THE MP spearheading the rights of asbestos-related cancer

sufferers has condemned a decision not to give a dying Derby

man a life-extending drug.

Michael Clapham MP, right, who is a leading campaigner for

better treatment for mesothelioma sufferers, says the decision

by Derby Primary Care Trust belittles workers who were exposed

to the deadly fibre through no fault of their own.

He has called for the trust to reverse its decision not to

fund the drug, called Alimta, for Garford Gaskin.

Mr Gaskin, who is terminally ill, has twice been refused

funding because the trust said the drug was not licensed for

patients who had already had chemotherapy.

Alimta slows the growth of cancerous tumours and relieves

symptoms such as breathlessness, chest pain, persistent cough

and loss of appetite.

Mr Clapham, chairman of an all-party parliamentary group on

asbestos-related conditions, called the trust's decision an

“absolute disgrace”.

He said: “It is my view that it should be immediately made

available to him and I hope that the trust will review its

decision.

“Mr Gaskin, like many other workers who were exposed to

asbestos four decades ago, has made an enormous contribution to

society and his endeavour as a working man should be

recognised.

“It is demoralising for the trust to take the stance that it

has.

“It belittles men and women who have worked hard and were

exposed to the deadly fibre through no fault of their own.”

Derbyshire is considered a hotspot for mesothelioma cases

because of its history of heavy engineering. At least 300

Derbyshire people have died in the past 30 years but

specialists expect a surge in numbers because of the disease's

long incubation period.

Mr Gaskin, of Clinton Street, Chaddesden, was exposed to

asbestos when he worked for British Rail. The 67-year-old was

diagnosed with the disease more than two years ago and has

undergone a major operation and chemotherapy to try to reduce

the cancerous tumours.

He is now on morphine to give him some relief from the pain,

which is getting worse every day.

In January, the National Institute for Health and Clinical

excellence said it was the NHS's duty only to pay for Alimta

for mesothelioma patients who had not previously had

chemotherapy – because this was the only group on which trials

had been carried out.

It was left up to local primary care trusts to decide

whether to pay for it for chemotherapy patients.

The Derby trust said it would pay in “exceptional

circumstances” but it decided Mr Gaskin was not such a case,

despite an appeal.

Mr Clapham, Labour MP for Barnsley West and Penistone,

fought for the institute's approval of Alimta.

He said: “I think it is an absolute disgrace that because Mr

Gaskin had chemotherapy before Alimta was available the Derby

trust is withholding the drug that would give him vital

help.”

In response to Mr Clapham's comments, the trust said that it

funded Alimta in line with guidance produced by Nice.

It went on to say: “The PCT's decision on this case has

already been challenged through the appeal process, the outcome

of which has concluded that adhering to the Nice guidance was

the right decision.

“We regret that sometimes these decisions will be very

disappointing for patients.”

Mr Clapham could now raise the issue of Alimta funding with

ministers.

Mr Gaskin said he was grateful to the MP for taking an

interest in his case. “It was very kind of Mr Clapham,” he

said. “I shouldn't give up hope. I just hope that something

changes the PCT's mind. I have too much to do and too little

time to do it.”

It costs about £6,700 for a course of Alimta and people

undergoing treatment survive, on average, for an extra

two-and-a-half months.

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