People’s health should not be held to ransom

Who is dying to live in Guernsey?

A drug and treatment review was commissioned by ESS and HSC at the end of last year. Published in early August, the review is a shocking read.

The gaping chasm between lifesaving medicines available routinely to patients in England but not to Bailiwick patients is plain to see.

The review clearly tells us that there are over 4,000 locals (our children, mums, dads, grandparents) who are currently not receiving the treatment the NHS would consider as the latest, best or optimum treatment for their medical condition. Yes, that is over 4,000 of us right now (and more than 750 each subsequent year) whose quality of life and prognosis for the future are being fundamentally compromised.

In the press release that accompanied the review, HSC tell us the cause of the current ‘disparity’ is because we have gone through a sustained period of considerable budgetary restraint. HSC pull no punches when they tell us, ‘The gap is now too large to be acceptable and a change of policy is necessary if this is not to worsen.’ Words also echoed by P&R.

What do they mean by worsen? Well, out of the 480 National Institute for Health and Care Excellence drugs and treatments identified at the end of 2018 by the review, 160 are not available to us, with a further 70 added to that list in 2019 and a similar number expected to be added in 2020. These are drugs and treatments that NICE (the independent body charged with making evidence-based recommendations for the NHS) have determined are the most clinically cost-effective medicines for a particular condition, and regard them as so important that it is law they are made available by every health authority in England within 90 days. So, over 230 drugs and treatments for significant conditions by the beginning of 2020 that you and I don’t have access to, even if we are sent to be treated in an NHS hospital, because we live in the Bailiwick of Guernsey.

In England last week Matt Hancock, the health secretary, in announcing that a set of life-changing drugs were to be made available free to thousands of cystic fibrosis sufferers on the NHS, said: ‘Huge thanks to the many campaigners who have worked so hard, and to Vertex and the NHS. I know personally how important this is and I’ve met many sufferers. Things like this are the reason I do this job. For those who say the system doesn’t work, this proves them wrong. We can get lifesaving drugs at a fair price, thanks to NICE and the NHS.’

Crucially, the review and associated HSC policy letter was scheduled for States debate at the end of September. However, P&R has decided it would rather not let the health of thousands and thousands of islanders distract States members by allowing it to be debated amongst other proposed expenditure for next year. Why? Well, because this would upset the budget. Consequently, the HSC policy letter has been singled out for a separate debate in January, painting the provision of proper, modern medicines for the population of Guernsey as the culprit for any proposed tax increases, rather than because of a requirement to increase States spending in its entirety.

We are not sure why islanders aren’t out on the streets demonstrating and demanding to know why they are denied medicines routinely available in England and Jersey. We are not sure why the media have been so shy in holding to account successive States, exposing this shocking and rapidly increasing health disparity. What we are sure of is that your family’s health should not be held to ransom as the sole cause or justification for tax increases next year.

MIKE READ

Chairman, Health Equality for All

mp.read@cwgsy.net