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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Child refused brain tumour course | Child refused brain tumour course |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| A mother has criticised the NHS for taking too long to refuse to pay for her six-year-old daughter to have treatment for a brain tumour in the US. | A mother has criticised the NHS for taking too long to refuse to pay for her six-year-old daughter to have treatment for a brain tumour in the US. |
| Iona Atkins, of Shirley, West Midlands, was put forward for proton therapy by her oncologist at Birmingham Children's Hospital. | Iona Atkins, of Shirley, West Midlands, was put forward for proton therapy by her oncologist at Birmingham Children's Hospital. |
| Her mother Anna said a course of more risky radiotherapy was delayed for a month before NHS managers said no. | Her mother Anna said a course of more risky radiotherapy was delayed for a month before NHS managers said no. |
| They said they had refused it because it would have cost £170,000. | They said they had refused it because it would have cost £170,000. |
| Iona will now have to undergo a course of radiotherapy. | Iona will now have to undergo a course of radiotherapy. |
| 'Quite a delay' | 'Quite a delay' |
| Mrs Atkins said: "They wanted to start radiotherapy in November and we delayed her starting radiotherapy on the chance that she'd be approved for proton therapy. | Mrs Atkins said: "They wanted to start radiotherapy in November and we delayed her starting radiotherapy on the chance that she'd be approved for proton therapy. |
| "So obviously now that she's been turned down there's quite a delay now and we need to start treatment." | "So obviously now that she's been turned down there's quite a delay now and we need to start treatment." |
| She said that radiotherapy meant a greater risk of damage to her daughter's hearing, sight and IQ development. | She said that radiotherapy meant a greater risk of damage to her daughter's hearing, sight and IQ development. |
| Proton therapy in foreign clinics is available on the NHS but so far only five patients had been treated, BBC Midlands Today's health correspondent Michele Paduano said. | Proton therapy in foreign clinics is available on the NHS but so far only five patients had been treated, BBC Midlands Today's health correspondent Michele Paduano said. |
| The therapy sees protons - positively charged particles - fired at a cancer cell, stealing the negatively charged electrons and thus damaging the cell. | The therapy sees protons - positively charged particles - fired at a cancer cell, stealing the negatively charged electrons and thus damaging the cell. |
| 'Hugely enthusiastic' | 'Hugely enthusiastic' |
| In radiotherapy, x-rays are fired, causing more damage to healthy cells. | In radiotherapy, x-rays are fired, causing more damage to healthy cells. |
| In a statement, the NHS's Proton Clinical Reference Panel said: "Clearly one must have every sympathy for the difficult time that Iona and her family must be going through." | In a statement, the NHS's Proton Clinical Reference Panel said: "Clearly one must have every sympathy for the difficult time that Iona and her family must be going through." |
| It said it had a new system, which started in April 2008, to send some patients abroad for proton treatment that was a "huge advance". | It said it had a new system, which started in April 2008, to send some patients abroad for proton treatment that was a "huge advance". |
| The panel added: "Where clinicians feel there is medical justification they can refer cases to be considered." | The panel added: "Where clinicians feel there is medical justification they can refer cases to be considered." |
| But a Birmingham hospital has said it could set up a proton therapy centre if the NHS agreed to fund the treatment. | But a Birmingham hospital has said it could set up a proton therapy centre if the NHS agreed to fund the treatment. |
| The University Hospital said it would find the £75m investment needed to set up such a centre. | The University Hospital said it would find the £75m investment needed to set up such a centre. |
| Mike Hallisey, a consultant, said: "We're hugely enthusiastic to develop it. | Mike Hallisey, a consultant, said: "We're hugely enthusiastic to develop it. |
| "We'd like to see a centre set up here as soon as the NHS is prepared to support it because we believe that we can deliver a good quality of care for a large section of the population." | "We'd like to see a centre set up here as soon as the NHS is prepared to support it because we believe that we can deliver a good quality of care for a large section of the population." |
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| Iono Atkins' mother is frustrated with the decision |