I have enclosed a copy of a letter I have today sent to our Prime Minister Mr Gordon Brown.
You have been copied into this letter because in our opinion you are probably the most well known name in British Business today as well as being a peoples champion.
I would like to say first off that this is not a begging letter. I am not looking for you to donate money or anything else for that matter. I want your ideas on how we can progress with our campaign to raise enough funds to allow Diane to be treated and allow her that extra precious few months.
It would be great if you could endorse our campaign.
Diane was featured on Scottish Television on Tuesday of this week and in our opinion it is completely ludicrous that because the family are trying to raise funds for this private treatment the government will then withdraw any National Heath Service treatment. Surely this cannot be allowed to happen. We have to stand up against this postcode lottery that is going on in this country. We all deserve the right to live and if that means an extra few months then so be it.
Diane is only 38 years old and has two young children.
Now a few months of government funding would mean nothing to them but to her husband and children, it would mean the world and then some.
We need help and advice to push this issue forward. We have written to Nicola Sturgeon The Scottish Health Secretary but were advised a reply would take six weeks. I don't have 6 weeks to wait on a decision. I need that today to allow me to live tomorrow and have a few extra months with my children. Please can you help? We would be eternally grateful.
Gordon Brown
HOW WOULD YOU FEEL?
To be told you have secondary breast cancer, which is terminal
How would you feel?
Especially if you had fought and battled breast cancer in the past and had enjoyed 2 years of blissful remission.
How would you feel?
To know that there were drugs available that could potentially prolong and enhance the quality of the time you have remaining.
How would you feel?
To be told, Sorry Mrs Wishart, you don't qualify for the drugs that could prolong and enhance your life.
How would you feel?
Mr Brown,could you watch your wife, daughter, mother or grandmother go through this turmoil when you had the power within your grasp to change that persons life forever?
How do I feel?
Disgusted
Devastated
Inconsolable
Shocked
Gutted
Unprepared
Saddened
Terrified
Exasperated
Determined.
Would you Fight for the right to be treated with the best possible drugs available, or just sit back and wait for death to come knocking on your door.
You do not have the right to decide whether I should die now or in a few months time.
You do not have the right to play GOD for your political gain and your parties popularity.
You do not have the right to tell me if I raise some money to fund the treatment myself that you will then stop all NHS help.
What is the price of a human life these days Mr Brown?
What price would you pay for one last day with your family?
What would you sacrifice Mr Brown to help Diane Wishart spend a few more precious months with her husband and daughters?
And finally why would you not want to help? Unlike you I do not have time on my side to wait for a decision. I need it now, today.... so I can have tomorrow.
Nicola Sturgeon
Cancer Treatment in Scotland.
I write with reference to the above and to recent concerns raised by one of my constituents, Mrs Wishart.
Mrs Wishart is suffering from secondary breast cancer, which is not curable and she is concerned at the time taken to get certain cancer drugs in the UK even though these are available in Germany and the United States. These countries, amongst others, have drugs that are still not licensed in the UK as well as drugs that are licensed in the UK but not approved for use by the NHS.
Amongst other drugs not available in this country Mrs Wishart is seeking access to the drug Avastin, which clinical trials have shown shrinks the cancer and greatly improves the progression free time of the illness. Avastin can double the time before the cancer returns however, it is not clear whether it increases the patients life expectancy. America are doing trials at the moment which would suggest that with the type of breast cancer Mrs Wishart has that her life expectancy could be improved. Avastin is licensed in the UK but it is thought that it will take another year for this to become available in Scotland on the NHS if it is approved. Mrs Wishart believes this drug would greatly improve her quality of life.
Oncologists in Scotland cannot approach any NHS Trusts for any drug that have not yet been approved by the Scottish Medical Consortium, although they are licensed in this country, however in England this is not case and Oncologists can approach Trusts if they feel that the benefit of the drug is imperative to the patients care and would ultimately extend their life expectancy.
The English NHS Trusts will also pay for this drug if they agree with the Oncologist for the use of the drug.
Mrs Wishart can by fundraising pay for this drug privately however, she has been told this will mean she no longer has access to any of her other treatment through the NHS because this would mean a two-tier NHS system. Despite this a patient can go privately for a CT scan without it affecting their other NHS treatment.
I would be grateful if you could address the following questions which Mrs Wishart has raised
1. Why do patients lose all of their NHS treatment if they pay part of their treatment privately?
2. Why does it take longer for drugs like Avastin to be made available in Scotland when it is already available elsewhere?
3. Why can an Oncologist approach a Trust in England and not in Scotland? I would welcome your comments on this.
Yours sincerely Jim Tolson Liberal Democrat Member of the Scottish Parliament for Dunfermline West
