MILLIONS of pounds set aside to fund vital drugs for Oxfordshire patients have not been spent.
The 200m Cancer Drugs Fund was introduced by the Government last year to give people who have been denied key drugs on the NHS a last chance to get treatment.
However, just over a year after it was announced, the Oxford Mail can reveal less than a fifth of the money for vital life-extending drugs for dying patients in our area has been spent.
Just 1.6m of 9.3m has been spent by the NHS South Central Strategic Health Authority, which covers Oxfordshire, although the majority of applications have been funded.
Prime Minister David Cameron announced the fund while visiting cancer campaigner Clive Stone, from Eynsham.
At the time Mr Stone, who set up the campaign group Justice for Kidney Patients to pressurise officials to approve funding for more anti-kidney cancer medicines, said it was the ‘right thing to do’.
But Mr Stone said: “This is an appalling state of affairs and it is high time that we insisted on full accountability from our many highly-paid NHS administrators.”
The fund was introduced as a way of combating the so-called ‘postcode lottery’ which sees some Primary Care Trusts turn down applications for life-extending drugs because of regional funding restrictions.
Applications are made by a consultant specialist, who recommends a drug on behalf of the patient.
But a recent survey by Macmillan Cancer Support showed some doctors are unaware the fund exists. Patients reported that they found out about the money after doing their own research on the internet.
Last night an NHS South Central spokesman said: “It is important to remember that alongside the fund, cancer drugs for thousands of local patients are funded through the usual commissioning channels.
“Since April 2011 until the end of November 2011, the South Central fund has received 493 applications of which 416 have been approved, 26 have been declined and the remaining have been withdrawn or are pending a decision.
“Applications are considered by a clinical panel.”
If the money is not used this financial year, the SHA said it ‘expects’ it will be carried forward, but there is no guarantee.
Mr Stone added: “What possible reason could there be for declining applications when the funds are readily available?
2011年12月29日星期四
2011年10月9日星期日
New definition of "birthstone"
I'm expecting.
Seriously. My doctor has confirmed it.
The only thing still uncertain is my due date, although the likelihood is sometime before Christmas.
At first, there was some uncertainty, so the doctor ordered a sonogram. After that, there was no doubt.
I know what you're thinking. How is this possible? You can't be expecting, you're too old.
This is the first thing you question? My age? You don't have a problem with my gender?
Well, you make a lot of sense. That's because statistics show men are more likely to yield such progeny.
Regardless, the x-rays don't lie. There it was on film. Proof positive that within my loins lies a hale and hearty, considerably sizeable if slightly pointy, kidney stone.
Even before the sonogram, I had a suspicion I might be with stone. It was about five or six months ago I was first woken with a terrible pain. They're just like labor pains I'm told. And here I am in the second trimester, and the agony is still present.
But the doctor's counsel is encouraging as he believes it won't be much longer. With any luck, I'll have a natural delivery. Failing that, he says, there is the possibility of surgery.
According to the sonogram, "the little guy," as I've come to call it, is 7.5 millimeters. It's nearly twice the size of a sister stone, one I delivered two years ago. The doctor informs me it's quite common to have more than a few, but to be honest, I would have been perfectly content with one.
But another one is coming, and this one, like the first, is unplanned.
I even have a rather noticeable "bump," although my wife suggests it's probably not as likely the result of a 7.5 millimeter stone as it might be from lasagna.
I'm not suggesting I'm the rare male to be expecting like this. My friend Jack has already had four. The oldest is 12. He had another one in 2006, and finally, last year, twins. A rough delivery I'm told.
The funny thing is none of them look alike. But there's no doubt they're all his. And if you visit Jack, he will proudly show them off to you. He even carries photos in his wallet.
It looks like it could still be weeks or even months before I deliver. In the meantime, in addition to the pain, I'm experiencing nausea and also occasional fatigue, but the doctor says that should be expected. He wants me to lay off alcohol and coffee, and suggests I limit physical activity.
In the meantime, I've been thinking about names. I've considered several, but I'm pretty certain I've settled on one:
Rocky.
Seriously. My doctor has confirmed it.
The only thing still uncertain is my due date, although the likelihood is sometime before Christmas.
At first, there was some uncertainty, so the doctor ordered a sonogram. After that, there was no doubt.
I know what you're thinking. How is this possible? You can't be expecting, you're too old.
This is the first thing you question? My age? You don't have a problem with my gender?
Well, you make a lot of sense. That's because statistics show men are more likely to yield such progeny.
Regardless, the x-rays don't lie. There it was on film. Proof positive that within my loins lies a hale and hearty, considerably sizeable if slightly pointy, kidney stone.
Even before the sonogram, I had a suspicion I might be with stone. It was about five or six months ago I was first woken with a terrible pain. They're just like labor pains I'm told. And here I am in the second trimester, and the agony is still present.
But the doctor's counsel is encouraging as he believes it won't be much longer. With any luck, I'll have a natural delivery. Failing that, he says, there is the possibility of surgery.
According to the sonogram, "the little guy," as I've come to call it, is 7.5 millimeters. It's nearly twice the size of a sister stone, one I delivered two years ago. The doctor informs me it's quite common to have more than a few, but to be honest, I would have been perfectly content with one.
But another one is coming, and this one, like the first, is unplanned.
I even have a rather noticeable "bump," although my wife suggests it's probably not as likely the result of a 7.5 millimeter stone as it might be from lasagna.
I'm not suggesting I'm the rare male to be expecting like this. My friend Jack has already had four. The oldest is 12. He had another one in 2006, and finally, last year, twins. A rough delivery I'm told.
The funny thing is none of them look alike. But there's no doubt they're all his. And if you visit Jack, he will proudly show them off to you. He even carries photos in his wallet.
It looks like it could still be weeks or even months before I deliver. In the meantime, in addition to the pain, I'm experiencing nausea and also occasional fatigue, but the doctor says that should be expected. He wants me to lay off alcohol and coffee, and suggests I limit physical activity.
In the meantime, I've been thinking about names. I've considered several, but I'm pretty certain I've settled on one:
Rocky.
2011年10月7日星期五
Mladic complains to court of ill health
Former Bosnian Serb army chief Ratko Mladic has told a judge he is suffering from a kidney stone and demanded to be examined by Serbian doctors.
Mladic, 69, told the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia - where he faces genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity charges - that he had experienced ''strong pain''.
''I ask that Serbia enable the doctors who have examined me from 1996 to 1998 and knew my exact state at the time, could examine me,'' Mladic said.
During the hearing on Thursday Mladic looked tired and did not rise from his seat when Dutch judge Alphons Orie entered the courtroom.
Mladic was in court for a fourth time since his arrest and transfer to the UN's detention unit in The Hague in early June after being on the run for 16 years. Proceedings were delayed for 1¼ hours. ''I was informed you didn't feel well this morning and that you couldn't stand up. I hope you can stand up to leave the courtroom,'' Judge Orie said.
''Apologies for the delay, it was due to my health,'' answered Mladic. ''I have serious health problems, but I will fight to recover.''
Mladic, who faces 11 counts before the tribunal for his part in the 1992-95 war in Bosnia, has complained about health issues since his first appearance on June 3.
Mladic is accused of masterminding the murder of about 8000 Muslim men and boys over a six-day period at Srebrenica in July 1995, in Europe's bloodiest episode since World War II.
Prosecutor Serge Brammertz's office in August filed a motion asking judges to divide the original indictment for Mladic into two separate trials.
Mladic, 69, told the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia - where he faces genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity charges - that he had experienced ''strong pain''.
''I ask that Serbia enable the doctors who have examined me from 1996 to 1998 and knew my exact state at the time, could examine me,'' Mladic said.
During the hearing on Thursday Mladic looked tired and did not rise from his seat when Dutch judge Alphons Orie entered the courtroom.
Mladic was in court for a fourth time since his arrest and transfer to the UN's detention unit in The Hague in early June after being on the run for 16 years. Proceedings were delayed for 1¼ hours. ''I was informed you didn't feel well this morning and that you couldn't stand up. I hope you can stand up to leave the courtroom,'' Judge Orie said.
''Apologies for the delay, it was due to my health,'' answered Mladic. ''I have serious health problems, but I will fight to recover.''
Mladic, who faces 11 counts before the tribunal for his part in the 1992-95 war in Bosnia, has complained about health issues since his first appearance on June 3.
Mladic is accused of masterminding the murder of about 8000 Muslim men and boys over a six-day period at Srebrenica in July 1995, in Europe's bloodiest episode since World War II.
Prosecutor Serge Brammertz's office in August filed a motion asking judges to divide the original indictment for Mladic into two separate trials.
2011年4月1日星期五
TCI Journal editors take strong issue with comments made by NHIB CEO Brian Hogan in SUN interview
In an exclusive interview given to SUN publisher Hayden Boyce, CEO of the National Health Insurance Plan, NHIP, Brian Hogan issues forth a merciless stream of untruths. In particular we would like to draw the attention of all TCI citizens and residents to his attempt to paint as an example of exemplary care, the care given to a woman who as a result of NHIP actions and inactions, lost one of her kidneys and who but for the grace of others, almost lost her life!
There are so many untruths, half truths and patent lies in Brian Hogan's statements to Hayden Boyce, that one hardly knows where to begin.
But let us try and set the record straight. We quote from the article (in italics) and then the facts. Considering that Dayna Wallace, Brian Hogan's protege was fired (by the NHIB against his objections) from her position as NHIP Operations Manager especially because of her mis-handling of this case among many others, it is astonishing (and frankly goes to his state of mind) that Brian Hogan would EVEN DARE attempt to mislead the public on this case!
And Governor Wetherell, if you do not have time to read the whole piece, please at least read the conclusion at the end. From the March 25th Sun article titled : NHIB not responsible for any patient deaths or inadequate health care, says CEO Brian Hogan.
He said: "Last summer, a website reported that a beneficiary required emergency medical treatment at an offshore facility. It stated that an air ambulance vendor was not able to evacuate the patient until the following day when it transferred the patient to a regional medical facility rather than a facility in the USA. The patient was then provided travel by a third party to a facility in South Florida which was forced to perform emergency service due to the delays of the original transfer and the poor care at the regional medical facility."
[The Truth: We said much more than this. In particular the 30 days of negligence and multiple incidents in reference to this patient preceding this one event that Brian Hogan mentions above.]
He continued: "The reality is that a beneficiary, a national of a country in the region was referred to an overseas facility after an on-island specialist diagnosed her condition and recommended a second opinion and surgery if the diagnosis was confirmed.
[The Truth: A Turks and Caicos Islander was diagnosed and recommended to go to the United States within 24 hours for a serious kidney stone issue. A doctor at Interhealth Canada communicated with a doctor in the US and exchanged details about the patient……..then when care was still not provided after ONE MONTH had elapsed, other TCI medical personnel intervened out of concern to draw attention to the patient. Only then was she sent to the Bahamas on Brian Hogan's favoured air ambulance company.………….Redbridge Networks, the company hired by Hogan to handle overseas treatment had NO qualified medical director and was not monitoring this case for some unknown reason, and the previous firm who used to handle these matters for the TCI had been black-listed by Hogan for having blown the whistle on NHIP mis-management…………. In the Bahamas the PATIENT & THE BAHAMIAN MEDICAL STAFF called the previous firm since the patient had been abandoned in the Bahamas with no follow-up from NHIP operations personnel for over a week after being sent there!]
There are so many untruths, half truths and patent lies in Brian Hogan's statements to Hayden Boyce, that one hardly knows where to begin.
But let us try and set the record straight. We quote from the article (in italics) and then the facts. Considering that Dayna Wallace, Brian Hogan's protege was fired (by the NHIB against his objections) from her position as NHIP Operations Manager especially because of her mis-handling of this case among many others, it is astonishing (and frankly goes to his state of mind) that Brian Hogan would EVEN DARE attempt to mislead the public on this case!
And Governor Wetherell, if you do not have time to read the whole piece, please at least read the conclusion at the end. From the March 25th Sun article titled : NHIB not responsible for any patient deaths or inadequate health care, says CEO Brian Hogan.
He said: "Last summer, a website reported that a beneficiary required emergency medical treatment at an offshore facility. It stated that an air ambulance vendor was not able to evacuate the patient until the following day when it transferred the patient to a regional medical facility rather than a facility in the USA. The patient was then provided travel by a third party to a facility in South Florida which was forced to perform emergency service due to the delays of the original transfer and the poor care at the regional medical facility."
[The Truth: We said much more than this. In particular the 30 days of negligence and multiple incidents in reference to this patient preceding this one event that Brian Hogan mentions above.]
He continued: "The reality is that a beneficiary, a national of a country in the region was referred to an overseas facility after an on-island specialist diagnosed her condition and recommended a second opinion and surgery if the diagnosis was confirmed.
[The Truth: A Turks and Caicos Islander was diagnosed and recommended to go to the United States within 24 hours for a serious kidney stone issue. A doctor at Interhealth Canada communicated with a doctor in the US and exchanged details about the patient……..then when care was still not provided after ONE MONTH had elapsed, other TCI medical personnel intervened out of concern to draw attention to the patient. Only then was she sent to the Bahamas on Brian Hogan's favoured air ambulance company.………….Redbridge Networks, the company hired by Hogan to handle overseas treatment had NO qualified medical director and was not monitoring this case for some unknown reason, and the previous firm who used to handle these matters for the TCI had been black-listed by Hogan for having blown the whistle on NHIP mis-management…………. In the Bahamas the PATIENT & THE BAHAMIAN MEDICAL STAFF called the previous firm since the patient had been abandoned in the Bahamas with no follow-up from NHIP operations personnel for over a week after being sent there!]
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