House of Lords debate on 29 October 2009

Influential members of the House of Lords have backed the Rarer Cancers Forum’s call to give fairer access to near-label treatments, which are used for patients with extremely rare cancers. Speakers in the debate extensively referred to Off Limits, the charity’s recent report on the issue.

Earl Howe, the Conservative Health Spokesman, urged the Government to adopt a new collaborative approach to funding near-label treatments.  Lord Kirkwood added, “I commend the Rarer Cancers Forum. Its report is extremely well argued and well researched and repays careful study. It is very clear about the impact on patients who are suffering from rarer cancers”.

Speaking for the Government, Baroness Thornton said, “I understand the concern… about the report from the Rarer Cancers Forum…the Government have a great sympathy with these concerns. It is difficult and complex to see how all PCTs and their provider trusts can be reasonably expected to have the full expertise or resources to make the full range of decisions on rarer and more complex cases. It is possible that the noble Earl’s proposal may go some way to addressing that issue and I intend to take this question back to the department".

The Rarer Cancers Forum will keep up the pressure for change to help patients with the rarest forms of cancer to get access to the treatments which their clinicians feel they need.

You can read Earl Howe's Question for Short Debate and the discussion in Hansard.