Cuts to cancer treatments announced

The government will stop funding 25 cancer treatments as part of its efforts to stem the soaring costs of treatment by £80 million.

NHS England announced the step after it emerged the £280m Cancer Drugs Fund – for drugs not routinely available – was to go £100m over budget in 2014/15.

A review carried out by doctors, pharmacists and patients’ representatives concluded that 25 of the 84 treatments currently offered by the fund should be dropped. Professor Peter Clark, who chairs the fund, defended the move, saying the costs of the drugs were not being justified by the clinical benefits.

Some drugs will be removed and others restricted – a move charities say could leave some without crucial treatments.

NHS England stressed that patients currently receiving a drug from the fund would keep getting it, even if it was removed from the list.

A Department of Health spokesman said it will allow “new and better drugs” to be offered to patients.

The restrictions come into place from 12 March and affect a whole range of life preserving treatments for terminal breast, pancreatic and bowel cancer.

NHS England said “difficult decisions” needed to be made and the move would allow some new treatments to be funded.