Patient's Right to Treatment: Applying for NHS Exceptional Funding for Treatment

It was launched at
the Rarer Cancers Forum Parliamentary Summit at the Houses of Parliament on 19 June 2008.

The booklet is designed to guide consultants whose NHS patients need Primary Care Trust (PCT)
approval for funding for rarer cancers. It explains the processes of initial application,
appeal and fresh application. It highlights the key role of the consultant in supporting
patients' applications and gives advice on writing letters of support.

The booklet is supported by an equal unrestricted grant from Bayer and Bristol-Myers Squibb.

INTRODUCTION


The principles that underpin the NHS – equality of access to treatment to all irrespective
of personal wealth or social standing, “free” at the point of access, quality of treatment –
apply as much today as they did 60 years ago.

Rationing of these treatments is established and here to stay. The NHS cannot or will not afford
all treatments to all patients. However, we believe it is important for
the rationing of those treatments to be a fair and rational process.

This guidance booklet is intended to help ensure that these principles apply now and continue in the
future.
It is not designed to 'knock' the NHS, but to support it. The aim is to explain and hopefully improve
the existing means by which the right treatment is provided to the right patient at the right time.


Funding for exceptional treatment.

The booklet is designed to guide consultants whose National Health Service (NHS) patients need
Primary Care Trust (PCT) approval for funding for rarer cancers.

Where funding is sought it is usually referred to as funding for exceptional treatment.

You can download this excellent booklet for free by visiting the Rarer Cancer Forum website......here
The link to the booklet can be found under the news section on the right side of the home page.