What happened to Gordon Brown's promise that 'I will stand up for YOU.'? At the time, I wondered who the 'You' was and I'm no wiser today. However, it certainly isn't Colette Mills and other cancer sufferers desperate to do something to help themselves. I could understand the NHS refusing to let someone top up their treatment with private drugs if it made one iota of difference to the outcome of other patients who were not taking the private drug. If the NHS cannot afford the drug for everyone who needs it, it is immoral - some might say evil - to force someone out of NHS care simply because they are willing to pay extra for a lifesaving drug. This cruel decision will mean that more people will die who might have been saved.

Casper, Bath,

I don't understand why ALL treatments aren't available to ALL patients.

Karen, Edinburgh,

It looks like socialist ideology really could kill you then.

Mel, London,

My son is in exactly the same situation. He is having two drugs at his local NHS Trust then the following day he goes to his local private hospital for Avastin. The Trust have resolved the issue by telling him that he can have Avastin privately however it must not be on Trust property. One day of Chemo is bad enough, now he has two full days and it is hard work !

G Laby, Carmarthen, Wales

How disgusting when someone is fighting for their lives to be put under more stress.

The answer is for Avistan and new drugs to be available on the NHS.

Surely anyone in the above persons situation would do the same when their life is involved.

NHS needs to provide the service we the British people have contributed to and we all understand the NHS has a difficult job to do so why is everyone allowed to use our facilities and pay for them privately outside the UK or just get the service free.?

izzy, Wirral, England

Logically the extension of the argument would be that any NHS Trust would require patients to declare if they were paying for treatment outside of the hospital, i.e. homeopathic cures, chiropracty, and all that alternative medicine panoply.
Thus as we can see, many patients are already having two-tiered treatment and so should have to pay the full price!
Just goes to show that give the ignorant a book of rules and they will invent others to suit their purpose. This is a beauracrat's ivory tower wave of the hand judgement - pathetic and inane.

Andrew thorniley, Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire

The funny thing about all you people is , you disagree with the NHS that you voted for be it Labour Conservative or Liberal Dem. Will you now vote BNP so the right people get better care on the NHS because there will be more money ? . NO DIDNT THINK SO . Because if you vote for the big three you get NHS for everyone the way it is.

S.Baines, liverpool,

I bet this wouldn't happen to an immigrant.

Judy , Liverpool, england

if you didn't go to iraq war which cost 15 billions you would have enough money to treat your sick as civilized countries do

saud, riyadh,

So the government don't think it's fair to have a two tier NHS?

They don't mind having a two tier benefits system in order to keep the "official" unemployment figures down, do they - disgraceful double standards!

Alex, London, UK

This is a disgusting state of afairs! Lots and lots of hospital patients pay part of their care costs to others outside of the NHS. Does this mean a fooball player is not entitled to NHS treatment if he goes private for part of his care. Or a drug addict or alchoholic can't have treatment on the NHS because his or her rehab was done privately? I see a contradiction when the NHS sends patients to a private hospital to have a hip replaced and then takes them back for their physio theraphy! This lady is entitled to spend her money in any way she chooses. What right does the NHS have to prevent her trying to prolong her life in an interactive way, this poor lady may be desperate to have the chance of life, she feels the NHS isn't giving her. I'd like to see someone try to take her to court. Mr Brown would have another hand full of problems!

Ray B, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK

A question for Dr Sodaro of Massapequa, NY, USA: If this tale - woeful as it is - shows "barbarism and pure evil," and "a human rights violation of the first magnitude," what laguage would you use to describe the denial of proper care to so many of your fellow US citizens, the appalling infant mortality rates in the US, etc?

Nick Beard, Rotherham, UK

If she pays taxes then she should recieve what ahe has paid for.

However, this is very nearly a socialist state, centraly run. Mustn't forget that. Oh, and equality. We're all equal, aren't we? Can't have unequal healthcare. That would be unfair...somehow. hmmm.

Greg Lorriman, Leatherhead, UK

I do take the point about Co-Payments risking a two tier health service ,that would be in contravention of the principles and values of the NHS!But should the same rules for cancer patients not also apply to private ophthalmology patients?to give an example ,during December 2006 the largest teaching hospital trust in the country passed a business case for ophthalmology treatment of private patients to generate income for the trust (250 thousand pounds ) This service is being run alongside the NHS system?does this not contraven the principals of the NHS.The profit made is to be off set against other areas of overspend? A number of questions need addressing,for example who picks up the bill for non payment by private patients? how is this recorded and reported to the rate payers of the NHS?I understand special payment terms are also being offered? Mr Nicholson the Chief Excutive of the NHS needs to look into this case further and report to the rate payers a profit or lose situation!!

Mary E Hoult , Leeds, Yorkshire

It is no wonder the UK has such horrific cancer death rates. The treatment of Colette Mills by petty NHS tryants shows Luddite barbarism and pure evil.

This is a human rights violation of the first magnitude.

Edward Sodaro MD, Massapequa, NY, USA

It beats me why this poor woman isn't allowed to buy whatever drugs she requires, and have the NHS charge her just a 'corkage' fee for administrating it. The "all or nothing" policy of the NHS trust silently gives the nod to it already being 2nd class compared to private health care.

An answer - make sure everyone who can afford it buys private health insurance, and incentivise them to do so by giving a rebate on national insurance contributions on providing proof of insurance. Then reserve the NHS for those who have no insurance and no choice.

In this particular case, it would be nice if Beardy Branson or similar would stump up some cash, like they did for the McCann's, so that she can go totally private and get the treatment she needs.

Andrew, Oxford, UK

Shameful.

NHS - 80 billion a year well spent.

And have no doubt about it - the DoH love stories like this, because they encourage people to get private cover, so they get timely, quality treatment.

And the goal is to cut the cost of the NHS by not actually have anyone use it.

W Smith, oldham,

Perhaps if we stopped treating illegal immigrants,health tourists and their families we would have the money to let all cancer patients have the drugs they need. I am currently being treated for breast cancer and would hate to be in this woman's position. Had Herceptin not been available to me I would have to mortgaged my house to pay for it and said hang to the finanacial consequences.

Linda, Fife,

I know it sounds harsh but cancer patients should stop with the complaints. I have a condition that is diagnosed and understood - and is 100% fatal without treatment.. but I have to go through 2 years of humiliation by the NHS before I get the chance of treatment (if they feel like it).
My crime? I have Harry Benjamin Syndrome - I am effectively a transsexual.
I have had all manner of problems with the NHS, and I honestly feel for Colette and the horrible way shes been treated.. but at least she didnt need two signatures from psychiatrists before *she* got treated for a purely physical condition..

Jemma Hawtrey, Colchester,

Dont blame the Trust, they are only following DoH guidance. As for all the people saying if go private then you shouldn't pay in then fine as long as you accept that you never use any of the following. Ambulances, A&E, intensive care, or GP's as all these services are only provided by the NHS as they are too expensive for the private sector to make a profit on.

As for the comment that doctors should only work for either the NHS or the private sector obviously has never worked in the medical sector. All doctors in the private sector have their main job in the NHS. The doctors trade union the BMA would be up in arms if you even suggested that idea let alone tried to implement it.

CM, cardiff,

Yay! It us Scots' fault! We're leeching off you English and it's great eh?

Give us independence - it's obvious we don't want you and you don't want us.

Scott Turnstock, Paisley, Lanarkshire, Scotland

Maybe it is time for all English to stop giving money to charities involved in the development of cancer drugs.

This sounds harsh but why should we bother helping the development of cures when we can not even benefit from their use?
My money will now solely go to those charities who can actually help cancer patients and are not blocked by Nice and NHS Trusts.

Aubrey, London,

This is just another example of the 'Stalin-ist' state we have currently under Gordon

simon, winchester,

The DoH should refund the contributions that Ms Mills has made over the years by way of taxation!

Additionally, following the DoH's logic, all those covered by private insurance should receive tax breaks.

Luke Toomey, BASINGSTOKE, Hampshire

The point is that if these new drugs are freely available in other European health services, often including Scotland, why are they not available here. Either the NHS needs an increase of funding from the tax payer or it is inefficiently run. But as things stand, NICE is nasty and people are dying unnecessarily.

Simon Marshland, Bath, Somerset

Surely if the alternative treatment helps, the patient will recover sooner, saving the NHS money.

There are deeper issues at work here. The NHS in its current form is the evolved product of two contradicting social ideologies: (a) The historical aim to give all people in this country access to universal health care. (b) The attempt by greedy people to turn the service into a captive market to be milked for money. Ideology (b) is currently winning out, since we by now have managed to put a cash value on a person life, a truly sickening thought. The perverted situtation will continue as long as we hold to our simplistic marketplace mentality.

There is a higher way of living, where human life is esteemed, values are values and no translation of so-called worth into monetary terms takes place.

Tsai Chi, Cambridge,

A few people here need to rejoin the human race, instead of telling people they should be happy to die because the government can't find 4000 quid.

Dave, Basingstoke,

There are always going to be drugs that the NHS won't pay for but may be of use to the patient. There is always going to be a time lag between the development of a drug and knowing it is of real benefit. In any case NICE will not allow drugs that give a bit more time, only those that cure.Nice will not allow drugs that treat diseases affecting few people only those with big lobby groups.
It is dreadful not to allow co- payment..Many people cannot afford Private Insurance but save for a rainy day. Facing very high risk cancer is the rainy day What Mr Baines is saying is be as spendthift as you like never bother to save .You will not have the choice of spending it on life extension . New drugs that might give a few more good months or years will not be allowed because "it might not be fair". It isnt fair anyway.A lot of drugs are available in different postcodes,in Scotland or Wales.Being able to seek out and choose a new treatment gives a patient hope.

Frances, Tunbridge Wells, Kent

I think this is appalling action by the Department of Health and South Tees Hospital NHS Trust. I had breast cancer some years ago and I know how devastating the condition can be to the patient. Does this policy exist in other health trusts and for other meadical conditions? Patsy East Yorkshire

Patsy Gill, Hull, E Yorkshire

So will state school children that get say Piano lessons, or extra maths lessons in their own time, paid for by their parents be refused state education, as it's not fair and would create a two tier education system ? Hmm, we already have one.

Another example of the 3rd class service we get in the UK. The NHS is not great anymore, just compare it with European hospitals.

roger, london,

So why at the dentist am I REQUIRED to pay most of the cost?
Why at the optician am I REQUIRED to pay for most of the service?
When my mother was having a hip replacement she was told her choice was standard widget fitted, or she could have a better quality one if she paid an extra fee privately . I know many situations where patients are given this choice.

Yes it's unequal. But the reality is that the NHS funds (ideally) the best standard of treatment within its budget. Beyond that you pay extra if you can.
Until we have a different economic system that's how it is, inequality. The NHS was never intended to force everyone to get the same. It's a safety net to make sure no one goes without standard care.

Yes a patient in the next bed gets different treatment - does it feel better dear if the other patient is on the other side of a partition? That's happening all the time so don't be so SILLY.

Shan Morgain, Newport, Wales, Wales, UK

Solution - change your name to a european one and invent a hard done-by story - or move to Scotland! Anyone can benefit from state largesse apparently except the English who have footed the bill!

kay, leeds, uk

S.Baines, Liverpool-

It may be an extra-incentive do better and pay attention at school then!

Tom Curtis, London, London

If this patient had been able to spend her money on private health insurance, rather than being forced by law to spend it on National Insurance (surely the worst health insurance scheme in the world), she'd have got all the treatment she needs.

The wealthy can rightly avoid the NHS, but those of us who cannot afford to pay for both private health insurance and National Insurance at the same time are lumbered with this compulsory sub-standard socialist anachronism. The NHS and National Insurance must be abolished.

Mike, Brighton, England

This decision tacitly admits that the NHS is a second-tier second-rate service which takes a negative dog-in-a-manger attitude to the first tier. In itself it creates and recognises this situation.
It also shows the NHS as having being perverted for use as a tool of social engineering. This puts the entire NHS budget, intended for health care, at the disposal of political activism, and constitutesa fraudulent use of public funds.
But then, what else would you expect from a Labour government?

Richard Cooper, Dunstable,

So a woman has to pay £10,000 for decent cancer treatment, while in another article, an illegal immigrant is promised £4,000 of goverment aid to set up in business as an importer of illegal immigrants. The really shocking thing is that I am no longer surprised.

Janet, London,

While I feel sorry for the woman's predicament, from the NHS side they will have to expend additional resources to ensure any other medication and treatment she is receiving does not have any adverse effects on their plan, and then monitor and adjust accordingly. Who will then pay for that? This is an interesting ethical dilemma, but the rules are quite clear and are there to help everyone avoid getting into this situation in the first place.

Brian, farnham, uk

What a petty bunch of idots this government is. As for Baines of Liverpool you want to get a life mate.

D Case, Newquay,

The strange thing is that if she opted for alternative medicine to 'top up' her NHS treatment, the hospital would have no objection. She can have 'eye of newt' any time she likes but not a drug that might actually work.

It is about time this authoritarian government was dismissed.

Terry Hamblin, Bournemouth,

Then the NHS should pay for the wonder drug if that one is better.
If they do not pay it should mean the drug is not so good. Because NHS is here to give us the best to save us.
If not close the NHS and go free.

Ian, Kingston,

This is a very strange stance fior the Trust to take - but then again, perhaps not, we are after all dealing with the petty bureacracy of the NHS - when NHS dental practices, those which remain that is, are allowed to mix private and NHS care.

It would be interesting to hear the same views of the anonymous spokesperson (or a senior manager) if his/her life, or that of a close relative were on the line. I'll bet you anything a way would be found round the rules. These are meant only for the hoi polloi who have the temerity to have saved up enough for additional care.

By the way Mr Baines, I think if you were able to afford the drug but not the cost of the whole treatment you'd sing to a different tune.

Bill Q, Derby,

I believe what the NHS is saying is correct , if i had cancer why should i be lying in a bed next to someone with better drugs because they can afford them. I dont think so we all pay the same percentage tax. If you have money you go private, if you dont NHS .

Mr S Baines, liverpool,

In that case presumably there should be no requirement to continue with the NHS element of National Insurance.....no? I did not think so!!

K Hill, Luton,

An individual's quality of life sacrificed to ideology yet again. I am surprised ministers can live with themselves.

Myfanwy Denman-Rees, Leicester, England

Yes, the policy. It has to be the way forward. Sir Humphrey would be proud. Maybe the NHS needs to revisit its principles and values.

Billy Bud, Perth, Australia

So a Doctor who has a fully private patient can have all the best drugs but the same Doctor with a NHS Patient can only have the Drugs that the NHS will pay for and nothing else. How is that Doctor doing his best for both patients. Maybe we should have NHS only Doctors working in NHS only Hospitals, then I'm sure Doctors would sleep much better at night knowing that the best they can do is just that. "The NHS hoping for the best possible out come....hoping you die before you cost them anything".

Keith Johns, Manchester, England

We have BILLIONS for wars in foreign countries, it is about time people woke up to what this dreadful shower of a government is doing to people who have worked hard all their lives.
A bloody disgrace.

edwina rigby, Blackburn,