A TERMINALLY-ILL man suffering from an asbestos-related

cancer has, for a second time, been denied treatment that could

extend his life.

Garford Gaskin's hope was shattered when told his appeal for

the NHS to pay for a drug that slows the growth of tumours had

been turned down.

The drug, Alimta, helps mesothelioma sufferers like Mr

Gaskin by relieving breathlessness, chest pain, persistent

cough and loss of appetite.

Mr Gaskin, 67, of Clinton Street, Chaddesden, was diagnosed

two years ago. The disease stems from his work at British Rail

four decades ago.

He said: “It's getting quite painful now as all the tumours

are growing and my breathing is getting worse. A Government

firm gave me the disease and now it's the Government stopping

me getting treatment for it, so I do feel a bit resentful.”

Derby City Primary Care Trust would not pay for the drug

because it was not licensed for people like Mr Gaskin who had

had chemotherapy. However, it said it would pay in “exceptional

circumstances” but the appeal decided he was not such a

case.

Joanne Carlin, of Derbyshire Asbestos Support Team, who

accompanied Mr Gaskin to the appeal, called the decision

“totally unfair”. She said: “There is research out there to say

it is effective for people who have already had chemotherapy.

And we are flabbergasted that Mr Gaskin has been denied it at

such a young age.”

In January, the National Institute for Health and Clinical

Excellence (NICE) said the NHS should pay for Alimta for

mesothelioma patients but only for those who had not previously

had chemotherapy because that was the only group on which

trials had been carried out. It was left up to the local

primary care trust to decide whether to pay for it for

chemotherapy patients.

When the primary care trust initially turned down a request

for the drug from Mr Gaskin's consultant, it said: “In order

for funding to be agreed, there must be some unusual or unique

clinical factor about the patient.”

It said this would be if his case was significantly

different to others and was likely to benefit more from

treatment than the average patient.

But Lilly UK, which makes Alimta, argues Mr Gaskin's

situation is unusual because he had to have other drugs at

first because Alimta was not available when he was

diagnosed.

A spokesman for Lilly UK said: “This situation highlights

the need for NICE to speed up its review process of medicines.

The three-year delay in issuing appropriate guidance for

England and Wales in the first instance has led to this unjust

situation for a patient in exceptional circumstances.”

Mr Gaskin has been told he can pay for the drug at a cost of

up to £3,000 but would have to go private for further

treatment.

In a statement to the Evening Telegraph, Derby City Primary

Care Trust said its appeal process was “thorough” and involved

a panel of people who were not involved in the original

decision.