NHS PRESCRIPTION OF ALIMTA IN GREATER MANCHESTER

That this House regrets the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence Final Appraisal Determination on Alimta which does not recommend Alimta for the treatment of mesothelioma except as part of ongoing or new clinical trials; notes that trials of Alimta suggest that it is successful in increasing life expectancy and improving the quality of life of patients; further notes the high industrial use of asbestos in the Greater Manchester area such as at the Turner and Newell factories; further notes that in Greater Manchester NHS patients with mesothelioma have benefited from the use of Alimta in their treatment; urges Greater Manchester Strategic Health Authority to continue funding the provision of Alimta to patients with mesothelioma; and would welcome the Secretary of State for Health's intervention in this matter as she was able to do in the Herceptin case.