Health Rationing: 'One Eye is Enough'

3.14.29pm GMT Thu 7th Jun 2007

Vincent Cable MP has taken up with the local NHS (the Primary Care Trust) and Health Minister the cases of several constituents who are losing sight in one eye due to a condition called macular degeneration (and related illnesses). There is a known treatment - drugs called Macugen or Lucentis - but the NHS rations use of the treatment for reasons of cost and applies the general rule that, if people have sight in the remaining eye, they do not need NHS financed treatment (it can cost several thousand pounds for a course of treatment).

Vincent Cable said: "I have now had three cases in the last few months where the eye surgeon (at Kingston Hospital) has recommended treatment on clinical grounds but NHS treatment is being refused unless the patient is going blind in both eyes and not just one. This is one of those issues where crucial rationing decisions are being made by local NHS administrations which are not locally accountable. There is a local consultation currently taking place on the ethical basis in which such decisions are made and I hope that local voluntary organisations, individuals and the Council, will participate since there is a high level of frustration amongst doctors and patients alike that arbitrary decisions of this kind are being made without any ethical or other justification being given."