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News Release 25th OctoberCOUNCILLOR TONY LANCHESTERFrom Hansard, this is the text of the question to the Prime Minister yesterday (Wednesday 24th October) concerning the health care of Councillor Tony Lanchester:- Michael Fabricant: The whole House will be aware of the crippling effects of rheumatoid arthritis. Some three quarters of a million people suffer from the disease. May I draw to the attention of the Prime Minister the plight of my constituent, Councillor Tony Lanchester, who happens to be the former Labour leader of Lichfield district council, and who suffers from the disease? He goes to Cannock hospital but cannot be prescribed drugs for the disease because the health authority will not pay for it. In the next bed, patients from Sutton Coldfield have their drugs paid for by their health authority. That state of affairs is repeated in every constituency in the country. What steps can the Prime Minister take to stop this postcode prescribing? The Prime Minister: I greatly sympathise with the hon. Gentleman's constituent. Rheumatoid arthritis is a very debilitating condition. Under the present system, there is postcode prescribing and health authorities may make different decisions for patients in different parts of the country. That is precisely why we want to change that system, which we inherited. We have introduced a new system in which there is independent assessment of drugs and their effect on people. Then, because of the increased funding, we are able to ensure that those drugs are available. I hope, therefore, that the problems of his constituents and others will be dealt with in time. Michael Fabricant says "The Prime Minister is wrong. This problem arose when GP Fundholding was abolished by this Labour Government. Although Tony Blair undoubtedly cares about this problem and recognises how widespread it has become, it is no good his blaming the previous Government. He has been in office now for four and half years and the problem which Labour caused refuses to go away. My question highlights the anguish faced by sufferers of rheumatoid arthritis in this country. I hope that the South Staffordshire Health Authority will now provide the drugs that Tony Lanchester so desperately needs". |
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