Burnham slams HCW decision to refuse North Wales patients treatment

11.34.00am BST (GMT +0100) Tue 25th Sep 2007

Eleanor Burnham, Welsh Liberal Democrat Assembly Member for North Wales, today slammed Health Commission Wales, set up by the Welsh Assembly Government, for refusing a North Wales patient potentially life-saving treatment.

The Flintshire patient has been refused a bone marrow transplant in a decision by Health Commission Wales, despite being declared fit enough for the procedure by specialists.

Ms Burnham said: "The people making these decisions are effectively gambling patients' lives. In this latest case there is only a short window of opportunity for treatment and this decision by HCW will mean that opportunity is lost for good.

"Over the past 6 months I have received desperate calls and letters from patients throughout my region of North Wales who have been refused the most effective treatments for various conditions because they are 'too costly'. Often they have nowhere left to turn for help.

"It is ludicrous that Welsh patients can be refused the best treatment for their often serious conditions. How many more times will North Wales patients have to create a media circus before these decisions are reversed?

"I will be very interested to know the minister's view on this case and the others that I have seen in my region over recent months when she makes her statement in Plenary today. I will be pressing her to support the lives of patients rather than the decisions of bureaucrats."