A FORMER fitter who is dying from asbestos-related cancer has criticised his local NHS trust for refusing to fund a drug which could improve his quality of life.

Bernard Hoyland, 63, from Marske, east Cleveland, developed chest problems last December.

Three months later doctors told the father-of-two that he had the asbestos-related cancer mesothelioma.

The disease is so advanced that Mr Hoyland was told that there is no cure.

But a cancer specialist said a new drug, called Alimta, was now available, which appeared to be better than previous alternatives.

Despite Alimta being funded in Scotland and in some other parts of England, Mr Hoyland's local primary care trust - Langbaurgh PCT - has refused to pay for Mr Hoyland to be treated with Alimta.

Yesterday, Mr Howland said: "Many companies and successive governments knew about the dangers of asbestos for many years but continued to use it, taking shortcuts and saving money. Finally, a drug is available that can better treat the deadly cancer caused by asbestos exposure but again, to save money, those who need it simply can't get it. It's cruel."

Ian McFall, from Thompsons solicitors' specialist asbestos team, which represents Mr Hoyland, said: "Further cases of the cancer postcode lottery are emerging, where patients such as Mr Hoyland, who have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, and told that they could benefit from Alimta, are being forced to decide whether to pay privately for treatment which can cost in the region of £24,000."

New cases of mesothelioma are increasing rapidly in the UK.

It is estimated that more than 1,700 people are diagnosed with mesothelioma annually in the UK. This figure is likely to rise each year and peak at 2,500 patients in 2015.

In Mr Hoyland's case, he was exposed to asbestos when he worked as a fitter with ICI and William Press, between 1958 and 1980.

A spokesman for Lang-baurgh PCT said while it had great sympathy for Mr Hoyland and his family, it was important that decisions about the funding of cancer drugs were taken collectively within the region's Cancer Care Alliance (CCA) network.

Alimta has not yet been approved by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence. But he said it was being considered for funding by the CCA network.