VICTIMS of the so-called "postcode lottery" of health funding have reacted angrily after health authority bosses criticised moves to ensure all patients have access to the same drugs.

The Government has announced that drugs recommended by the body which advises the NHS on new treatments will have to be given to patients, regardless of cost.

However, Nigel Edwards, acting chief executive of the NHS Confederation, said there were "a large number of problems with the proposal".

From January, health authorities in England will be legally obliged to fund prescribed treatments approved by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (Nice).

The Department of Health hopes the move will end postcode prescribing of certain drugs, which can leave patients denied certain drugs because health authorities cannot, or will not, pay for them.

Mr Edwards, whose organisation represents health authorities across the country, said: "I find it strange that at a time when most of Government is talking about a need to shift decisions to the front line, other parts are proposing to instruct health authorities to fund particular treatments."

Jackie O'Donnell, 57, from Ormesby, Middlesbrough, who fought a long battle with Tees Health Authority to be given the advanced breast cancer drug Taxol, said: "The views of the NHS Confederation are absolutely ludicrous. If we followed their advice we would go back three years. We have got to get rid of this postcode lottery for drugs, once and for all."

Barry Ogleby, 62, from Thirsk, North Yorkshire, is convinced that his partner Eileen Quigley, 68, would still be alive if it had not taken so long to get her on a new drug called Herceptin, which is widely used in Europe although it has not been approved by Nice.

Eileen, who died in August of advanced breast cancer, responded well to Herceptin, but was overwhelmed after the disease spread.

"I think it is an insult to the people of this country who pay their taxes to say some should get a drug, while others should not. I am so angry about this - it is all because of the lack of money."