mum had terminal cancer, we then had this huge fight on our hands Helen Peters

The researchers asked how many cancer sufferers had been given five top cancer drugs that had been recommended to them by their GPs.

The drugs - Avastin, Erbitux, Nexavar, Sutent and Tarceva - are relatively expensive, with the cost of treatment running into thousands of pounds.

At the time of the survey, none of them had the approval of the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) - the body responsible in England, Wales and Northern Ireland for giving guidance on the use of new medicines in the NHS.

The decision to allow patients the drugs rested with each PCT.

Between 2007 and 2008, 11 patients in East Berkshire requested Erbitux but all were refused - whereas in West Berkshire, one patient requested the drug and got it.

During the same period, eight patients in East Berkshire requested Sutent and seven received it. In West Berkshire nine patients requested it and three received it.

DRUGS SURVEYED The drugs in the survey were considered in relation to the following cancers: Avastin: Colon and breast cancer Erbitux: Colon and lung cancer Nexavar: Renal and liver cancer Sutent: Renal cancer Tarceva: Pancreatic cancer 'I couldn't get cancer drug' Access in your area

Joan Hughes, 65, of Bracknell, appealed twice before East Berkshire PCT paid for Sutent for her kidney cancer.

Her daughter, Helen Peters, said: "On top of hearing the news that mum had terminal cancer, we then had this huge fight on our hands. It took a huge toll on mum at the time."

She said she felt her mother was "basically being told to go away to die".

In a statement, East Berkshire PCT said: "The figures in the report do not show why each individual patient was given or declined the treatment requested.

"Each application is considered on an individual basis, which is why there is a huge variation across the country, not just the county.

"The strength of a patient's case and the outcome of their case is dependent on the quality of evidence submitted by their consultant and whether the patient has any exceptional circumstances that would make this particular treatment the best option for them.

"Both Berkshire East PCT and Berkshire West PCT follow policies set by the Berkshire Priorities Committee which has set policies for commonly requested non-NICE approved drugs."