MORE low-cost treatments for conditions including breast cancer, multiple sclerosis and Parkinson’s disease could be made available on the NHS thanks to campaigning by a Gwent MP.
Although a Private Member’s Bill introduced by Labour MP for Torfaen Nick Thomas-Symonds in November last year failed to win Parliamentary support, health minister Jeremy Hunt has now agreed to make a commitment to increase access to such treatments.
The breakthrough has come following campaigning by the Labour MP, alongside Conservative MP for Bury St Edmunds Jo Churchill – herself a breast cancer survivor – as well as Scottish National Party health spokeswoman Philippa Whitford.
Mr Thomas-Symonds said he hoped the changes would save both lives and money.
“When my Private Members’ Bill was talked out back in November there was a lot of anger at the government’s response and frustration with the Private Members’ Bills system,” he said.
“But instead of giving up I’ve tried to use the momentum to find a way forward that the minister could support.
“That we have made so much progress in less than three months shows what can be achieved when MPs of all parties work together for a common purpose.”
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