PDA

View Full Version : With NHS We See The Future of Obamacare



Kathianne
09-05-2015, 07:48 AM
'Treating the ills that are deemed worthy'

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/health/11844314/Thousands-of-cancer-patients-to-be-denied-treatment.html


Thousands of cancer patients to be denied treatment

Common drugs for breast, bowel, prostate, pancreatic and blood cancer will no longer be funded by the NHS following sweeping cutbacks By Laura Donnelly (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/journalists/laura-donnelly/), Health Editor

2:45PM BST 04 Sep 2015





More than 5,000 cancer patients will be denied life-extending drugs under plans which charities say are a “dreadful” step backwards for the NHS.



Health officials have just announced sweeping restrictions on treatment, which will mean patients with breast, bowel, skin and pancreatic cancer will no longer be able to receive drugs funded by the NHS.



In total, 17 cancer drugs for 25 different indications will no longer be paid for in future.



Charities said the direction the health service was heading in could set progress back by centuries.



The Cancer Drugs Fund was launched in 2011, following a manifesto pledge by David Cameron, who said patients should no longer be denied drugs on cost grounds.


Since its launch four years ago it has benefitted more than 50,000 patients, who received treatment which NHS rationing bodies had refused to pay for.


But now the fund’s budget is massively overspent.


At the start of this year, health officials announced plans to stop funding 25 treatments received by 8,000 patients. (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/11340860/25-cancer-drugs-to-be-denied-on-NHS.html)


After appeal, six treatments were saved. Now a second round of cuts will see NHS funding stopped for 25 more which have been hailed as some of the most promising, for those with no other hope.


The decision means that in total, two thirds of all treatments which were paid for by the scheme will no longer be paid for by the NHS.

...

Cancer is SO expensive, but alternative and optional care? Depends:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/nhs/11835083/NHS-money-used-for-patient-treats-including-hi-tech-vacuum-cleaner-new-clothes-and-summer-house.html


NHS money used for patient treats including hi-tech vacuum cleaner, new clothes and summer houseInvestigation into official records finds thousands of pounds spent on luxuries and hobbies such as horse riding, art classes, massage and pedalo hire By Laura Donnelly (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/journalists/laura-donnelly/), Health Editor12:01AM BST 01 Sep 2015


NHS cash has been used to give patients treats including holidays, new clothes and a summer house, an investigation has found.



Thousands of pounds has been spent on the luxuries and on hobbies such as horse riding, art classes, massage and pedalo hire, according to NHS records.



Cases include a mother who was given a free holiday so she could "feel like a good mum" to her children, a patient with mental health problems given an iRobot vacuum cleaner to help her keep her home "orderly" and another given a summer house in order to enjoy "their own space".



Senior doctors criticised the use of NHS (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/nhs/) funds to pay for luxuries at a time when some services are facing severe cuts.


...

From this, some money was spent on a family holiday to allow a patient to "re-establish relations" with their children while another was given funds for a holiday with her dog to "reflect and recuperate".


NHS funds were also spent on a satnav, new clothes - in order to help a patient feel more confident about their appearance - an iRobot cleaner and the construction of a summer house so one patient could have their "own space".


The iRobot cleaner was provided because the patient with mental health problems said they were less likely to self-harm if their home was more orderly.


Further cash was spent on hydrotherapy, shiatsu, Indian head massages, art classes and kitchen equipment, including a food processor.


A spokesman said the money was to achieve outcomes that "focus on improving an individual's health and wellbeing." He added: "All personal health budgets are clinically agreed and monitored."

...