Health services in the West Midlands have been allocated an extra £5.4 million to help patients get improved access to cancer drugs.
The Government said the interim fund from now until the end of March will pay for additional cancer drugs and put regional groups of cancer specialists and doctors in the driving seat to determine how it is spent for their patients.
A clinically-led panel will consider drugs to be prescribed to groups of patients and give highest priority to those drugs where there is good evidence of success with the largest number of people.
Dr Stan Silverman, medical director at NHS West Midlands, said: “It is important to remember that although the extra money will potentially extend life or improve the quality of life for a small number of additional patients, this is not an exhaustive fund.
“The crucial factor to treating cancer successfully is early diagnosis and prevention wherever possible.
“In the West Midlands, we are continuing to focus on improving access to cancer screening programmes and appropriate diagnostic tests, as well as supporting people to make lifestyle changes that will reduce their risk of getting cancer.”
Health Secretary Andrew Lansley announced in July that an extra £50 million would be made available to help thousands of patients get increased access to innovative new cancer drugs that extend life or improve quality of life.
