Figures released under Freedom of Information Act requests from the national Rarer Cancers Forum show that Herefordshire’s PCT rejected eight applications, but agreed to fund seven more, after patients applied to have rare drugs supplied to treat their cancers.

The table shows Herefordshire is 13th in PCT percentage rejected rates, with Nottingham City and South West Essex have a 100% rejection rate, while Havering, Wakefield and Shropshire had 0% rejection rates, having allowed all of their respective 60, 83 and 15 applications for rare drugs.

Commenting on what it described as a post-code lottery the Forum said: “More than 1,300 cancer patients have been left to die in the past 20 months because they were not deemed exceptional enough to receive cancer treatment on the NHS. 

“They will have been forced either to go without the life-giving treatments or to pay privately for the top-up drugs and risk having all their other care withdrawn.”

A statement from Herefordshire PCT said it carefully considers each case on merit at its Named Patient Panel.

The trust spokesman explained: “The guidelines surrounding the criteria used by the panel to assess eligibility are available on request from the PCT, and will shortly be available for download from our website, www.herefordshire.nhs.uk

“The PCT cannot comment on individual cases, and cannot release the names of the drugs in question to protect patient confidentiality. 

“In some instances there may be only one request for a particular drug and this could lead to a particular patient being identifiable.

“There will always be drugs that are licensed as safe to prescribe but have not yet been appraised by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence to determine whether they offer good value to the NHS.

“It is right that PCTs should make the decision on funding for such drugs, taking account of local circumstances and individual cases.

“To ensure there is transparency and greater consistency in the way these local decisions are made, the Department of Health has said it will be establishing a clear set of principles to inform PCT decisions on funding of drugs where there is no NICE guidance, so if a decision is made not to fund a particular drug locally, it is clear why.” The Department and NICE would also ensure that significant new drugs are appraised as soon as possible” after they are licensed, so there is a rapid and authoritative national advice on their issue.

And the PCT was consulting on a proposed patient right to have access to NICE-approved drugs where their doctor agrees that is clinically appropriate.

“Taken together, these measures will help to end the perceived lottery of funding for prescribed drugs”, said the PCT statement.

Meanwhile, Macmillan Cancer Support, whose target of £1.5 million was met by the Herefordshire public to support new chemotherapy units at Hereford County Hospital, said the Forum was “completely right” to highlight the maze that cancer patients are faced with when a treatment, recommended by their doctor, is denied by their primary care trust.

“We have long been calling for PCTs to make their exceptional funding process more transparent so patients know how they can contest decisions. 

“Currently there is a postcode lottery as PCT processes vary widely across the UK”, the charity told the Journal.

A draft NHS Constitution could include proposals for guidance “that will make PCTs responsible for informing patients as to why they have made decisions”.

“It is vital that this process is clear and transparent, as people are already in a vulnerable situation when they are trying to access treatments.

“Macmillan will be responding to the consultation to ensure these important proposals are not watered down. 

“People affected by cancer can find out what to do if their treatment is not funded on our website, www.cancerbackup.org.uk,” said Macmillan.

At a packed public meeting in Moreton-on-Lugg earlier this week, more than 100 people voiced concerns about plans submitted by Mercia Waste Management for a waste facility with claims that it would harbour “smell, litter and enormous quantities of plastic”. 

Protesters believe the proposal has health implications and road safety issues, and claim that HGVs would be turning off the busy A49 “every four minutes”.

They argue that more than 800 people will be affected in Moreton-on-Lugg, Burghill, Wellington, Lyde and Arundel if plans go ahead. 

A site visit has been organised in the Moreton-on-Lugg area next Tuesday morning, and the application comes before Herefordshire Council’s planning committee next month. 

Adrian Spong told the Journal that the proposed open windrow composting facility would be adjacent to his campsite at Cuckoo’s Corner, Moreton-on-Lugg. “There was a lot of feeling at an absolutely packed meeting this week,” he said. “It’s causing an enormous amount of dissatisfaction.”

Anxieties about possible health issues involved in open windrow composting at Moreton-on-Lugg have prompted demands for further studies to establish the effects of spore counts and dust emissions. 

Said Mr Spong: “This proposal covers four acres of arable farmland including 2.4 acres of concrete. It’s a waste facility with all the smell, litter and an enormous amount of plastic. There will also be the visual aspect of slag heaps and an incredible road safety issue with HGVs pulling straight off a 60mph road which is going to lead to a serious accident.”

Marketing director for Severn Waste Services, Ian Barker commented: “In advance of our application we held a two-day exhibition attended by between 80 to 100 people at Moreton village hall to outline proposals.” 

Protesters’ concerns had been effectively answered in a series of technical studies, he said.  

The students presented the money to the Mayor of Hereford Councillor Kevin Wargen as a thank you for showing them around the Town Hall. 

The money will go to the Mayor’s charity appeal, St Michaels Hospice.

The US students are sent by the People to People Student Ambassador Programme, a not-for-profit organisation based in Spokane, Washington State USA.

 It was founded after WWII by President Eisenhower to promote the USA across the world. 

The aim of People to People is to enable students for the United States travel the world and meet people. Every year more than 10,000 young US students tour the British Isles. 

Their travel around Britain includes a three-day home stay where they stay with host families.

This summer approximately 400 of them were able to enjoy Herefordshire hospitality thanks to ECE (the People to People British arm) and their co-ordinators, Pierre and Fiona Catherineau of Present Perfect.   

PICTURE: Erin Gillies, a People to People Student Ambassador from Nevada, presents a cheque  for £200 to the Mayor for St.Michaels Hospice.                     Picture by: Andy Compton

Pc Meek knew nothing of the missing boy report, but his informant said he had seen a youngster cycling from Bromyard towards Hereford at about 8pm.

The lad had been reported missing at 9pm, had not been seen for a couple of hours and was believed to be on his bicycle. because of his age and the failing light, local police asked residents to help with a search of the area where the lad was last seen. 

The force helicopter was called out and officers from the dog section and surrounding divisions were mobilised to start a full-scale  search.

Now aware of the possible dangers facing the boy, Pc Meek roused his neighbour, Special Constable Charles Pudge.

Using their extensive local knowledge they phoned   every farm in the area to raise the alert and get farmers to check outbuildings and land next to the road. 

They then went to Bromyard police station, grabbing radios and torches, and began house to house en-quiries.

At around 11pm, SC Pudge received a call of a sighting at Moreton Jeffries, and the two officers found the boy fast asleep in a barn at a farm in the village. He was returned home safe and well.

Chief Superintendent Mark Turner said: “The prompt action and extensive local knowledge of these two officers allowed us to bring matters to a swift and safe conclusion, saving considerable time and money. 

“But more than that, it shows the dedication to duty that we hope all our staff aspire to. 

“Both men responded to the emergency in true West Mercia style, acting with professionalism and dedication, which ultimately saw the boy returned safely home to his family.”

The news that the Top Cross would only be closed for a maximum of four weeks came during talks between Ledbury Town Council and Welsh water recently.

Preparations for the work will begin on Monday December 29 with the repairs due to commence from Monday January 5 for a month.

Laing O’Rourke, which is due to undertake the repairs, will work 7 days a week for at least 10 hours per day to make sure the programme is kept to schedule.

Mayor of Ledbury Keith Francis said: “Laing O’Rourke need to have discussions with the transport officers at Hereford- shire Council and bus operators over bus routes; this will include journeys to school. 

“Perhaps minibuses might be the answer as a temporary measure. Pedestrian access through Top Cross will be maintained and traders will be encouraged to let delivery drivers know of disruption, so deliveries can be staggered. 

“There may be some disruption to water supply but the bigger disruption will be kept to night time.”

A further meeting is scheduled later this month to deal with signage.

The news comes as a great relief to residents and traders in the town who feared initially that routes to Malvern and Worcester would effectively be cut off.

In its Draft Business Plan announced last week, Welsh Water announced a capital investment programme of £1.5billion between 2010 and 2015 which is set to include improvements to water treatment at 26 sites, and on-going investment of £37 million  to reduce the risk of repeat sewer flooding to properties. 

Spokeswoman for Welsh Water Nicola Roberts said that formal plans were not available at present as they could be subject to change over the coming weeks.

“We are in discussions with traders and local residents at this stage,” she said.

Readers all over the county held their breath when they heard about a horrific accident at Black House Farm at Much Dewchurch, when Blanche Whistance lost a leg in a baling machine. 

Now walking again with the use of an artificial limb, Mrs Whistance’s bravery has been an inspiration to many, not least her 18-year-old granddaughter, Nicky, who has raised thousands of pounds for the Air Ambulance in recognition of their rescue of her Nan.

In a move away from usual protocol, an Air Ambulance representative, Arthur Worthington visited the farm on Saturday to receive an £11,300 cheque from Nicky, and to meet the woman whose remarkable recovery has been put down to the team who arrived at the scene shortly after the accident. Said Nicky’s mother, Sally Whistance: “Nan has been an inspiration in the first place, and you want to do the same, and Nicky has followed by example. 

“We are very proud of her for raising so much money, and the Air Ambulance made an exception because of the large amount raised by an individual, so they actually came to the farm on Saturday.”

Sally and her husband and their three children were on holiday last August when the accident happened. 

“She was helping my father-in-law, who was repairing a baler, and she became entangled in the machine,” she explained. “It was an horrific accident, and she was said to have a slim chance of survival. 

To the children she’s always been Nan, but they jokingly call her the Iron Lady now.”

Nicky received support from her family, from the community and local businesses as well as Pontrilas Young Farmers’ Club. 

Cash was raised at a promises auction, the sale conducted by a relative, auctioneer Jenny Layton, a barn dance and raffle.

“Draw tickets don’t usually go very well, but they actually went like hot cakes; everyone wanted to support the Air Ambulance,” said Sally.

Her mother-in-law underwent a number of operations at Frenchay Hospital, and has since had a series of minor operations at Hereford. 

“Because of what she’s been through and because she’s come so far, she is amazing and that’s why the children call her the Iron Lady,” said Sally. 

“A representative from the Air Ambulance said he was quite happy to come down to the farm because of such a large amount of money, and he wanted to meet my mother-in-law.”

She praised Nicky and the rest of her family for their efforts. “It’s a family thing. You tend to do things together as a family, and we’ve supported Nicky in every way that we can.”   

Figures released under Freedom of Information Act requests from the national Rarer Cancers Forum show that Herefordshire’s PCT rejected eight applications – but agreed to fund seven – after patients applied to have rare drugs supplied to treat their cancers.

The table shows Herefordshire as 13th in PCT percentage rejected rates. Nottingham City and South West Essex had 100% rejection rate, while Havering, Wakefield and Shropshire had 0% rejection rates.

Commenting on what it described as a post-code lottery the Forum said: “More than 1,300 cancer patients have been left to die in the past 20 months because they were not deemed exceptional enough to receive cancer treatment on the NHS. They will have been forced either to go without the life-giving treatments or to pay privately for the top-up drugs and risk having all their other care withdrawn”.

A statement from Herefordshire PCT said it carefully considers each case on merit at its Named Patient Panel.

The spokesman said: “The guidelines surrounding the criteria used by the panel to assess eligibility are available on request from the PCT, and will shortly be available for download from  www. herefordshire.nhs.uk – the PCT cannot comment on individual cases, and cannot release the names of the drugs in question to protect patient confidentiality. 

“In some instances there may be only one request for a particular drug and this could lead to a particular patient being identifiable.

“There will always be drugs that are licensed as safe to prescribe but have not yet been appraised by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) to determine whether they offer good value to the NHS.

“It is right that PCTs should make the decision on funding for such drugs, taking account of local circumstances and individual cases.

Meanwhile, Macmillan Cancer Support, whose target of £1.5 million was met by the Herefordshire public to support new chemotherapy units at Hereford County Hospital, said the Forum was completely right to highlight the maze that cancer patients are faced with when a treatment, recommended by their doctor, is denied by their PCT”.

“We have long been calling for PCTs to make their exceptional funding process more transparent so patients know how they can contest decisions,” the group said. 

lThe Journal Says – Page 4

There were over 700 entries for the show, and trophy secretary Humphrey Marshall said there were up to 300 people in the hall at one time.

lSee page 16

Darren Richards admitted making threats of violence towards a prosecution witness in a court case.

He also admitted two counts of being concerned in the supply of class A drugs.

Richards, of Much Birch, was one of a group of people buying drugs in bulk to share among them, said Michael Gray, defending.

Recorder Roger Evans was told that Richards is due to be sentenced with Susan Thomas, a co-defendant in the drugs case, when both of them can be brought to court together.

At a packed public meeting in Moreton-on-Lugg this week, more than 100 people voiced concerns about plans by Mercia Waste Management for a waste facility with claims that it would harbour “smell, litter and enormous quantities of plastic”.

 Protesters believe the proposal has health implications and road safety issues, and claim that HGVs would be turning off the busy A49 “every four minutes”.

They argue that more than 800 people will be affected within the parishes of Moreton-on-Lugg, Burghill, Wellington, Lyde and Arundel if plans go ahead. 

There are also worries that the current proposals for handling between seven and 12,000 tons of green waste a year could change when the company’s Pershore composting site, dealing with an annual 25,000 tons, closes in two years’ time. A site visit has been organised in the Moreton-on-Lugg area on Tuesday morning, and the application comes before Herefordshire Council’s planning committee next month. 

Adrian Spong told the Journal that the proposed  “open windrow” composting facility would be next to his campsite at Cuckoo’s Corner, Moreton-on-Lugg. 

“There was a lot of feeling at an absolutely packed meeting in Moreton-on-Lugg this week,” he said. 

Those opposed to the application are putting forward suggestions for an enclosed ‘in-vessel’ composting operation on a brown field site. 

Anxieties about possible health issues at Moreton-on-Lugg have prompted demands for further studies to establish the effects of spore counts and dust emissions. 

Said Mr Spong: “This proposal covers four acres of arable farmland including 2.4 acres of concrete. 

“It’s a waste facility with all the smell, litter and an enormous amount of plastic. 

“There will also be the visual aspect of slag heaps and an incredible road safety issue with HGVs pulling straight off a 60mph road which is going to lead to a serious accident.”

Villagers in Burghill gave a thumbs down at their recent public meeting, and villagers at Wellington will express their views  this Friday.

Marketing director for Severn Waste Services, Ian Barker, said: “In advance of our application we held a two-day exhibition attended by between 80-100 people at Moreton village hall to outline proposals.” Protesters’ concerns had been effectively answered in a series of technical studies, he said. 

Mr Barker firmly denied that Pershore’s composting operation was to cease.