Health officials, who had refused to fund the drug, Alimta, say they overturned their decision because of 'some very specific and unusual circumstances.'

Her daughter, Louise Dowd, said: "I'm just utterly delighted. The reason Derbyshire County Primary Care Trust gave us for changing their minds was that mum had already been prepared for chemotherapy at Wythenshawe Hospital when they refused to pay for it."

The PCT's turnaround came just hours after hearing the family's appeal on Monday. Mrs Dowd said: "They called us as we were travelling back from Chesterfield. I was glad because time is of the essence now."

Mrs Hallam, 70, of Jodrell Road, Whaley Bridge, suffers from mesothelioma, a rare form of lung cancer caused by exposure to asbestos.

Mesothelioma experts at Wythenshawe hospital had agreed to treat Mrs Hallam, and she was already on the ward when Derbyshire County PCT refused the funding.

Her distraught family paid for one cycle of chemotherapy at a private hospital while waiting for their appeal to be heard. But the total bill for private treatment with Alimta would have been over £16,000.

Mrs Dowd said: "We have got to thank the general public for their support. The PCT received over 270 letters about mum. It made a huge difference."

If she had lived ten minutes away in Stockport Mrs Hallam would have received the chemotherapy needed to extend and improve her quality of life straight away, because Greater Manchester PCTs do fund this treatment for asbestos victims.
Health trusts are now awaiting National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE) guidance on Alimta which will be binding on the NHS.

Mrs Dowd said: "We were shocked to see the information our PCT based their first decision on. It was a scribbled bit of report, only two lines long and they had only really looked at a NICE report. Why didn't they take any other criteria into account?"

Derbyshire County PCT said: "The PCT has upheld the appeal due to some very specific and unusual circumstances for this patient.

"The Appeals Panel also supported the original decision that Alimta is not the drug of choice for treatment of patients with mesothelioma, based on the best evidence available to date."

Mrs Hallam was taken back to Wythenshawe Hospital on Tuesday to continue her chemotherapy on the NHS.

By Johanna Dollerson
johanna.dollerson@buxtonadvertiser.co.uk

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