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| Cancer patient considers new home | Cancer patient considers new home |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| A cancer patient says he is planning to move from England to Scotland to be sure of getting a drug which may prolong his life on the NHS. | A cancer patient says he is planning to move from England to Scotland to be sure of getting a drug which may prolong his life on the NHS. |
| George King from Skelton, Teesside, has a rare terminal form of bone cancer. | |
| It is currently in remission, but when it returns he wants the treatment which may extend his life - the drug Velcade. | It is currently in remission, but when it returns he wants the treatment which may extend his life - the drug Velcade. |
| The body which recommends which drugs the NHS should prescribe says it should not be available to patients in his position, but in Scotland it is. | The body which recommends which drugs the NHS should prescribe says it should not be available to patients in his position, but in Scotland it is. |
| In a preliminary ruling, the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (Nice), argued that Velcade, otherwise known as Bortezomib, is too expensive when measured against how long it can prolong life. | In a preliminary ruling, the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (Nice), argued that Velcade, otherwise known as Bortezomib, is too expensive when measured against how long it can prolong life. |
| Nice still has to issue its final ruling on the matter. | Nice still has to issue its final ruling on the matter. |
| Are we saying that an English or Welsh life isn't worth the same as a Scottish life? George King | Are we saying that an English or Welsh life isn't worth the same as a Scottish life? George King |
| A single course of treatment can cost around £25,000, and for patients in the later stages of Multiple Myeloma, such as Mr King, it can cost as much as £107,000 a year. | A single course of treatment can cost around £25,000, and for patients in the later stages of Multiple Myeloma, such as Mr King, it can cost as much as £107,000 a year. |
| However, in Scotland the situation is different. | However, in Scotland the situation is different. |
| Velcade is available there because the Scottish equivalent of Nice, the Scottish Medicines Consortium, said it should be prescribed by the health service. | Velcade is available there because the Scottish equivalent of Nice, the Scottish Medicines Consortium, said it should be prescribed by the health service. |
| Mr King said it was wrong he should have to move over the border. | Mr King said it was wrong he should have to move over the border. |
| He said: "Are we saying that an English or Welsh life isn't worth the same as a Scottish life? | He said: "Are we saying that an English or Welsh life isn't worth the same as a Scottish life? |
| "You know, it's comparable. We live in the United Kingdom; we do not live in two separate countries." | "You know, it's comparable. We live in the United Kingdom; we do not live in two separate countries." |
| An appeal is due to be heard next month before the appraisal process is complete and Nice publishes its final guidance. | An appeal is due to be heard next month before the appraisal process is complete and Nice publishes its final guidance. |