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AXA PPP has extended it’s cancer coverage to include a clinically effective prostate cancer drug which was rejected by the state run NHS for being too expensive.

An announcement made by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) stated that the National Health Service wouldn’t take up the option of using abiratone as it was too costly.  It stated that the estimated cost of at least £63,200 per quality-adjusted year (QALY) was too expensive for the NHS to bear, especially as cut backs were being made across the board.

Upon hearing of the NHS decision to decline the use of the drug, medical insurer AXA PPP decided to take the decision to include the drug in it’s cancer coverage.  A recent report stated that private medical insurance provider had changed its stance and will add the  prostate treatment to it’s cancer treatments.

The insurer has also recently introduced their new commitment initiative to heart and cancer which included the removing of all cost and and time limits for the licensing of drugs.

Related articles

• Jeremy Laurance: Why spare the drug companies? (independent.co.uk)
• AXA PPP Healthcare win ‘Best Health Insurance’ Award (followhealth.co.uk)

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Ongoing NHS cuts are threatening workers at the NHS Direct service, with the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) claiming up to 300 people could lose their jobs.

As the new 111 number is launched for non-emergency services is introduced they are bringing in new shift patterns. Anyone unable to work the new shifts faces the loss of their job, any current flexible working arrangements will no longer be applicable.

This could cause major problems for those working under 15 hours a week or those with working hours which allow them to look after their children. Disabled staff are also at risk under the changes.

Initially the number will exist alongside the current local non-emergency telephone services but the long term aim is to have it replace all those services.

The RCN has stated that patients are finding the service extremely useful, saving the NHS £213m a year and keeping 1.5m people from accident and emergency.

They claim that the current NHS24 services employ a high proportion of disabled workers who would be physically unable to cope with the demands of a hospital ward. Should they lose their jobs the NHS could lose highly qualified staff who may struggle to find further employment in health care.

The recent controversy over the PIP implant has led plastic surgeons to speak out in favour of industry regulation. They have demanded annual checks for practitioners, more controls over the use of injections and implants as well as a total ban on all advertising in the industry.

There has been an influx of qualified and unqualified practitioners in to the industry over the last few years, all looking to take advantage of the increased popularity of the procedures.

The news of the 40,000 women impacted by the PIP implant problem has made the issue far more urgent, and it has even been suggested that a health insurance scheme similar to the one used in the travel industry should be introduced.

The government is also considering an implant registry to record all of the operations performed.

The British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons believe the current trend for tv shows and magazine features about ‘full body makeovers’ are trivialising surgery, and are placing patients at unnecessary risk.

It is unfortunate that such a major issue was required to shed some light on the industry, hopefully there will be sensible regulations in place soon to protect those people who are not aware of the risks involved.