Cancer victim’s campaign
for life prolonging drug
by Gary Skentelbery
A 62-year-old Warrington man battling an incurable form of cancer is helping to spearhead a campaign aimed at getting a drug which could prolong his life made available on the NHS.
The new drug is deemed too expensive to prescribe on the NHS in England although it freely available to patients in Scotland and other European countries.
Vic Charlesworth is helping to organise a national petition to make a new generation of drugs called Velcade available for people in England and Wales who suffer from Multiple Myeloma, which is a rare form of cancer linked to the leukaemia group of cancers.
Velcade is approved for use in the United State, European Union countries and Scotland. However, the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) has refused to allow it to be used in England and Wales on the grounds of cost.
Vic from Landseer Avenue, Warrington, took ill in 2003 on the night he organised a sportsman?s dinner at the Masonic Hall, Warrington which raised ?5,000 for St Rocco?s Hospice.
It was some time before he was was diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma which effects around 4,000 people each year.
He quickly went from using a stick to elbow crutches and then having to use a wheelchair as he could hardly walk because of severe pain.
His condition was diagnosed at Warrington General Hospital where x-rays revealed the disease had “drilled holes” through the bone in his leg and he was then transferred to the Adult Leukaemia Unit at the Christie Hospital, Manchester. His treatment started with him having to take 59 tablets on one day.
A stem cell transplant has now allowed Vic to return to an almost normal life and he works as a lecturer in woodskills at Warrington Collegiate Institute. However, he knows that his condition is incurable although he says it is a proven fact that Velcade could prolong his life considerably if he had a serious setback.
He said: ?I am one of the lucky ones and the stem cell transplant has helped me get back to leading a normal life. But there are many who are not so lucky and I think it is appalling that people with my condition are denied this drug which could extend their life. So many people come to this country and receive medical treatment without having paid into our NHS, yet people who have worked hard all their lives are denied vital treatment on the grounds of cost.?
Now, in conjunction with the Myeloma Foundation Vic is gathering names on a petition called ?Access Denied? in a bid to get Velcade made available on the NHS.
Since making a recovery Vic has organised the annual sportsman?s dinners at the Masonic Hall and his efforts in 2006 resulted in ?4,100 being shared by the Myeloma Foundation, Warrington Disability Partnership and the British Heart Foundation.
Already Vic has gained the support of several hundred people in the Warrington area who have signed the petition.
Vic and his wife Jose attend St Thomas?s Church, Stockton Heath, where the Rev Michael Ridley gave details of the petition during a service and asked parishioners to support the campaign.
Meanwhile Myeloma UK has been successful in securing an appeal hearing against the negative Velcade decision that NICE issued last October which will take place in London next month (February).
A spokesperson for the charity set up to support victims of the disease said: “?This is good news for the myeloma community and a positive step forward. We are pleased that NICE has considered our arguments and is willing to hear our appeal. This is a very complex issue and we hope that by attending the appeal hearing and working with NICE, some of the points we raised in our appeal can be further explored in the hope that their guidance could be reversed or amended?.
A spokesperson for Warrington Primary Care Trust said: “The drug is licensed for patients who have had two or more relapses. Even though the drug is available in Scotland, it is only available as a drug of last resort, and does not significantly extend life.
“Warrington PCT has had only one request for this drug, for a patient who had had four previous drug regimens but who had now relapsed. The PCT therefore approved this treatment.”
NICE say they have approved 25 out of 26 cancer fighting drugs last year and that clinical trials had shown that Velcade only extended life up to 12 months.
Gang of jeering thugs
threaten fire crews
by David Skentelbery
POLICE were called out during the night to deal with a menacing gang of youths threatening fire crews tackling a blaze in Victoria Park, Latchford, Warrington.
The blaze involved wheelie bins filled with branches and pushed up against the skate board facility in the park.
Fire crews arrived at the scene to find a gang of shouting, jeering youths attempting to stop them extinguishing the blaze.
A spokesman said: “It was pretty obvious the fire had been started deliberately – probably by the gang of youths acting in a threatening manner.
“It is the second incident of this type we have had to deal with in Victoria Park recently.”
It is not known if any arrests were made.
Fire crews were also called out to deal with a wheelie bin which had been set alight in Simkin Avenue, Latchford.
Bagpipes for Burns
by Mark Hemmings
THE stirring sound of bagpipes was heard in Warrington?s Golden Square – to mark the birthday of Scotland’s national icon and poet Robert Burns.
Shoppers were treated to music provided by Warrington Pipe Band and a performance of Burns’ poetry led by actors from Centenary Theatre Company.
Scotsman Roy Potts of Whitefield Road, Stockton Heath dressed in kilt and sporran opened proceedings with Burns’ famous poem “To A Haggis”.
Experienced performers Sheila Cummins, Margaret Critchley and Seb Farrell recited other poems by Burns.
Seb who is playing ?Tony? in Centenary’s forthcoming play Abigail’s Party said: “It’s always an honour to be invited to do this type of event which, of course, give us the chance to perform items that we wouldn’t normally.”
One shopper said: “It?s so lovely to hear the sound of the bagpipes, and of course the accompanying poetry was a fitting tribute to Burns. I think he would have felt quite proud of how Warrington celebrated his birthday.”
Tickets for Abigail’s Party which starts on January 30 at Runcorn’s Brindley Theatre are available for the box office on 0151 907 8360.
Woman falsely claimed
benefit worth ?2,965
by court reporter
A BENEFIT cheat who falsely claimed ?2,965.84 has been sentenced to a six month community rehabilitation order by Warrington Magistrates.
Lorraine Wheatley, 38, of Morgan House, Orford, Warrington was also ordered to repay the money, obtained from Warrington Borough Council and the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).
The court was told Wheatley was claiming benefits when she was in fact in employment.
Between March 2005 and February 2006, she falsely claimed ?2,374.20 of Income Support and Incapacity Benefit from the DWP, ?426.69 Housing Benefit and ?164.95 Council Tax Benefit from the borough council, a total of ?2,965.84.
Wheatley was also ordered to pay ?75 costs.
After the case, Adrian Webster, the council’s benefits manager, said: “There are no ifs, no buts when it comes to benefit fraud. Deliberately withholding information that affects your claim is stealing. That’s why we are targeting benefit thieves.
“We have introduced new methods of data matching – and the obvious message to benefit cheats is you will be caught. This case is yet another clear demonstration of our determination to tackle benefit fraud.”
Fraud operations manager for the DWP Roy Paul added: “The public is fed up with cheats who steal money from the taxpayer when it should go to those in genuine need of help.”
People in Warrington can give information about alleged
fraudsters free and in confidence on the National Benefit Fraud Hotline on 0800 854440.
Town included in
new health initiative
by John Hendon
WARRINGTON is included in a new initiative to tackle the growing disparity between the fast-growing economy and long-term poor health of the Merseyside area.
The Health is Wealth initiative is led by the University of Liverpool and is backed by local authorities, Primary Care Trusts, the NHS, economic development agencies and education and business interests.
It aims to address the burden of ill health which sees people in the region live three years less than the average for England as a whole despite the local economy growing faster than the country as a whole.
University of Liverpool Vice-Chancellor Professor Drummond Bone said: “The University is a major employer in the region and an integral part of the local community. We have a natural interest in the health of those around us and, together with our partner organisations, can make a major contribution to improving the well being of the local population.
“The city’s universities have a great role to play in Liverpool’s social and economic renaissance and improving people’s health is a vital part of that.”
A 12-strong commission is being recruited to take charge of the initiative which will examine:
what can be done to achieve greater commitment to improving health among local people and businesses
how the region can reduce health inequalities and better use the talents that remain underused as a result
how the region can better exploit its assets as an internationally-renowned centre for health science to the benefit of local people
what more can be done to maximise the regional economic benefit of the health services sector.
Dr Rita Robertson, Warrington Primary Care Trust’s public health director, said: “There is already very extensive work being done across Warrington with regard to health and well being improvement. We have some way to go, but we are fortunate that in Warrington that we have a committed workforce of people from all the various agencies working with the public towards the same goal: improving the health and lives of local people.
?We must try to close the gap between our least and most affluent communities, and ensure people believe health improvements are within everyone’s grasp. This commission presents a great chance to engage our population and to pioneer some big ideas.”
The commission will be supported by a national panel led by Lord Oxburgh, chairman of the House of Lords Select Committee on Science and Technology. The panel will act as advisors and contribute their own recommendations based on the commission’s findings.
The commission will begin its work in April and report its findings in September 2008. It is hoped its findings will help inform Public Health policy on a national level.
A challenge for
ghosthunters
by Mark Hemmings
GHOST HUNTERS are invited to spend the night at the eerie Walton Hall in Warrington on Saturday March 10 to help raise vital funds for the Cystic Fibrosis Trust.
Believers or confirmed sceptics should find it a spine chilling experience as Walton Hall is reputed to be one of Britain’s most haunted buildings.
Spooky sightings there include the ghost of the first Lady Daresbury, who walks up and down the main staircase and a man in military uniform who is believed to have committed suicide. Experts will be on hand to measure any ghostly activity.
To take part participants must raise a minimum of ?110 in sponsorship including a booking deposit of ?25 per person. Money raised by participants will help fund research into treating and curing CF. It will also help provide support, advice and appropriate clinical care to the 7,500 babies, children and young adults with Cystic Fibrosis in the UK.
For more information please contact regional fundraising manager Bev Burnham-Jones on 0845 859 1029 or email [email protected]
All ghost hunters will be sent a sponsorship pack complete with tips on raising sponsorship.
News in brief
Hospital lottery
WINNING numbers in the weekly lottery run by the League of Friends of Warrington Hospital were 4, 7, 13 and 14. There was no winner and the jackpot prize will be rolled over to next week when it will stand at about ?300.
Car showroom
PLANS to change the use of a warehouse in Europa Boulevard on the Gemini Business Park, Warrington, into a car showroom have been put to the borough’s planning department.
School extension
THE front entrance and office at St Josephs RC Primary School, Walton Avenue, Penketh, Warrington, will be extended if proposals are approved by the borough’s planning department.
Office scheme
A HOUSE in Knutsford Road, Grappenhall, Warrington, will be converted into offices providing financial advice is planning chiefs give the go-ahead.
[ 30.01.2007, 08:58: Message edited by: DS ]
